5 Essential Things to Look for in a Ridding Buddy
There are important character traits to look for in a riding buddy, and some practical consideration too. Likewise, you should also do your best to be these things for anyone you ride with.
1. Safety preparedness
Besides the enjoyment of having that on-road camaraderie, the biggest reason experienced riders recommend a buddy is for the sake of safety. The importance of this skyrockets tenfold if you're planning to go for a ride in a relatively rural or wild area, where you won't be able to depend on cell phone service, or a helpful bystander being around if things run sour. But at the same time, merely having another person riding with you isn't enough to ensure safety; a solid motorcyclist should have a versatile range of safety skills for a variety of possible scenarios. Proper first-aid training, mechanical know-how and even self-defense knowledge (in case of wild animals) will minimize the risk of giving your ride a turn for the tragic.
Additionally, it should be stated that this goes both ways. As your buddy is responsible for your safety, you're responsible for theirs. Take some time to brush up on some emergency scenarios before you go out on the road. Knowing what to do when you're in the thick of it could save your friend's life.
2. A similar level of experience
Generally speaking, it's better to go out riding with someone who has as much experience as possible; a new rider's excitement can be contagious, but it's a quick path to your own frustration, particularly if the ride itself is beyond their skill level. None of that is controversial at all to say. However, unless you're relatively new yourself and need the guidance of a willing mentor, it's actually preferable for both parties to have a similar level of riding experience. It means that there won't be frustration on either side when one rider is slower through a twisty section, or gets intimidated by traffic or crosswinds.
3. Strong personal rapport
A riding buddy needs to be just that: a buddy. The people you're with on an adventure can mean the difference between heaven and hell. It's fine to ride in a group where there are some people you don't know too well, but having at least good buddy you can count on takes risk out of the equation. You'll often find that a person's most annoying traits are amplified significantly if you're with them for long periods day and night. Remember, the scenery is going to change, but that person you are riding with will be there hour after hour.
4. A flexible work schedule
Many motorcycle rides are scheduled to fall in line with vacation time from work. Other riders are retired from their jobs, and have a relative amount of freedom people with a day job can only dream of when it comes to picking up and leaving. If you're planning a ride, scheduling around life schedules and commitments can be tough even for just two riders, and the challenge only rises the more people you add to the team. Having some flexibility and freedom at the workplace means a riding buddy can alleviate some of the planning stresses, and it minimizes the risk of needing to call off a ride because something came up. You may want to look for a buddy without a wife or kids too, since they always seem to get in the way of taking off on a ride without a lot of planning.
5. A dependable motorcycle
A motorcycle journey should be about freedom, the open road, seeing new places and having stories to tell. Those things suddenly become a lot harder if anyone in your party is riding a dud. Spending a significant amount of time at the side of the road waiting for assistance can seriously hinder or even ruin a journey. These little misfortunes can happen to even the most well-maintained bike, but the disappointment can quickly turn to resentment if it's over something that should have been preventable. Failing that, a good riding partner should at least have the mechanical know-how to act accordingly if the bike happens to give up while on the road.
For help with service of your bike, check out the how to section of HDForums.com
