WHATCHATHINKIN'

  Space and distance. We’ve covered that in these pages and many a safety instructor has preached about the importance of keeping a good distance from the riders around you. Whether you are riding with one other or a group, keeping at least a couple of bike-lengths away from everyone should be the norm. I’ve taken part in quite a few large group rides, usually charity events, where there are all levels of riders – from newbies to veterans – and will almost always try to get in the front of the pack, as one never knows the riding habits of those attending.

One such ride, attracting hundreds of motorcycles which traversed both highway and surface streets, had a family member of the recipient of the charity donation mounting a motorcycle, most likely not theirs, wearing stylish non-riding clothes including a lovely pair of Gucci loafers. You’ve seen these escorted rides blocking traffic, with bunched up riders way too close to each other. I always think of the poor soul trying to get home, to work, or anywhere and hoping they are not in any emergency.

As the ride exited the highway, we heard ‘that’ noise and were told that this ‘rider’ had taken the exit badly and crashed the bike. Luckily he, and those around him, were not badly hurt but this shows two things, at least – don’t get on a motorcycle (or horse/ostrich/bull/etc.) without the proper equipment and knowledge, and keep your distance.

There are certainly situations which call for keeping a close pack, such as trying to get through a crowded urban area or city without having to stop and wait constantly or, worse, lose one of the pack. On some of our overseas excursions, especially when we are in a country of unknown language (to us) like Japan in 2025 and without a GPS to follow that purple line, we stick like glue to the leader. We certainly don’t want to be ‘that person’ who holds up everyone else by missing lights or making wrong turns.

For the most part, Brian and I ride together and, also for the most part, Brian will be in front, as I am always concerned of my pace and being directionally challenged, even with the aid of the GPS. When we do ride with others, usually on a Backroads’ event, I might take up the rear for these reasons as well or simply because I do have the route and can pick up any wandering souls.

On a recent spring ride, we were heading out on a great loop ride I put together to the Oldwick General Store. Brian, on the BMW R1300RT which still graced our stable and I on my trusty, now classic, Honda 919. It was a lovely day, and the roads we traversed were some of the better ones through New Jersey’s Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon counties. As we rode, we pointed out to each other the budding of nature and other sites one can take in while riding. We passed the Snowmobile Museum, sadly now permanently closed, on a particularly beautiful and twisty stretch of road, and made a right past the very large and lush fields where some equally beautiful horses graze. This is large, open country and I’ve always thought it would be the perfect spot to watch a meteor shower, full moon or be abducted by those not from this earth.

We continued, and the trees grew closer to the road. I was hanging back, breathing in the warm air and just having a wonderful ride, when something large and dark crossed my path. Was that a bear cub? A rolling garbage can? I asked Brian if he had just hit something and realized…… shit, that was his saddlebag which popped of the RT! I urgently told him, which elicited an expect ‘OH SHIT’ back. He made the u-turn back to the slightly dinged but otherwise whole bag and did his stomping and primal scream to release the frustration, then firmly and deliberately reattached it, checking it at least half a dozen times to make sure it truly was sitting properly.

As we continued, we discussed this and both agreed that yes, it truly sucked but…

1) It was just the bag and nothing else happened to the motorcycle

2) As one would say, ‘that’ll buff out’

3) I was behind him and saw that the bag came off

4) I was keeping a good distance back so was not affected by the depth charge

There are many reasons to keep your distance when riding with other, and with this, it was just in case.