First Group Ride...

Maholli · 11-22-2007, 4:04 AM

Well went on my first real group ride with a pretty large bike club... Ended up in 6 bike pile up.. First last and never again.. Almost went down myself but I wasn't bunched up like all the other ones that went down.. A stunter in the group was the cause of it all.. Its funny how the bikes fairings just shattered on impact.. 4 of the 6 bikes where pretty much totaled except engine.. Luckily somehow know one was hurt and everyone had full gear on... But alot of liability ins in the group.. So some people lost alot... Made me really never want to ride in a large group again... It was 20 bikes or so... Was thinking of joining the club, not anymore..

.OrgOwner · 11-22-2007, 4:16 AM

Was the stunter "stunting" at the time of the crash? At least there was no serious injury anyway. Always at least 1 clown turns up on group rides...

Maholli · 11-22-2007, 5:21 AM

Yep he was trying to "skate" I think thats what it is called.. Its where you slide beside your bike off the seat while its moving.. When he tried to get back on he lost it.. Ended up wrecking 5 other bikes... What an a$$...

.OrgOwner · 11-22-2007, 5:26 AM

So you were off duty, this means he gets away with it? I think if saw some clown doing that in front of me I'm on the brakes and / or making a line change pretty quick. At least 5 guys did not see it coming???

Maholli · 11-22-2007, 5:34 AM

They where riding too close togther... Out of respect for my friend who invited me on the ride I held back on acting like a "cop"... People tried to stop 3 of the bikes just fliped over pretty hard because they where on the front brakes so hard.. The other 2 hit the stunters bike and believe it or not did complete flips with riders still on bike.. I was shocked no one was hurt.. Thank goodness there wasn't a vehicle anywhere in sight.. It was in a pretty rural part of town.. No traffic at all...

robert mcvey · 11-29-2007, 2:04 PM

not much of a large group rider myself,. for that reason you are best to go out riding with your mates or riders you trust.

MentalFacility · 01-24-2008, 5:31 AM

Same here. Everytime I go with a large group at least 3-4 bikers get in trouble cos of showing off. I prefer riding alone, but groups of 3-4 people are alright.

ldavis · 01-24-2008, 7:39 AM

glad you're alright, alot of guys ride in groups down here, but we all block traffic, create space, and leave a lane open for the show offs.. it's not perfect but it's better. keep it upright and between the lines..

FB1000inPA · 01-30-2008, 2:59 PM

Just because I am nosy:

Were rules established prior to the ride besides a review of the hand signals?

Glad nothing happened to you.
Now my 2cents: I am a firm believer that no new riders should participate in group rides. A certain level of experience should be established and riders should know the rules of group rides before they are allowed to paticipate. This has nothing to do with a popularity contest but pure safety.

TattooedGQ · 01-30-2008, 3:30 PM

Glad everyone is more or less OK, but that's seriously why I can't deal with the stunters. There's a time and a place to do your thing, on an open road, with others around is not one of them.

GitGoFast · 01-30-2008, 10:31 PM

There’s a lot of experience out here on the forum and everything said so far is right on. Riding in a group takes 1) everyone understanding the rules 2) skill 3) practice. Glade you made it unscathed ... it’s a tribute to your skill and situational awareness.

Doomwitha929 · 01-30-2008, 10:42 PM

I used to ride with a group of guys anywhere from just me and one buddy up to maybe 6 guys when everyone was out. We all knew how everyone rode and how to act. It was almost like ballet at points. When we rode with other people it was always a problem. There is always one sketch ball that does something random. We went on a ride to Summit Poit race way with a group of about 40 bikes that met at JT motorsport one day. 10 minutes into the ride it was my two buddys me and maybe 3 other guys left. Everyone else got dusted. It turned out to be a great ride because the only people that ended up in our group were people that could "ride".

adriano1k · 02-15-2008, 2:18 AM

fb1000
im almost always with another rider on the the street. we all know the rules and are very coordinated when traveling with hand signals and all. we always go over the plan or destination before we leave that ways everyones on the same page. it takes alot of practice and time to become and group rider who can be trusted and followed with comfort.

low-rider · 02-15-2008, 11:37 AM

glad you are ok maholi and glad noone else got hurt.

speedracer42 · 02-15-2008, 11:47 AM

The funny thing about "rules" is that if you are not riding with total douche bags non are needed. I have done large rides like that where I don't know many of the people, and they are ALWAYS a nightmare. Now, on the rare occasion I do a large ride it is with people I only know very well, and know that either they are very skilled and trustworthy, or I know their shortfalls. Rules are great in some situations. In others some retard will still not follow them. Stick with who you know.

Bigtoe · 02-15-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FB1000inPA

Just because I am nosy:

Were rules established prior to the ride besides a review of the hand signals?

Glad nothing happened to you.
Now my 2cents: I am a firm believer that no new riders should participate in group rides. A certain level of experience should be established and riders should know the rules of group rides before they are allowed to paticipate. This has nothing to do with a popularity contest but pure safety.

I agree totally. Plus you should always ride within your limits. You need to be honest with the road captain prior to actually riding with them and what kind of ride you may be in for.

With that note. I have left group rides when I felt safety was compromised.

