Site to find riding groups in your area !!!

Hi,

I just found out about this site where you can find groups to ride with in your area. Just put in a "search" word like "motorcycle" or "scooter" and your town. You can also use the drop down menu to select a distance away from your town and you should get quite a few riding groups show up.

http://www.meetup.com/

Well... Not around the Topeka area... I feel so left out...

Oh Well. I've still got my SilverWing forum friends...

Thanks for sharing that link JeffR

Scoot Jockeys Chicago had a meetup for breakfast before going to the Chicago Motorcycle Show. Suzuki, BMW and Yamaha had scoots at the show. I was gonna go, but I went to the show on opening day, Friday.

Thanks for sharing the link, JeffR. I did join and found a group of riders and look forward to meeting up for a ride.

There are several motorcycle /scooter groups on Meetup in the San Diego area.

Nothing near me. Oh well. Lone wolf anyways .

Based on 60 years of daily riding....Group Rides at best are very dangerous, not recommended in my book.

john grinsel wrote:

Based on 60 years of daily riding....Group Rides at best are very dangerous, not recommended in my book.

Yes and usually painfully slow!

Hmm, that is a first that I've heard of Group Rides being dangerous. You know, you're right. If one rider messes up and goes down, then several others have a good chance of doing the same. I will have to think good and hard before I go, if I go, on a group ride.

I think I'm convinced that I won't be going on any group rides...at least not any large groups. Perhaps one or two other riders would be okay, but that should be about it.

hotwings wrote:

john grinsel wrote:

Based on 60 years of daily riding....Group Rides at best are very dangerous, not recommended in my book.

Yes and usually painfully slow!

It really depends on the individual riders being in sync with the group as a whole; that is to say that all the members of the group should know something about group rides, how they are conducted, hand signals and things that they probably should not do during a group ride.

Things are a lot safer and more enjoyable when everyone knows what is going on, where they are going and what to expect and what is expected of them.

Probably the most important thing is to "Ride Your Own Ride". That is, ride safely and defensively no matter what everyone else is doing. For example:     Don't speed in attempt to catch up to the group or run yellow or red lights in order to stay with the group.

Any ride leader worth his salt will make sure the group is gathered for turns in case of alternate/detoured route or in order that riders not sure of or not fully briefed on the ride route will not get lost/separated from the group. And at least have places planned to meet/gather during the ride if that happens. And a good sweep/tail rider to keep everyone shepherded along helps as well.

Though not all inclusive and several things are repeated and some things have slight variations, here are some things to check out to get you started:
http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Group_Ride.pdf
http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/group-riding.php
http://www.msgroup.org/GroupRidingGuide.aspx
http://www.hellscanyonhog.org/index_files/GroupRidingPractices.htm
http://abatesc.com/web/join-in/safetyeducation/group-riding

Group rides can be fun AND safe if conducted with knowledge, good sense and care.

I have been on a few rides with Scoot Jockey's Chicago.  After going on a few rides I prefer to ride with my husband, and a good friend I met through this forum who also has a Swing. I like to keep the group small and all of us having a large enough bike to keep up with one another.

Riding with the smaller scoots is very difficult.  All the different personalities play a part too.  Meeting up at different venues isn't bad.  Riding in large groups is not my thing.

bandito2 +1.

I joined Meetup in my area and met a couple of cool guys. Now they don't have Swings, but still scooter riders.