You really shouldn't be on with him until he has his full license and has more experience. Other drivers are the main cause of accidents, but experience helps you know how to react. It is harder to react with a passenger, especially if the passenger isn't an experienced passenger.

Helmet and jacket are a must. Long pants and closed-toe shoes. The type of bike, cruiser, crotch rocket, etc makes a huge difference in how to be a passenger. Mainly you need to be able to predict how the driver is going to react to situations, you need to pay just as much attention as the driver so you can brace yourself for the reaction. You have to stay behind the driver and develop hand signals for certain reactions. I know if my DH taps my leg, I need to hold on tight. There are also blue tooth headsets you can install on your helmet to be able to communicate while riding. Also NEVER ride together during an argument. Seriously, being in sync is very important.

STAY OFF THE INTERSTATES. and leather up.

i miss my days of being the 'passenger'!!!

DH only rides familiar roads when I am riding. It just makes me feel more at ease when I know what is coming in my surroundings. I always leather up, even when it is hot, and DH is a very defensive driver. I trust that.

Still anything can happen, no matter the precautions you take. But that is true in a car as well.

Keep your wheel on the ground, Ride Safe.

My DH had motorcyles for about 10 years. He got his motorcycle license at about age 40 after zero experience riding. That was 12 years ago, when we were in the midst of EOW visitation with the 2 SSs and trying to keep up with work and home, plus our own DS, so I thought it was NUTS that would want to take up such an expensive hobby that only 2 people could do at a time, especially given what little free time he had. He did take a motorcycle safety course, which he felt was EXTREMELY helpful in learning to anticipate situations and perform defensive driving maneuvers, since most motorcycle accidents that are not alcohol related are due to actions of other drivers. So, I'd definitely recommend that. Also, he ALWAYS wore a helmet, jackets with Kevlar and closed toe shoes.

I rode with him a few times, but not much and not for very long because: 1) we had no babysitter for our DS, so I couldn't go; and 2) although I'm fairly small in stature, his bikes were always on the small to medium side with seats that made my buns go numb after about 15 minutes! We did go on one weekend motorcycle trip about 3 hours away. I also hated "helmet head," not being able to take much by way of personal items for overnight and not being able to buy anything we saw at a quaint shop because there was no way to transport it. (Perhaps we needed a trailer! lol.)

My DH gets easily distracted while driving a vehicle (he says that only happens when I'm with him! lol.) and I became increasingly concerned that something was going to happen to him on his motorcycle, since it just takes a moment of distraction to result in disaster. Then my extremely healthy, vibrant best friend died suddenly (of a heart attack) at age 44, and I really freaked out worrying every time he rode. I did NOT want to be left a single parent to our then 2 DSs. So, I convinced him to trade his motorcycle on a gorgeous Jaguar convertible so we could take it on trips with room for purchases, put up the top in the rain, have more steel around us generally, etc, etc. My DH ended up hating it, and he traded it and now doesn't have a "toy" vehicle. While I think he'd like another motorcycle, I'm sure he won't get one, and I know he's much safer not being on one. I cringe every time I hear of someone else being killed senselessly on them. I truly think anytime someone rides and survives, they have beaten the odds. I'm sorry I don't have a more "positive" motorcycle story to tell, but they simply scare me to death, and I know I'll never get on one again. Hopefully, by taking a safety course, practicing defensive driving and wearing the right apparel, your guy can minimize the risk.

DH rides. When we were younger I'd hop on the back of his crotch rocket in short shorts and flip flops and head to the beach. Young and reckless. Now I ride once in awhile.

Always wear long pants and good shoes. Probably avoid interstates until he is a more seasoned rider. I find when I am relaxed and just let my body lean with his when we turn I have a better experience.

Riding is a lot of fun. Enjoy.

I rode a motorcycle for 10 years or so. Actually I owned two.
I really loved it when I did it, used to go on long, long touring rides.

1) Glad he's taking the course. This is number one priority.

2) Practice, practice, practice. Ride during low traffic times, avoid mornings/evenings/nights when visibility is low for other vehicle drivers. Ride for a short time. Riding is extremely physically and mentally demanding so build up to it.

3) No way should your ride "up" until he has at least, at least, a year's experience, takes the advanced safety riding course and he knows how to handle a bike confidently. Is he a good, rational, calm driver? Then he may be a good rider.

4) Helmet (full face - does he want to land on his chin and rip it off? I'm serious.), gloves, moto jacket, moto boots, thick jeans for local rides (35 mph and less), and moto jeans or other protection for longer rides and faster speeds.
I've been down. At less than 35 mph. It HURT. And if I hadn't had my helmet I would have likely been killed. It happens fast. I had my gloves, boots, jacket and thick jeans on. My knee was rashed (but my jeans survived!) I sprained some fingers, and if I hadn't had my jacket on I likely would have had a dislocated shoulder but the jacket kept things in place and also protected my collarbone.
One of my friends is a nurse and she told me horror stories about people riding with very little body protection and low speed crashes.

5) Everyone else on the road is stupid and the rider is invisible. He needs to learn this. Never assume someone sees you. Expect them to do the stupidest thing ever that will hurt or kill you. Period.

If you have specific q's I'd be happy to answer more!

BTW: I sold my vintage bike when divorcing and then sold my other bike just two years ago. I just didn't go on the long rides any longer and riding in traffic is NOT fun. Now I just bicycle everywhere.

I learned to ride on a small Kawasaki when I was 20. I wanted to overcome the fear I had of bikes instilled in me as a kid. I never felt truly comfortable riding on the street though, too many factors outside the driver's control. Then I bought a dirt bike, and it was goodbye, street riding!

You might want to have your DH teach you how to get a bike back up if it's on its side. It's a useful skill to have, especially in an emergency.

ExH had a Harley, we took our honeymoon on it.

Always leather, full shoes and helmet, even in the hot hot summer.
I was young and just hugged him with my thighs and followed the bike. I never felt unsafe and other riders have said I'm easy to ride with, that it's like not having a passenger at all.
I think being relaxed is the key.

If you eventually do a long trip make sure you have comfortable or no underwear on.
We'd been on the road for about 3 hours and I was wiggling. ExH pulled over and said go pee in the bushes. I didn't have to pee, my ass checks were killing me because the elastic was digging into me!
To get them off I would have had to take off my boots, my pants, and my leather pants on the side of the highway.
So exH took his knife fished the sides of my panties out and cut them. Then I held my breath, sucked in my stomach and he pulled them out!
He tossed them into a tree and we were off. I never wore undies on the bike again.
I can only imagine what someone would have thought if they'd found the cut up panties hanging from a tree! :jawdrop: