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Keyoke wrote: there is a simple rule. Ride to the speed of the slowest rider. that way, everyone is within their limits, and a much more fun and safe ride can be had by all.

Couldn't agree more, you can't expect the slowest rider to not try to keep up. It absolutely sucks to get left behind by the people you're supposed to be riding with.

If you wanna go fast, do it in a safe environment, i.e the track. Quite frankly, the street is no place to be messing around.

I haven't ridden with that rule on group rides. Typically, the riders sort them selves out from faster to slower. Who says everybody has to ride in a big bunch? Generally, the faster riders will pull over at regular intervals and wait for the slower groups to catch up.

And yes, I would expect the slowest rider not to try and ride beyond his abilities to try and keep up. That's just common sense. I've been the slow guy and didn't have any problem bringing up the rear. If a rider's ego can't handle that, he probably should not ride in groups.

As for going fast, realistically, if you get a group of bikes on a twisty mountain road, the chances of even the slow guys riding the posted speed limit are exceedingly slim.

We always observe the "ride your own ride" philosophy. On the way to the destination say, on the boring freeway parts, we'll stay in a nice, tight formation and ride as a biker group should. However, it goes without saying in our group that once we arrive at the twisty part of our trip you're on your own. We're all going to the same place, so there's absolutely no need to ride as though we're tethered to one another. I waited almost five minutes for my dad to catch up to me on The Dragon, and had to stop half-a-dozen times to wait for him and my bro-in-law on the Triple Nickel. We've all chosen different bikes for a multitude of reasons, and it's just a given that each bike and each rider will handle twisties at a different speed.

Well then what's the point of riding in a group if everyone is just gonna ride wrecklesly and get split up anyways? Isn't the whole point of a "group ride" is to enjoy each other's company? If not, then is just to prove in a most "ricer" fashion, who is faster on the street?

kwong2001 wrote:Well then what's the point of riding in a group if everyone is just gonna ride wrecklesly and get split up anyways?

Where did I say we ride wrecklessly? As far as getting split up, we're only a few minutes apart. When navigating a very technical stretch of road, it's best not to be right on eachother's heels. At minimum we ride single file and increase the distance between each bike, but typically we put the faster bikes/riders up front and let 'em have at it, while the more laid-back or inexperienced riders take the road at their own pace. In the end we arrive together, eat together, and ride in formation on the freeway during the trip back home.

kwong2001 wrote:Isn't the whole point of a "group ride" is to enjoy each other's company? If not, then is just to prove in a most "ricer" fashion, who is faster on the street?

I suppose if you consider enjoying the abilities of your bike to the fullest to be "ricing" then yes. Happy?

Keyoke wrote:A couple of my mates over here have just started riding. They're on 125 cc bikes. So a ride-out can include my XJR1200, my mates CB500 and a Suzuki Marauder 125 - there is a simple rule. Ride to the speed of the slowest rider. that way, everyone is within their limits, and a much more fun and safe ride can be had by all.

Hmm CB500 and a Marauder??? I can name those riders in one!

How is he going with the Marauder?

I'll always be one of the slowest. I'd rather take my time, smell the roses, take in the scenary, and enjoy my leisurely pace rather than blast through to my destination.

I guess that's more a sign of being older.

kwong2001 wrote:
Isn't the whole point of a "group ride" is to enjoy each other's company?

Seems to be.

And Zoo said...

In the end we arrive together, eat together, and ride in formation on the freeway during the trip back home.


There it is. Pretty much The way I do it. Noblody I ride with needs any "company" while concentrating on a twisty road...but on the four-lane is a different thing. The fun is also in the destination, sightseeing, eating, whatever... otherwise, why go?

ZooTech wrote:I suppose if you consider enjoying the abilities of your bike to the fullest to be "ricing" then yes. Happy?

How can you enjoy your machine to it's "fullest" if you're on the street? What makes you any different than some stupid 16 year old in his beater honda civic?

And yes, it is implied that you guys are riding wrecklessly if you're putting a few minutes between another rider.

ronboskz650sr wrote:There it is. Pretty much The way I do it. Noblody I ride with needs any "company" while concentrating on a twisty road...but on the four-lane is a different thing. The fun is also in the destination, sightseeing, eating, whatever... otherwise, why go?

Here, i'll re-phrase that, what is the point of riding in a group if you're gonna get split up anyways? You can ride as fast as you want on your own anytime you want without the "slow" people making you stop.

Only thing that really comes to mind is you just want to have a pissing match for who's faster on the street, which really proves nothing other than who wants to take more risk, NOT who's more skilled. Instead of actually HAVING a group ride, you guys can just have lunch and brag about your latest accomplishments on the streets.