Be the Glue Keeping Your Riding Crew Together

Make sure your ride gets the in-depth planning it deserves.

Improvisation is overrated. Although spontaneous treks carry a certain air of excitement, it only makes sense with a smaller group you've gone riding with before, on a route you're already familiar with. Putting together a clear understanding of what route you want to take, as well as the amenities and landmarks you'll be stopping at, will ensure everyone knows what they're in for from the start. A ride needs a common sense of purpose and momentum. It's a disaster when some people want to go onward and others have lost steam. There should be ample time in advance of the ride to research interesting sites worth checking out. In almost every scenario, a healthy amount of focus will enrich the experience for everybody.

Your group's riders should boast similar skill and experience.

It goes without saying that this does not apply if the ride is consciously intended as a way for some new riders to cut their teeth. Otherwise, it's not a good idea batching together riders with significantly different levels of bike aptitude. Even if everyone pals around well as people, riders with less skill may become frustrated by the brisk pace and run into issues keeping it. Meanwhile, veteran riders may feel understandably resentful if they have to be held back. It bears mentioning that this doesn't usually refer to the skill/experience with motorcycling itself, but experience with actual rides. The endurance needed for a proper cross-country trek shouldn't be underestimated, and unproven riders may be at risk to tire out prematurely.

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Schedule your ride around the forecasted conditions.

Always make sure to plan your ride based around the weather. Bright and sunny is usually the golden goose when it comes to cross-country riding. Unless you're riding with some truly stone-cold badasses, getting caught in dreary weather can sap morale fast. Weather forecasts are a helpful companion in this regard. Your sensitivity may vary with the weather; your riding crew might even prefer a rainy ride. However, even the most unphased rider will take to grumbling if they're caught in bad traffic. A traffic jam is the exact opposite of the feeling people look for with a Harley-Davidson. Sites like Google Maps offer traffic predictors for a route at a given hour of the day.

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Establish a code of rider rules.

Does it go against the rebellious freewheeling spirit of Harley-Davidson to lay down some ground rules? Not at all. And it's probably a necessary thing if you're putting together a larger group. Considering that the road is the last place you want to run into petty debates, figuring out a system of when to stop and eat, or how long to stay at rests will keep things going reasonably smoothly. Communicating expectations and responsibilities to your fellow riders in advance can be brief and simple. When you get the ride going, you should be able to safely assume that everyone has roughly the same sense of rider etiquette that you do.

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Account for rider personalities and group chemistry.

Among other things, the heavyweight class Harley-Davidson specializes in is characterized by a generous amount of storage space by motorcycle standards. Still, that's not enough space to afford packing tension along for the ride. Leave the drama at home; the road's no place for butting heads. Much the same as if you were planning a party, bring people together that you think will get along. Being out on the road has a way of bringing peoples' most irritable traits out for everyone else to bear with.

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A pre-ride meetup sets the stage.

You're only as prepared as your least-prepared rider. It's bad enough if a rider neglects to maintain a bike and has it break down on a solo ride. It's worse in a group setting; the entire party is brought to a halt. Everyone riding with you should follow a common checklist in advance depending on how extensive the ride is. On the other hand, don't forget that meeting up at the start of the ride sets the tone for the rest of the adventure. It should be fun. Catch up on coffee and breakfast and touch base on ride plans before you head out together.

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Lead by example: keep your spirits high.

Even if you're not the appointed leader of the ride group, you can take responsibility for putting the ride in high spirits-- namely, by being in good spirits yourself. Life is too complicated to promise you'll be feeling your best when it's time to bite highway, but there's a lot you can do in your power for it. Make sure you're well-rested, fed and hydrated. A ride out on the open road is one of the best feelings in the world; if your body and mind are well-taken care of, it shouldn't be hard for the enthusiasm to catch.

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For maintenance and repair guides for your Harley, browse our technical How-to articles right here on HDForums.