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I have no problem with less riders... There are idiots on bikes just like in cars, making stupid decisions... the fewer of any vehicles on the roads of any type is fine with me. Much easier to pass 3 cars than 20 bikes.
Why so soon?
- Thread starter RedNigel
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- 2010 NT700V
ABATE members would hate my opinion. While varying states have laws about impeding traffic, I'm not aware of any specifically calling out and putting caps on sizes of group rides. I guess parade permit laws could apply, but I really would like to see specific legislation targeting the size limits of group rides. I've come across plenty of two-wheel herds impeding traffic and watched their Road Captains (
) block traffic so all can roll a stop sign.If it's absolutely mission critical 30 of your buddies arrive at Aunty Dorothy's Triglyceride Shack simultaneously, leave the bikes at home and charter a bus.
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Oh, I'd hit the detour button on the gps in that scenario. When I first started riding I thought it would be cool to do toy and poker runs but only took a couple before the group would slow down and I'd hear screeching bike tires from those not paying attention or with terrible brakes..ABATE members would hate my opinion. While varying states have laws about impeding traffic, I'm not aware of any specifically calling out and putting caps on sizes of group rides. I guess parade permit laws could apply, but I really would like to see specific legislation targeting the size limits of group rides. I've come across plenty of two-wheel herds impeding traffic and watched their Road Captains (
If it's absolutely mission critical 30 of your buddies arrive at Aunty Dorothy's Triglyceride Shack simultaneously, leave the bikes at home and charter a bus.
Similar to George Thorogood, "I Ride Alone"
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- 2010 NT700V
Unfortunately, I've encountered this a handful of times in the middle of nowhere Interstate runs riding across country. I-8 nearing Yuma for example. Not really a detour to speak of.
When I encounter tractor speed herds on mountain roads with no passing areas, I'll usually try to find a safe place to pull over and wait for a bit. Taking a twisty mountain pass at 10mph is not fun.
I don't mind small group rides, bikes numbering in the single digits. If I'm leading, I definitely won't be camping in the passing lane. If I found myself on such a ride where the person leading was doing this, I'd probably bail for my own safety.
I went to ONE big group “charity” ride. Before the start I surveyed the assemblage of bikes and riders and immediately bailed. Nope - I’m out!
Yup! I did the same when I resumed riding. I joined a riding group.... nice folks but after two group rides, I decided that solo riding was my preferred riding mode. I've enjoyed the small NT group rides but the huge group rides..... I'll pass.
Mike
Problem is those Moto Idiots are buying cars and become Auto Idiots. Can't win for losing.
Years ago I bought a 1200 Goldwing Interstate and was invited to do a Sunday Goldwing group ride. Being a relatively new Wing motorcycle rider I went on the ride with these folks. Great folks, nice company but.... Formation riding and too many riding rules was not my idea of a motorcycle ride. I spent twenty years in the Army doing formations and rules, sure did not need that riding my motorcycle. Living in Wichita Falls Tx, the local powersport shop would have weekly dinner rides to a different eatery. Every body was to ride behind the Dealership owner who was leading the ride. I could not do it. I just told them I would see them at the eatery and then just rode my own route there. They never understood my thinking about that. I too prefer to ride by my self or maybe with two to three others. By myself I can stop and take my pictures when I want, nobody waits on me and I wait on nobody. I do enjoy riding with one other person that is a good friend and has a riding style similar to mine. Have done a lot of long distance trips that way. But also have done many many miles on my own. It is fun to meet up somewhere and reacquaint with old riding buddies around a camp site or a restaurant and then head out on one's own.
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The cars are likely smarter.
For sure!
Well Phil and I rode to AK and back together in spite of how different we are. I get up early and Phil gets up late. Phil likes to stop at McDonald’s and I avoid McDonalds. When the sun is going down and the animals are coming out on the roads I pull in for the night and Phil is just hitting his stride. But we respected each other’s styles of riding and just made it work. OK, we did split up a time or two but quickly found one another. We both had a great time. It was a fantastic ride.
But Phil and I both shook our heads at the idiots we encountered along the way. They’re everywhere. They’re everywhere. And they’re making babies.
Phil Tarman
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I started riding in '97. I bought my 1st bike, a GL-650 Silver Wing in '98. There was a group in Ft Morgan who did a supper ride every month, most on Gold Wings. I rode with them twice. They rode about 10mph under the speed limit, side-by-side, about 10' feet between each pair of bikes. After two rides with them, I knew that wasn't for me.
