Take your friends on the ultimate adventure with a group motorcycle ride. With the right equipment, you can communicate hands-free as you navigate the route and enjoy each other’s company mile after mile. The country is full of awe-inspiring rides to make you fall in love with motorcycling. Use these group ride planning tips and must-see destinations to take your friendship to the next level.
How to Take a Group Motorcycle Trip
Find other riders who share your sense of adventure. Everyone in your group should be comfortable riding long distances and navigating the terrain. Some destinations feature sharp turns and areas with low visibility, requiring rapid-fire reflexes and advanced maneuvering. Choose a ride that suits the group’s abilities.
Create an itinerary for the trip, including start and end points and a rough estimate of the duration of the trek. Coordinate with your group to assess how many miles you can travel daily based on their experience level and the weather. Caloric expenditures while riding a motorcycle vary widely according to body weight and riding style. Expect to burn between 100 and 300 calories per hour on the road.
Do most of your driving during the coolest hours of the day, and aim to be off the road by nightfall to avoid driving in the dark so drivers can see your group clearly. Find hotels or camping spots along the way to ensure you have a place to stay for the night.
Essential Gear for Group Motorcycle Rides
Touring and cruiser motorcycles are best for long-distance riding. They keep you in an upright, comfortable position that won’t wear on your back and arms. Thoroughly inspect the bikes by checking or replacing the fluids, lubricating the chain, testing the battery and all electrical components, inflating the tires, and replacing any with low treads.
Everyone must wear the required motorcycle safety gear, including a full-face helmet with a visor or a half-face helmet with goggles. You’ll also need gloves, boots, long sleeves, and pants that cover your skin.
Pack motorcycle repair tools, extra food and water, a first aid kit, sunscreen, a paper map, and a compass. When exploring off the grid without cell service or internet, bring a satellite radio to contact the authorities in an emergency.
Pair your helmet with a motorcycle helmet Bluetooth headset to communicate wirelessly. You can access your phone or talk to your pals without looking away from the road or taking your hands off the handlebars. The device links up to 15 riders using Dynamic Mesh Communication (DMC), which forms a direct link between each unit, so you won’t get separated when changing formations during tight turns and traffic merges.
Use the Packtalk Pro motorcycle intercom to get real-time crash detection. The sensor will automatically contact the authorities when it detects an accident to ensure you get help as soon as possible. It gives you peace of mind when there’s no one else around.
Get Real-Time Crash Detection with the Packtalk ProThe Best Adventure Motorcycle Routes for Groups
1. Dalton Highway, Alaska
A true off-roading experience, the Dalton Highway weaves over 400 miles through the rural state’s expansive backcountry, passing through the Arctic Circle and the Continental Divide. You might even catch the Northern Lights. The gravel road makes for more debris and resistance than the typical joyride, but it gives you room to spread out, with few drivers and open expanses filled with nothing but nature.
2. Coronado Trail, Arizona
Known as “the long and winding road,” this 100-plus-mile trek delivers one twisty turn after another like something out of a detective novel. You’ll need to make near 180-degree turns with little warning to navigate the rugged terrain. It passes through the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area and the Mogollon Rim, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the scenery. Take advantage of the area’s many Airbnb’s, cottages, and historic inns to break up your trip.
3. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, Virginia
The definitive ride through the Appalachian Mountains packs on the views with dozens of scenic overlooks. Connecting Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains, it’s managed by the National Park Service and remains in excellent condition to minimize cracks and debris.
Where Will You Go?
Motorcycles were made for adventure. You and your group can explore some of the country’s best trails and throughways up close and personal. Study the route, prepare your tech for hands-free navigation, and plan to meet up with your friends at regular intervals to keep everyone together. When the open road is calling, there’s safety in numbers.
