Group riding is one of the great enjoyments shared by the vast majority of motorcycle enthusiasts. The feeling of being amongst a large group of thunderous bikes, rolling down the highway is one that really cannot be described, it must be experienced. Although it may look difficult and even dangerous to the layperson, riding in a group that is well in tune with one another is as natural as walking. For some, group riding comes easy while others it require a bit more practice, not just in the fundamentals of riding in a group but also with the etiquette of being part of a group. To help those who are new to group riding, we’ve put together a few group riding tips. Even for those of you that assume you are an experienced group rider, it might not be a bad idea to brows over these tips as some of the mistakes being made out there may be your own:
Arrive prepared to ride: There is nothing worse than having to wait for that one rider that never seems to be ready to ride. If the group ride has a pre-determined “kick stands up” time, be ready to roll without delay. Ready to roll means that the bike is already fueled up, smoke and bathroom break has already been taken, you have already eaten and there is nothing you need to run in the store and grab real quick. Don’t be a burden to everyone else, when the kick stands up time strikes, all you should need to do is start your bike and twist the throttle.
Don’t hang too far back: Group riding is called group riding for a reason and all bikes in the group should travel as if they are one. Stragglers brake the group up and can create holes in the pack to which vehicles have a tendency to pull in to. On surface streets, stretching out the group increases the chances of getting broken up at changing signal lights. It happens sometimes, even with a close formation group however, intentionally stretching the line of bikes will all but ensure it will happen time and again.
Hold your line: Riding in staggered formation is chosen for group riding as it is the safest method for large groups of motorcycles to travel together, especially if the mix of riders is not familiar with one another, but it only works if each rider maintains there line. Drifting from left to right removes the buffer zone that the staggered formation creates, putting those riders behind you in jeopardy. If you are unable to maintain your line, then maybe group riding is not for you.
Don’t accordion the formation: Just as important as holding your line, so is maintaining your interval between you and the bike in front of you. The distance you should maintain is dependent on the speed you are riding, the rule of thumb is a two second interval however, the real key is being consistent. There is nothing more annoying than a rider in the middle of the group that falls back then accelerates to catch up and then repeats this over and over again. This causes an accordion effect through the group and is not only annoying, it is unsafe and takes away from the enjoyment of the ride for those that have to keep adjusting to the changing speed of one.
Stay in view: Group riding is safe when performed correctly and one of the keys is being aware of the riders around you. It is the responsibility of all riders in the group to be sure they position themselves so that others can see them. In a staggered formation, with the proper interval between bikes, you should always be visible in the rear view mirror of the bike closes to you in the stagger.
How to fill the gap: Although different riding groups adopt different methods of filling a gap made in the group formation when a rider falls out, the most acceptable and believed to be the safest method is for you to simply hold your line and move forward to fill the gap. As you do so, the riders behind should follow suit. Changing lines is the less preferred method of filling a gap in the formation as it causes an unsafe ripple effect throughout the formation as bikes have to cross over one another’s line to re-establish the stagger formation.
Signal: It is always helpful to pass the directional signal down the line, be it with a simple hand signal or the directional signals on your bike. Although the direction may seem obvious, a little heads up never hurts especially when the roads are congested and the formation may have to be broken for a moment to get in position to make the turn or lane change.
Don’t tell others how to ride: Unless you are the Road Capitan or one of the designated group leaders, it’s really not a good idea to instruct others on how to ride, it rarely if ever is taken as constructive criticism especially if not being given by someone with expert riding credentials. If you witness a person riding in a manner that is unsafe to the group, you should address your concerns with the Road Capitan or Safety Officer at the next available opportunity and allow them to relay this information to the offender in private.
There are a number of other tips and tricks to group riding and depending on what group you ride with, they too may have a few group riding “rules” of their own that must be adhered to. Some people are not cut out for group riding while other simply do not find enjoyment in it but for those that do, what group riding really boils down to is using a little common sense. Group riding does require some practice and there are some general rules to follow but in doing so you will help to create a safe and enjoyable ride for all those participating.
March 20, 2013- -
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March 21, 2013- -
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