Group rides with bikes with different gearing ?

  Group rides with bikes with different gearing ? So your out riding and you see Harley's riding with Harley's , sport bikes riding with sport bikes . Normal right ? Sure ! Now what  about the people who ride mix match ? You could start it like a joke " There was a Harley a sport bike and a cafe racer riding down the road ! " Ok sounds like an unlikely  bunch to be riding together but it happens .

 Ok who cares if people with different kinds of motorcycles ride together  right ? Sure I agree we share the road with our fellow riders regardless of  brand or  type  of bike.

Lest look at our three bikes . We will start with the  Harley . The gearing puts the  power low and in the  mid range for the most part. So when he takes off  its fast off the line then  mellows out at cruise  speeds .Yet still has enough  grunt for passing . Next we look at the sport bike . This one is simple to see how its geared . You have ok power down low  but not like the Harley  . The power kicks in around the mid and upper  RPM range .Last we look at our cafe racer . Its somewhere in between. More low end then the sport bike  but not as much as the Harley. The bike really shines in the mid range. How ever does not have the top end of the sport bike .

The point is each bike is going to be at home at different speeds.  Lets say your all riding at 80km(50mph) the Harley  will still be smooth  the cafe racer will be a little sluggish  and the sport bike will be bunting to  go faster lol . Might be a little exaggerated but you get the idea. lets say your up at 140km (80 mph)  the  sport bike will be smooth and fine the café racer will be lively and the Harley? well your  eyeball will be rattling out of your head. So to speak . To give a last example .My TT600 rides smooth at 95km or 120 km . But at 120 km the power starts coming on and before you know it you will be picking up speed . So what I fined is I'm constantly  readjusting my speed so I don't  ram the Harley in front of me . Lest say all three bikes run smooth at 95-110 km . You can split the different and go 100km , which is the speed limit anyway . Then everyone can ride smooth with out having to play catch up or slow down . Then every ones happy . You will have to see what the sweet spot is to ride as a group .

So why is this so important to consider ? Simple ! If your in a group you don't want to have bikes speeding up and slowing down throwing off the flow of the group. Also a safety issue . For example  . I was following a group today of about  10 Harley's while riding on the Triumph TT600 . There distant and speed was vary good . They where riding between 95-110km ( 55-65mph) . It was a good speed for my bike . I was at 5000 rpm or what I call the smooth zone on my  bike . This made for a nice safe run . Now let me tell you  about last week .  Two Harley's past me at about 120-140kms . Ok we shouldn't be going that fast . So as I  tried to fallow it was hard . Not because my  bike was not fast enough but because it takes my bike over 5500rpms. AND THAT'S WHEN THE HULK SHOWS UP ! At 5500 the power starts coming on and at 6000 it starts to climb in speed fast . At 7000 it starts to go into Buck Rogers mode and above 8000 It starts to go Ilse of Man stupid fast , in short I have to back off or ill run right into the Harley's .While the Harley still can  still stretch out a little more  there near the  top of there speed . So they might climb a little more   but not like my sport bike . From 120km to 200kms is  only a second or two  , and it will go much higher . So if you ride with bikes that are geared for low end and mid range you will be  doing the, pull your arms off feel and watch you don't get tossed over the bars feel . Aka the slingshot effect . Its fun sure but not for a long ride .

There are a lot of different bikes out there and  lots of different gearing . It might be a good idea to  find the comfort speed for the group . Ride well ride safe take care.