‘Built with solo riding in mind’
Alison Silcox, Office Manager (5ft 10in)
“I’ve done a lot of pillion riding and, as standard, the Road Glide is the worst bike I have ever been on the back of. Which came as a big surprise because I assumed it would be really good – it’s a Harley, aren’t they designed for touring?
“The Harley’s pillion pad (it isn’t called a pillion seat, that’s an accessory item) is not only very small but is angled backwards, meaning you tend to slide off the tail of the bike (or at least feel like you are) and to counteract this sensation you end up continually tensing your core, which is tiring. The panniers dig in on the back of your legs as the pillion pegs are very high, which gets uncomfortable after a very short time, and when combined with the harsh shock – which fires you out of the seat when you hit a big bump – it’s all very disconcerting. I was nervous on the Harley and never happy being a pillion, it was far from a relaxing experience. If you take a pillion, invest in the dedicated pillion seat, which is £644.47 as part of the Day-Tripper package and includes a back rest.
“The Indian was much better. Its pillion seat is flat and quite wide, which was reassuring, and the panniers are positioned much better and actually helped me slot into the bike and secure myself, which was good. The Indian’s ride quality was also much better than the Harley’s with less of a jerk between gear changes and the suspension far more plush. It’s just a better pillion bike but in truth, I was disappointed by both bikes, neither is great for passengers. Baggers are clearly designed with solo riding in mind.”