"joining" a group ride

1932 Views 18 Replies 15 Participants Last post by GixxerChris, Mar 22, 2005

obxninja

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2000

Today while riding alone, I saw three other sportbikers. I was waiting to turn off a side street and they passed by headed the same way I was. I waved as they passed and they waved back. Not really knowing any other sportbikers around here, I caught up and tagged along at the end of their pack for a while. They were well behaved so I stayed with them for about 20 minutes, keeping more distance between me and them than they were between each other.

After I while, I got worried that maybe I was making them uncomfortable. Other than the wave when we first spotted each other, they never acknowledged me--which was fine because I was content to tag along.

They turned a couple of times and I finally broke off.

My question is, is what I did proper? Do group riders like to have larger packs to ride with or was I crashing a party?

I am just curious as to what everyone's opinion is.

Thanks!

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John E. Dawson
'87 Ninja 600R
http://home.interpath.net/banker/ninjapage.htm

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[email protected]

· #2 · Aug 13, 2000

I too, have wondered about others feelings on this. Although I haven't joined in on anybodys "party" without an invite, I have had others join me. I don't mind others joining in, as long as they don't endanger the group or if I'm alone, me, and don't do things to attract unwanted attention.
I do signal for them to stop and introduce myself and discuss who they are and their likes when riding.

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Marty

colin409

· #3 · Aug 13, 2000

If I'm on a group ride, and someone wants to join they are more than welcome. I would prefer however, that they not try to turn it into some crazy high speed jaunt. If you are joining my group, ride at my pace. I will even slow down to meet yours, but not speed up.

I learned today that I will not join another group ride. Myself, Kornkid, and another rider were on a group ride. Everything was fine until we met up with another group who asked us to ride with them. We agreed, and as they were riding a little fast for us, myself and Kornkid had dropped back. When we dropped back Kornkid got nailed by the cops. When I noticed he was no longer behind me, I notified our friend and turned around to find him. We found him, sitting in front of a cop. And for my kindness, I got nailed as well. I guess I deserve it though.

I

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Colin
FloridaSportbikers
My Home Page

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Kornkid

· #4 · Aug 13, 2000

Hey Colin, Thanks for checking on me. I still hate that you got busted. We'll have to do another ride except your wife is going next time. Maybe we won't run into the "group".

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Jacob
"Kornkid"
Better to be a racer for a moment than a spectator for a lifetime.

obxninja

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 13, 2000

Thanks for the feedback. I was very well behaved on their ride today. The lead guy would occasionally play around like getting a hole shot at a light and the rest of us playing catch up.

I broke off when they turned onto a busy road and took off. The guy just ahead of me didn't get out in traffic in time and got left behind. (He had a ZX-9, so I am sure he caught up.) I decided not to give chase though.

Talk about bad luck Colin and Kornkid! Sounds like you both took the rap for the misdeeds of the guys in front of you!

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John E. Dawson
http://home.interpath.net/banker/ninjapage.htm

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Luv2RideFast

· #6 · Aug 13, 2000

I have no problem with another rider joining our group, but pretty much like everyone has said, as long as they don't attract attention and as long as they don't act crazy or try to push up the pace. I also don't like it when someone I'm not familiar with tries to ride right up next to me in my lane!

Colin, I would have done just like you, gone back to check on Jacob and that SUCKS that you got a ticket. When one in our group gets stuck at a light, we always pull over and wait or slow down for them to catch up and if I look back and for some reason the back person isn't there, I tell my husband and we go back to see what the deal is. Guess we would have gotten nailed too.

Hope to do some riding with you both soon, as we're for sure moving to Port Orange in about 11 days.

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Stacia
Co-Admin
'00 CBR F4 (the faster, silver/red model)
"Objects in mirror no longer matter!"

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colin409

· #7 · Aug 13, 2000

The worst part is that all those guys who asked us to ride with them never turned around to check on any of us.

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Colin
FloridaSportbikers
My Home Page

GreenNinja

· #8 · Aug 14, 2000

Colin, man that really sucks, Id be very pissed... Things like that are about as "unfair" as it gets.. No justice for the REAL speeders.. just the ones who arnt such a "threat" to the cop's ego..

Better luck in the future.

About joining a group. As long as you take your place as a "follower" and dont try to be "better" than the group, or crowd them, i dont think anyone has problems with a stranger joining. But remember it's "thier" ride, not yours.

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Fear Green.

NJF4

· #9 · Aug 14, 2000

okey, next question... Is it okey to tail a group of Harley riders?? They wouldn't mind if I just follow them right?? hehehehehe.

