Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique proper formation

Anyone know what the law states in NJ, I guess most states are the same, about how 2 riders are supposed to ride? Do you have to be staggered or can you ride side by side?

You can check the AMA's website. Info there just says it not addressed in the code.
http://home.ama-cycle.org/amaccess/laws/result.asp?state=nj

I hate riding side by each, it really limits your options in a pinch.

+1

Riding side by side just ups the odds for bad things to happen.

Regardless, if you ride with someone who chews and spits, make sure you get this decided before you start...

Even if it's legal to ride touching grips , DON'T , I HATE it when someone gets beside me on the right in the same lane ( I usually ride the left side ) , if you have to swerve to avoid an obstacle or a cager merging , the only place to go is up against the bike beside you . Not good , not good at all .

That "reasonator" is working pretty good for you lately, huh Wade?!

(I agree 100%)

I can't help but think it would still be proper to ride staggered, even if just two bikes. The front bike would be closest to the center line for passing visibility.

Staggering allows some time for reacting to an emergency situation. I'd hate to be right next to someone that had a blowout. Any wavering and you're both down.

If I remember right from the NY written exam, side by side is allowed until approaching a turn, then you go around the corner 1 at a time.
jeff

Thinking about this, I don't see how 2 riders differs from 20 or 200 riders...

Pat (Dinqua) gave us the best common-sense answer to this 2 NY rallies ago - if you can't see the face of the rider in front of you in his mirror - you're too close. I think he called it the 2 second rule or something...

I gotta quit quoting him - his helmet won't fit anymore..

The 2 second rule says you should be two seconds behind the person in front of you. In staggered riding of more than 2 people, you would be 2 seconds behind the bike directly in front of you and 1 second behind the staggered bike in front of you. Obviously, as you speed up the distances will increase.

I ride quite a bit with just one other rider. We always ride staggered and come up alongside at lights, stops, etc. Whoever is leading takes off first. This is far safer than side by side riding, which I think should not be legal.

Well, I personally agree with ya Bob, but I've noticed over my 40+ years of riding these things that often when I come upon a large contingent of RUB Harley riders motoring down the road out on their little HOG chapter runs and enjoying their newly purchased "Lifestyle" that they seem to "think" differently!

Gee...I wonder if maybe THEY know something we don't!

(NAAAAHHHH!)

I think all the points mentioned regarding group riding are true and in the interest of safety. I've come to realize that my personal "where's my head at" style doesn't always lend itself well to groups. Although I've been in groups in the past and will be in them in the future

I'm continually distracted by that house over there, or that herd of cattle , or that mountain, or that river, or the sweep of the road. Having the attention span of a 10 year old, I have to force myself to pay attention to maintaining position, the bike ahead, bike behind. Then I get frustrated by missing the house, cattle, mountain, river, or road's siren song. Riding with FJ or Roadie, I've noticed they maintain a 1/4 mile separation.

Dallas Police Dept: Hilary Clinton Motorcade. This week.

The outside one clipped a curb, dumped it, and died.

Side by side formation looks pretty but:

To me, laws that allow motorcycles to ride two abreast have a couple of purposes.

Allow two bikes side by side at stops or very low speeds in heavy traffic, making the riders more visible.

One rider allowing another to pass in the same lane.

That's about all that I can think of. Side by side at speed is just foolish.