* Motorcycle Awareness: Safety Tips from Allstate Motorcycle Insurance * Rider Safety: Staying Alert on Familiar Routes * Rider Training: Be Prepared and Carry These Essentials. Select from premium Motorcycle Group Riding of the highest quality. Here are a few things to consider before you join a motorcycle convoy. Decide on the Leader. So if you follow this Motorcycle Group Riding Tips and have confident on yourself than you will be able to escape from any type of accident. The signal can be used to break from or to lead the group, depending on whether you are leading or following. For example, if a column of 20 motorcycles is dominating the right lane of a highway, a car driver in the left lane wanting to make a hasty exit may do something risky in trying to get off the road in time. If someone in the group is riding a motorcycle with a sidecar, have him/her ride at the rear or front of the group. Other standard procedures are, when exiting a highway or coming to a tollbooth, it's recommended you go single file. Are you and some friends heading across country? Group riding connects us in a way that solo riding can’t. Our friends at Allstate Motorcycle Insurance know a thing or two about motorcycle safety. Regardless what kind of bike you are on, if you find yourself with a sketchy crowd, or are tempted to get in over your head, you ought to just gracefully bow out and save it for another day. Motorcycle Group Riding Formations A staggered formation is the recommended formation when riding with groups of motorcyclists. Some problems are merely inconvenient, like when the group has to wait around because someone didn’t arrive with a full tank of fuel or … When taking off from a light, your group should be fairly close together, but not too close. If necessary, slow down to allow him/her to … Motorcycle Left Turn Left turn For letting the group know you are turning left. From the Fall 1996 issue of Motorcycle Cruiser magazine. Before starting out, each rider could agree to share resources. Sure, there's the thrill of independence and the romantic appeal of nothing but you, your bike, and the road. Some riders have years of experience, while others are … Motorcycling with friends on a weekend ride or with an organized motorcycle rally is another cherished part of the motorcycle riding experience. Related ReadingHow Well Do You Know Your Motorcycle? When riding in a group, keep these tips in mind: Be on the opposite side of the lane in which the motorcycle just ahead of you is traveling at about one car length distance (you should be two car lengths behind the bike on the same side of the lane and directly in front of you). Another upside to riding with others is, if something goes wrong, you'll have help readily available. It also can be intimidating to motorists, and present difficulties in passing situations either for your group to pass a driver, or for motorists to pass you. Are you and some buddies and your hot sportbikes going out to look for some fun? More specifically, are you and a few friends planning a day trip on your cruisers or a mixture of bike types? Find professional Motorcycle Group Riding videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. So when riding in a group, try to be a good group member; keep the pace, pass hand signals, and try not to ride aggressively or show off. The leader's job is to sets the rules. group riding sucks … 3-5 no more … all the club group rides turn into ”i need to stop for gas” forgot to fill up before meet …thats 10 miles out . 16 Motorcycle Group Riding Hand Signals (Animated Chart) Speed Up . As you're riding, periodically check your review mirror to make sure the person behind you isn't falling behind. Has each rider done a pre-ride check? Inexperienced groups will benefit most from this signal. Packs of sport riders pumped with testosterone are also known as a recipe for craziness. If you break down ten miles into it, you'll put a damper on everyone's day. It should be socialized with the other riders beforehand wherever possible. But, it can go all pear-shaped if certain precautions aren’t taken upfront. In inclement weather, a larger space cushion is advisable. If you are, think twice. 4 If your group or club implements hand signals, ensure that you are familiar with the system before beginning the ride. Pass with caution. Cruiser riders or tourists not minding their blind spots, or blithely cornering without leaving enough room for their fellow riders have forced others off the road, or collided. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of data and cookies. Many have stories to tell where someone – even an otherwise highly experienced rider – screwed up and crashed, or took someone out. It’s fun riding with a group of friends but it requires the full attention of each rider. It’s easy to get a bit hypnotized and start staring at the … Motorcycle Group Riding Safety Tips Conduct a Pre-Ride Meeting. Group Riding. Likewise, in corners, do not go side-by-side for obvious reasons. On narrow or curvy roads, a single-file formation is advisable with more space between bikes. Anyone who has ridden in a group knows that it is difficult to talk to other riders while you are riding, unless everyone has an Intercom system. First, is everyone's bike fueled up? Street RiderCourse 1. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. Classic motorcycle riding for fresh air, scenery, interesting stops, casual pace and new friendships! You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. For example: one person carries a first-aid kit, another a flat repair kit, another could carry a full complement of tools and hopefully have knowledge of what to do with them, etc. • This signal is useful because motorcycles generate intense … In addition to Motorcycle.com's safety series, Allstate Motorcycle Insurance has its own valuable safety information to share. Are you new to riding? 