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Jun 22, 2016 | 01:29 PM

#11

DeputyLoud

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2014

Posts: 721

Likes: 18

From: Galesville, WI

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom84FXST

I agree...just do it...till you get more experience...try to ride as far back in the pack as they will let you.

That's what we did for the 1st couple years. Rode in the back until mainly I got comfortable with both the bike and the pace of the ride. If we knew where the next destination was we just rode our pace and got there when we got there. Some runs are more organized than others. Some we have bailed on completely mid-run as the instructions or next destination are not clear. It's nice when they print out the stops ahead of time for you so if something happens you can try to catch up or maybe even skip a stop and ride ahead. It really all depends on the ride organizer and your abilities. And I still like riding in the back, but will not hesitate to just jump in line now either. Ride in staggered formation always and watch your 6. As others have said it's usually the other guy you need to watch out for. Most runs around here are bar to bar to bar, drink to drink to drink. Be smart, Be safe, and pay attention to others as they may be getting hammered.

I guess the main thing I want to convey is, it's YOUR ride! If you feel rushed or get out of your comfy zone don't hesitate to just drop out an do your own thing. Have done it many times!

Jun 22, 2016 | 01:33 PM

#12

0maha

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2012

Posts: 6,559

Likes: 4,820

From: Omaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigUglyMan

kisses the biscuit

Good band name.

Jun 22, 2016 | 09:01 PM

#13

1997bagger

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 5,082

Likes: 2,159

From: Ohio

Ride one and see if it is you or not, rode a few of them early in the learning process and met some good people, meet some jackwagons, ride in defense mode and read the riders around you. If riders around you make you uncomfortable, back off until you get space.

Currently ride with mostly shovel gray beards that are against big groups but will show for a benefit ride if personal but will ride away from the pack in the rear. Once again have met some good people but drinking runs will lead to stupidness somewhere, usually the "I got a Harley" type will do burn outs in gravel, pass a group on straight a ways or just be annoying. Personally had a jackwagon harassing me because my saddle bags was shaking at a idle when he was behind me, approached me twice saying he is taking a chance riding behind me with loose saddle bags, throat punch kept coming to mind but then heard him bitching about the free hot dog they gave him and realized he was in enough pain by just living.

Ride a ORGANIZED ride until you find yourself, there is many great Harley riders out there, just read others around you on the road which is also part of a 2 or 3 rider group.

Jun 23, 2016 | 12:29 AM

#14

Ron750

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 28,845

Likes: 16,583

From: Wisconsin, USA

Depends on your meaning of "ready". The first group ride I went on was organized by Suburban Harley, in Thiensville, WI. It was a ride to Miller Park, a Brewers Game. It was a light rain, and a rider on a Road King lowsided. He slid down the road, in heavy traffic on I94. Lucky for him, there were 2 Cop cars right behind him, and they stopped the heavy traffic from running him over. His bike popped up, and kept going about 40 mph. It hit the concrete divider and ricocheted off, headed for me, about 50 yards away. I had been riding for 7 years and was savvy enough to realize I was in the ricochet path. I don't think you are, yet. I sped up, and the RK passed about 20 yards behind me. That was my first and last group ride. Don't be in a rush to get in the middle of a bunch of unknown riders.

Jun 23, 2016 | 12:40 AM

#15

daven9113

Road Master

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 942

Likes: 323

From: Grew up in Texas, moved to AZ

Go and do the organized rides. Riders are social folks. If you stick with riding, you will start becoming anti-social. LOL.....Not in a bad way, you just want to enjoy the road by yourself. Ride at your skill level!

Jun 23, 2016 | 11:55 AM

#16

Uncle G.

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 9,332

Likes: 3,874

From: Upstate New York

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigUglyMan

Ever watch the "highlights" of a bike race where some dork kisses the biscuit and wipes out 20 other people? Multiply that by a thousand and that's what will happen if some noobsausage does something silly during a big group ride.

That's the worst thing about having the loudest bike among your friends...you have to ride at the back of the pack and hope that nothing goes pear shaped in front of you!

"kisses the biscuit" and "goes pear-shaped"! Wow, two new phrases to add to my vocabulary in one post! I'm truly honored.

Both are good band names, by the way.

Jun 23, 2016 | 07:18 PM

#17

BigUglyMan

Tourer

Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 313

Likes: 15

From: New Scotland, Canada

My line of instructional Canadian-English books on tape will be out this fall.

Jun 23, 2016 | 09:04 PM

#18

johnod

Road Master

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 827

Likes: 59

From: Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0maha

This is more of a general question than an Evo question. You should post it in the General section, where you will get an abundance of completely contradictory advice.

Personally, you couldn't pay me to ride in anything like an organised event. (I've been riding over 30 years and have at least a couple hundred thousand miles under me.) JMHO and all that. I'm not much into riding in groups. At most, small groups of people I know and trust.

I do think that when it comes to almost anything, if you are asking if you are ready, you probably aren't.

BTW, welcome to club Evo!

That first line made laugh out loud.
The rest of it is pretty much how I feel too.