Group Riding-Trike

[PJ73USAF]

Short time owner of a 2014 Trike.Haven't done any group or poker runs yet.Just wondering if there is a preferred position within the group for a trike to ride.I would imagine at the rear,or does it even matter?

 

[lboos]

Short time owner of a 2014 Trike.Haven't done any group or poker runs yet.Just wondering if there is a preferred position within the group for a trike to ride.I would imagine at the rear,or does it even matter?

Hi PJ, thanks for your service, I would also think the rear position, My self I don't ride in groups.
I'm a loner, and a loner's got to be alone YAHHHH:AGGHH:.

BTW I gave the USAF 43 years, loved most of it .

 

[Peter A.]

I too prefer to ride alone - if someone were to tell me I have to ride in the back I'd be on my way in a different direction!


- - - Updated - - -

I too prefer to ride alone - if someone were to tell me I have to ride in the back I'd be on my way in a different direction!

P.S. Thank you BOTH for yor service, Pete USN

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Any where you join in is fine. Just keep the 2 second distance in mine.

 

[Bikerbozo]

I usually don't care where I ride. Usually alone, but if in group, wherever others are most comfortable. I plan on a charity ride tomorrow. I'll see if it matters to anyone. Should be a massive group.

 

[Sully]

I ride at the rear and I mostly ride with 2 other Trike buddy's. Then we switch off when we make pit stops. I know with our local HOG group they ask for the trikes to be in the back. :Shrug: go figure.

 

[lboos]

I ride at the rear and I mostly ride with 2 other Trike buddy's. Then we switch off when we make pit stops. I know with our local HOG group they ask for the trikes to be in the back. :Shrug: go figure.

If I did ride with groups, I would think that riding at the rear would be the safest position.
I think riding side by side with folks who may not have the same ability as you might not be a good idea, their is always a weak link in any group :AGGHH:. I just would not enjoy riding and having to worry about a weak link, But, if spread out with the right distance I might think about it, ......I have seen some groups on the road that are far to close for me, not my thing .

 

[rhino 2]

The best place for Trikes is in the rear.. Because Trikes have the most carrying capacity to hold all the parts that fall of the bikes that are up front........:Joker3:
:Joker3:

 

[DK Custom Products]

I don't ride in a group very often, but when I do, where I ride in the group has never been an issue.

Every group I ride with rides staggered, so there is no issue there. When we pull up to a light or stop sign there is plenty of room for a TG and a 2 wheel bike to be side by side in the same lane.

There is one person I'll ride side by side with going down the interstate, and there is no issue with him being on his 2 wheeler and me on the TG in the same lane.

Kevin

 

[cavie]

Group leaders ask the trikes to ride in the rear so the can see if the group is together. They can't see past the trikes. They know what to look for in the last trike. If there is a problem the tail gunner drops out to help. When the leader can't see the last trike (tail gunner) he knows to stop. At least that's how it's done in the two groups I ride with. It's very easy for the leader to see the low hung driving lights on the trike at night. I ride in front of the tail gunner. If I see a 4 lane narrow to two coming, I drop out of line and block the other lane to prevent the cages from braking up the group. The only reason trike in the back is you cannot see past them

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Group leaders ask the trikes to ride in the rear so the can see if the group is together. They can't see past the trikes. They know what to look for in the last trike. If there is a problem the tail gunner drops out to help. When the leader can't see the last trike (tail gunner) he knows to stop. At least that's how it's done in the two groups I ride with. It's very easy for the leader to see the low hung driving lights on the trike at night. I ride in front of the tail gunner. If I see a 4 lane narrow to two coming, I drop out of line and block the other lane to prevent the cages from braking up the group. The only reason trike in the back is you cannot see past them

That can get you a ticket

 

[coronetracer65]

Group leaders ask the trikes to ride in the rear so the can see if the group is together. They can't see past the trikes. They know what to look for in the last trike. If there is a problem the tail gunner drops out to help. When the leader can't see the last trike (tail gunner) he knows to stop. At least that's how it's done in the two groups I ride with. It's very easy for the leader to see the low hung driving lights on the trike at night. I ride in front of the tail gunner. If I see a 4 lane narrow to two coming, I drop out of line and block the other lane to prevent the cages from braking up the group. The only reason trike in the back is you cannot see past them

I have rode in many groups , and have pretty much rode in every position. Have not been ask to ride in rear of any and have never had any comments about my position as far as visuality. We do not ride side by side always staggered . At stop lights and such there is plenty of room for side by side as stated by another poster, ride courteously ! If vision is a problem for some I'm assuming their mirrors are not sufficient ! Ebert. My two cents

 

[cavie]

I have rode in many groups , and have pretty much rode in every position. Have not been ask to ride in rear of any and have never had any comments about my position as far as visuality. We do not ride side by side always staggered . At stop lights and such there is plenty of room for side by side as stated by another poster, ride courteously ! If vision is a problem for some I'm assuming their mirrors are not sufficient ! Ebert. My two cents

When you have 14-20 bikes in line there are visability issues.

