Groups

[hotrodbob]

Sat. the wife and I went on are first poker run. I found out that some of the groups are Butt holes. They did not even say anything to us. We where like complete outsiders. I was told by a friend that most of them think if you join them you owe them something. One of the reason we got the FW was to meet people. I sure hope that not all groups are like that. I told the wife that we will just find some that just like to ride as a small group.

 

[rhino 2]

I ride alone, I like to control my own destiny, I find that if i stop somewhere and theres more than 3 bikes there , I'm odd man out...And i will have better conversions with the greeter at Wall-Mart... Maybe it's my dynamic personally that turns strangers off, Or because of the Tin Foil hat i ware under my helmet.... :Shrug:

 

[1dn5up]

Same here. 3 is my limit. I will meet you there or you meet me there. Aluminum foil gives me a rash! :AGGHH:

 

[rhino 2]

Same here. 3 is my limit. I will meet you there or you meet me there. Aluminum foil gives me a rash! :AGGHH:

You are supposed use it on your head... Not under your shorts... Its rashless that way...:laugh:

 

[Ozarkryder]

When we moved from Minnesota to NW Arkansas/SW Missouri we too were looking for folks with which to ride. We attended an ABATE rally and met some people, joined and sort of ran into the same thing you experienced. The cliques within the group were set, and it was some time before we got to know people.
We attended bike nights at local restaurants and bars. (Don't imbibe when we ride, but many bars will have bike nights) We checked out the shopper newspapers for motorcycle themed events - this was before social media - and generally hung out where motorcycles were. Having a trike helped, at the time it was a rarity and got a lot of people checking it out and talking to us about it.
Now there is social media, check the interwebz for motorcycle events in your area, look up to see if there are trike and brand specific groups around you on Facebook and such. Some dealerships or independent bike shops will hold dinner rides open to all makes - people there are usually pretty friendly, and a chance to got to know them over the dinner.
Sometimes it is just being careful of unknown riders. Getting to know people before you ride close with them may seem to be snobbish, but a lot of times it is a safety issue. Knowing the dynamic of a group and how riders around you react and how they ride, and even who not to ride next to, can save a lot of hurt, if not a life.

 

[clint44]

My best advice is to just give it a little time. It's definitely harder to meet people,nowadays. Becoming active in your local HOG chapter is one way to get to know people with similar interests.

 

[txlander]

Being in a major Army base location, I too experienced exclusion. Almost all riders here are Army associated. I left the Navy in 1970 and never looked back. I joined the local PGR here, but I didn't speak Army language so I was always odd man out. Even though I was a HOG member, the local HOG chapter was the same way. My Coast Guard friend said that the local GWRRA group was the same way so I didn't even try for that one. I grew up riding single and I guess my mind set leans in that direction, so maybe I didn't give it much of a chance. Sometimes I do ride with one or two partners, but if I have my bride on the back, I'm happy riding single.

 

[mhgoldwing]

Over the years I have found that I'm an outsider until I'm not. If I stand around waiting on people to come to me - I usually wait alone. So, I introduce myself and join the conversation. Move around, meet some more people. Before long it changes and I am part of the group.

Where I live we have a riding club that is International. We have 81 members now and everyone is welcomed. Some join us on our weekly ride, introduced by a member. Some show up at our monthly meeting and are greeted with open arms. Our group's chemistry is great and I am so appreciative of that. Makes our motorcycle life a lot of fun, smiles & miles. I wish everyone was so fortunate.

 

[roadking2]

I'm not a big fan poker rides. Seems to me there are a whole lot of people that like to get drunk and ride. I don't want to have any part of it. That plus there also seems to be a whole lot of people that don't really know how to ride and I don't want to be around them when they do something stupid that can place ME in harms way. Any type of group ride with a bunch of riders you don't know seems to be a adventure in risk taking. I do much better meeting people when I go to bike nights and the like where riding along a set route with a bunch of strangers isn't part of the deal.

 

[tfdeputydawg]

WOW, never, ever been made to feel like that!
For all to peruse and find your local chapter to visit.
You will never feel shunned by this organization. You might even feel blessed by participating:
http://cmausa.org/

 

[Larry Sobczak]

Riding in larger groups (2 or more) seems like your always waiting for someone.

