Home » Technology » Motorcycles » Choose your riding companions wisely

Choose your riding companions wisely

© Brian Salisbury

In the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the hero and bad guy must pick out the Holy Grail from dozens of chalices and goblets.

According to legend, drinking from this sacred cup -- said to have been used by Christ during the Last Supper -- will give a person eternal life and youth.

But after the bad guy in the movie selects and drinks from the wrong cup, he immediately goes into screaming convulsions, turns to dust and disintegrates right before our eyes.

When responding to this gruesome scene, the 1,000-year-old Knight Templar who had been guarding the Grail for the last 10 centuries makes the droll, understated remark: "He did not choose wisely."

What does this have to do with motorcycle touring?

Well, you might not turn to dust and disintegrate, but traveling too long with the wrong riding partner may send you into screaming convulsions.

Now, when I say riding partner, I mean the person traveling with you on his or her own motorcycle, not the person sharing the same seat with you on the same motorcycle. That's a different kind of partnership you'll have to figure out for yourself.

I'm talking about finding a fellow rider whose riding style and temperament fit yours.

You don't want aggravating distractions

Traveling with the right person has as much to do with safety as with enjoyment. When two riders have very different riding styles and they can't find a happy medium, nerves can unravel. The need for one rider to continually speed up to keep up or otherwise ride outside the limits of their abilities or comfort zone is distracting and dangerous.

On the other hand, a rider who can safely take the turns at speed and likes to travel at a fast clip must make allowances for a much slower rider. Continually looking in the rear view mirror for your riding companion can also become a dangerous distraction.

I know of two riders in particular who, after five days of traveling cross-country together, split up and went their separate ways rather than complete the trip together. One guy just couldn't cope with the other's tendency ride too fast and take chances.

Over the course of a trip, many other factors can make the difference between fun and aggravation. Some riders want to ride, ride, ride for hours, while others would rather stop often for a Dairy Queen or to take in the sights. Some riders must fill up their gas tank every 150 miles, while others can go for 300 miles or more between refills. Some riders would rather camp out while others would rather stay at the Holiday Inn. Some riders just can't decide where they want to go and how they want to get there.

The copyright of the article Choose your riding companions wisely in Motorcycles is owned by . Permission to republish Choose your riding companions wisely in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.