Monday, August 22, 2011

Ask Lucky: How To Communicate With Other Bikers on Group Rides

Anonymous asks: "How do you communicate with your buddies when you go on a group ride? I'm thinking of velcroing a 2 way walkie talkie for 2 or more people to the outside of a helmet. Thoughts?"

I admire your creativity, but you don't need to jury-rig a communication device, there are several 2-way helmet radios on the market.

That said, I don't really do group rides with more than 2 other people, so I might not be the best person to ask. When riding with just a couple other people, pointing at the problem/point of interest usually suffices. There is also a rich motorcycle sign language to cover most riding issues - the signs vary from area to area, though, so you'll have to learn what people in your neck of the woods do. Barring that, passing the others and leading the ride when I need to hit a gas station or rest stop has always worked for me.

Personally, I don't care to talk to the people I'm riding with except when stopped. Chatting is for cagers, we're motorcycle people.

Does anyone with more experience riding in groups, or experience with helmet radios have any advice? Leave a comment!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lucky. Great to meet you. Couldn't care less about pizza, love motorcycles.

Thanks for your input. I agree. Once I install a communication device, I'll start getting more and more requests from others to chat the whole ride through. It'll start getting very noisy inside my helmet.

I just spent all last night reading through your entire blog. Holy crap, you've been around a long time. Most of the blogs you link to in 2005 are no longer around.

Here's what I'd like to see. A photo of your riding gear piece by piece and a little review of how much you like it. I've only been at it for 1 year / 5000 miles and just "upgraded" to an 83 Kawasaki 750 LTD. I have mostly hand me down motorcycle armor and have yet to buy my own.

-Nick

about.me/nickpower

SonjaM said...

Old fashioned 'hand and feet' communication if you ask me. I am not even listening to music. All senses open for the road.

Learning to Golf said...

Mental telepathy! If you can't get through that way you ain't riding with me. Maybe that is why I ride so many miles solo.

Scott said...

Here's some signals :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8zKQv2dc-cM

mq01 said...

HOG uses tried and true hand signals which are also used by motormen/highway patrol. as much as i am personally NOT a group/hog regular, it really does help if riders use similar emergency signals, or at least know the signals to slow/cop/obstacle ahead! ive had to signal a few oncoming bikes over the yrs. there's got to be a link or pdf somewhere...