DC_in_SD

Even within my group there are people I won't ride close with under any circumstances. There are some people, like James (Cyanide41) that I feel completely comfortable with, and others who I won't name who are just plain dangerous at any speed.

It's up to the individual rider to make that assessment and ride accordingly. I don't mind riding with people I don't know, but I certainly won't ride close or assume they know what they're doing. It's a trust issue and it takes time.

Besides.. if I NEVER rode with people I don't know, I'd never ride since everyone is new to me at some point.

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Doug

'05 Honda CBR1000RR (race)
PCIII, Akropovic Exhaust, Penske 3-way in back, Ohlins cartriges up front, HotBodies Bodywork, Vortex Rearsets, Pazzo Levers, Galfer Wave Rotors, Galfer Braided Front Brake Lines.

Cyanide41

To say "don't ever ride with unfamiliar people" is silly. What about when you are on the track? None of those people are "unfamiliar"? I definitely ride more cautiously with people I am not comfortable with. If I see them being a jack ass, I won't ride with them.

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..::JAMES::..

davedog665

I don't mind riding with new people. since I usually go up to my local canyon alone. I just talk to the people and give them huge space. If I join up with a group i will always go at the end of the pack unless they have a back marker guy. I know its little scary not knowing how they ride but take it slow get to know people.

I now know some regulars that ride at my pace and i feel very comfortable to ride with, but ricky racing with anyone in the canyons is a bad idea especially someone you don't know.

SolidForce

+1 on the careful part. There are some people that I flat out will not ride with. Unless you are wearing FULL gear (I am a gear Nazi and have a rep for it) and do not do any of the ego building crap (wheelies, stoppies, etc. etc.) I will not ride with you. Serious...I have told people to go the **** home because they are just dumb, unstable, and untrustworthy.

This all can be changed though if they take a serious stance towards riding....I do not want to seem like the arrogant ******* :lol:

-SF

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Yaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bad-mofo

I was thinking along those lines. That's true, anyone is unfamiliar at some point, but (call me shallow) usually the majority of people can be filtered out by looks: the lack of gear, dumb speech, dumb moves, etc.

And the majority of sportbike owners is indeed dumb because statistically the general population is dumb (call me elitist). Come to any bike night and see for yourself. Alright, maybe it's just bikenight crowd. Anyway, if you're riding with some ad-hoc group, statistically the chances are they're gearless noobs or squids, and not experienced canyon carvers. But as you've come to that gathering you'd feel pressure to go on with the ride. It's much easier just to make a policy of not riding with those groups and find some legit excuse.