Motorcycle Riding as a Group
Riding in a group is an art, which you learn with experience. The important element is to ride responsibly, with consideration for the other riders, both in front of and behind you.
1. Ride at a steady pace one that is comfortable for all.
2. Stay in sight of one another, but don’t ride too close together. There should be at least 4 bike lengths between each bike at low speed and at least 10 bike lengths at speed.
3. The leader must know where he is going. Don’t get in front and lead if you don’t know where you are going, or where you should stop. The lead rider has a greater responsibility to the other riders and should ride accordingly.
4. Ride staggered not directly behind each other. The lead bike should be positioned close to the left of the centre line, the second bike on the left closer to the road edge, the third bike back close to the centre and the fourth bike near the edge and so on. In sudden stops this helps riders avoid running into each other concertina style.
5. Riding behind someone, try to ride so that you can see the face of the rider in front of you in one of his mirrors. He should be able to see you at all times and not have to worry about where you are, cutting you off, or whether you might run into him from behind.
6. Keep your position in the group. At junctions or stop lights, stop in pairs (if possible) and leave in the same order you arrived. Don’t jockey for position to get away first and create silly accident situations.
7. Ride with a mate (in pairs or threes) be responsible to each other should any of you have trouble and need help.
8. Turning off the road wait for the rider behind you to catch up and see what is going on. He in turn should wait for the next rider.
• One rider (the leader?) Should wait for the other riders to arrive before turning off the road.
• Stopping for fuel / food / drink, park one bike alongside the road for the other riders to see. This bike should be beside and at right angles (if possible) to the road. It is easier to see a bike parked this way than when it is parallel with the road.
9. Making turns stop before the turn, not around the corner after you have made the turn. This avoids other riders going past the turn and then someone having to chase after them to bring them back.
10. Overtaking other vehicles, do it in order. The rider in front has the right of way.
• Don’t overtake other riders the same time as you are overtaking a car, this is dangerous if the other rider is not looking for you to overtake both him and the car.
• Look ahead to make sure the way is clear and there is a room for you to pull-back-in. Always allow oncoming vehicles enough space, don’t force them off their line of travel.
• Don’t overtake down the left hand side or going into a bend.
• Always allow sufficient space and time to overtake and pull-back-in, plus enough distance for any oncoming vehicle which you might not yet see, to complete the overtaking pass safely with room to spare.
11. Bike service check your bike’s – chain, oil & tyres – before departure or at the end of the day’s ride. Don’t do it during the day and hold all the other riders up.
12. Departures arrive on time at the departure point, with a full tank of fuel, ready to go. If you are late and the group is ready to leave or has even gone, it is your problem (not the group’s), and up to you to know the route and catch up.
13. Fuel stops base these around the bike with the shortest fuel range.