A few years later, I managed to get to Europe to join the GCE(GTR Club of Europe) Rally(GTR is the European designation for what we call the Concours). The group rides there were almost all led by Germans, who had strict rules for the rides. No passing, no riding alone, lead riders and last riders always in touch by radio. They rode faster than the big group rides in the US, but were just as strict. On one ride, I thought I had left my billfold at a lunch stop and stopped to turn around and go back for it. The last rider stopped and told me I couldn't do that...I told him that I wasn't going any where without my billfold and turned around. The last few miles to the lunch stop were on a one-way road, and I had about 15 minutes before it opened for me. While I was waiting for it to open, I learned that the inside pocket on a 'Stitch went way further to the back than I had known and found my wallet. As I started back out, I met a rider who had been sent to accompany me back to Tiefencastel, the Rally home base. I had told the official last rider that I knew my way, but they didn't trust me. I was designated as a rule-breaker, but I managed just fine to ride a week and a half by myself in Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, and Germany. I missed company in the evenings when I stopped, but enjoyed the solo riding much more than the group riding.
And as Jim said above, I enjoyed our compromising ride to Alaska together. Compromise is a different way of being together from a rigid rule-bound togetherness.
A few years later, I managed to get to Europe to join the GCE(GTR Club of Europe) Rally(GTR is the European designation for what we call the Concours). The group rides there were almost all led by Germans, who had strict rules for the rides. No passing, no riding alone, lead riders and last riders always in touch by radio. They rode faster than the big group rides in the US, but were just as strict. On one ride, I thought I had left my billfold at a lunch stop and stopped to turn around and go back for it. The last rider stopped and told me I couldn't do that...I told him that I wasn't going any where without my billfold and turned around. The last few miles to the lunch stop were on a one-way road, and I had about 15 minutes before it opened for me. While I was waiting for it to open, I learned that the inside pocket on a 'Stitch went way further to the back than I had known and found my wallet. As I started back out, I met a rider who had been sent to accompany me back to Tiefencastel, the Rally home base. I had told the official last rider that I knew my way, but they didn't trust me. I was designated as a rule-breaker, but I managed just fine to ride a week and a half by myself in Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, and Germany. I missed company in the evenings when I stopped, but enjoyed the solo riding much more than the group riding.
And as Jim said above, I enjoyed our compromising ride to Alaska together. Compromise is a different way of being together from a rigid rule-bound togetherness.
Yup! I enjoy riding with Phil too, 'cept his idea of an early start is to be on the road at the crack of ten!
Mike
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- 2010 NT700V
I would guess it's Auto idiots adding motorcycles to their garage. I don't think there are many stateside who start their licensed motor vehicle career with a motorcycle. I'm sure plenty teens grab eBikes, electric scooters and mopeds, but you won't be encountering them outside local roads. Most are probably still going for a car 1st when license age comes around.
I think there are alot more impulse buyers out there than 40 years ago. Look up the current credit card debt and the number of storage shed farms in the US. Then, there is the nostalgia effect. Maybe someone had some fun the first riding year but then life got in the way. I know someone with a bike that they havent used in decades and a motorhome that just sits in its shed, licensed and insured. Many people eventually come to their senses and dump the seldom used bike and it ends up at the dealer. But two like new low milage 2014 VFRs ended up at my dealer from a couple that had to get back to Australia and they just sat....
Go into the bike dealership in Spearfish and ask them how many sport touring bikes they sell a year. I did.
I would love to see a new bike sales graph(no Harleys) by model type over the last 20 years.....
I also think more people may be living in apartments with little to no garage space.
But yes, a large group of riders who have been around for decades are aging out. I have three bikes...the newist is 2017...I have no interest at 76 years old at purchasing another bike. But I did purchase a 2014, a 2015, and a 2017.....each and every one a left over. If one breaks or disappears, then I will have two enjoyable bikes. If they all burn up, I will have a 500-700 cc Honda.
We here are alive in good part to common sense riding. And hard lessons learned....You wont see me in a pack....
Go into the bike dealership in Spearfish and ask them how many sport touring bikes they sell a year. I did.
I would love to see a new bike sales graph(no Harleys) by model type over the last 20 years.....
I also think more people may be living in apartments with little to no garage space.
But yes, a large group of riders who have been around for decades are aging out. I have three bikes...the newist is 2017...I have no interest at 76 years old at purchasing another bike. But I did purchase a 2014, a 2015, and a 2017.....each and every one a left over. If one breaks or disappears, then I will have two enjoyable bikes. If they all burn up, I will have a 500-700 cc Honda.
We here are alive in good part to common sense riding. And hard lessons learned....You wont see me in a pack....
Except going from the campground to breakfast or dinner at Spearfish.
More like a race!Except going from the campground to breakfast or dinner at Spearfish.