Carolina_954 · 03-24-2008, 5:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracer42

The funny thing about "rules" is that if you are not riding with total douche bags non are needed. I have done large rides like that where I don't know many of the people, and they are ALWAYS a nightmare. Now, on the rare occasion I do a large ride it is with people I only know very well, and know that either they are very skilled and trustworthy, or I know their shortfalls. Rules are great in some situations. In others some retard will still not follow them. Stick with who you know.

Exactly!!! We were on a ride in the mountains last year. I think almost everyone was a friend of a friend on that ride. we had a similar stack up when the lead bike came up on a horse and buggy coming out of a curve. All 4 of the front bikes got slowwed up, there was a new guy in the 5 spot and he didn't. riding too close of course. he hit the fouth bike who fell into the oncoming lane. He didn't get hit, but I don't know how. The crazy part is, we just had left a gas station maybe 5 minutes earlier. When we got there, a tractor was giving a hayride going that same direction. I stayed back with my head up because of that. I guess no one else remembered.

djomla · 03-24-2008, 5:58 PM

Sorry to hear your first real group ride ended up like that...

I do 1 or two of them a month, but with no more then 5-6 bikers, and they are all people I know... I don`t really like big groups, some of them too fast, then some of them who are to slow, with no exprience, trying to catch up with fast boys and then end up in hospital....
Think big group rides almost always turn out to be disaster...

Carolina_954 · 03-24-2008, 6:09 PM

I agree. I have a couple friends that I ride with on a consistent basis. those are the guys that I know what they are gonna do and when. They know what I am capable of and don't try to make me keep up. If they do take off, They know I will not try to keep up, but I will catch them at the next road. I know my limits, and that is the key to going home after each ride. I have never done a wheelie. I do open mine up on occasion when I find a nice flat straight road. Other than that I'm always thinking that there could be an animal or something on the other side of the curve I'm in so that kinda keeps me a little laid back. I don't care what they want to do, I'm gonna do what I can and what I feel safe doing.

fzx700surfer · 04-15-2008, 3:55 AM

I don't know anything about group riding. I have to say though i think that I am really excited to join one. But thanks to your experience i will be watching out for people. i am glad, as is everyone else, that you are ok.

DUX · 04-15-2008, 7:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtoe

I agree totally. Plus you should always ride within your limits. You need to be honest with the road captain prior to actually riding with them and what kind of ride you may be in for.

With that note. I have left group rides when I felt safety was compromised.

I've left them too. I now only ride in groups of people that I know and trust.

If, on the rare occasion I wind up going with a group that I don't know, I go last and leave plenty of room ahead of me.

Stunting has no place on the road or in a group. Ride within your limits yes, but if you are stunting near anyone else you are already beyond them no matter how good you are at doing that crap.

The worst example I've seen to date is two idiots who caught up to my bud. In my mirror, I watch one of them do a stand-up on a busy two-lane road. As he set the front down, the wheel was a little sideways and pulled him into oncoming traffic. A minivan full of kids panicked and swerved into the grass to avoid him. We pulled into a small strip mall to let them go by. Instead, they followed us in and did rolling burnouts past a bunch of older people walking to their cars. What a-holes!

FTP_929 · 06-30-2008, 4:50 PM

well,not that i stunt or anything..but everybody keeps saying the open road isnt a place for stunting..where..do you suppose people go? its not like they have "stunt days" like they do track days.

FTP_929 · 06-30-2008, 4:57 PM

Also..as far as the topic goes.

I've been in few big group rides,its very very fun of course my luck i happen to be riding with "Ruff Ryders" but me and my friend in a 10r stayed behind the pack while the rest wheelied.

But as far as riding in group,its nice to role 20 deep going to a resturant or something is pretty cool,get all envious looks from people and stuff,i like :-p

Twincam · 06-30-2008, 5:12 PM

Its nice to "roll" with all of your mates Im not dis-agreeing with that, but you have to choose your friends who you ride with. I will not jepordise myself with riding with a pill0ck just because he is my friend.

Stunting isnt big over here in the UK, maybe there is carparks/special meet or dedicated areas e.g. un-used land but Im not promoting it. Why risk screwing your bike up?

FTP_929 · 07-03-2008, 3:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twincam

Its nice to "roll" with all of your mates Im not dis-agreeing with that, but you have to choose your friends who you ride with. I will not jepordise myself with riding with a pill0ck just because he is my friend.

Stunting isnt big over here in the UK, maybe there is carparks/special meet or dedicated areas e.g. un-used land but Im not promoting it. Why risk screwing your bike up?

i totally agree with you man. my friend cedric rides like a prick and listens to his ipod when he rides,my friend matt and i ride perfect together,its like we know eachothers moves and everything,its rare to have a friend like that. lol

Twincam · 07-03-2008, 6:58 AM

Well Its obv. which one you ride with and should ride with - always remember, someone is out to kill you every time you start your bike up.

Your friends can always turn into your worst enemies...

bettingpython · 07-03-2008, 11:07 AM

The Pace should be required reading for all riders in a group.

The Pace - Nick Ienatsch - Motorcyclist magazine

FTP_929 · 07-03-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maholli

Well went on my first real group ride with a pretty large bike club... Ended up in 6 bike pile up.. First last and never again.. Almost went down myself but I wasn't bunched up like all the other ones that went down.. A stunter in the group was the cause of it