While it looks like a formation, the participants in this group ride are acting as individual riders, each selecting their own line and ready to adapt as necessary to the environment. Notice the last rider is able to look well ahead to get the big picture.
What defines a safe and enjoyable group ride? A tight grouping of bikes adhering to parade-like formation set by a leader? Or is it an outing of individual riders who happen to enjoy heading out on a road ride together?
The reality is, situations develop rapidly. A non-issue for one rider in a group can present a serious threat to the next rider in line. For instance, an empty driveway to the right of the lead rider may present a vehicle backing out of the same driveway just seconds later. Will that subsequent rider be able to create space from the threat or be able to slow down?
In a tight formation, riders often move as a single group, diminishing individual riders’ situational awareness, their flexibility to change lane position and ability to slow without creating problems for the rest of the group.
Instead, if riders approach group riding as individuals, each becomes responsible for reading the environment and adapting to situations by adjusting lane position and speed appropriate for the situation and according to their own comfort and skill level. Each rider creates enough separation between bikes to establish a suitable space cushion and to make it easier for each rider to take in the big picture (vs. fixating on the rider directly ahead).
Consider instituting a ride plan for your next group ride. Agree that each rider retains full use of his or her lane. Establish a two-second minimum following distance to enable each rider to read the road ahead, anticipate potential threats and allow enough time and space for each rider to respond to changes in the riding situation. And, while it may not look the same as a tight parade formation, a progression of skilled, individual riders that adapts to changing situations is a mighty impressive sight.
2018 BMW K 1600 GTL vs. Honda Gold Wing Tour | Comparo Review : Honda’s all-new Gold Wing Tour and the BMW K 1600 GTL are the fastest and arguably most refined luxury-touring bikes on the road. Both have 6-cylinder engines, aluminum frames, dual-wishbone front ends and single-sided swingarms, but their performance and personalities couldn’t be more different. Photos by Kevin Wing. My, how the luxury touring landscape has changed. Since our last comparison test of these two high-performance, 6-cylinder luxos in 2012 (the year the BMW was introduced and the Honda was mildly updated), the ranks of V-twin full dressers like Harley-Davidson Ultras and the Kawasaki Voyager have swelled to include the Indian Roadmaster and Yamaha Star Venture. At the rate they’re selling, Americans clearly want traditional V-twin touring bikes. Is there still a place at the table for big six guns like the BMW K 1600 GTL and Honda Gold Wing? Read our Luxo Touring Comparo: Harley vs. Indian vs. Yamaha.
2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650 and 650XT First Ride Review : 2017 Suzuki V-Strom 650/650XT Editor Score: 87.75% Engine 18.25/20 Suspension/Handling 13.0/15 Transmission/Clutch 8.5/10 Brakes 8.0/10 Instruments/Controls 4.5/5 Ergonomics/Comfort 9.0/10 Appearance/Quality 9.25/10 Desirability 8.0/10 Value 9.25/10 Overall Score 87.75/100 Last week, we learned all about the considerable changes Suzuki made to the somewhat venerable V-Strom 650 , now in its 17th year of production. Today, we answer the age-old question: What’s it like? The short answer is it’s a lot like it was but better. The long answer is: When we last threw the friendly little Suzuki into a comparison of its peers , the V-Strom in fact finished third behind the newly revamped Kawasaki Versys 650 and the Honda NC700X , but that was a semi-unfair comparison because the ’Strom is more “adventurey” than those two, with its 19-inch front wheel, and in that comparo we didn’t venture off-pavement much. What was most impressive
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