Motorcycles

Moto-Grip is designed to let motorcycle passengers hang on better

Moto-Grip is designed to let motorcycle passengers hang on better
The Moto-Grip (seen here with the Moto-Grip Jr.) is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better
The Moto-Grip (seen here with the Moto-Grip Jr.) is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better
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The Moto-Grip (seen here with the Moto-Grip Jr.) is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better
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The Moto-Grip (seen here with the Moto-Grip Jr.) is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better
The Moto-Grip is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better
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The Moto-Grip is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better

If you've ever been the extra passenger on a racing or sport-touring motorcycle, then you'll know that it can be rather awkward. You typically sit higher than the rider, so you have to lean forward and down to grab them around the torso. If you aren't that chummy, you might instead choose to sit upright and reach behind you to clutch the rear grab-bar - definitely not the best way to keep from being thrown off the bike, either backwards or forwards. New York product designer and motorcyclist Andrew Lewis has come up with what he believes is a better solution - the Moto-Grip.

The device is a polyester webbing harness with padded handgrips on the front and back, giving passengers the choice of hanging onto either set. The grips are set high on the harness, to allow for a passenger that is sitting higher than the operator. Lewis claims that this arrangement maximizes stability and comfort for both riders.

The Moto-Grip is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better
The Moto-Grip is a harness worn by a motorcycle operator, designed to let their passenger hang onto them better

The harness has a break strength of 2,000 pounds (907 kg), and can handle a passenger weighing up to 300 pounds (136 kg).

Because children are shorter than adults, have less in the way of strength and balancing skills, and can nod off on the back of motorcycles, Lewis also created the Moto-Grip Jr. It loops around the child's back, attaching to either side of the operator's regular Moto-Grip harness. This keeps the young rider held against the back of the operator, where they can grab onto that person's front or rear handgrips.

Both products are available online from Andrew's company, Hatch Ventures (which also makes a product designed to let hip-hoppy types' baggy pants hang low, without falling right off). The Moto-Grip and Moto-Grip Jr. both come in three sizes, and are priced at US$179.95 and $79.95, respectively.

5 comments
5 comments
Mr Stiffy
Ahhh it\'s a good idea - both in terms of practical use and feedback.
But the makers and buyers of the idiot boy racer motorbikes that really do have hopeless \"as an afterthought\" seating, pedals and hand grips, ought to be kicked for making such inadequate crap, and for buying such garbage bikes or riding in a fashion likely to make you fall off or pile into their back.
When I find that I have a tool of a rider on a boy racer death trip ship, the neck grip works well - it involves squeezing the thumb tips into the back of the neck around the spine and the fingers of each hand into the sinews each side of the trachea.
It lets them know that I have a firm grip and that their riding at 200 or 300 Kmh on public roads - is strongly disapproved of.
The beating afterwards simply reinforces the point.
Andrew Rockefeller
1 to Mr Stiffy.
I do have some concern about separation in the event of an accident... but hey, lets just let Darwin sort them out. Evolution however doesn\'t have that immediate feedback and personal satisfaction that Mr Stiffy\'s elegant plan provides.
Griffin
I wouldn\'t want such a person like the first commenter who is so contemptuous or haughty anywhere near me or my bike... including any lane or intersection within at least a mile!
I especially would NEVER want to be strapped to them.
Seriously, what happens if you go down? Is there a breakaway device between the two riders?
I must admit, anyone who facilitates saggy/baggy pants wearing does not have a lot of credibility with me....
johnniesazzler
Nice in theory...but it\'s really not good practice for the passenger to add their upper body weight to that of the operator of the bike. The pillion rider should connect themselves with the bike and maintain a position vertically aligned with the rear wheel. This lets the operator move their torso as needed to stabilise the bike through corners and in other manoeuvres.

If the operator must shift their weight plus an indeterminate amount of the pillion\'s upper body weight, depending on how tightly the pillion is holding on, that makes it much harder to control the bike.

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I think this idea is more likely to lead to loss of control than if the pillion is holding a rear grab-handle. Forward grab-handles are a better solution but should be designed so that the pillion can push on them comfortably during braking and pull on them during acceleration.
TexByrnes
@ johnniesazzler. I must admit, I\'d never looked at taking into consideration the UPPER body weight addition, although in the past the problem of the pillion rider trying to stay upright on bends!.....made riding uncomfortable! See your points, well explained. Ian Colley.