In two weeks I'm leaving on a 3000 km bike trip with my son riding pillion. He is 13. I've always ridden long trips alone, and the most company is a weekend camping trips of 3 bikes. This is about mates and not so much about riding. Boys time. Then there is a week away with a girlfriend pillion. A woman pillion to me is just not enjoyable. You are restricted as to the technical dirt you can do, its more tiring on dirt, the bike is crowded 2 up with double the luggage, and if the day is too long, road rough, too hot or too cold, or it rains, you hear about it. This is also not really about adventure or riding.

It is different with a young boy. Although the roads you will ride are also restricted. They are appreciative, more willing to rough it and don't expect much, and the thrill of an adventure with dad overrides a lot. It creates memories for them and maybe one day a desire and confidence to go on their own adventure and strike out as their own man. It also gives them much to brag about when they get back to school and tell their friends who went on family trips in a cage lol. A boy will go along with what you say. No time wasted on blah blah. A father son trip is not a democracy or a Brussels type decision by endless committee and compromise, which only ends up doing what Washington says, who do what the bankers or Jerusalem say lol.

The more bikes, or even pillions, the more stops, the more blah blah about any changes to plan, blah about where to stay, where to eat, what time to leave in the morning, when to stop etc. You also meet less people since you are already a group. It defeats the whole concept of adventure biking which is freedom and adventure. It may add safety, but that also reduces the unknowns of adventure.

I figure leave group riding to the Harley HOG, MC, and sunday breakfast fun crowd. Or those too timid to ride alone. I find it boring and about the social, not about the thrill of adventure. For me, this is not what biking is about. Im an old school individualistic biker. I get on my bike and go, and no apologies to anyone.