Solo vs. Group Motorcycle Rides: Tips for Adventure Riders

Adventure riding, whether solo or as part of a group, offers incredible experiences. If you ask me, every rider should try both types of adventure! 

 

Let’s run you through solo and group rides and give you some tips to make the most out of your next adventure. 

Solo riding

Solo riding can be exhilarating and liberating. But, if you’re new to the hobby, it can also be daunting. 

Here’s what to keep for your next solo adventure:

Pros of solo riding

• See whatever you want. You can choose the route, the destination and all the stops along the way.
• Travel at your own pace. On a solo ride, you won’t be slowed down or sped up by the others in a group.
• You can’t lose “the others”. No constantly looking in your rearview mirror or trying to keep up. Especially when entering urban areas with traffic and small streets, it’s easy to lose sight of one another. And that means stopping, calling, figuring out how to meet up again, etc.
• Total freedom. You don’t have to worry about making plans work, or ensuring everyone in the group is happy. It’s pure “me” time; just you, your bike, and the road.

Cons of solo riding

• Can be dangerous. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous, we all know that. But riding solo can make it more difficult to get help if something goes wrong. Especially if you go off the beaten path.
• Easier to get lost. While you’ll have your trusty Scenic app, being able to rely on your group makes navigating a little easier.
• Mechanical problems. Not all of us are mechanics, so if you run into problems with your bikes, having others around to help you can make things a lot easier.

Preparing for a solo ride

Solo rides require a bit more preparation than a group ride. Here are my top tips: 

• Wellness check. How are you feeling? If you aren’t feeling well or alert, avoid riding.
• Get navigation. Having navigation assistance can make all the difference when solo riding. You don’t need to invest in a fancy unit – if you’ve got an iPhone, you can use Scenic.
• Pack smart. If you are going for a long ride, make sure you have packed all the essentials. The night before, pack everything and make sure it fits on your bike. If you need some tips on what to bring, check out my guide on adventure gear.
• Tell your friends and family. Let your loved ones know where you are riding. This will give them peace of mind, and help them help you if something does go wrong.
• Check the weather. Your weather app is your best friend, make sure you check it before riding.

Riding solo – what to keep in mind

So, while you’re actually on the road, here is what you should keep in mind:

• Avoid night riding. Solo rides, especially in rural areas, can be dangerous at night. Make sure you are able to reach your destination before the light runs out. To get the most out of your day, I recommend setting your alarm for sunrise.
• Know your limits. Pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is part of adventure riding – but we always need to do it responsibly. If you are tired, take a rest; if you are going too fast, slow down. If you run into a gnarly stretch offroad, think twice and think through the scenarios of what could go wrong. If it’s worth the risk to you, take it. If not, consider turning around.
• Stay alert. It’s just you on the road, so it’s your responsibility to keep your eyes and ears open for any hazards that could put you in danger.

Group riding 

Going for a long motorcycle ride with friends is probably one of the main reasons why you got into the hobby in the first place. And, for most people, it’s a quintessential part of the experience. 

Here are my tips for what to do when riding in numbers.

Pros of group rides

• Socialize with friends. Great excuse to catch up with friends new and old.
• Share the experience. The best things in life are shared, including the road. There’s nothing better than getting to the end of the ride and swapping stories about the experience.
• Discover hidden gems. Group rides are a perfect way to discover new things. Chances are, someone in your group has a few hidden gems up their sleeve to share with everyone.
• Better safety. Safety in numbers is a very real thing – from hazard detection on the road, to helping with tire repairs and general riding advice.

Cons of group rides

• Go at the slowest pace. Your pack will only be as fast as the slowest person in your group.
• Longer breaks. Stopping as a group, you’ll need to wait for everyone else to be ready to leave before you do.
• Competing interests. Everybody wants to see different things, to stop at different places. Coming to an agreement can sometimes be tricky.
• Ride to camp, or camp to ride? Some people ride to get somewhere and enjoy whatever is there, while others enjoy the riding so much, that’s what they are there for. I’m more of the first type of person. I love to ride, don’t get me wrong, but I’m one of those people that prefers riding a bit less distance in a day, and then chill out at the campsite / hotel / village.

Preparing for a group ride

Riding in a group makes a lot of things easier, but it does take a little more thought when preparing. 

• Plan & share your route. Make sure everyone’s got the same map. Scenic makes it easy to plan and share a route – check out our guide to creating and sharing a route from a Google Maps URL.
• Plan for all skill levels. Choose a route that everybody can enjoy, not just the most experienced riders.
• Learn hand signals. Clear communication on the road is essential. Ensure everybody in the group understands basic hand signals.
• Helmet com sets. While this is a bit of a luxury item, it can be tremendously helpful (and also fun). If you can communicate while riding, it makes things easier and quicker. For example, if you need to make a decision at a crossroad, you can do it while riding. You don’t have to stop. If you see the front rider is about to turn the wrong way, you can warn him/her. If you need to take a break and/or have problems, you can tell the front rider. It also helps you keep the group together. Even if not your entire group have a com set, if the first and last rider have one, you can make sure everyone in between stays on route. That is, if you’re not too many people that you go out of range.

Group riding – what to keep in mind on the road

Here are some basic tips for riding in a group. 

• Formation. A staggered formation, with a few seconds gap between each rider, allows everybody to see what’s ahead of them.
• Group roles. The most experienced riders should be at the front (leader) and the back (the sweeper) of the pack. The riders with the least experience should go in the middle.
• Group size. I prefer smaller groups, like three or four riders. But in the end, this depends on how many buddies are willing to join you. If you are more people, also consider splitting up the group into smaller groups. For example a group of faster riders and a group of slower riders. And then meet up and some key points like 2 or 3 times per day.
• Changing lanes. Whoever is leading the pack should check their mirrors constantly, and only look to change lanes if there is enough space for the whole group.

Group vs. solo rides – what do I prefer?

Boring answer, but I love both. Solo rides are perfect for some ‘me’ time – to get away from work and family life for a second and just enjoy riding. 

 

On the other hand, group rides are what adventure riding is all about, and it’s what got me hooked on the hobby. 

 

So, in short, both solo and group rides have so much to offer, and every rider should experience both. However, when you do, just keep my tips in mind.