 

[coronetracer65]

Agreed and there should be visibility problems with that many , being not to close together. I know what you are saying though ! Ebert

 

[tbear]

I have ridden with the American Legion for years and the last 4 with a Trike.
If the group is Large; every 8 to 10 bikes comes a Trike. The Trike rides in the
rear if only 1 trike no matter what size the Group. Visibilty, and less chance
for any mistakes of any kind when going around dead critters or bad holes
in the road etc..... That is the Rules in this Group..:Coffee:

 

[DTR 11TG]

Hi PJ, YES there is a preferred position in a group and that is where YOU prefer to ride.

If you ride in a group and are told you HAVE to ride in a certain spot just because you are a trike, that is just wrong, but if the ride leader asks you to ride up front because you only have a few hours on your trike, that is good & correct.

If a ride leader tells me that I must ride in the back because he can't see around a trike, after I stopped laughing I would just leave & be thankful that I won't be near that ride leader!

Have fun with your new trike and ride safe, where you want to ride.

 

[cavie]

I fail to understand the adversion to riding in the back. Somebody's got to do it. Since I don't want the responsibility of leader I go where he wants me. We all get where we are going. Everybody's happy.

 

[coronetracer65]

I have ridden with the American Legion for years and the last 4 with a Trike.
If the group is Large; every 8 to 10 bikes comes a Trike. The Trike rides in the
rear if only 1 trike no matter what size the Group. Visibilty, and less chance
for any mistakes of any kind when going around dead critters or bad holes
in the road etc..... That is the Rules in this Group..:Coffee:

So your Trike riders are treated like bastard step children ?

 

[DK Custom Products]

I fail to understand the adversion to riding in the back. Somebody's got to do it. Since I don't want the responsibility of leader I go where he wants me. We all get where we are going. Everybody's happy.

Most of the time I prefer to ride in back..whether I'm on 2 or 3 wheels. Most groups tend to ride faster in the straights and slow down in the curves. Riding in back lets me get some distance between myself and them, so when a curve comes up and they slow down, I can still accelerate thru the curve.

But again, I've never been told where to ride.

I just got back a couple of weeks ago from the Hot Bike Tour...about 300 bikes riding from Joplin, MO to Wisconsin Dells. There were 30 or so Trikes in the group and they were scattered throughout the group...never heard anyone complain & never had any visibility issue when they were in front or behind me. (on this ride I was on 2 wheels)

You can see the ride report, along with lots of pics and video's at this thread-

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/22489-Real-Time-Ride-Report-of-DK-Custom-Hot-Bike-Tour

Kevin

 

[rmrc51]

I've always ridden alone and as of present, I stall haven't ridden with a group. But if/or when I do, I'd prefer to ride in the back. At least in that manner, I can relax not worrying about the route and where to turn and I can also watch the bikes in front as to any thing to avoid on the road. Just my thoughts,,,.

 

[Rod69]

The group that I ride with are mostly trikes, but when we ride with two wheelers we have never been told a certain position. I personally like to ride in the rear so I have a good sight of whats happening on the ride.
I have riddin with some fellows that I have to constantly had to watch in the mirror because they come up on one side at a stop sign and then the next time come up on the other side. Keeps you guessing to stay out of an accident.
Have talked to these people to no avail. Anyway most of the time we fall in where we like to ride.

 

[wehrme]

We always ride staggerd.

When coming into a turn, single, with enough room after the rider in front and back of you for any manuevering necessary.

After the turn stagger again.

 

[GARYD]

Most of the time I prefer to ride in back..whether I'm on 2 or 3 wheels. Most groups tend to ride faster in the straights and slow down in the curves. Riding in back lets me get some distance between myself and them, so when a curve comes up and they slow down, I can still accelerate thru the curve.

But again, I've never been told where to ride.

