April 7, 2026

Finding Your Riding Tribe: How to Connect With and Vet New Riding Partners

If you’ve been looking for your tribe on two wheels, you aren’t alone. Digital communities, local meetups, and in person introductions will help you to find women motorcycle riders and…

The Search for Your Riding Partner

I have been very fortunate to start my motorcycle riding life with built-in riding partners. Jason has been able to coach me along and Jenn is my riding friend for life. But if you want to connect with a new riding partner or partners, what do you do? How do you go about it? Where do you find folks? And more so, what about connecting with women motorcycle riders?

Stepping Into the Scene

I have recently been going to places where I can interact with a lot of riding groups, like the recent motorcycle mixer I attended. What I’ve recognized is that the community is more vast than I realized and very welcoming. So far, I have been able to meet many people who are willing to ride with me, who are equally willing to introduce me to others (who live closer, who are of varying skill sets, etc.), and who are willing to recommend equipment or classes to me for skill development.

Leveraging Online Communities

I have also found communities with an online presence who advertise their group rides or events. These platforms are great for meeting people with whom to ride and especially for connecting with women motorcycle riders. It’s often the quickest way to bridge the gap between “scrolling” and “rolling.” For example, I have found women’s motorcycle groups on Facebook and the Instagram algorithm has figured out to show me other women motorcyclists to watch and follow. The Women Rider’s World Relay I mentioned in a previous post is a good way to see who else is in your area and pass along the virtual baton when you meet up.

The Power of the Introduction

It’s amazing how fast connections happen. For example, at a recent event, Jason was introduced to someone by a guy he met from a previous group event. He had only spent a total of two hours knowing this person before being introduced to someone new who immediately invited him on an overnight ride. While there were likely conversations in between, it shows just how quickly the community moves to welcome newcomers.

The “Twin Twins” Connection

I also met a gal, Katie, at a recent group event. We were only able to chat for about five minutes but immediately recognized that we both ride very similar motorcycles (she rides a Triumph Street Twin 900 (2022) and I ride a Speed Twin 900 (2024)). We hit it off as “Triumph Twin Twins,” and started planning a time to ride together.

I Made a Riding Friend: Now What?

Many people have different styles of riding, different levels of experience, and different goals riding. Some people like the destination and want to ride to get there. Some people are just out for the ride itself and it doesn’t matter where you go or if you grab a meal or anything.

Not every rider is the same, and that’s okay! People have different styles, levels of experience, and goals for their time on two wheels. Some are focused on the destination, while others are purely there for the experience of the ride.

I would say that finding a compatible riding partner is a lot like dating, but honestly, Jason and I have been married more than twenty years and I wouldn’t presume to know what dating is like nowadays. Finding a riding partner does, however, require communication and shared expectations. To ensure you’re a good match, here are some questions to help you “vet” your new riding buddy.

Assessing Experience Levels

While “How long have you been riding?” is a standard starter, you often need to dig deeper to understand someone’s actual comfort level, especially if you are a more experienced rider taking a “newbie” under your wing. Katie (my Twin Twin) asked me these questions before we got started (and I am answering them below as well, but tailor these for your experience):

Comfort: Are you fully comfortable with your motorcycle? I am pretty comfortable with my motorcycle, but of course I can’t be fully comfortable with the experience level I have.
Independence: Have you ridden solo before? I had only ridden solo once and that was for about 20 minutes. I did feel a lot more confident in that ride though. I am normally following behind someone who understands the routes a little better than I do.
Endurance: What is the longest duration you’ve ridden at one time? About 45 minutes riding about 30 miles.
Limitations: Is there anything preventing you from riding for longer stretches? For me, it’s more opportunity. I don’t have a lot of time during the week to ride and can be limited on the weekend due to weather. I also am not as familiar with the routes around where I live and need to find some ways to get lost (but find my way back before dark since I’m not ready for that adventure yet).
Physicality: Do you get sore or nervous after a certain amount of time? I spent a lot of time in the off-season training my body to ride a motorcycle and so far I have felt GREAT so I think I’m ready to expand my time on the bike.

Defining Your Riding Style

To ensure you’ll actually enjoy your time together, make sure your speeds and road preferences align:

Speed: Is there a certain speed you are or are not comfortable exceeding? I am not ready to ride on highways (the speed limit around me is 70mph) and I have only ridden to 60mph so far. I’m not looking to break land-speed records anytime soon.
Terrain: Are you looking for straight highways, low-congestion backroads, or technical “twisties”? I like the low-congestion backroads and some twisties.

Setting the “Ground Rules”

Before you kick up the kickstands, agree on the technicalities:

Formation: Will you ride staggered or two-across? (Note: These are very different experiences!) My Twin Twin and I both agreed that we prefer a staggered ride. That allows us to be in single file on twisty roads and gives space to swing wide if we have to avoid gravel or other obstacles.
Communication: If your headsets aren’t compatible brands, agree on basic hand signals for stopping, hazards, and fuel. We had a signal for turning left, turning right, slowing down, and stopping.

The “Twin Twins” First Playdate

Once Katie and I decided to ride together, we chose a route that fit my current progression strategy. She was gracious enough to ride over an hour to meet me, and we took our Triumph Twins on a 50-mile “playdate” before sunset.

We spent two hours exploring mountain air, covered bridges, and streams. There were a few stops in there to chat and to take some pictures. It was my longest ride to date which I view as a successful milestone in my journey toward longer trips.

I am very much looking forward to riding with Katie again (and hopefully, she’d say the same about me).

The Triumph Speed Twins are ready for their close-up.

A better view of the covered bridge.

There’s just something about a sunset over the river that makes the bikes want to play.

A better view of the bridge.

A great view of the river from the bridge.

Resources for Connecting With Women Motorcycle Riders

If you are looking to start your own search for a “Twin Twin” or a local riding group, here are a few reputable places to begin:

The Litas: A global women’s motorcycle collective with local branches focused on community and inclusivity.
Stilettos on Steel: A female-owned organization providing a safe and supportive network for women riders.
Meetup – Motorcycle Groups: An excellent tool for finding local riding clubs and casual weekend meetups in your specific area.
MSF Hand Signals Guide: A quick-reference chart for the universal hand signals we mentioned—perfect for reviewing before a group ride.

Do you have a riding partner? How did you meet? Let me know in the comments if any of my story resonates with you!