06-21-2015, 01:17 PM
Maximus, glad you are OK and hope you are "back on the horse " soon.
Some good advice has been given about group rides, mostly what not to do. Just to balance that let me say that riding with a disciplined group can be both a pleasure (example: recent group riding in NC with members of this forum) and educational. A disciplined group should render all assistance to an inexperienced or cautious (if that is the word) rider and ensure that at no stage that person feels uncomfortable or left behind without company.
To follow or ride with an experienced rider, who is aware of your experience and capabilities, can help you with many aspects of your road riding. In particular corner entry speed and line selection to a safe exit. A good riding companion, whether part of a group or not, can give you non-judgmental feedback that should give you something to reflect on. However, prior to this I do believe that you should have a firm foundation to build on. A foundation built by professionals through basic/advanced rider courses or even track days.
Like many of the riders on this forum, particularly the old codgers, my mates and I learnt the hard way. The Darwinian Selection Method you could probably call it. But in the end we did get there. A lot of fun but I wouldn't want my children, or grandchildren, to do it. I have a young friend who recently graduated from a scoot to a CB400. She took another course as soon as she got the bike. She often rides with a group that is heavily focused on educational riding mixed with having a heap of fun. She is now more than a competent rider. Don't get sucked in by the idiots ("drongos" we call them in OZ). Sort of the motorcycle equivalent of "Just say NO".
Having read the above it sounds a bit like a lecture. Please don't take it that way. Just the musings of a 70 year old codger who loves to see people having fun on a motorbike.
Cheers.
Some good advice has been given about group rides, mostly what not to do. Just to balance that let me say that riding with a disciplined group can be both a pleasure (example: recent group riding in NC with members of this forum) and educational. A disciplined group should render all assistance to an inexperienced or cautious (if that is the word) rider and ensure that at no stage that person feels uncomfortable or left behind without company.
To follow or ride with an experienced rider, who is aware of your experience and capabilities, can help you with many aspects of your road riding. In particular corner entry speed and line selection to a safe exit. A good riding companion, whether part of a group or not, can give you non-judgmental feedback that should give you something to reflect on. However, prior to this I do believe that you should have a firm foundation to build on. A foundation built by professionals through basic/advanced rider courses or even track days.
Like many of the riders on this forum, particularly the old codgers, my mates and I learnt the hard way. The Darwinian Selection Method you could probably call it. But in the end we did get there. A lot of fun but I wouldn't want my children, or grandchildren, to do it. I have a young friend who recently graduated from a scoot to a CB400. She took another course as soon as she got the bike. She often rides with a group that is heavily focused on educational riding mixed with having a heap of fun. She is now more than a competent rider. Don't get sucked in by the idiots ("drongos" we call them in OZ). Sort of the motorcycle equivalent of "Just say NO".
Having read the above it sounds a bit like a lecture. Please don't take it that way. Just the musings of a 70 year old codger who loves to see people having fun on a motorbike.
Cheers.
