What's the biggest group ride you've been on?

[Nemy]

I'm curious to see how close knit a community of bikers we all have around us.

Each year in the GTA, a forum member hosts a bbq and in '08 we had about 110 bikers show up with no problems. This sunday, we're looking at almost 200 to attend an open forum ride.

And by group ride, I don't mean a rally or posing... but a good ol staggered formation longer than the eye can see. Like this from the bbq - we had cars pull over and you could see the words "Holy s#it" when one kid turned around and saw us in full stride

[kappuru]

doing a friday night ride that should be around 30 people. no 250s yet though :/

[Kurosaki]

About 6.

Anymore than that is no good for me.

[capt_bugaloo]

I've done a couple of group motorcycle tours overseas, one in Mexico and one in India. Both groups had about 10 motorcycles. The Mexican tour was alright because the riders were all a bunch of mellow Americans and Canadians who just wanted to have a nice ride.

The India tour was not so great because the other riders were all Germans who really wanted to ride fast and hard, which I found crazy on India's chaotic roads. That India tour really turned me off of group rides, and now I avoid riding with others.

[CC Cowboy]

When I lived on the fridged Northeast (Beantown) we used to have a Halloween Ride with a few hundred bikes. It was a benefit that went about 70 miles through many towns. The cops would be at many of the intersections, so no stop signs or red lights. It was a blast but for some reason they stopped it.

When I live on the Island of Rhode we had a toy drive and there were a few hundred bikers but that cut short for some reason.

When I used to visit Daytona's Bike Week back in the 80s there used to be a ride of about 5000 bikers that went from the beach out to the speedway. The has been stopped for some reason also.

Now I usually ride with just a few other bikers. Although during bike week you are in the middle of 750,000 other bikers but not always going to the same destination ( or even the same direction).

[BlueTyke]

I put 51 - 100 but I am not sure of the full count but it certainly felt that way and a majority of them were women riders!

Heels to Wheels event last year at a local Harley shop. Only two sport bike riders, myself and another gal on a Gixxer... That's where I got my avitar picture taken...

There were a few scary things about the ride. It's the traffic still didn't know how to react and the bikers stopped traffic... :: shiver :: and because it was midsummer most of the women were not geared up with ATGATT but rather jeans, teeshirts/tanktops :: cring :: Luckily it was a good group, slow pace (I don't think we went over 20mph but to me that is still no excuse...) and a short distance...

I moved up and down the line taking pictures of everyone which they didn't mind.

Waiting to go






( the rest of the pictures can be found here )

[Snake]

I once rode with around 40 bikers for a benefit ride for cancer.

[Rynownd]

I have never ridden with anyone.

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Rynownd

I have never ridden with anyone.

Try deordant, maybe brushing your teeth, and wear a full face helmet (even when you're not on the bike).

[Mista Bob]

Rode with 5-6 other people once, in the city I wouldn't want to ride with any more then that.
On the highway more wouldn't be a problem though.

And personally myself I'm staying away from any of those giant group rides with 50+ people. With how I've seen some people ride around here... no thanks.

[Rynownd]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Try deordant, maybe brushing your teeth, and wear a full face helmet (even when you're not on the bike).

ATGATT... got it.

Maybe it's more because they're all wayyy behind me because I'm such a great rider.

< Applying deoderant to make friends

[Nemy]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Try deordant, maybe brushing your teeth, and wear a full face helmet (even when you're not on the bike).

hahahaha

and bigger groups are definitely kind of scary. I've only been on one ~10 people where the leaders were dumbasses and broke off at a crazy pace and everyone got split up. So since then if there are noobs or dumbasses in the group I'll break off with guys I know.

Thankfully no accidents yet either.

and lol to the mellow americans/canadians vs. the germans

[Sailariel]

Rolling Thunder--when we dedicated the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D C. There were at least 3500 riders in this event. I was in a minority with my Norton.

[Strider]

Originally Posted by Kurosaki

About 6.

Anymore than that is no good for me.

Me too , but mostly I'm a loner ...

Originally Posted by Rynownd

I have never ridden with anyone.

I think I actually prefer riding alone.

[BlueTyke]

I rode with three other people today and it was perfect :: Purr ::

[kazam58]

I rode with a coworker, once. I liked it, the roads were empty so I kept a good distance behind him (he's got 30 years on me and 1300cc bike, there was no way he was gonna be behind me) and we kept a decent pace. But that was once. Now that it's warmed up I'm seeing sportbikes everywhere, most of which I didn't notice before i started riding, but I don't know of anyone else who rides, or how to meet up with them. I'll have to do a little research and see if there's ever any bike nights around here...

[Mista Bob]

All of my best rides have been with just one other person.

I find it to be a much better experience, even more so in the city.

[Nemy]

I love riding alone too - its destressing and freeing... but I also like the community aspect of a group ride. Meeting different riders, sharing stories, checking out the bikes/biker chicks , and there's just something special about watching people in a proper staggered formation - changing lanes together, shifting blocking positions etc.

Now, of course, it's fully recommended to have a good lead and sweep. And when you do, the rides are amazing!

[ManyCavies]

Ken and I did a ride from Coachella to El Centro for lunch with a cruiser group we used to belong to. I think it was 48 bikes and 53 people. But it was almost 200 miles and that was the longest I had gone on any bike. It was fun and we were the only sportbikes.

