Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Group riding

Now that riding season is here, I thought this might be a nice little refresher for group riding. Some newbies to riding, and some old timers, might get a few tips. By the way, I know nothing about this MC group, but there info is the same as others and is correct. http://www.southerncruisers.net/ridingrules.htm

Sorry I didn't realize the link wasn't working

There's also a MSF group riding video on www.windycityrats.com

Great Info! Especially with group riding season and all the rallies happening over the next two months!
Nice One!

My idea of group riding is people going to the same place, but not in a formation of any kind.

Soren

I'M a patriot guard rider, when i'm showing my respect, I want to be safe. I also do charity runs and poker runs etc. Some of these are guided rides and you have to ride in formation.

What,no friends? You think riding with a group of friends is like a shriners parade? Sometimes when you are helping people, you need to make a statement. Besides you really know your alive when your in the "thunder" of a group of SAFE EXPERIENCED motorcycle riders.

I have to say that the best group riding I have ever been in was the GA Rally. Chy was so organized and clear on everything, everyone was spaced so well with no rubber-bands, the whole thing changed my ideas of group riding. This is what a group ride should be like; I really enjoyed it, way more than other rides I have been on.

Until the GA Rally, all I had done was the local rat rides. Loosely organized, riders all over the place, turns (intersections) coming up with too much speed and some last-minute breaking into the turn (I was behind one guy who went off into the dirt to avoid the clump that happened in front of him and I followed him to help the guy behind me who was getting too close), lots of spacing and staggered riding variations, you name it. I have actually declined some rides because I was in the mood for more relaxed riding. Maybe it is because there are so many different bikes and styles of riding in a rat pack, with sports, cruisers, classics all thrown together.

We should have had a video crew film us in GA to show the world how it is supposed to be done. With the best bikes for visual appeal to boot.

Thats what i'm talking about, when you get a group together like the PGR, for example, you have a lot of people that have never ridden together before, so knowledge of group riding is very important. Toys for Tots, Armed forces day, Rolling Thunder, I could go on , but these are just a few where you end up riding in a group,if you want to participate. Safe Riding!

Sometimes it's easy to get so fixated on the fact that you are in a group you forget you're in traffic! Especially mid-pack.

We should have had a video crew film us in GA to show the world how it is supposed to be done. With the best bikes for visual appeal to boot.

I totally agree It was quite an experience to be part of the group as we rumbled in and out of traffic, and the look on some of those in the cages was priceless as they watched us approach and overtake them It looked as if the group had been riding together for years, not hours.

Cheers,
Brad

I enjoy 2-up riding with the wife but would like to get more group riding experience too. The MSF video was very good!

Come on over to the island for the ride in June!

I really enjoy riding alone or with 1 or 2 friends, thats the majority of the riding i do, but now, 5 or 6 times a year I like to go on rides where the destination has a purpose, such as a rally, charity event, PGR mission etc.A lot of these are guided rides and if you want to help, you need to ride with the group. And like i said, there aint nothing like 75-100 bikes all running thru the gears at the same time when your a part of it.

I love group riding if it's done correctly.. I stopped going to the big rides, Georgia Sheriffs assoc, toys etc. I'll go donate my money and hang out a bit but I don't like riding with them. They ride mostly two abreast, that in itself makes me uncomfortable but the last ride I went on I had to ride 15 miles beside a guy on an orange Road King who was blasting country music on his radio. That itself was enough then the guy behind me almost clipped me when we stopped... never again.

Thats exactly why knowing the right procedures is so important! Inexperienced riders should be in the front behind group leader and you should never be 2 abreast unless you are stopped. When a whole group stops you should use hand signals telegraphed back from the group leader, its hard to miss one after another using a hand signal, not so much with just a brake light. If i ride near a stranger who makes me nervous i'll tell him on the 1st stop, if hes not receptive, ill change my position. I'm much more concerned with riding around cages than I am experienced bikers.

It sounds like you believe (rightfully so) that experience is the key. If you're riding with people that you don't know, finding out who is or isn't could be painful .

YA, thats why I put the thread here,to refresh old riders memories and let some of the newer riders know how it should be done, some riders would probably like to try riding in a group to see if they like it, but may not be sure the correct procedure. thers a 1st time for everything and try it you might like it

One thing that has not been pointed out.... Riding in a group is NOT the way to gain riding experience. Before doing any group rides, make sure you have at least the basic skills.

This thread is about riding in a group , not about how many yrs under your belt.

To paraphrase my post:

Don't ride in a group if you are a 'fresh out'. Gain some basic experience first.

How is that not relevant?

Good point. Not just for your own safety, but you can pick up some bad habbits from other riders.

If the group is well experienced and has a good leader, new riders will be placed where it is easy to keep an eye on them. When I was a patch holder, the prez and VP would ride at the front, then the newer members. The road captain would ride behind them. If anyone started screwing up (or around) the road captain was right there "explaining" the proper procedures to them. We had a special signal to alert the leaders that it would be a good idea to pull over and stop to deal with anyone who just didn't get it.

And don't go crying when they pull over and smack the stupid out of you. They are only trying to help.
Unless it's a crazy club rule your not comprehending, then you can cry and say sorry (then get to the outside and u-turn through the grass never letting up) because it probably is a stupid rule that you don't need.

But seriously if you feel like your not "getting it" or you are really "in the way" you probably are. Now if Mr. Know it all pushes and squashes you remember: His buddies all know he is a AS$#@&^. (at the next stop tell him he probably knows the name of the unknown soldier too huh?). Keep your chin and mind on the road.
You do not want the spanking that comes from causing, or just being in, "the big one". Go ride with 3 others then 5 then 10. Then re-evaluate your "comfort" because it all comes down to that.

That is very relevant, I had a brain fart, sorry.

I had one of those once, darn near took out a city block

Gary,
I was also really impressed as how we rode as a group in GA. Spacing, pace, all of it. Particulary when we were in the mountains on Saturday and had to contend the the hay truck, the payloader on a flatbed and a couple of antagonistic cagers.

I too have bowed out of some larger rides because of sheer numbers; but then when the bike bike weeks come around, you're in a group whether you want to be or not. plus as Benny reminds us, there is also "other" traffic to contend with.

All in all, know yourself. Know what kind of a rider you are. I like what Greybeard related about his group experience. It's sort of like running a road race. If you're an 8 minute miler, you're not going to toe the line with the 5 minute brigade.

I have done rides where there was no choice but two across and made sure i was at least next to someone whose riding i could be confident in, but it's not always possible to create a "box" with people you know and whose riding skills you have faith in.

be safe out there...
mert