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TRO Group Motorcycle Tours Are LIVE!
A handful of experienced motorcyclists, some of them industry professionals, played "customer" to our newly established group motorcycle tours. While each rider enjoyed their two-wheel vacation, they also focused on problems and respective solutions. Their post-ride reports strengthened our planning process to ensure greater comfort, convenience and safety-minded thrills just for you!
“The positive reviews from each and every rider involved are forever seared into our group tours main signup page but that's not what this trip was about.”
Critiques, be they compliments or complaints, have proven integral to the development of our route collection. Ranging between 100 and 1500+ miles in length, each itinerary begs for "spirited" riders whose hunger for twisty roads matches only their dedication to all things sport touring. All the same, we also welcome relaxed sightseers on any year, make or model that's running reliably. Yes, that includes cruisers. Yes, that includes trikes.
Seven riders, covering seven states, in seven days? What a trip! The mental/physical demands of this tour conjured many highs and lows, mandatory ingredients for any event worth remembering.
Beginning in southern Indiana, we found our pace among Kentucky's isolated and technically demanding backroads. A pass through Tennessee touched on Joppa Mountain and Deal's Gap before settling into North Carolina's Blue Ridge Parkway. Virginia and West Virginia sweepers directed us northwest, finding more uniform mile markings along a reliably fun SR-47. Our trip concluded via SR-555, aka the "Triple Nickel" and an equally curvy ricochet through southern Ohio to the west.
Meet Our Very First Group Motorcycle Tour "Customers"
Personally and on so many levels, I can't thank these six individuals enough. In the order they signed up, let me not only introduce them to you but explain why and how they were so helpful. Their hard work has now checked so many pitfalls off the list.
Margaret Dean
Margaret Dean is more than a resident author here at The Riding Obsession. She's also my wife! When she wasn't tearing up the streets on her heavily modified Triumph Street Triple R, she was monitoring sweep responsibilities and communicating logistics to one destination or the next. Should any lodging-related issues pop up, there she'd be with quoted details in hand, resolving the matter with gusto. Ask anyone and they'll tell you she's definitely the better half. ;)
Tom Burns
In addition to keeping our podcast listener questions active, Tom has guest-authored for this site. His pleasant demeanor and generally energetic smile kept our overall mood in check. Holding ground toward the middle of the pack, his brand new Ninja 1000 carried him through his first Tail of the Dragon run. Tom introduced us to the SnapJack, a portable center stand tool that coordinates with your side stand to lift the rear wheel in a sort of tripod fashion. Thanks, Tom!
Hien Tran
If you haven't already, subscribe to VotoCycling right away! Hien provides a fresh perspective in all of her endeavors. A wise voice for new experiences, she wears the hat of a first-timer and videographer with pride. Hien rode her own ride for the duration, capturing video footage while describing comforts and stresses with useful particularity. Her skillset developed exponentially over the course and we learned from her always insightful observations.
Tim Clark
Tim played front-tier videographer to those of us riding more quickly up ahead. A beastly talent, Tim's natural approach to balance and maneuverability applies to any terrain. He showed just how much can be done with minimal displacement, riding his Honda CB500X like an unbroken mustang. If he felt like tearing through miles of dirt/gravel at 50-60 miles per hour ... off he went. Tim also rocked photography with a high-end camera, capturing the apex of well-banked curves.
Dave Ruocco
Dave (Da-vi-de in Italian) has an extensive motorcycle travel resume that includes both lead and support rider roles. He sacrificed plenty to join us, only to keep a watchful eye over every oncoming scenario. His concern for all possible outcomes bettered our take on preparation, adding countless safeguards to an already robust planning process. Additionally, his coaching/training experience at Total Rider Tech introduced next-level techniques to anyone interested. Look him up and learn!
Greg White
An unexpected surprise, Greg's decision to join us meant even wider smiles and twice as much access to Total Control knowledge. Also a guest author, every time I suggest Greg's explanation of rider physics to be the base of my current skillset, I'm met with the same response. Spoken with humility: "You did all of that yourself. I merely introduced new information." Either way, motorcyclists of all experience levels become better riders when Greg's in the lineup!
Observations and Alterations
We will forever sear the positive reviews from each and every rider above into our group tours' main signup page but that's not what this trip was about. Everyone who took part knew in advance that this was an organized mission with one goal in mind: bettering the customer experience. Some things went perfectly. Others not so much. The result is a well-oiled and brightly polished motorcycle vacation!
- Customers are free to ride independently of the group if they so choose
- We limit pre-planned mileage to 250 total per day, often covering less
- We put mid-travel escape routes in place and discuss them at scheduled start time
- We schedule the first 10-minute break at 30/30 (miles/minutes), 60/60 thereafter
- We include restrooms in rural locations in the RWGPS online map file
- We reinforce group riding tips/etiquette every morning
- We hold an evening summary of the day's ride at or after dinner
- Riding tips ("Did anyone try ... how did that work?") fuel post-ride chat
- We install Garmin GPS units on lead/sweep bikes as a backup
- We now incorporate Sena's RideConnected app for (limited) communication
With a nine-day motorcycle trip under our belt, we're confident that our day trips and weekenders are equally ready for public promotion. Consider yourself invited to enjoy the excitement of secluded motorcycle travel knowing we made and documented all arrangements with certain clarity. Here's hoping you'll sign up for any or all of our season-wide motorcycle road trips!
What Group Motorcycle Tours Have You Taken?
We're not the only outlet for this type of travel. Other excellent, well-known and established options remain a favorite among many. Which ones do you prefer? What do you like about them and why? Your input is invited. Leave a comment and/or write an article!
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About Robin Dean
Motorcycle advocate, enthusiast and traveler. Founder, The Riding Obsession (2014). MSF RiderCoach credentials: "loosely regarded adult supervisor, probably good enough for rock 'n' roll" ~ Tidal Playlist | Rabid Neon
Comments
Hey guys I'm just outside of Chicago how do I hook up with the group for rides?
When group riding tours are scheduled, a "Group Tours" option appears under the "Events" subset of our main navigation. That's where you can go to signup. If no tours are scheduled, only a "Tour Planning" option is shown (personalized tour planning service).
Check back often and signup for the newsletter. We announce travel opportunities often.
Thoughts gone wild? Write an article!