[CC Cowboy]

I did a two bike ride over to Leesburg (little bike week in Florida). That turned into a 3 bike ride home. Then I went on a one bike ride and really tore it up. What a beautiful day!

[Nemy]

Interesting results so far... seems to be the two extremes - small company vs. massive groups. But maybe group rides are like track days... once you try it you wanna keep doing it

[capt_bugaloo]

Originally Posted by kazam58

I don't know of anyone else who rides, or how to meet up with them. I'll have to do a little research and see if there's ever any bike nights around here...

Try posting an ad in the motorcycles section of your local Craigslist.

[NJD022588]

On Saturday I will be going with about 15 others from Virginia Tech Motorcycle Club to meet up with a group of over 150 riders that are coming down here from northern VA. We will be riding with them for about the last hour of their ride.

They're riding down here to honor the 32 that were killed 2 years ago, and to raise money for a scholarship foundation.

Right now, they are expecting to have 170 riders with a police escort. It should be interesting since the biggest ride I've been on before this was a group of 5.

[CC Cowboy]

When you are involved with a large group ride remember to not ride too close but don't drop back to far. You want to ride in the mirrors of the rider in front of you and pay attention.



For the riders who have done hundreds of these rides;

Keep the wheelies to a minimum, only do stoppies when the police aren't looking, if you are going to have more than 6 or 8 beers try to ride near the back of the group (that way if you have to pee you won't hold up everyone in front).

[CC Cowboy]

For anyone that isn't interested in quantitly but rather quality you can ride with a few of the best at this years US MotoGP at Laguna Seca.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Apr/090430b.htm

I'm not sure if they will let you pass though.

[Apex]

I was cruising around on my old GS500 and actually ran into a huge harley group. I stopped next to them and they asked if I was doing anything, I replied with "just riding". Pretty much they said they were going to xyz and asked if I wanted to cruise with them. I said sure, and I was a part of the group. There were around 50+ peeps there. I had to split after a while, and waved to everyone as I parted, and they all waved back. An excellent experience in my opinion.


One of the local groups I'm a member of tend to ride hard versus enjoying the ride. I feel the riding hard is better left for solo or very small groups (so you don't feel like you NEED to keep up) and the track. So I don't ride with them much.

[Nemy]

Originally Posted by Apex

One of the local groups I'm a member of tend to ride hard versus enjoying the ride. I feel the riding hard is better left for solo or very small groups (so you don't feel like you NEED to keep up) and the track. So I don't ride with them much.

+1. Group rides suck if everyone just wants to show off... or it's even worse if they don't know what they're doing. Our community is pretty good here in the GTA. I've started a list of people not to ride with and keep getting new "recommendations"

[SpyderGirl]

I did a benefit ride in Sacramento last year, it took 45 minutes to clear the parking lot there were so many bikes. The first bikes were arriving at the fairgrounds where the BBQ was as the last bikes were leaving. It was quite a sight!!

I will also be participating in a large group ride in June (see my signature).

The largest Spyder ride I was ever on was only 16 Spyders. In June, BRP is having the West Coast Spyder Owners event the weekend of 6/26 - 6/28 for the premiere of Transformers 2 and there should be well over 100 Spyders there for that group ride. I can't wait!!

[Apex]

Originally Posted by Nemy

+1. Group rides suck if everyone just wants to show off... or it's even worse if they don't know what they're doing. Our community is pretty good here in the GTA. I've started a list of people not to ride with and keep getting new "recommendations"

That is the #1 reason I don't meet up with my local Mustang car club anymore. I was riding with a friend in his '84 Mustang and we almost rearended another car because they decided to brake late because they were not paying attention. We decided to leave the group and drive solo to the final destination. It sucks when you can't enjoy a meet of some kind.

[SpyderGirl]

Originally Posted by Apex

That is the #1 reason I don't meet up with my local Mustang car club anymore. I was riding with a friend in his '84 Mustang and we almost rearended another car because they decided to brake late because they were not paying attention. We decided to leave the group and drive solo to the final destination. It sucks when you can't enjoy a meet of some kind.

Yeah, the last group ride we did we left and did our own thing. They were speeding and splitting lanes. No thanks.

[BlueRaven]

i only ride alone for the simple fact the only person i know that owns a motorcycle is my boss and she has her bf to ride with. i'm the black sheep of the family. first to do everything crazy. i keep telling them life is too short to say i wish i could do that and live your life with all those regrets of never trying anything. my motto is suck it up and just do it.

[ninjabrewer]

I have been on only a few group rides, one with the friend I bought my ninja from, and sound_wave and I have ridden a couple of times.

nb

[gitoy]

i just participated in a charity ride today (ride for kids) starting at the honda hdqtrs in torrance...must have been 300 to 1500...couldn't see the front of the pack or the end...there were 30 to 40 motorcycle cops blocking traffic for us as they go up and down the formation as we headed towards the pv peninsula...it was like a parade, people waving and honking as we went by...other people in their cars waiting for like 15 minutes for all of us to go by, with their wtf look in their eyes...not the regular group ride i am used to...speed was like 35 mph at the fastest to just waiting for traffic to clear...got my temp gauge in the red a couple of times

any of you go in one of these rides yet?

[Nemy]

Originally Posted by gitoy

any of you go in one of these rides yet?

not yet, but that sounded amazing! It's nice leisurely showings like that that get people interested in riding.