Group Riding Tips
Riding by yourself is fun, but having company along makes any trip better. Not only can you share the high parts of the trip like the best vistas and funniest anecdotes, you can also share in the more difficult parts, like breakdowns, giving you more resources to solve problems and get back on the road.
But if you’re going to ride in a group, it’s helpful to know the basic tips and tricks that will keep your group safe and happy as you ride. Below, we’ve listed our most important tips for group motorcycle riding. A big part of any motorcycle trip is having a properly maintained motorcycle, so make sure to bring your bike to Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson® for all your maintenance needs. We’re located in Eugene and we proudly serve the areas of Roseburg, Albany, and Bend, Oregon.
Be Prepared
Preparation is key for any long ride, but it’s even more important when you’re in a group. If you’re riding on your own forgetting something or having to go back for it only wastes your time. But when you’re with a group, those inefficiencies ripple through the rest of the group. If more people in the group are ill-prepared, the trip can really get bogged down. It’s important to make a packing list and check it thoroughly as you pack. It’s also necessary to make sure your bike is properly maintained. If you’re going on a longer trip, it’s wise to take your bike to the shop for a quick tuneup from the mechanic. Finally, stop by the gas station before leaving to make sure you have a full tank of gas.
Go Over the Route Ahead of Time
While a GPS is helpful if you’re just navigating for yourself, it’s actually more important that a group stays together than that everyone navigates for themselves. The best way to ensure people stay together is to play follow the leader. The lead rider just signals all directions with the rest of the group following up. To ensure that everyone follows the leader, it’s helpful that everyone is on the same page about the directions. Go over the directions beforehand so that everyone knows the route. But when the time comes to get on the road, let the leader lead.
Ride in Formation
Motorcycles have a disadvantage on the road because they’re relatively small and hard to spot for larger vehicles. Luckily there’s safety in numbers for riders, and riding in formation is the safest and best way to take full advantage of this protection. When viewed from above, a good riding formation looks sort of like a zipper or a zig-zag line. The pattern consists of two lines of riders riding at staggered intervals. A tight formation is when the rider directly in front of you is two seconds in front of you but the rider at a forward diagonal angle to you is only one second ahead of you. It’s important to never ride directly next to other riders. This is illegal in most areas and it’s also dangerous.
Learn Hand Signals
Hand signals might seem old-school, but if radios go out or there are any other problems with electronic means of communication, hand signals will be invaluable. It only takes a few minutes to learn a half dozen hand signals for basic commands such as “exit here,” “slow down,” or “I need to stop for repairs.” Make sure everyone is fluent in these signals before heading out.
Accommodate Riders’ Skill Levels
When riding in a group, every rider can only ride as hard as the least experienced and least skilled rider. By not putting this rider’s skills in front of the group, you’re essentially encouraging the person to ride outside of their abilities, which is incredibly dangerous. It can be helpful to have the least skilled rider in the first or second position to help provide a governor on the group’s speed at the beginning of the formation.
Group riding makes riding much more fun. If you’re considering a group road trip, bring your Harley® by Willamette Valley Harley-Davidson®. We’re located in Eugene, Oregon and we proudly serve the areas of Roseburg, Albany, and Bend, Oregon. Give us a call today!