Many motorcycle clubs, organizations and events hold group motorcycle rides throughout the year. No matter the occasion, it’s always important to stay safe so that you can have a great time. You may be new to group riding or might be riding with others who are new to riding in a group. It’s normal to feel a little anxious if you haven’t done a group ride before, especially if you don’t know about the rules and protocols. Being prepared to ride in a group will help guarantee a successful outing for everyone.
Here are some tips for staying safe on group motorcycle rides.
Riding in the right formation will help you stay free of danger. It is recommended for everyone in the group to ride in a staggered formation with each motorcyclist spacing themself out in their lane. This formation will provide everyone with a clear line of sight to everything coming up ahead. Riding staggered with your group will also allow anyone to quickly maneuver if needed because they’ll have some free space to do so. It is recommended to have a two-second following distance between you and the rider in front of you. This distance should be a few seconds longer if you’re traveling at high speeds. The ride should be led by the most experienced motorcycle rider, with newbies toward the very front. The last person in the formation should be experienced as well, with a knowledge of the route. It’s also important for the last rider to carry safety equipment like a first aid pack and tools to help riders in need. Having riders in your group take classes like Accident Scene Management will help them know what to do in the unfortunate case of an accident.
Communication during the ride is extremely important. Talking with others during the ride is super easy thanks to Bluetooth headsets and other devices. Being able to communicate with riders in the group about the route, safety issues or any questions or concerns will help keep everyone informed and comfortable with what lies ahead on the ride. Make sure you have a plan before the ride leaves and confirm that everyone on the ride is on the same page. The ride leader should signal early on before making any turns with the rest of the group signaling while they follow. It is important to use hand signals, as well as the turn signals on your bike so there isn’t any confusion. Remain aware of your surroundings, looking ahead in your mirrors and for distracted drivers who may not be watching for motorcycles.
Staying together on the ride is important so that nobody gets separated. Some larger rides will have police escorts, making it easier to stay together, but for the most part riders will be on their own without an escort. If anyone becomes separated from the ride, the leader can signal for everyone to pull over and wait until everyone is back in formation. The rider on the tail end can also see if anyone has become separated and communicate that to those in front. Using the buddy system and choosing a partner can help make sure that everyone is looking out for each other. Changing lanes can be complicated but the leaders should be watching their mirrors for a large enough gap for the entire group to safely change lanes when needed. Maintain your speed and awareness of surroundings when changing lanes and make sure that you’re in a similar position when you arrive in your new lane.
The key to an awesome group ride is making sure everyone is safe and prepared. Make sure everyone is aware of the group’s plans and procedures before you take off. If you’re new to group riding, talk to an experienced rider to answer any questions you may have. The more prepared you are, the safer you will be and the more fun you will have!
Hupy and Abraham has been working to keep motorcycle riders safe for decades. Our goal is to spread messages of motorcycle safety and awareness to riders and other drivers on the road. The firm’s “Watch for Motorcycles” message promotes motorcycle awareness with TV ads, billboards, stickers and appearances at events. Hupy and Abraham is proud to have sponsored many group rides and events for motorcyclists over our 50-year history. You can check out a lot of other great motorcycle articles and videos at HUPY.COM.
You can do everything correctly, but sometimes the unthinkable happens due to the fault of others and you may be in a motorcycle accident. Hupy and Abraham is here for you. We’ve helped thousands of riders over the past 50 years and received over $1 billion for our clients. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, call Hupy and Abraham right away at 800-800-5678 or chat with us at HUPY.COM so we can start fighting for you.
