Introduction
Motorcycling alone or in pairs is good.... and even very good. This doesn't prevent you from wanting to know other experiences such as exchanging on different subjects related to the world of motorcycling or/and sharing the pleasures of an outing with others. As it is not always easy to bring your best friends to your passion for two wheels, it quickly becomes necessary to look for your fellow travelers elsewhere than in your usual address book. Forums can be a good solution for exchange or information, but remain virtual. And if the outing with a few motorcycles without prior organization is always possible after a few phone calls, it is very often the motorcycle clubs, general or thematic, that will allow you to participate in large-scale rides. Of course, all these outings and group rides can only be organized with the watchword "safety".
The forums
To meet fellow travellers who are like you, there is nothing like forums on the Internet. Exchanges allow you to create a friendly atmosphere before the trip and also to find advice and tourist information from bikers who have gone before you. This tool also offers you the possibility to find welcoming committees everywhere in France, because it is frequent that evenings or rides are organized in honor of the passage of a member in a region he does not know. Although some sites are dedicated to forums only, most of them are part of professional motorcycle sites or are part of the websites of clubs and associations.
Motorcycle clubs
Generalist clubs. To make friends who share the same passion for the road, the easiest way is to join one of the many motorcycle touring clubs. There are hundreds of them all over France. Motorcycle clubs were originally affiliated with the French Motorcycle Federation (FFM). But more and more clubs are being created outside the FFM fold. Among all these MC, it is easy to find the one that corresponds to your desires, your way of riding and your state of mind. Some people like peaceful rides, taking the time to discover the landscapes they meet, others prefer less quiet rides. The outings are often only a part, more or less important, of the clubs' activity. After riding together, members meet for a drink or a good meal. Generally, non-members can join their rides for a small fee if necessary.
Thematic clubs. In addition to the "general" clubs, there are many thematic clubs that bring together true enthusiasts for a particular frame or brand. The purpose of these clubs is to share technical advice and knowledge and, of course, to organize outings. Despite their attachment to a particular model, club members are rarely segregated from other happy bikers... Some sites specialized in the motorcycle world propose a page listing the numerous addresses in France.
The organization of the walks
"Concentrations of less than 50 vehicles in compliance with the highway code taking place on the public highway are now not subject to any procedure" (Interministerial Instruction on regulatory simplification of the organization of sporting events and clarification of the conditions for compensation of order services dated March 13, 2018). This excerpt from the aforementioned Instruction should relieve those of you who wish to organize on an individual basis (clubs and associations have their own specificities) group outings limited to a few motorcycles: you have a clear path up to 49 machines. Beyond that, a declaration to the Prefecture is mandatory. See also the article R331-20 of the Sport Code.
The steps to respect. To remain only in the simplest case (less than 50 machines), the organization of a group ride will be all the more delicate as the number of participants will be important. Here is the advice we can give you: The date and time of registration: Set a date sufficiently in advance so that everyone can make arrangements. 15 days seems to be a minimum; The number: Stay modest in the number of machines that will participate in the outing. 5 to 7 motorcycles maximum (i.e. up to 14 people) seems reasonable. Beyond that, expect difficulties during the trip; The machines: Avoid too great a difference in engine capacity and type of machine. Even if you respect the speed limits, the power or the comfort will make the difference during the trip ; The objective of the trip : Give a goal to the trip, so that everyone is persuaded to expect the same thing : an exceptional point of view, a nice restaurant, a picnic at the water's edge, a swim at the beach... ; The distance and the duration : Counting on an average speed of 50km/h, 2 hours of road in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon will be most of the time more than enough. That is 200 km and 4 hours maximum with a meal and at least 2 intermediate breaks; The meeting point: Define an easily accessible and adapted meeting place to receive all these people in complete safety, preferably near a gas station. The briefing: Give a briefing before the departure: reminder of the traffic and safety instructions, of the stages up to the first break... take advantage of this to distribute the road-book, even if it is only a summary, that you will have prepared for the occasion. Exchange your phone numbers; Places to avoid/roads to favour: Avoid the big intermediate cities where one gets lost and favour the small roads that you will have preferably recognized (however, put aside the byways). Be careful if you have novice riders: fatigue and lack of technique will be formidable enemies if the road is too rough or if the turns are endless; Breaks: Plan breaks and places with toilets on the route. Be informed. Check the weather forecast the day before and the traffic forecasts if you have to take some major roads; Reservations: Make reservations in advance if you want to have lunch or a snack somewhere (4 people is fine, 14 people can be quite problematic, especially in season). If an overnight stay is planned, be very broad on the reservation deadlines; At the end of the tour: Plan a last place to gather at the end of the day (easily accessible, safe...), to make sure that everything is fine for everyone before the group splits up.
Riding in a group
Riding in a group is a very particular exercise that can be dangerous if you don't respect some rules of caution, even more so if you don't know the driving habits of the other members of the group.
The rules of travel. The larger the group, the greater the risk. A small group of motorcycles of the same type or category, driven by riders with approximately the same level of experience, is much less likely to cause problems than a pack of several heterogeneous machines. Choose the pace to be adopted. If there is disagreement among participants, it is best to split into several groups. Choose the ones you feel safe with and don't ride beyond your capabilities. Define a place for everyone. To keep the group from spreading out for miles, the fastest riders should match the pace of the slowest. The person with the least powerful and least experienced motorcycle will come in second behind the opener. On the other hand, the opener must be the most experienced, able to follow the route, to indicate it to the following ones, to watch the traffic, the environment and the motorcycles that follow him. He should also know how to stop the group at sufficiently large places, without disturbing the other riders, without risking that one of the motorcycles gets hit. Maintain good visibility. With two or more motorcycles, there are two basic principles that must be respected at all times: maintain visibility as good as if you were riding alone and be able to brake suddenly without interfering with the motorcycle behind you. The solution consists in adopting a staggered formation with a large safety distance between each motorcycle, to be modulated according to the type of road taken and the speed. The staggered formation (each motorcycle offset laterally from the one in front) allows everyone to move aside in case of an obstacle (stone on the road, hole, slippery area) without risking a collision, while leaving enough space to see far ahead and stop if necessary (fall of a motorcycle in front). This training adopted by all safety-conscious groups can obviously only be practiced on sufficiently wide and straight roads. On small curvy roads, the single file is essential, with even longer safety distances. Pay attention to others. No one should ride at the level of another motorcycle: if the trajectory changes in a bend, the other rider would have no room to maneuver. On the other hand, when stopping at an intersection, it is wise to abandon the staggered formation and move forward towards the nearest motorcycle, in order to reduce the length of the group and allow a faster passage. Another rule is not to overtake, unless it is necessary and you warn them by calling your headlights or blowing your horn so as not to surprise the motorcyclist who is not expecting you to be near them. Adopt communication signs. Agree on communication signs in the form of gestures that will allow you to indicate an obstacle to the rider behind you, the need to stop or refuel, but also that everything is fine, among other things... Of course, the development of this code does not prevent you from exchanging information on the road using Bluetooth equipment. The most efficient equipment allows you to share the discussion with up to 15 motorcyclists simultaneously and at a distance of more than one kilometer between the first and the last motorcycle.