I just got back a couple of weeks ago from the Hot Bike Tour...about 300 bikes riding from Joplin, MO to Wisconsin Dells. There were 30 or so Trikes in the group and they were scattered throughout the group...never heard anyone complain & never had any visibility issue when they were in front or behind me. (on this ride I was on 2 wheels)

You can see the ride report, along with lots of pics and video's at this thread-

http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threads/22489-Real-Time-Ride-Report-of-DK-Custom-Hot-Bike-Tour

Kevin

:Agree: I ride where I want - as if I was on a 2 wheeler. Trike is only 10" wider then Ultra and that's below the tank so this crap about not being able to see past them is false. We even have a couple riders that ride with a sidecar.
The reason I ride close to the front and never the back is because when we get to our destination, there's no place to park, the food is usually gone or you have to push through 20' of bodies to get to the bar to get a drink (for me it's a coke). Never rode in the back - never will. My chapter doesn't tell anyone where they can ride.....unless they are new to group riding then they are asked to ride in the back. My chapter also rides staggered formation - - side by side is completely reckless and foolish no matter how good you think you are.

I am not a loaner, I like people don't mind riding with them - in large groups, small groups or solo.
I am more then confident of my riding abilities that I don't need to be afraid to ride among other riders.
Every one of our chapter rides has a leader, sweeper and as many road captains as needed. We all have CB's so there is NEVER a need to constantly keep visually checking on the group.
On Charity rides I usually ride up front - organizers like to have trikers ride the subjects of the charity - another benefit of riding a trike. Met a lot of great kids on these rides.
If I was TOLD to ride in the rear, I would leave and do my own ride and meet them at the destination. Thankfully that's never happened.
The only drawback in riding a trike in a group is that you have better braking abilities and could possible get rear ended by a 2 wheeler in an emergency.

Ride safe and enjoy.

 

[Trent]

We quit riding with our local HOG group a couple of years ago for several reasons, but one of them was they always wanted Trikes to bring up the rear. No thanks. I don't have the patience to sit behind someone that is not comfortable unless they are going 7 miles under the speed limit and create huge gaps in a simple staggered formation.

Our dealership sponsors a ride every year which draws about 2,000 riders for a 125 mile tribute to our Military and Wounded Warriors, whom we generously and fiercely support. They even close the freeway for a portion of it to keep everyone together in a 3 to 4 mile long line of bikes. We always got to the starting point early with our friends to get a sweet spot in the front half of the long procession. It was a lotta fun to see that many Bikes and Trikes. all makes welcome of course, running down the freeway in staggered formation. There were only a couple of crashes every year from someone doing something dumb. None of them Trikes I might add.

Last year, 6 other couples all met at our home to ride to the Dealership, just down the road a half mile, to get in line an hour early like always. I had the only Trike, as usual. I led our little group over there, and when we got to the parking area, People that were out directing parking stepped in front of me and waved me over to another area, then had the 2 wheelers go to the main area. I had to go get in a different line with what totaled to be about 40 Trikes. They said that some 2 wheel riders complained that they did not know how to ride behind a Trike in staggered formation, so now all Trikes have to bring up the rear. I pitched a fit to say the least. We could not ride with our friends and had to wait until everyone else left after the start and bring up the rear. Behind 1,960 bikes. It took an hour before we even started our engines. We finally dropped out before arriving at the destination ceremonies as it was taking us way longer than we had planned. Never did hook back up that day with our Friends. I had a meeting with the organizer later and expressed my displeasure and told him if they were ever going to do that again, no support from me. So... this year we did not participate.

No more large group rides for me. No one is going to tell me where to ride, or I will not be a part of that ride. I do not want to bring up the rear to deal with dumb situations, which is what I witnessed riding with HOG, unless it is my express job to be the sweep, which I am not. More than 6 or 7 riders is too many for us. 3 or 4 is just right. And the Friends I ride with do not care that I am on a Trike. They are too busy trying to keep up with me.

 

[iaff84]

Trent,
You made me go to the back! Is that because I was on a Trike or because I did not know where we were going??
Dennis

 

[Trent]

Because I wanted to make sure you could experience my turbulence with that Big Blue Tubby Butt in your face the whole trip!!! Ha ha!!
And all the LED lights on the rear of your trailer were keeping me awake.

 

[Strohkr]

We quit riding with our local HOG group a couple of years ago for several reasons, but one of them was they always wanted Trikes to bring up the rear. No thanks. I don't have the patience to sit behind someone that is not comfortable unless they are going 7 miles under the speed limit and create huge gaps in a simple staggered formation.

