How to be a good riding buddy (Revzilla - Common Tread)

[the Ferret]

awesome! See that's the sign of a good riding buddy

[Banned_imp]

W/R I used to camp, but as I've gotten older I can no longer get down and up off the ground very well anymore (and can't kneel at all) so I need a raised bed. Bet I haven't camped in at least 6 years now. My brother and I talk about doing it every year, we just never get around to it. Still have all my motorcycle camping gear lol.

Yes, I suspect my camping days are over as well for the same reasons. I'll give it a try this spring before heading out for the Rally.

As for riding partners, I really have only had one that I did long trips with, the last being a ride around Lake Huron in 2010 as we know live 1800km apart. Traveling together for us was easy as we also worked together in the Army and between 1994-2004 I actually spent more time with him than my wife (my average time away from home was 7 months a year from 1992-2011). We are basically twins except I'm white and he is black, so we didn't even really need to communicate as we both think the same way.

I hope to ride my Buell to Sudbury this summer to visit.

I hate large group rides and have only done it once and never again. It was the single worst experience I have ever had on a motorcycle. It was a military ride for charity that I was ordered to plan and lead. 45 bikes on a 2 day trip, mostly people I didn't know. Two minutes after leaving a woman on a brand new VTX 1300 (new rider, first bike) almost got hit by a 1/2 ton pulling a 30' horse trailer causing the trailer to jack knife. Good times.

But as a whole, most of my trips have either been alone or with my wife. We did one motorcycle trip with another couple but we didn't enjoy it all.

I really like traveling alone and meeting new people along the way.

[Stichill_imp]

The largest group ride I was ever in was with [url=http://looktwicecincy.com]Look Twice Cincinnati, a motorcycle safety awareness group. Maybe because they are a safety group, but it was a well-disciplined group. The group was able to go at a steady pace and stay together. I never felt ill at ease in that group.

[use2b_imp]

very , very good article and great responses .
I myself generally ride alone or with my wife on the back . riding with a group has been fun , exciting , adventurous and sometimes tragic.
the older i got the more concerned i became about novice especially after getting rear ended while stopped by the young guy behind me once.
always liked fast motorcycles and lost many friends upon the way as a result and that is why i gave up sport bikes and love my CB1100.
much of the problem has always been me - meaning i lack self control to ride a high performance machine and not enjoying the shear power and acceleration . While still in the US Marine Corps I did a group ride and lost a fellow Marine who had this same affliction. He had a new Kaw - Z1 and was by far faster than my CB750 , Norton 850 commando and other bikes in the group as we pushed these bikes hard getting our Adrenalin fix. on a twisting road one night he left us all behind and all of us thought he had gone home but later his wife called asking where he was. it was sad when they found him 2 days later deep in the woods on a sharp turn and parts of his bike. this may be rambling but I found his glasses later after revisiting the site of his death and brought them home to remember him by. I do not believe in superstition " mostly because it is bad luck " but every pet i owned was dead in 24 hours after bringing those glasses home. dog got ran over , and ever fish in my aquarium died . After that i only rode solo.
Fast forward I worked my way up to hayabusa's one being a turbo and was at it again with a group called PensacolaRiders that is pretty much gone. once again extreme fun and tragedy followed.
now i only group ride with local Vets who mostly ride Harley's and ride in the very back knowing i can enjoy the ride more and have superior brakes .
not much more to say other than I have finally found the perfect motorcycle or have gained some wisdom after years of being lucky

[Nortoon_imp]

The largest group ride I was ever in was with [url=http://looktwicecincy.com]Look Twice Cincinnati, a motorcycle safety awareness group. Maybe because they are a safety group, but it was a well-disciplined group. The group was able to go at a steady pace and stay together. I never felt ill at ease in that group.

If everyone had ridden that well spaced, I would not have felt nervous on my group ride experience. Instead there were two columns of motorcycles side-by-side and nose-to-butt.

[suhawk305]

This is a great thread, as well as Ferret's recent post in the Berea's rally thread. After signing up for the upcoming Berea rally, I became apprehensive about how I would fit-in with a bunch of experienced group riders during the organized rides. I have been riding alone for more than 45 years. Two years ago, I attended a vintage motorcycle rally with my Honda CB77. I participated in that rally's first ride and which was a bad experience. At the first stop, the ride leader reprimanded me for leaving a large gap between me and the rider in front of me. I did not partake in any other rides during the rally.
When I was 21, I was riding with friends in the New York State North County, where I lived. Interesting array of bikes, A Bultaco, an Aermacchi Harley 350, and my Honda CL350. We were riding (as Nortoon said) side-to-side, and nose-to-butt. I was the second rider behind the Harley. A large dog did not like the Harley and came tearing onto the road to get him (no offense to our Italian friends). Being immediately right behind the left side or the Harley, I had no time to react and hit the dog. The next thing I remember is being in a hospital be recuperating from a cerebral concussion a day later. According to me friends, I hit and slide on my head down the pavement, and the dog immediately went to doggie heaven. (My BUCO helmet saved my life.)
That is why I will try not ride in close proximity with others.

[Inhouse Bob]

I no longer stay at Comfort Inns. Ask me later about the kidnapping :-(

[the Ferret]

Buco helmet saved my life too Suhawk, in 1969. I was riding my 67 CL 77 and a lady in a green 54 Dodge turned left in front of me. I nailed her passenger door and flew over the top of the car, landing on my head on the other side. The Buco helmet was cracked but my skull wasn't lol. Nose, right hand, right foot and 7 teeth were broken but the skull survived.

hadn't heard the Buco helmet name in years.

[Inhouse Bob]

Buco helmet saved my life too Suhawk, in 1969. I was riding my 67 CL 77 and a lady in a green 54 Dodge turned left in front of me. I nailed her passenger door and flew over the top of the car, landing on my head on the other side. The Buco helmet was cracked but my skull wasn't lol. Nose, right hand, right foot and 7 teeth were broken but the skull survived.

hadn't heard the Buco helmet name in years.

I googled and you can still get them.

[the Ferret]

really?