Finding the right riding group...

[Fowlersrs]

After reading the riding dilema thread it suddenly hit home with some serious thoughts I'd had recently. I've only been riding my 750 for a couple weeks now and now that I'm getting a lot more comfortable with its handling I realised something the other day: "I just don't enjoy caning it"

This becomes a bit of a problem when I go out in a group as the 3 riders I go out with all have sports bikes so I think they get a kick from doing 100+ on certain roads where as I just simply don't see the appeal, especially on a naked bike. Maybe its something il enjoy more when I progress onto a sports with more experience but at the moment I MUCH prefer zipping up and down through the gears in the twisties and worrying them with my cornering skills (eventually)!!

Am I riding in the wrong group? Should I just let them go on and accept it? Or should I find other riders to enjoy rides with on similar bikes?!

[Drake]

get a supermoto and find some lads with supermotos, slower but fun riding as supermotos are lucky to be doing 100mph and they are light and chuckable and less to damage if you do bin it, not say you would but cow shit is slippy
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was: derbi senda, aprilia sx125, nsr250 mc16, cagiva mito, cb600 hornet now: mk1 bandit, KR1S, landrover series 3 light weight 2.5 petrol, 5speed box

[Fowlersrs]

[D O G]

I hated riding in groups - it encourages all of the participants to do stuff they would never ordinarily do.

Just go out by yourself.

[Mikey3]

I don't do well trying to chase mates. I have a group of about 10, 4 of us have Hornets, and the other 3 (i'm the 4th) all HOON like fuck!
I can't do that, I have visions of something happening round the corner or similar, I take riding a bit too seriously and expect the worst a bit too much to be able to switch off and just go crazy, think is, I won't not ride with them, i'll just wait and catch up eventually. These guys push 120> down country roads, as sweeping as they are, i'll admit; they are riddled with villages and 30/40 zones everywhere. (Loomies/west meon way for those of you in the south).

Just ride your own ride, and get there in the end, it's more important to get there in one peice, than not get there at all. Or of course, don't ride with them, but it depends on the level of friendship you have.

Mike
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'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[iooi]

[Rogerborg]

Look up your local IAM / RoSPA, get an assessed ride, see if you prefer their style of riding.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[MattJ]

It's very rare that I ride in a group but I have enjoyed it when I have done so. However, I think I prefer riding on my own most of the time. Don't get any pressure to do stupid things and it allows me to do what I want, go where I want, at what pace I want.

If you don't like riding with them, don't. How often do you go for rides on your own? Sounds like you should do that more.

[G]

Where ever you're riding; ride for yourself.
If the people you're riding with wont wait for you or you can't get a good idea of the route from them, then it might be time to look for other people to ride with. Though generally I'm happy enough riding out to meet people, having a chat, bit of a group ride then heading home on my own.

[peej1977]

I refuse to ride at someone else's pace. I always ride at my own pace but I ride with people who are happy to tone it down on my behalf or wait at the next junction for me so it's all good.

I recently did 834miles up to and around Scotland and on the main rideout there were 30+ bikes. Some of us were a little concerned about the pace but to be honest there was such a broad range of machinery and skills but it didn't seem to matter, it all even'd itself out.

I was riding my R1, there were guys with Gixxer 750's, Tuono's, one guy on a Triumph Scrambler and another on a BMW F800 so the mix was varied yet we all seemed to even our riding out, we did spread out a bit but thats to be expected.

If the people you ride with like riding balls out everywhere chances are they won't hold back just for you so maybe time to find other people to ride with on a regular basis.

Just my 2p worth.