Not Again

Not again

Well once again for the second time for the last two years we went along for a ride with the local motorcyclist and Bikers. The latter was more common. We arrived 45 minutes before KSU and wandered about taking in the sights. Grabbed a coffee and donut and met up with a couple of guys from work. One rides a Honda 750 cruiser and the other rides a Goldwing. My two brother-in-laws tagged along also. One has a 1800 Suzuki cruiser and the other BIL has a 1400 Suzuki from back in the day. Late 70s I would say.

I amazed by some riders. I watched this guy come in on a sport bike with the girlfriend on the back. I could clearly see his tire was almost flat. I walked over to him and made mention of it after he was off the bike. He checked it and agreed. So he went and paid his entrance fee and then came back to go fill up the tire. Needless to say the bike wouldnt start. So he rolled it up a slight incline and proceeded to try and jump start the bike. Well after the second try it started and off he went. I am sure that tire would have blown out by the end of the ride. He came back several minutes later so I imagine he puts some air in the tires. Nothing like a safety check before a ride, EH!

Geeeeezzzz

So here are some pics. of the event as the day unfolded.

Parking lot,



Other makes and models in attendance,





Lunch stop, why of course in order of Memorial day it was the local VFW



After some folks getting some libations and refreshments we were on our way. AAAAAAARGH!





Well after that we departed from the group and headed out on our own. Lets just say I am not doing any of these large rides any more. The rider hurt his knee and couldnt walk. He also banged his head pretty good and it took a while for him to get up.

Note to Dave, Listen to Fred W https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/144039-what-did-you-do-to-your-fjr-today/?p=1232241

Nothing like re-learning things you already know.

At least none of the amateurs took you out, that is one good thing. I would also guess you saw enough silliness to think, "I am not that bad of a rider after all!" It is always a morale booster for me when I compare my skills to that kind of crowd.

RFH, that's like comparing your life to one you see on Jerry Springer. It could still be really bad but be better than that. You gotta find a different reference. Haha...

Well maybe it's not a bad thing to do these kind of rides once in a great while. That way you get to appreciate the FJR folks and there skills at riding motorcycles. I hate to take you guys for granted.

Just sayin,

Dave

The only big rides I do is Toys for Tots for the holidays. Other than that, I stay the hell away from them.

There are good group rides and then there are others... it's good to know which ones you're getting yourself into. Could always just show up for the socializing but do your own thing for the actual ride... I've led a good many rides and always break groups up... the same for many of the FJR gatherings... lots of folks show up but break up into smaller cells for the actual rides... when I mentor riders I always tell them to know where they are, where they're going, and how to graciously break off on their own and find their way (safely) home. B)

I gave up on large group rides a long time ago. Our local club does a big charity ride every year and we end out with over 100 to 200 bikes covering a route that takes a couple of hours. This scares the crap out of me and after the first couple of years I have declined to participate. I show up, sign up, make my donation and disappear.

Attended my first toy run last December. Been riding for about 25 years and finally decided it might be fun. My riding is always solo so I can turn where I want, stop when I want, and camp where I want. Anyway, the Toy Run was a very well organized event with about a thousand bike of all sorts at the start. Shortly after I arrived, I notice a large contingent from the two Texas clubs who made the news with a recent shootout club meeting in Waco. 15 minutes later the local LEO's who where there for escort duty had to break up a rather heated discussion betwixt the 1 percenters in attendance. That and having some poor fella suddenly do a lowside about 20 yards in front of me on the actual ride while going about 25 mph on a straight and level road kinda put the kibosh on any enthusiasm for future large group riding events.

Fully agree with RossKean. Show up, donate, enjoy the scenery and then ride away. Solo.

Ugh.... you have no idea how much I appreciate you posting up thoughts on these big group rides...

In all honesty - I have 2 differing thoughts.... I have worked weekends my entire life and have always felt that I miss out on so many opportunities.... like these group rides... and motorcycle gatherings... My woman and I have always been lucky to be able to have our days off together and run long solo adventures and generally keep to ourselves...

But with your posting, It honestly hits me that all these "special events" brings their own problems that just don't come to mind when thinking about what we are missing... clearly we are better off and not really missing a thing....

Always been a guy to keep to myself and It seems that we are better off and not missing out on much...

We used to go on group rides all the time. Usually late year Christmas oriented rides; Toys For Tots, etc... Around here most were escorted and traffic was controlled by the law enforcement agency where the run was being done.

After a few years with bikes crashing at EVERY event, the cops pulled out. Too much liability during an event they "control" without being able to control anything. The Toys For Tots ride was out of Rio Rancho HS for aing time, and escorted by Rio Rancho PD, Sandoval County and Albuquerque Police.

Every year we rode that event, there was a serious crash within a mile of the start point. I saw idiots, drunk idiots, show offs, people with no skill, and people there who just wanted to donate and have fun. We didn't stop because of any of them. I'm a big boy and know how to avoid people I don't trust. I guess, we just kind of lost track of when the events take place and haven't gone in a couple years.

We avoid them any more especially "poker runs" where many if not all the stops are at bars. Occasionally go to the Miracle ride in Indy for Riley Children's hospital because you get to do a lap on the track but too many bike, idiots etc.

We used to sponsor an early May Motorcycle Safety aawareness ride from our store.

I never went on the ride, someone had to tend to the store, my partner used to lead it.

We conducted the ride under the auspices of our Honda Riders Club Chapter, the Rushmore Ramblers.

It was always like herding cats to get everyone organized and moving on time. The local PD blocked some intersections for us so the gaggle could get through and onto I-90 for the ride to Sturgis then on to MT Rushmore and finishing in Rapid City.

Can't say I missed the opportunity to go.

One or two companions suits me fine, more than four and I start looking for an escape plan.

Half a dozen riders is pretty much my limit. Went on a local toy run a couple of years ago, but peeled off to do my own ride about halfway through.

And here I thought that I was the only one who didn't like riding in large groups. 6 is my max.

I do our local toy run near Christmas. About 1,500 bikes show up and it goes through town at about 15 mph max speed so the idiots can't get into too much trouble. Other than that I avoid large group rides.

No Poker runs, large group rides, etc for us. After seeing 4 wrecks a few years ago within a timeframe of 1/2 hr that was enough. It could just be me, but it sure seems like many of the folks that you see on these rides ONLY ride in poker runs, etc. In other words they just get their bikes out a couple of times a year or so.

I like group rides that have an odd number of riders less than three....

dcarver said:

I like group rides that have an odd number of riders less than three....

Click to expand...

Well, you've got the odd part down.

pa-dum-dum. tish....