There's a little safety in riding 'tail light.' When I'm in the back I can keep an eye on all those monkeys. I am relaxed and happy alone, tense and watchful when I'm in a pack, so I like to stay in the back. They're all in a hurry- they don't want to be late for the inevitable multi bike pile-up. To be honest I haven't ridden with a group for about 4 years now, and they were friends of mine. I led that time but had trouble with one of the wives falling back, she couldn't get underway from a stop without messing around back there. I spent most of my time watching her in the mirror. What fun!

Much truth here. I prefer to ride alone at my pace. I do have a riding buddy I trust. A friend of mine tried to ride with me, he went too slow in traffic, too slow around corners, and could not maintain position or speed. Never again

If, and that's a very big if, I ride in a group (3 in as many years), it's a charity ride and I'll always sit right at the back. Too many people with small dick syndrome that need to try and show off when around others. They're also usually the ones that'll bin it first, and being at the back gives me plenty of time and space to avoid them. I also don't care about the groups speed. You wanna ride fast? Be my guest, but I'm still gonna take my time and enjoy my ride, and meet you at the next stop. If I want to go flat out, I'll take it to the track, cause too many young riders never become old riders because they can't tell the difference between a road, and a race track, especially in groups. I say be a dick, enjoy the solitude, and soak up the amazing sights, sounds, and smells of this amazing little rock God made for us to enjoy. If doing that solo is what brings you joy, then do it solo, and to hell with what any one else thinks. 🤘

Well Said Arrive Alive .... Stay Safe

After hundreds of miles with riding "groups", pack rides for causes, and MANY hundreds of miles with an equally skilled aggressive rider brother (many campouts too), I defer to ride alone because NONE OF THESE DWEEBS have done the RLAP courses, practiced PANIC STOPS, avoidance, studied vanishing points, target fixations, or ANYTHING except how to change gears (often mismatching revs), stagger formation; to some extent, and duckwalk their bikes, lacking the ability to friction-point the rear tire. I'm 70, not dead, and my only 2 accidents were caused by a steupid in a formation, and a railroad tie at night on a freshly paved road. 50 yrs riding says I'll ride alone, my way (still pretty aggressive), but seriously PAYING ATTENTION! Until I meet someone again worthy of my company. BTW, if you're not a very skilled rider, you have NO business riding 2 abreast, like Blue Knights or just cops doing a funeral. Yours could be next.

No you are not a Dick!.. I am very fond of my friends that asked me to take a group ride, but I have not written with them since 2021. We have never had any close calls or fatalities. And I can agree with you on the start, stop, slow , fast aspect of a group ride, that crap drives me crazy! So I very seldom almost never group ride.. it's right there in my KZbin channel's name...Solo Black 313. You are not selfish! You just know how you want to ride! I enjoyed the video, just Subbed Stay and ride safe bro.

Used to ride with 15-20 others. Found out too many squirrels were in the nest and won’t ride with them again. Only have two guys I’ll ride with now, and that’s rare. Prefer to go my own way, no destination, timeline, just ride.

Approaching 70 I still want to be out on my bike as much as possible but I haven't ridden with anyone for over 20 years, don't plan to either. I can stop, go fast, go slow, go wherever I want because I don't have anyone to worry about.

I have to agree with you 100%. I prefer to ride alone also. I used to have a buddy I rode with but he is no longer able to ride. We always knew where the other one was. I found once you had more than 2 riders you increased the danger of something happening. My buddy and I always spaced out at least 5 car lengths and more if we travelled over 70 miles an hr.

Ride your own ride. It's your life in your hands.

I would never ride side by side. If something happens, you have nowhere to go. It is one of the first rules we used to teach new riders during our classes. lane positioning is important, and having enough room to maneuver is critical. I have seen 2 riders crash into each other, because a dog ran out in front of them. so when one rider swerved to avoid the dog he crashed into his friend. Always ride staggered, with at least a 2 second separation. I am patient, I can wait an extra 2 seconds.

Totally agree. We all ride differently, and some styles don't mix well. Besides, it's about individuality so why would I want to associate with a group?

I'm with you 100%. I used to do this poker runs and go to rallies with my friends but to many closed calls. The last one turned in to a real accident at Daytona that caused my friend to total his bike and his legs broken in two parts, plus in the same accident I almost got ran over an 18 wheeler. The shame of is that the accident was caused by a group that were not with us and decided to pass us and the leader of that pack shortly after passing us decided to slam on the breaks to turn around and his brakes locked on him.

Can't beat riding solo,on a quiet country lane, end of the day,setting sun, coming home to a hot drink and a beef sandwich, ...oor...a hot blonde,and her beef curtains, .....I'm being silly again,..It's me age,

My preference is to ride mostly alone, but occasionally with only one or two other riders that are of the experienced variety, without the ego trip and maniacal need for speed. If those kind of other riders are not available, then I definitely just ride solo.

I like serenity and go the other way when I see a crowd. Avoid anything that has the words Club, Festival, Group or Association, Council, Strata board, etc. If you join someone will appoint you President. Gross.

I mostly ride alone because I like to have fun. Riding with old Harley guys, I have to drop it down a gear and putt-putt along like I'm a fearful old woman (and I'm nether fearful nor a woman, but I am old). There's no way I'd want to participate in a big troop ride like that, so I couldn't comment on such things except to say, "No". I think the largest pack I've ever been in was around 8 bikes, and they all understood a standard, staggered formation just fine. And, Man, if you're with someone who doesn't understand the basics, then you'd better fill him in right now! Don't be silent and then resent it because you couldn't be an effective communicator.

I have a old slow bike. Keeping up with a group means I'm flogging the bike. I like my bike so give me a big head start.

I am primarily a solo rider for the same reasons you stated.

Inexperience, gotta know your friends

It's only been about the last 12/15 yrs or so it seems that if you ride a motorcycle YOU MUST RIDE WITH OTHERS OR IT WILL SUCK. I call BS been riding since 74 alot of dirt some street mostly alone and have had a ball. First Harley in 2000 wide Glide I didn't turn into a power drinker don't listen to hard rock from 70s/80s and don't ride like my ass is on fire!! Oh at 60yr still race motocross that's about the only time I go fast.

I'm drifting away from group riding exactly for the reasons you mentioned. I belong to an organization and there's maybe 3 of us out of 25 or so members that can actually ride. I've tried to get these riders to practice more but it's basically a lost cause. So I have drifted off on my own more and more. I still have a couple of close friends that I will ride with and that's because we have been riding with each other weekly for over 10 years now. Other than those close friends, I won't group ride. I will go to the charity run, pay/donate and then go do my own thing

good stuff hope your out chasing some right now

Yea fuck that there are enough dumbasses on the road without having to follow one.

Personally, riding in a group is so much more fun--live to ride, ride to eat. Seek out and join a riding club with members that are experienced and share your concerns for safety. I no longer engage in charity rides--too many egos and inexperienced riders. The group I ride with has designated road captains that generate routes that are emailed to the club members. They also conduct a pre-ride meeting before KSU where the road captain goes over expectations that follow standard MSF guidelines.

Not a dick and agree with you 100% Been riding for over 50 years. I kind of see it as a lot of Sunday riders out there and ones who have not experienced a lot. I was basically was a commute to work rider, almost every day, and got caught up in some hairy scenarios. Plenty of heavy rainstorms, and a few freak hail storms. Pulled into my garage plenty of times with my nuts up in my stomach, muttering, "Thankyou God, never again"......lol!

You are not alone in your way of thinking. The things I've learned driving motorcycles, big trucks, and cars taught me that close quarter driving is unsafe.

Yeah, I basically ride alone. I don’t trust these people. Don’t know where they got your card from.

Went on one poker run,to many idiots like you had in your group of riders,to many people with to many bad habits,will never go on one again.

I agree with you 100%, i ride with my son some of the time, anndwe stablish plans ans rules that we both follow to thr nail. Now mostly me or my son rid ealone or i meet with friends but avoid the packs, there is aleay a nfee aholes in the mids that dont take safety seriously, something i do. I hate to go on a rant but here in south florida the grouos we avoid are moatly Harley riders, no all are aholes but most are. We see less way less of the dumb kind on those that ride non harley bikes. Inl9ve harleys ass theybdo look good but dont like culture. The only time i can ride inpacks is when we rider our dirt bikes, 20 hlguys traying to tame the dirt path. Now on the road way too many squids on 30k bikes eating crp and being totoaly nuts. So you are right is best to be alone that with bad company.

nope youre not a control freak /dick or whatever ,I feel the same a lot of "riders" really are not long term experienced riders and are unaware of the presence of others , Having said this 50 years in I almost always ride alone or one other buddy who I know ,possibly a third [but seldom] and that is it . thanks for this, ride safe .

I ride mostly alone. I do ride with my sons and younger brothers, so max of 5 bikes. Always staggered and within 5 mph of the speed limit. No hot rodding allowed. Safety first, period.

agree.

Two 700 lbs bikes rubbing together can easily rip off a leg. Ive seen also seen stupid people get smacked off of their bikes at the first stop in the ride. The answer to you group ride problem is to ride in the very back as close to the sweep as possibly like every other experienced rider in the group. Most riders are posers who put down less then 2500 miles a year. As such they will always be new riders on an unfamiliar bike and especially in climates where where you cant rides year round. I believe somewhere in either the MAIDS or Hurt report it states riders with low yearly mileage are more likely to be at fault in an accident. Also most deaths occur at 40 mph or less.-

You may be a dick, but not for that reason. Like driving cars, some riders unfortunately are clueless. Ride safe.

I'm with you brother!!! If that's being a 'dick' then 'dick' is what I want to be and what I expect that every sensible rider to be too. I avoid riding in groups, but when I come up on a group ride going slower than I normally ride, I stay well back (as if I'm following a car) and "ride my own ride" until, if and/or when, I can safely and courteously pass the group. Riding in a group (for me) it is just too easy to get "target fixated" and not looking ahead and through the turns as I should.

You're not a dick. It's fun to ride with a small group of friends, though -- riders who you know are like-minded and competent.

Wanting control for yourself isn't being a "control freak". Freedom of movement is the issue. To stop for a day or two somewhere is easier done alone.

No, you're not a dick or what. Been there done that with group rides. If you live long enough the people you enjoyed riding with have either passed away or given up riding. Age 67 and still riding my 13th and 14th bikes in beautiful southern Indiana.

I feel exactly the same way!

I don't think you're a dick at all. When your personal safety is at risk, or there are elements of a group ride that turn it into something annoying, then it's time to break off and ride your own ride. I also prefer to ride alone. I enjoy the solitude and the ability to go where I want and stop when and where I want without having to worry about anyone else. I ride for me, and no one else.

They should at least have had speed and bike placement rules, and discuss them before going anywhere. Sounds like the kind of riders that becomes statistics.

Yeah, riding in groups with strangers can be dangerous. You never know the skill level of the other riders so things can go bad real fast.

I prefer to ride alone aswell 😊

I always thought that riding a motorcycle was for people that don't feel the need to fit in. I don't understand people that join clubs, ride in groups, or dress alike when they ride. Riding a motorcycle is not enough in common to make buddies based on that alone. The only guy I ride with has been my friend since we were 12 and we both happen to like bikes.

1000000% agree !!!!. I go myself also or just don't go PERIOD.

Narp. Not a dick. I couldn't agree more. There was a benefit ride here as well about a year back; lots of first year riders on semi or larger cruisers. I declined, but I did take a moment to scoot up to one of the spots they'd be passing. Let's just say I made the right decision.

I ride alone 99% of the time. When I do ride with a group I never ride side by side. If the rider beside you goes down he may take you with him!

When I finally have time to go on a ride, for a few precious hours away from my job and family, all I want is peace, freedom and free roads for myself, my bike and my thoughts. That's why I ride alone. I can understand you very well.

I ride alone 99% of the time I feel just as you do