16 IMPORTANT Motorcycle Group Riding Hand Signals - YouTube. Group Motorcycle Riding. Make the signal by extending your left arm straight out with your palm facing down. This includes three-wheeled motorcycles (“trikes”), bikes with a sidecar (“hacks”), bikes towing a trailer, or four-wheelers. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Skill levels vary. Keep the group small. This will minimize confusion. If you do that, then sharing the road can be safe and rewarding. Riding in a group does however have its own set of challenges. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. Find Your Place Within The Group. Be Prepared Before Going to the Ride. Tips for group riding on motorcycles Group riding gives you a great feeling of camaraderie. Experienced groups rely more on body language. The directions could then be printed, and placed in a map holder on your tank, or other convenient location. Keep in mind, while there is strength in numbers, large groups do not have right of way or own the road in any sense. 211 talking about this. The tips below will help you ride safely in a group. Are you and 11 other strangers riding a guided tour through new environs? Your IP: 111.118.177.93 On the positive side, if you can follow the program, and exercise restraint, the camaraderie and fun can add a whole other dimension to your life as a rider. that way i don’t have any worry about the motorcycle rider riding too close to me, or having him (or her) pass me unsafely or anything like that. next rider at least one second behind in the right third of the lane, It might be that you’ve got quite a bit of touring experience and … Whether at intersections, in the twisties, the highway, or no matter where you are, there is one cardinal rule when riding in a group of any size: always ride your own ride! • Each rider needs to do the same thing as an individual. Group Riding – Military Precision Option. Some motorcycle groups ride very crisply, always in staggered formation, with each rider riding two seconds behind the rider directly in front of them and one second behind the staggered rider, as the motorcycle safety courses tend to recommend. i like being last in line. Or are you riding with novices trying to keep with a herd for the first time in traffic? Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. A truly organized ride is of necessity a tamer endeavor. Another pointer to help avoid some of the bad habits riders can get into when in a herd: When the lead rider correctly stops and goes from a stop sign, that does not mean he stopped for the riders near him. © 2021 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. Motorcycle Awareness: Safety Tips from Allstate Motorcycle Insurance, Rider Safety: Staying Alert on Familiar Routes, Rider Training: Be Prepared and Carry These Essentials, The SEE System: Increasing Your Visibility, The American Culture of Motorcycle Safety, Knowing How to Brake Saves (the most) Lives, 2020 Ducati Superleggera V4 Review – First Ride, Two Ways to Skin a Knee: 2021 Honda ADV150 vs. 2021 Honda Trail 125, 2021 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport Review – First Ride, 2021 Harley-Davidson Revival Certified by EPA, 2021 Harley-Davidson Street Bob 114 and Restyled Fat Boy 114 Headline Softail Lineup, 2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 First Look, 2021 Middleweight Adventure Bike Spec Shootout, 2021 Triumph Bonneville Family Receives Update. Leaving a light or stop sign as a single cluster may be illegal depending on local laws, and could get you a ticket. The NOT list: not for endurance or high speed riders, not for awkward custom bikes that cannot navigate turns, and not for the overly loud bikes - we will go to public parks and possibly campsites that have noise requirements - let's keep this a friendly group! In short, exercising restraint, common sense and respecting everyone's space helps create a rhythm, builds trust, and is part of the art of making this all work. There is a variety of pretty standard hand signals, and it's a good idea to have everyone agree up front on the ones you'll be observing. “Group riding” is actually a catchall term. What a feeling as we roared through town, thundering our Harleys up the concrete avenues. Larger groups can create other awkward or hazardous situations besides. In other words, who is in your group? Another good idea is sending out the route in advance via email with a GPS route attached. Dr. Ray's Guide to Group Riding eCourse, a Motorcycle Safety Foundation presentation, is practical instruction for anyone organizing or participating in a group ride.The course provides a wide array of tips to help ensure a fun and safe group ride, from where to place your bike on the roadway to how to communicate with the rest of the group while underway. Here are some tips … We use cookies to improve your experience on this website and so that ads you see online can be tailored to your online browsing interests. The first is communication. 8 Replies to “Motorcycle Group Riding: Leader Responsibility?” redbone says: November 9, 2009 at 9:52 am. Do you know everyone and their habits well? Groups larger than five to eight riders, while impressive to behold, are not always such a terrific idea. The leader sets the pace, but before even starting out, everyone in the group ought to do a few things to help make sure you all stay on the same page. To be blunt, some dislike group rides and recommend against them. No demographic is exempt from these stories either. Planning – the quality of the group ride is always reflected in the planning that went into that ride. