Our tips for group motorcycling

It's fun to go round and round with friends or family! It's true, freedom on a motorcycle tastes even better when it's shared. But how do you keep everyone happy? What are the tips for a successful group outing? In this article, we give you our tips for making group riding a pleasure, not a headache. Enjoy your reading!

Step 1: put together an itinerary that's right for you by listening to your individual wishes. In case of dispute? A democratic vote will decide whether it's really necessary to visit the Musée de l'Anvume in Triffouilly-les-Oies. Then, whether it's for a day, a weekend or a week, it' s important to remain humble about the distances to be covered on a daily basis. While the seasoned adventurer may be able to rack up 500 kilometers without flinching, this will not be the case for the young licensee on his frail 250cc. Define a meeting point for departure. A petrol station is a wise choice to avoid headaches and the inescapable "I forgot to fill up, can we make a little detour?

What's your average speed? 70km/h is a good idea. This includes driving at 90km/h, passing through built-up areas, bathroom breaks, photo stops, etc... On mountain switchbacks, this average speed can drop to 50km/h. This may seem low, but you have to remain humble, and not overload the mule, otherwise you'll end up at night and rinsed out.

Have you finalized your itinerary? Share it with your fellow adventurers. The more participants have the tracks, the smaller the chances of losing a biker.

Here's the key to a successful motorcycle outing: don't exceed 7 or 8 participants. Beyond that number, the convoy lengthens, can split up and overtaking takes on a whole new dimension. So quintets are preferable, and even sextets for the more daring. Then, there are two ways of keeping the joy of riding within the group: either the bikers have the same experience, or some are very patient. Can you see where we're going with this? If you're a Ducati Panigale rider, you're not going to like the idea of getting used to the rhythm of the new Mash 250 license for a weekend. So, to keep the peace on the road, choose your companions wisely.

What's best for a group outing? To have the same number of participants at the beginning and at the end. And for this, good communication is the ideal solution. The panacea: the intercom. This way, each biker can express his or her need to relieve the prostate, refuel or report a danger on the road. The alternative? Define a basic gestural code. No need to reinvent sign language! You could, for example, stick out your leg to signal a mischievous pothole, raise your fist to stop, and so on... But be careful! Use them sparingly. We've already had occasion to see motorcyclists literally go out of their way to indicate a booster seat, gravel on the pavement, etc... It's not necessary! Last recommendation? Repeat the signals. And yeah, if the opener indicates his willingness to turn but the second doesn't repeat the info, the third is likely to be surprised. That says it all!

Our selection of intercoms for group riding:

>>> Cardo FREECOM 4X JBL SOLO motorcycle intercoms (up to 4 bikers)

>>> Intercom Cardo SCALA RIDER PACKTALK EDGE JBL (up to 15 bikers)

Riding in a staggered pattern

If you're hesitating between the goose V and the Greek phalanx, you've got it all wrong. If you have 2 or more riders, staggering is the best solution. Which means? First on the left, second on the right, third on the left, etc... This organization combines visibility and safety distance.

When to change to single file?

When the road narrows or when the tight bends start to follow one another. Don't worry, it comes quite naturally. Obviously, in this configuration, the convoy has to lengthen to maintain sufficient safety distances between bikers.

But who opens? And who plays the tightrope walker?

The leader has to be the most experienced. He or she has to take care of the navigation and set the right pace, while keeping an eye on the mirrors to make sure everyone else is keeping up. That's a lot to manage at once. What's more, the lead rider has to resist that primal urge to wring out the handlebar so as not to turn the Sunday ride into a Moto GP stage. In short, a reasonable guy. Second? The least-experienced rider, to be as close as possible to the leader. And last but not least, the valiant motard-balai has the essential task of checking that Michel hasn't been forgotten during his pee-pee break. Of course, the closer has the precious GPS track of the motorcycle outing at his disposal.

What about riding in a drawer?

First of all, let's explain what it is. To put it simply: at each change of direction, the mate stops, indicates the way ahead to the next riders, and steps back on the throttle just in front of the closer. When to use this method? It really comes into its own on off-road outings, where lack of visibility can mask forks in the road. What's more, this organization means the opener doesn't have to count the number of bikers in the mirrors, and can concentrate on riding.

Now you're ready for your next group outing. Any last words of advice before we part? Asphalt is for sharing. So whether you're riding with 2, 5 or 7 people, obeying the Highway Code is priority number 1. Two wheels should remain a symbol of freedom, not the quintessence of recklessness. Have a safe trip!