How to Start a Conversation on Pillion Link
Not sure what to say in your first message to another rider or pillion? Here's how to open a conversation that gets a reply, and turn it into a ride. The good news is that riders and pillions start with a huge advantage over most people meeting online: you already share a passion. Nobody is short of something to say about bikes.
Skip the "Hey, how's it going?"
A one-line greeting gives the other person nothing to work with, and it looks exactly like every other message in their inbox. A message that shows you've actually looked at their profile stands out straight away, and it's far easier to reply to.
Start With What's on Their Profile
Look at their photos and what they've written, pick one thing that genuinely catches your eye, and ask about it. Open questions, the kind that can't be answered with a simple yes or no, work best.
- Instead of "Nice bike", try "Is that a Bonneville in your photos? How are you finding it two-up?"
- Instead of "You ride?", try "That coast road in your second photo looks incredible. Where was it?"
- Instead of "Looking for a pillion?", try "I've been a pillion for a couple of years and love longer runs. What sort of rides do you usually do?"
Riders and Pillions: Find the Common Ground
If you're a rider messaging a pillion, ask what they enjoy about being on the back: the scenery, the café stops, the thrill of the bends. If you're a pillion messaging a rider, ask about the bike and the routes they love. Either way, talking about the kind of riding you both enjoy is the quickest way to find out whether you'd get on, on the road and off it.
Join In Beyond the Inbox
Messaging isn't the only way to say hello. Commenting on someone's post or an article, joining in with a poll, or chatting in the group chats are all natural ways to get noticed, and they often lead to a one-to-one conversation without any pressure.
Keep It Rolling
- Share as well as ask. Tell them about your own bike, your favourite routes or your best café stop, so it feels like a chat rather than an interview.
- Reply when you can. Good conversations fizzle out when replies take days.
- Keep it friendly. Plenty of members are here for riding mates first, so let things develop at their own pace.
- Suggest a coffee when it feels right. A busy biker café is the perfect low-pressure first meet, whether you're after a riding mate or something more. Our guide to riding with strangers safely covers the first ride together.
Keep It on Pillion Link to Start With
There's no need to swap numbers or move to WhatsApp straight away. Keeping early conversations on Pillion Link means your real name, email and exact location stay private until you're ready. If anyone pushes hard to take things elsewhere, that's worth noting, and our guide on spotting a fake profile explains why.
When It's Not Going Anywhere
Not every conversation turns into a ride, and that's fine. If you'd rather not carry on, a short, friendly message is always better than disappearing. And if you're heading to a meetup in person, our icebreaker questions for motorcycle meetups will get you talking from the moment you take your helmet off.
