TOPIC:

trianglelaguna wrote: ride alone

That could be a bad idea if the area (like the N GA mtns) has no cell phone coverage. I crashed up there one time with a group and broke my shoulder. There was no cell phone coverage where I crashed. If someone hadn't been with me....

North Georgia would not be nearly as dangerous for Tri as North Carolina. That'd be JonnyBravado's hide out.
bill

I agree with koolaid_kid, riding in a smaller group is more fun, and it may also be a lot safer. I ride with two friends on most of my trips. We take long 300-500 mile rides every other weekend, and in between we ride on shorter trips. We know each other and I trust their riding, so it makes for more enjoyable riding and always feels safe/supportive.

I've riden with many different groups.
The last 5 years or so I usually meet up with people I know at a local Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group (CVMG).
Most are older than me, and are not too crazy, plus they ride similar bikes.

I'm jealous rstnick. Those are some nice rides in your group. And a lot of KZ in the mix. Nice venues as well.

Well, I got some sad news from the Gators Riders group. This is the group by which I started this topic. As I have stated, its not the riding style I generally go for, but I figured I would keep an open mind and go for a ride or two when they head my way. I have no problem doing a cruise once in a while and just stay back and catch some scenery. They had a coast to coast 317 mi ride last Saturday which I didn't partake in. Sadly, one of the new members (as of mid July) went down. Unfortunately, the rider, Martha, succumbed her her injuries and passed away in the arms of a couple of the other riders. Very tragic.

Here is a write from the Ocala paper:

www.ocala.com/article/20130914/ARTICLES/...clists-dies-in-crash.

She was / and is still listed for the next ride on Sept 20 for the Victory Annual Charity and Demo. I'm sure it will be a solemn ride.

Sad news when any rider goes down - for any reason.

I ride alone 99% of the time with occasional group ride with friends. Alone is better.

Yes this is sad news for sure. I read the news article, and I saw where she was a veteran rider of 30 years, then I read she was not wearing a helmet. This I have to think could very well be why she died from the injuries.
A fellow I know had been in the hospital for several months, after a lady in a van pulled out from a stop sign in front of him. It wasn't pretty, and the just pulled the plug on him the other night. He was also a veteran rider of well over 30 years, and had a helmet and gear on. But slamming a van, well it was more than a body can take.

I keep my riding group to under 5. I don't really trust riders in larger groups. It' gets to become something like pack mentality where they start getting reckless. I've seen guys riding in groups with passengers and crashing...
Just not my cup of tea.

Rstnick..........checking out your photos. Is this Bellfountain area? I live north of Orangeville and have started a Kz900
streetfighter build. Looking for some parts and wondering if any fellow Canadian KZR junkies would be able to help me out. Looking for a 4-1 pipe and an offset countershaft sprocket. Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

I ride alone myself. Almost got hit by a Mercedes the other day. I had to literally raise my left leg as they came around a truck pulling a trailer into my lane and almost got me. I thought they were going to hit the back left side of my bike, but got very lucky.

I mostly ride alone, but if I'm riding with a group, I prefer that they be experienced riders who know what the hell they're doing... ATGATT, MSF training, the whole deal. No chopper/bobber/barhopper/whatever bikes with brake or suspension components removed for the sake of fashion. People with shitty bikes typically aren't very good riders, and can bring others down with them, I've seen it happen more than once.

after street riding motorcycles since 1967 I mostly ride alone .... and on rare occasion there is only a couple of other riders that I trust to ride in close proximity to ...... IMO, there is too many groups that have squids or idiots that run other riders off the road or crash into them......