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A|_|_/\N

Rug Burn

· #10 · Aug 14, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Aril, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by NJF4:
okey, next question... Is it okey to tail a group of Harley riders?? They wouldn't mind if I just follow them right?? hehehehehe.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I tend to lose my balance when I ride that slow. Besides, you know what an oil pan bolt can do to your radiator--probably nothing at 6mph, but still

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"If everything's coming your way-
you're in the wrong lane"

Clark

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Speedr

· #11 · Aug 14, 2000

I tag along Harleys anychance I get.
The looks on their faces is priceless...

As someone once said:

"Speed Kills, Ride A Harley, Live forever"

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When you're racing youre living, everything else is just waiting. E.K.

scotty

· #12 · Aug 14, 2000

So my friend was driving around with his family up on Whidbey Island and he encountered this huge traffic jam. As he slowly worked his way up toward the source, he spotted a monster gaggle of Harley riders, standing alongside the road and talking amongst themselves. Finally my friend saw the problem - some guy had laid down his BRAND NEW Ducati 996 (still had dealer plates) right in front of them. To their credit, they weren't laughing or making fun, just watching respectfully as the EMT's helped the Ducati rider to his feet. There were little yellow pieces of Ducati everywhere. The story was that he was busy passing the Harley group (about 30 strong) at high speed and then ran wide in a turn and low-sided rather than hit the guardrail.

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I wouldn't be so paranoid if you all weren't out to get me.

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Tristan

· #13 · Aug 14, 2000

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Aril, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by scotty:
The story was that he was busy passing the Harley group (about 30 strong) at high speed and then ran wide in a turn and low-sided rather than hit the guardrail.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I worry about this happening to me (more likely to be splattered by oncoming traffic than not making the turn). It's not too often I come across Harleys (or many other bikes for that matter) where I ride, but when I do, they are usually in large numbers and often do not budge from their formation to let you by. A couple weeks ago on WV16 I came up on at least 30-40 "bikers" doing about 40 mph in a 45 zone. Now I respect their right to pose as slowly as they like on their way to the next bar, but these bozos obviously saw me waiting behind them and would not spread out or move over an inch to let me by. So, I was forced

to wind it up to about 130 on a semi-blind uphill to pass them all cleanly. Probably put out the "flames" on a few of their tanks.

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'98 Superhawk

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Blue Jays

· #14 · Mar 15, 2005

Hi All-

Lots of riders will be out on the roads with the temperatures rising and the sun staying out longer. Here is a thread from years gone by about group riding etiquette...

~ Blue Jays ~

cmd954

· #15 · Mar 15, 2005

Blue Jays said:
Hi All-

Lots of riders will be out on the roads with the temperatures rising and the sun staying out longer. Here is a thread from years gone by about group riding etiquette...

~ Blue Jays ~

Blue Jays,
If anyone is ever going to get an award for resurrecting dead threads, it's going to be you.

Blue Jays

· #16 · Mar 15, 2005

Hi cmd954-

An oldie, but a goodie I say! There are always these "timeless" topics about life on two wheels that we can refresh and discuss each year as riding season returns.

One always sees decent-sized groups heading towards the predictable "happy hunting grounds" of the twisties or the mountains. It is only a matter of time before some smaller groups start to hook-up with larger groups on the highway en route. It's probably a good idea for all of us to have a firm grasp on etiquette beforehand.

~ Blue Jays ~

Traveller

· #17 · Mar 22, 2005

The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned. Riding with a group is usually more fun than riding alone, but that depends on the group.

A few weeks ago I hooked up with a bunch of Gixxer riders, they were riding everything from 600's to a Hayabusa. I don't know if they had something against Yamahas, or if they just wanted to see if I could hang, but they seemed to take every opportunity to blast away down the road.

I had no problems keeping up, but going 150+ in Friday night traffic isn't my usual cup of tea. On a high speed curve in the middle of an interchange the Hayabusa drifted out onto the shoulder and damn near ate the guardrail.

That was enough for me, there are less painful ways of comitting suicide. At the next red light I wished everyone a safe (yeah, right) night, and went my own not-so-fast way.

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Blue Jays

· #18 · Mar 22, 2005

Hi Traveller-

That doesn't sound like my cup of tea, either. Your way of separating from their group was smooth though...wishing them a good night and waving "adios" all friendly-like.

You could have also pressed 9-1-1 on your cellular and just hit the "send" button when you found their twisted and smoldering motorcycles laying in the street miles ahead!

~ Blue Jays ~

GixxerChris

· #19 · Mar 22, 2005

i/m not sure about other riding groups around my area, but my groups welcomes anyone to join the ride; as long as you don't pull a wheelie in the middle of the pack or do something unsafe for the rest of the group that is. we've even had harleys tag alaong a couple time...that is if they could keep up

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