How to find riding buddies for your motorcycle rides

Where to find other riders

• Local motorcycle clubs: many run rides that are open to non-members.
• Dealers and workshops: they often organise rides, open days or season-opening events.
• Biker hangouts: cafés and mountain passes where riders stop at weekends are the best place to start a conversation.
• Online groups and motorcycle apps: handy for seeing planned rides near you.
• Friends of friends: anyone who rides almost always knows someone else who rides.

Pick the right group

Before joining, ask three things: what pace the group rides, how long the ride is and what roads it takes. A sport-bike run over the passes and a relaxed cruiser tour with lunch are two different worlds. Riding with a group that is too fast is the most common cause of bad experiences, and of crashes.

Before you set off

• Meet with a full tank and a clear start time.
• A short briefing: route, stops, who leads and who rides at the back.
• The leader knows the route; the last rider, the “sweep”, is experienced and never leaves anyone behind.
• Swap phone numbers in case someone gets separated.

On the road

• Staggered formation on straights: one bike on the left of the lane, the next on the right, keeping a safe gap to the rider ahead on the same line.
• Single file in corners: everyone picks their own line.
• The slowest rider sets the pace, not the fastest.
• The group waits at every junction or turn, so nobody takes the wrong road.
• Ride your own ride: if the group is too fast for you, slow down. They will wait at the next stop.

After the first ride

If you enjoyed it, stay in touch: the second ride is always easier than the first. And if you have not found the right group yet, organise a simple ride yourself, with a relaxed pace and a nice place to stop: it is the quickest way to meet riders who think like you.