Motorcycle Touring Tips - Riding Versus Touring Buddies

When planning an extended motorcycle road trip there are many things to consider before setting out. The more obvious items are things like where you will be going, the routes you will take along the way and doing your pre-ride preparations on your motorcycle by checking things like tires, brakes, cables and fluid changes. The most obvious problem with long motorcycle trips on the road is often overlooked. That overlooked problem is the person (or group) that is traveling with you.
You need to ask yourself how compatible are you and your riding companion?
Prior to any long motorcycle tour you need to be honest with your assessment of several things and follow up with a candid conversation with your riding partner.
Here are a few things to consider.

Do you and your motorcycle buddy have similar riding skills?

Riding skills can mean a lot of things. For example, riding skills can mean how fast a motorcyclist navigates a “tricky” section of road. Imagine you reach a really twisty section of mountain highway, just what you have been waiting to enjoy on your trip. However, the other rider is a bit intimidated by those same roads and slows down...a lot!
When you have completed that nice section of roadway you may find yourself quite a few minutes ahead of your friend and spend a half an hour waiting on the side of the road.
First, and most importantly, you can’t ask your friend to pick up the pace. This can take away the enjoyment of their ride not to mention the possibility of creating an accident. Secondly, the slower rider may ask you to slow down and ride down to their comfort level. Again, not good because you are now sacrificing what you may enjoy the most.
Riding skills can also include the rider’s stamina. One rider might consider a long day in the saddle to be 300 miles while the other may want to put in 600 miles per day. If you are faced with cutting your riding days in half or doubling your riding day depending on your perspective, your trip plans will change significantly. You may miss seeing Mount Rushmore or ride by so fast you barely get to see George Washington’s nose!
These are just to examples of riding skills that can come into conflict between two motorcyclists on a long motorcycle trip – so get to know your buddy’s skills beforehand!