Part of the problem comes from the 2-wheel riders themselves. For whatever reason they don't want to be seen with Grandpa on a trike - most of them don't consider a Tri-Glide a Harley. Then there are some that are actually "afraid" of a trike b/c they have absolutely no idea how to ride one.

I was at a Harley sponsored Open House the other day and wanted to ride the new Free Wheeler - even though I have a trike they wouldn't let me ride it until I passed their so-called safety course (2-wheelers didn't have to pass anything - they just got on and rode). Then I was told that I'd have to ride at the back since it's a "trike". I said to hell with it and left. I've ridden just about every bike Harley has ever produced and I like my Tri-Glide the best of 'em all! Give me some mountain roads and most two-wheelers will have a hell of a time keeping up with me - if that's what I want to do!
TRIKES FOREVER!:clapping:

 

[GARYD]

We quit riding with our local HOG group a couple of years ago for several reasons, but one of them was they always wanted Trikes to bring up the rear. No thanks. I don't have the patience to sit behind someone that is not comfortable unless they are going 7 miles under the speed limit and create huge gaps in a simple staggered formation.

Part of the problem comes from the 2-wheel riders themselves. For whatever reason they don't want to be seen with Grandpa on a trike - most of them don't consider a Tri-Glide a Harley. Then there are some that are actually "afraid" of a trike b/c they have absolutely no idea how to ride one.

I was at a Harley sponsored Open House the other day and wanted to ride the new Free Wheeler - even though I have a trike they wouldn't let me ride it until I passed their so-called safety course (2-wheelers didn't have to pass anything - they just got on and rode). Then I was told that I'd have to ride at the back since it's a "trike". I said to hell with it and left. I've ridden just about every bike Harley has ever produced and I like my Tri-Glide the best of 'em all! Give me some mountain roads and most two-wheelers will have a hell of a time keeping up with me - if that's what I want to do!
TRIKES FOREVER!:clapping:

I agree with everything you said - except - making new riders become somewhat familiar with a trike before testing one. Our dealer makes them watch a 5 minute video. Does it help - absolutely not. I volunteer every year to help my dealer with the demo truck. Every single new rider that tries the TG put's their feet down - EVERY ONE OF THEM. Even when I continuously tell them not to. They say OK OK and then put their feet down. Some don't even make it out of the parking lot. It's maddening.
2 wheelers don't need to pass a test to ride a 2 wheeler because they've been riding on 2 wheels forever(?). You have to admit a trike is not that easy to ride....if you've never been on one before.

I agree with you 100% about 2 wheelers keeping up with a trike. I rode with 6 rice rockets on the Cherohala Skyway this summer for 7 miles. Very invigorating. They were sure surprised.

 

[Trent]

In my opinion, which we all know is not worth 2 cents, if a two wheel rider does not have the common sense ability to share the road with a Trike in the vicinity, how do they handle cars, trucks, 18 wheelers, farm machinery, deer, crosswinds, or anything else we all encounter on a daily basis. If you are that brainless on your 2 wheeler, park it before you injure yourself or someone else,, or something worse.

My very few and select ridin' Buds have no problem in a group formation with me on a Trike. They are good riders with great experience and skill abilities that know what they are doing... or I would not be sharing the road with them. I too believe there is a bias towards Trikes, as demonstrated quite often in different situations, and we will probably always have to deal with that.

 

[coronetracer65]

We quit riding with our local HOG group a couple of years ago for several reasons, but one of them was they always wanted Trikes to bring up the rear. No thanks. I don't have the patience to sit behind someone that is not comfortable unless they are going 7 miles under the speed limit and create huge gaps in a simple staggered formation.

Part of the problem comes from the 2-wheel riders themselves. For whatever reason they don't want to be seen with Grandpa on a trike - most of them don't consider a Tri-Glide a Harley. Then there are some that are actually "afraid" of a trike b/c they have absolutely no idea how to ride one.

I was at a Harley sponsored Open House the other day and wanted to ride the new Free Wheeler - even though I have a trike they wouldn't let me ride it until I passed their so-called safety course (2-wheelers didn't have to pass anything - they just got on and rode). Then I was told that I'd have to ride at the back since it's a "trike". I said to hell with it and left. I've ridden just about every bike Harley has ever produced and I like my Tri-Glide the best of 'em all! Give me some mountain roads and most two-wheelers will have a hell of a time keeping up with me - if that's what I want to do!
TRIKES FOREVER!:clapping:

Thank You ! Pretty much covered how I feel also. Ebertepper::clapping: