Final Drive: Groupon or Groupoff?

If you ride motorcycles long enough, you will learn about group riding. Some might consider it a rite of passage, while others consider it a necessary evil, to some may be both. Group riding, as the name implies, is riding with more than one motorcycle together, usually with a common destination. Unlike solo riding (there are rules, but they seem more fluid), there are specific rules to group riding that participants should follow. The basics are that the motorcycles are ridden in a staggered formation. I am sure you have seen it: Dozens or more motorcycles riding staggered, many times Motorcycle Clubs going on some run. The leader, also known as the "Road Captain" or "Lead Road Captain", leads on the left, near the center line. Here is a picture:

Rose City MC

The riders maintain two seconds distance from the rider directly in front of them and one second from the rider diagonal of them. The last rider in the group, is sometimes called the tail-gunner or "Sweep Road Captain", rides in the middle of the lane, not in the left or right of the lane as shown here:

Sunset Hogs

If the group is large enough, there will be a Middle Road Captain. Slower riders are usually put in the back and if the lead captain is sane, the group will be broken into smaller groups when the number gets much more than a dozen. Unfortunately, this is not the case many times and it can get hairy very quickly. I have ridden in groups as large as 38 motorcycles and it was an experience I will not soon forget. There was rain, grades as steep as 12% and speeds at or greater than the posted speed limit. In general, I don't like group riding. To me it's like herding cats. Why bother? As a group, motorcyclists or bikers are supposed to be the most individualistic people in our society. You'd think they'd be more inclined to ride solo, but like hungry cowboys hearing the ring of the dinner bell, when it comes to a group ride, they respond. It's a dichotomy that I may never understand. 

I do ride with a group once a week during riding season and while the number of motorcycles are relatively small, usually from 8 to 12 motorcycles for a given ride night, I still find it frustrating because of not only the too diverse riding abilities, but also expectations in terms of riding style. Many times it's like riding in a funeral procession, and depending on who is leading, it can mean that we will ride 60 mph on the interstate, yet exceed the speed limit on back roads. Of course you're saying "he's a malcontent that doesn't lead", but I tried that too. At the time, the person that normally led the group was in number two position and when we hit a 4 lane highway with a 65 mph speed limit, I decided to go 60ish and I looked in the mirror to see the normal road captain going what was 50 mph if that in a 65mph zone, with the group falling behind. First off, this is dangerously slow for the road in question and whatever lesson that was intended didn't sink in. After than I never led again, nor will I, at least with that group. Life is too short to willingly deal with control freaks.

I guess my point here is that while there are specific, useful and necessary guidelines to riding in a group of motorcycles, you really need to assess your needs and riding style before taking off on a ride with a group. I would also suggest that anyone assess their riding abilities as if bad things happen, it's not just you. Group riding isn't for everyone and in spite of my protestation and complaints, I still ride with a group once a week as I have a good time with the people involved once we make it to our destination (food based) and my oldest daughter likes to ride pillion too.

So, is it group on or group off? You decide.

To those that are members of BMWMOA and read ON Magazine, I saw the article on group riding (much to my dismay as I had this in the pipe over a week ago), but I have not read it yet. Now I will.

Update: Boots and Gloves Arrive

Got the boots last week as well as the gloves. Both turned out well. The Sidi boots fit fine and are top notch. The only thing I will advise is that where such tall boots takes an adjustment period. I have to make sure I angle my foot down enough when shifting or I will not engage the shifter properly. The boots are plenty comfortable for walking around and I imagine will get better with time. after wearing them while riding, anything else feels naked, like when not wearing a helmet when you are used to wearing one.

The Icon gloves are fine too, slightly snug for 2xl gloves, but they offer my dexterity than my Tourmaster Cold-Tex gloves. I also like the knuckle armor and the visor wipe.

So, now that I have my stuff in and I have used them for a few rides, I have to say I am happy to have new stuff and it's a vast improvement. The First Gear Scout Jacket is a fine jacket and takes a little getting used to as it has some armor and is more snug than I am used to, but I did remove the liner as the weather is starting to warm up and I do not need it. The fit is better without as well. So that is it, until next time. Oh yeah, thank you to BMW MOA for the Superstakes.

Thank for reading my blog.

I'm Winning and Why I Look Like Steve Zissou in a Wet Suit

No, I do not have tiger blood, Adonis DNA, nor am I jacked up on cocaine or some other drug, but I did win one of the second prizes in the BMW MOA Superstakes. 18 people won the second prize, which is a $1000 gift card to Bike Bandit. I have never won anything in my life and it was a complete surprise. Of course there were 6 first prizes (6 motorcycle tours in Europe) and 2 grand prizes (2 R1200GSAs), but I guess I should be happy none the less.

But as everything in life, nothing is perfect. I found it odd that Bike Bandit really does not have a big selection of stuff for BMW. I did peruse the fiche in search of factory accessories, but it was fairly limited. On the other hand, I did need new gear. Unlike the anorexic Sheen, I am not a small person. At 6'5 I once weighed slightly north of 400lbs. I wore a 64 Tall leather jacket. 80 lbs later, that jacket is like a double-breasted suit, although my jacket size is still in the 54-56 range and I need tall as my torso is longer than average and my sleeve length is 38-39. Unfortunately there was not much there in selection for someone my size. I did find a First Gear Scout Jacket in 4XLT. It really is a nice jacket, as I got it just yesterday, but I have one question: Who the hell sizes these damn things?! According to First Gear's sizing charts, the jacket should be a 58-60. Believe me, it's not even close. My guess it's more like 52-54. Putting it on and wearing it reminded me of wearing a wet suit.The arms were snug too. I am not working out right now and I could flex my bicep through the jacket (If I was, I doubt I would get my arms in the jacket, as my forearms can get to be 15-15.5" and biceps 19-19.5"). It really is a well made jacket and very nice (it should be for $550), but they need to use American sizing, not some far east calculation.

The more upsetting thing is the lack of communication or responsiveness on the part of Bike Bandit and even First Gear. I contacted both by email with questions about sizing, returns and I have been ignored so far. Talk about the lack of customer service. It isn't their fault I am big or that I own a BMW. Ok, they have what they have. But for the money being spent and the cost of their products respectively, I would expect a lot more. It surely would have been more fruitful had the gift cards been for Beemer Bone Yard or A&S BMW. I am sure my RT would have found goodies at either place. I hope I fair better with the Icon gloves and Sidi boots I ordered which should be here Tuesday.

Now that I have probably given the impression that I have sour grapes, I want to say I do not. It's always nice if not incredible to win something, but it's also nice to have things work out if you know what I mean. Somewhere lost with today's society is customer service. This doesn't mean that companies offering service should take abuse or unreasonable behavior from customers, but every effort should be made that the customer walks away with a positive impression such that they would come back and they would recommend the business to friends. There is an old saying, good news travels fast, bad news travels faster. At the very least a customers inquiry is an opportunity to foment good will and good feelings. It never ceases to amaze me when such opportunities are lost.

What does this mean? One, be careful what you ask for, you may get it. Always know what you want before the opportunity presents itself that way there is no doubt, regret or indecision. It also means if you deal with people in a customer service capacity, it behooves you to make sure you do your due diligence. I am for one, tired of hearing the old saw, "I don't have enough time" or "I am too busy". These are the same folks that never have enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it two or three times. What are your experiences with customer service folks? I'd like to hear your stories.

Thank you for reading this blog.