How to make friends through motorcycling
The short answer
Most riding friendships start at the stops, not on the road. Ride with the same group more than once, talk to people at the café, add the riders you got on with afterwards and suggest the next ride yourself. Within a season, a few of them will be the people you call on a sunny Saturday.
Riding is easy to do alone and surprisingly hard to share. Lots of riders have a bike, free Sundays and nobody to ride with. The good news: riders are some of the easiest people to talk to. You already have the main topic covered.
Why do bikes make friendships easier?
You have something in common from the first second. Nobody needs an icebreaker when there's a bike parked next to theirs. A group ride also gives you time together without pressure: a few hours of riding, a couple of stops, a coffee at the end. Friendships grow from repeated, relaxed time, and a weekly ride gives you that kind of time.
Step 1: Show up more than once
One ride makes you a face. Three rides with the same people makes you a regular. If you enjoyed a ride, join the same host's next one. Regular rides from the same meeting point are the easiest place to start, because the same riders keep coming back.
Step 2: Talk at the stops
The road is for riding. The stops are where people get to know each other.
- Ask about their bike. Every rider has a story about theirs.
- Ask about roads. "What's the best road you've ridden around here?" leads to the next plan.
- Sit with someone new. If you came alone, so did others.
- Remember names. Write them in your phone after the ride if you have to.
Step 3: Follow up after the ride
This is where most potential friendships stop. Everyone says "good ride" and goes home.
- Post in the ride chat. Thanks to the host, a photo or two.
- Add the people you got on with. In MotoBFF you can add friends from a rider's profile and message them directly.
- Send the photo you took of them. Nobody gets good photos of themselves riding.
- Mention a next ride. "Want to try that pass you mentioned next Sunday?"
Step 4: Suggest the next ride yourself
You don't have to wait to be invited. A short ride to a café with two people you met last week is a group ride. Post it, add the riders you know, keep it relaxed. Our guide on how to host a group ride covers the basics.
Riders who host small, regular rides end up at the centre of a group without trying.
Step 5: Look for riders near you
If you've moved somewhere new or haven't found a group yet, look around. In MotoBFF, "Riders near you" shows riders in your area with a rough distance like "~10 km away" and their country, never their exact location. City chats in the Community tab are another easy way in: ask where people ride on weekends.
Stay safe while you meet people
Meeting new people through an app is normal now, and a few habits keep it that way:
- Meet in public places like a fuel station or café.
- Keep your home address to yourself until you know someone.
- Ride your own ride, even with new friends who want to go faster.
- Report or block anyone who makes you uncomfortable. MotoBFF is 18+ and you can report or block any rider.
Our post on meeting new riders safely goes into more detail.
What makes a good riding friend?
| Good riding friend | Less fun to ride with |
|---|---|
| Rides at a pace everyone enjoys | Treats every ride as a race |
| Shows up on time with fuel | Always late, always on reserve |
| Waits without complaint | Sighs at every stop |
| Suggests rides and roads | Waits to be invited |
| Says thanks | Disappears after the ride |
Be the left column and people will want to ride with you.
Questions riders ask
How do I make friends through motorcycling?
Join group rides near you and ride with the same people more than once. Talk to riders at the stops, add the ones you got on with after the ride and suggest the next ride yourself.
Where can I meet other motorcycle riders?
Group rides, regular motorcycle cafés, training schools, local rider chats and ride-finding apps like MotoBFF, which shows group rides and riders near you on a map.
Is it weird to go on a group ride alone?
No. Many riders join group rides alone, especially the first time. Most group rides are made up of people who met on an earlier ride.
How do I find riding partners at my level?
Look for group rides marked with your riding level and ride with the same group a few times. The riders you keep pace with comfortably are often the best riding partners.