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, a standard formation is staggered, giving everyone enough room to negotiate the road. Motorcycle Group Riding Formations & Protocol. This week on MCrider we look at some tips and techniques on how to have a successful motorcycle group ride. While some consider group riding good, and others consider it not so good, like a lot of other things in life, it really is what you make of it. As mentioned, group riding can elicit a good deal of ambivalence with experienced riders. Don't ride beyond your skills. Rider Education, Injuries and FatalitiesWhat to Wear When You Ride - and Why The SEE System: Increasing Your Visibility Motorcycle Insurance BasicsChoose a Motorcycle That Fits The American Culture of Motorcycle Safety Should You Ride a Motorcycle How to Load Your MotorcycleNight RidingRiding With a PassengerRiding in the Rain and WindThe Truth about Drinking and Riding Road Conditions Quiz Knowing How to Brake Saves (the most) Lives. Cloudflare Ray ID: 65089cfaeeff320b The leader typically rides in the left third of the lane, followed by the next rider at least one second behind in the right third of the lane, and so on alternating and evenly at about one second intervals. Each rider should go one after the other. Riding a motorcycle is a great deal of fun, but it is a lot more fun when you have a few friends to ride with. It’s certain you’ll encounter two things when riding through … Odd formations may be necessary in group riding when there is a member of the group which is not a standard, two-wheel motorcycle. If it's possible to utilize an intercom between lead and sweep or others in the group, that also can help keep things together. Take a look at the MSF's newest hands-on training curriculum, … Be incredibly careful passing other riders in your group. Picking your riding partners should be like picking your friends: Be selective, keep your wits with you at all times, and make sure it is win-win all the way around. The group leader should spend prior days planning the route from start to finish, gas stops and rest points. Find the perfect Motorcycle Group Riding stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Most importantly, enjoy group motorcycle riding. Most riders don’t ride in groups all the time, its usually just something to do once in a while. Is everyone sufficiently experienced? Know which situations call for single file. You and your motorcycle; Group riding If you want to ride with others, you must do it in a way that does not endanger anyone or interfere with the flow of traffic. This placement will keep unfamiliar motorcyclists from being responsible for the pace of the group and from falling behind. If you have many riders, breaking into more manageable sub-groups may be the way to go. We use data about you for a number of purposes explained in the links below. All riders should not leave as a group at the exact same time, but in staggered formation. Country Roads Group Riding (CRGR) is an "all brands" motorcycle riding group … Riding doesn't have to be a lone activity. Riders should fuel up their motorcycle with a full tank of gas … And sometimes you need to just get out there and ride to clear your head. There is security but also risks in numbers for motorcyclists who choose to ride in groups. Riding with a group of friends can be a blast. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. Motorcycle Right Turn Right turn Let the group know you are turning right. This 10-minute edit of the video in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Guide to Group Riding Kit explains riding formations, pre-ride meetings, hand signals, and more. I once rode with hundreds of other riders from Brisbane all the way to the Gold Coast in a twilight run for the Morgan & Wacker 95th anniversary. It doesn’t have to be big to be an Adventure. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. New riders should be placed in the middle of the group. When a group ride is done correctly ts a real pleasure and actually a safe way to ride together. Exchanging cell phone numbers with the leader is also advisable in the event someone gets lost or has a problem. Riding with a group presents challenges to an already demanding learning process, and probably should be avoided until you have at least 1,000 miles experience. You can always do that later on your solo rides! Catch their attention and … One of the greatest joys of motorcycling is riding with friends. Usually, the most experienced two riders will want to play leader and sweeper (the sweeper rides in last place to look out for stragglers). But riding in a group presents special challenges – whether your “group” consists of two riders, a dozen, or more. Join the Motorcycle.com Weekly Newsletter to keep up to date on all things motorcycling. But even assuming you are up for it, depending on the dynamics, and number of riders, it will be necessary to pay greater heed to some fundamentals. Related Articles You May Like: 7 Tips To Boost Your Riding Skill; Motorcycle Ride on Highway – Five Things to Consider; Save Saved Removed 0. Please enable Cookies and reload the page. A staggered formation works by using the right third and left third of the line, with riders on each side staggered between one another in a zig-zag pattern. Motorcycling is primarily a solo activity, but for many, riding as a group – whether with friends on a Sunday morning ride or with an organized motorcycle rally – is the epitome of the motorcycling experience. Don’t fixate on the motorcycle in front of you. The temptation to use that rocket between your legs can lead you into doing all sorts of things you'd be less likely to do alone when your wits are fully with you. More riders mean more variables for someone to mess up. Slow Down . QUICK TIPS: MSF’s Guide to Group Riding .