trikes riding in the back

[BoomBoom61]

I would like opinions on riding with a group of people..mostly 2 wheelers and about 4 trikes..why do all the 2 wheelers want the trikes to ride in the back..as long as you are staggered and the tail gunner can see what is the difference..Just wanted to have some justifiable reasons..I think this will be coming up in our next meeting and I don't think I'll like them telling me to ride in the back in the "Trike group"..please give me some really good reasons why....Boom

[Gorilla]

BoomBoom, I think they need to give you reason why you have to ride in the back or any assign location for that matter. On a ride today 115 miles each way with a group of 12 bikes 3 being trikes, we were in every location. I lead for awhile, was in several in pack positions and rode in the back some. Made no difference to me and everyone else did not care either from the group. You take up the same amount of room no matter where you are. The person in front normally knows where the group is going and is a seasoned rider. Establishing the pace to allow everyone to stay in contact and keeping the group organized. The last person is normally also a seasoned rider to help out the others when necessary. Other than that it's who you like riding around you.

[White Wall]

I don't like getting stuck in line with new riders around me. I usually hangout up front or close to the back. Its easy to get annoyed by slow riders in front of you.

[msocko3]

I own and ride both and the only reason I could think is when following a trike forward visibility of those behind it is almost like following a cage. To me this becomes more important when we tighten up in a town. When I've been behind my dad who is riding his Triglide I've noticed I can't see things like pot holes, junk in the road etc because the trike is in the centre of the lane blocking my forward visibility. When riding with other 2 wheelers we stagger so no matter if your inside, centre or outside on the lane everyone has full visibility of what could be laying in the road ahead.

[BoomBoom61]

thanx everyone..when we ride we do stagger and we point out junk and potholes and dead animals...so they can see around us..2 of the tailgunners said no problem that they can see straight up the middle even with trikes..there are a couple of 2 wheelers that I hate to ride next to because they are all over the road and the one rides second in line.. I mean if this is brought up at our meeting I think the 4 trikes and about 3 others will tell them to stick it..I really don't like being told where to ride...then I heard they are taking about not letting more trikes in the club..when our constitution states all makes and models..that's like a % of harleys, Hondas and etc..there is one guy that should convert to a trike as I've seen him drop his 3 times..there goes MY RIGHTS again!!!! Boom

[ricle41]

Sounds like people in that group that I wouldn't want to ride with, no matter what they ride. My location in the group is up to me, or I ride alone. I agree, I want to ride with people I can trust, and who's company I enjoy, and I have ridden a two wheeler for the past two years in a group with trikers, and I have no problem seeing the road ahead.

[Mr.Wizard]

Sounds to me like your group is having more issues than just who rides where and on what.

I, like msoco3, ride two and/or three wheels, no matter. I ride where I want to. While on the trike, those who are behind me shift to the right as I ride the left line always. This makes it easier for others to see around me. When taking the captain position I continue to ride the left line so others can see us coming and so that I can see what's ahead and signal.

May be time to give them a pep talk so send this to everyone in the group. It may also be time to find a new group if the bickering doesn't stop.

It doesn't matter what you ride, where you ride, just that you ride.


There’s you and your bike combined with the open road and the deafening silence that loud pipes cannot penetrate or disturb. There are people and their bikes combined with the alike. Blend the two and you have a mixture of friendships where there are no speed limits; where understanding is bountiful; and the bonds can be stronger than Mother Nature herself. You can twist the throttle but you can’t outrun yourself or your friends and how they understand and accept you as an individual. There are no requirements, no limitations, no test expect one: live to talk about your last ride.

Live Free, Ride Hard and Live to Ride Again.

[Tango]

I like riding in the rear, or tail gunner spot. I find it more relaxed. I can slow to look at something longer, then catch up if I want. I haven't received my trike yet. They are building it now. So that could change. We will see. Tom

[Greydog]

Here in West Virginia the two wheelers like the trikes in the rear. If we ride up front the two wheelers can't keep up in the twisties!! :no:

[gravy]

I prefer to ride in the back. There is no pressure when back there and we have time to look around. Even all the years we rode on 2 wheels,I preferred to be at the end.

[Lunchbox1983]

Boom Boom

If we are in a parade, we ask the trikes to ride in the rear because they can glide along so slow while the 2 wheelers are slipping clutches etc to stay up.

On normal rides the trikes go into the column where they want. Our Bike group has 3 road Captains and 3 Tail gunners. I ride a wing as the second string Captain, my wife rides a stallion and she is our primary Tail gunner.

One advantage a tail gunner has on a trike is blocking traffic, sitting in intersections, being able to take up space when needed.

Good trike tail gunner story
MY wife is credited with saving the life of a fellow biker as he dumped on a blind curve, he was 10 bikes in front of her, bikes started swerving everywhere trying to miss him, she hit the brakes reversed back around the Curve and blocked the road broadside stopping cars, another few seconds and we would of have 5 or 6 cars on top of him at 55mph coming around that blind cruve bikes parked every where. With her stallion it was a simple maneuver, a bike you would not have been able to react that quickly. After tying his broken sholder up we loaded him in the back of the stallion and she took off to the ER. He would not have been able to ride on the back of a bike, and we were so far out EMS would have taken days to find us.

After that our group is now very trike friendly

[BoomBoom61]

we have tailgunners and road captains..the last club I rode with, my boyfriend was the only trike and the tailgunner hated to ride behind us so he would go in front and leave us...it was truly a dumb club...the club I am in now I am a founding member...I am the co-treasurer...we do have a board, and a committee so if there is a problem it can be voted on..I just don't know what the problem is..I hope it can be settled next sunday..I do know when we are caught in the rain we kick up alot of rain..I think it's the one tailgunner complaining, he does mention that he gets alot of dirt from us but he is the one that needs to get a trike..Boom

[BoomBoom61]

lunchbox, that was very quick action on your wife's part, she is a hero..did I mention I am the clubs medic..I also take extra courses I find on accident control..how to remove helmets if it is life threatening..how to move a biker, if fallen, off the highway..things like that..I am going to take a advanced course this summer...I work in an emergency center at the local hospital..Boom

[Ozarkryder]

Some of the reasons I have heard for trikes in the back:
>Trikes brake quicker than bikes, usually heavier and there's more rubber on the road.
>Trikes are actually better able to swerve in case something happens in front of them
>Trikes are harder to see around
>Trikers aren't as good riders. If they were, they would be on 2 wheels
>Trikers are on trikes because of a disability, so I (2 wheel rider) want to be in front of them if something happens
>Trikes are slower than bikes

Now more than a few of these are pure B.S. - but for whatever reason it has been traditional that trikes are in the back of the pack. (I think it comes from the old days when just aout the only trikes were 45ci Servicars that were slower and more ungainly than 2 wheelers) This is changing, as more often on group rides it doesn't matter where a trike goes.

[Lunchbox1983]

Boom Boom

You were right to leave that club, You should never leave a fellow biker behind, I do not care what he riding. The tail gunner MUST be a senior experienced rider, they need to have their head in the game, and ready to make emergency decisions. You never leave a Biker behind.

Glad to hear you serve as a medic for your club. I have heard the "well lets not have any accidents then we don't need first aid" line too much. Stuff happens to the best of us, from Brain Cramp, to Cagers, to Animals, to road gators.

[bdn56]

I like to ride in the rear. I have more lighting on the trike. I know I kick up a lot more dust then a 2 wheeler. Some of the old farts I ride with have a hard time seeing around me also.
In the group I ride with, if you don't keep up, you get left behind. We don't slow down going around corners unless it is posted to slow down.
I enjoy a fast pace while riding