I strongly recommend doing your first pillion test ride in a very quiet area, it will help both you and your pillion feel more confident. You may also find it helps if you pre-arrange some kind of signal, for example deliberate double tap with their helmet might be useful if they're holding onto the rear grab rails.
My Scoot behaves very differently when SWMBO is on the back.

To add to the other advice, slow speed manouvers get trickier and acceleration gets shittier so account for this and it takes a bit of practice filtering safely with a pillion.

I ride a lot with a pillion, nearly every day and it's fine. I ride much more carefully and smoothly as someone else's life depends on it! Make sure they know never to put their feet down until told and not to look over their shoulder as it puts you off balance if you're going slowly

Well my tip from personal experience is to tell your pillion that if they want to adjust their seating position, to do so while the bike is moving at a decent speed as most people will mistakenly wait until you are slowing down or stopped which can cause unexpected instability.

I think possibly all this advice and dos and don'ts might make carrying a passenger sound more difficult than it actually is. The fact is that when I'm riding I don't notice it, and when braking or taking off, I find I instinctively compensate for the extra weight without having to think about it. I just relax and ride a little more cautiously (cop-car-behind-me style ). The more relaxed you are, the more relaxed your pillion will feel, and that makes a better and safer ride for both of you.

anonstarter wrote: My Scoot behaves very differently when SWMBO is on the back.

My scoot behaves a lot better when SWMBO is on the back!!

Just wanted to say a huge thanks for all the helpful advice from everyone. Cheers guys

Oh and anyone got an experienced pillion passenger I can borrow?

When they get on, I find that it is best that you hold both brakes in firmly (if this is clutchless) and anchor your feet either side of the body of the bike on the floor tight up against it and make sure you are wearing decent rubber sole boots, the bike is heavier with them on so when you stop and put your foot down and lean slightly... it will be a lot heavier hence needing the grip more on those boots!

My riding style means the bike leans and I stay upright so the wife as far as I know does the same... never really paid attention, I just treat it like I am carrying a heavy weight and compensate. I guess that comes from carrying 1 ton pallets of flour on a forklift day in day out for work.

As an extra precaution, you could put a sign on your back "IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THE WIFE'S FALLEN OFF"

Funkycowie wrote:I stay upright so the wife as far as I know does the same... I just treat it like I am carrying a heavy weight...

Lol. I wouldn't tell her you said that!