 

[rhino 2]

Riding in larger groups (2 or more) seems like your always waiting for someone.

Like being Married.....:laugh:

 

[ol' school]

Like being Married.....:laugh:

Yup... "Waitin' on a Woman"... I totally understand that song!!!

 

[alienwulf]

Went on a Poker Run this past Sat..found the same thing. Wife noticed hard looks as we road into the grounds to sign in. I told her their just jealous because trikes cost double what theirs do. She laughed at that and felt better. We did meet a couple of nice people one on a Tri glide real nice guy had a red one I really like red. And a couple on a big Yamaha, said they get the cold shoulder a lot because it's not a Harley. So we all ran in a little single line group and had a great time. Raised some money for Semper Fi Fund witch is what it's about anyway. Any time you go on any run there will be nice people and A holes just the way it is always has been and always will be. My point is I enjoy as much just the two of us with or with out others. It's the ride that counts. I am to old to let others ruin my day.

 

[Trail Blazer]

Over the years I have found that I'm an outsider until I'm not. If I stand around waiting on people to come to me - I usually wait alone. So, I introduce myself and join the conversation. Move around, meet some more people. Before long it changes and I am part of the group.

Where I live we have a riding club that is International. We have 81 members now and everyone is welcomed. Some join us on our weekly ride, introduced by a member. Some show up at our monthly meeting and are greeted with open arms. Our group's chemistry is great and I am so appreciative of that. Makes our motorcycle life a lot of fun, smiles & miles. I wish everyone was so fortunate.

+1 you have to make it happen

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Over the years i have been lucky enough to find a fairly large number of riding friends,for the past four years we started a Thursday night tradition were the guys get together and ride some place to eat or one us will host it. Just sit around and lie to each other and have a good time.But my normal riding group consists of 2-5 bikes.Its not that i am hesitant to ride with new people its just until i know their skill and style i will always put more distance between us than normal.With larger groups it seems there is always some kind of BS going on.One of my best friends also rides a tri glide and him and his girl friend and me and my wife have one very important rule when we are taking a bike trip,we never try to force each other to do something they we don't want to do such as where to eat or what to do.If they want to go some place in particular and we don't its okay we shall see you back at the motel.Its worked well for the last 30 years.

 

[lgjhn]

We just completed 10 days of riding out west. We started off with 2 Gold Wing trikes pulling trailers, 1 Gold Wing bike pulling a trailer and a Harley Soft Tail. NEVER AGAIN, will we ever ride with a group like that....EVER. My trike and the other trike were the only 2 with CB radios so we took turns being lead and tail in case someone broke down. The Harley rider really took offense to this and would lay back 3-4 miles from the rest of us doing 45 in 75 mph speed zones etc. My buddy on the other trike finally had enough of it after 5 days and just went home. That left me as lead with the others with no communications and a laggard that wouldn't keep up. I got em back as far as Branson, MO. By then, I had my belly full of the constant BS from the Harley rider. I told em to "have fun, we're gone" and came back on home....good thing too; I got to within 15 miles of the house and the left side wheel bearing went bad. I actually had to cut the left-side spacer and axle shaft to get the wheel off as the bearing was seized to the shaft. Got new parts coming my way to fix it.
From now on, it will be just one other CB-equipped touring bike/trike or it will just be me and the wife on tour.
Oh....and +1 for CMA!!

 

[Bigfoot21075]

Sat. the wife and I went on are first poker run. I found out that some of the groups are Butt holes. They did not even say anything to us. We where like complete outsiders. I was told by a friend that most of them think if you join them you owe them something. One of the reason we got the FW was to meet people. I sure hope that not all groups are like that. I told the wife that we will just find some that just like to ride as a small group.

In all the years i have belonged to HOG - I have NEVER seen this. The HOG group here is fantastic, we would never treat a new person like that, all that does is insure the groups demise. There is an online group finder called "meetup" see if there is a general riding group in your area if the HOG members do not come around. 99% of motorcycle people are pretty damn friendly.

That said, give it another try with a slightly different approach. Find another couple, and just start asking them about their ride - that usually does the trick, the hardest thing will be getting them to shut up later.