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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
Myself and approximately 20-30 sportbikes went out for a group ride yesterday. The area we went to was unfamiliar to me, but cornerwise was really nothing major - fast sweepers mostly, only a couple of somewhat tight corners (marked 15/20mph) that could be safely run at 30-50mph.
A new rider on his first bike, a 2007 CBR600 which he has owned for a month, was trying to keep up with the faster guys at the front - some of these guys were on liter bikes, some of them on 600s. Several of them race (WERA and FastTraxx) and do track days regularly - so they generally know what they are doing.
I'm not sure exactly what happened, but he lowsided on a fast sweeper. He said he was in too hot, but I suspect he wasn't really in too hot, just thought he was because the guys in front of him travelling faster made it through with no problem.
The rider was dirtied up and he sprained his ankle (not wearing riding boots). He was wearing a JR leather jacket and regular jeans, but all considered was fine. His helmet did take enough of a knock to break the visor off. His jeans were dirty but appeared to be undamaged.
The bike slid offroad and when it hit the gravel it flipped to the other side, so it damaged both sides. Pretty much all the plastic was rashed or cracked. Some of it is fixable, some is not. Also bent the left footpeg, and broke off the mirrors, but the bike was still in pretty good shape. He said he wasn't going to make an insurance claim, but, being his first bike, I don't think he realizes how quickly the cost of new or repaired plastics and other miscellaneous pieces will rack up.
Now, I can hear the chorus already - he could have done that on a ninja 250. A ninja 250 would not have allowed him to reach those speeds on that stretch of road, and as a new rider on a 250, he most certainly would not have been able to keep up with the guys at the front.
Everyone says the same thing - I'll take it easy, I won't ride over my head, etc. This guy also said the same things. Problem is when you get on a group ride, a lot of that gets shoved back and the hormones take over, especially when the fast group at the front includes a lady (as it did in this case).
This is my second group ride of the season and both of them have seen someone crash. Maybe I'm just bad luck.
Lessons to take away:
600 Supersports are not learners bikes.
You are not special - you aren't Spies, Mladin, Toseland, Rossi, or anyone else, and even if you are, the road is no place to be attempting to ride like a GP track.
Ride within your limits - it's very difficult to do but don't try to be a hero. You look like a zero when everyone has to stop and help get your shit in order.
Gear can and does prevent injuries.
The group, for the most part, was well-behaved. Being Memorial day and the cops out thick, speeds were fairly low (75 and under), considering everyone but two people were on SBs. Had he stayed at the back with some of us, he would have been fine - myself and a couple of others were more or less cruising.
That's one of the drawbacks to group rides - you don't always know who you are riding with. I stayed near the back, as I always do. I don't have to worry about someone crashing into me from behind, or in front of me, and it removes the temptation to run harder than I should (or am really capable). It's difficult enough for me to resist the temptation - I remember what it was like being 23.
as a rookie rider I found group rides to be tricky. you want to ride at your own pace, but not hold up another rider who is behind you. I try to find another rider or two that are interested in riding at my pace and stick together in our own small pack. This works best if the larger group has meeting points for everyone to regroup. Group rides are hard for newbies, everyone always has a faster bike and can ride harder than you.........so you are led to believe. I like riding alone or only with 2 or 3 other riders. Small groups are just easier.
I have no experience with group ride; I have only been riding for a couple of weeks and with that out of the way.
#1. Group should be broken up into smaller group, 4 tops with an experienced rider leading each group, especially with the noobs.
#2. Group should consider departing with a 5 mins interval and each member must understand the route to be taken to minimize the needs to catch up.
#3. Group riding rules should have been emphasized (Enforced). Especially the "noob needs to stay back" rule.
#4. The most important rule of all: It is OK to be slower, rides at own capacity.
__________________
04 YAMAHA-FZ6 MOD: FE,Frame and Rear Axle slider *SOLD
02 HONDA-VFR MOD: Corbin Seat FZ6 vs VFR23 & 4.
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I'm not feeling it. Sorry, but a buddist in the family doesn't make you open-minded. It just means you're bangin' a buddist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zx6rracer
race had everything to do with why he got elected. it was NOT about the issues. do you realize how many niggers are going around with their hip hop attitudes celebrating cause they got a mulatto elected?
I have no experience with group ride; I have only been riding for a couple of weeks and with that out of the way.
#1. Group should be broken up into smaller group, 4 tops with an experienced rider leading each group, especially with the noobs.
#2. Group should consider departing with a 5 mins interval and each member must understand the route to be taken to minimize the needs to catch up.
#3. Group riding rules should have been emphasized (Enforced). Especially the "noob needs to stay back" rule.
#4. The most important rule of all: It is OK to be slower, rides at own capacity.
those are some good points. last group ride i went on did the same except it was three groups, hooligans went one road, spirited went another route, and the noob group went the easy route. i was in the noob group, but it was still fun.
__________________ - 2006 Blue FZ6 -
crashed 08.04.08 +$1
Sounds like a panic reaction and he went wide off the edge of the road.
New riders on group rides should be taken aside and firmly reminded to ride at their own pace. They should then be placed near the end of the group with a sweeper who is willing to stay behind them and make sure they're OK. That tends to remove most of the tendency to get in over their heads by trying to keep a pace that's too fast. Bringing the group back together every few miles will make the gap between faster and slower riders stay reasonable.
__________________ Moderator - Help me fix it and riders' gear. Send me a PM with questions, suggestions, or issues.
Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
New rider crashed on group ride yesterday
Squids make my insurance go up ! 
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