Riding in tight formation at 75+ MPH.

[Bob Denman]

As with any other venture with risk, follow the rules use common sense and stay safe. Group riding is fun but you better know who you are riding with.
Allen

[Bfromla]

How can this be safe? What do you think?

Not SAFE and Not Smart.[/QUOTE]
& if your not comfortable your not enjoying the ride
WHATS THE POINT IN THAT?!
Just as bad if not worse that riding in flash flood rain storm or hail for that matter.
If the group is that large & for a proper event have the leo escort & all will be well. Per motorcy training the most experianced riders bring up the tail of the group not just the trikes.
If you randomly join a group on road maybe, otherwise talk with the group Captain

[asp125]

Some groups insist on staying in formation no matter what. It is especially IMHO, unsafe if they go in parade formation - ie side by side. That reduces your evasive options in half, you can't swerve into your riding buddy. At minimum, you should be staggered, one second to the bike ahead and diagonal from you, two seconds between bikes in your lane of travel. In the twisties the proper etiquette is to be single file, so that you can take proper cornering lines.

I used to partake in charity rides with large groups, and riding in formation with unskilled and unfamiliar riders was so unnerving. There would be riders who can't seem to hold pace or lane position and other stupid stuff. I've given up group riding unless it's with no more than six skilled riders that I know. Even then we'd never insist on holding formation.

[crazycanuck]

something is not right here...............did you really say Harleys at 75MPH

[Mazo EMS2]

Not safe, I wouldn't/don't do it. I guess it's the "pack mentality" that the HD riders have to display....

[rjs]

Hello Everyone I am off to a Minnesota Patriot Guard ride tomorrow and they expect 4,000 Bikes I always ride solo and I have about a 1000 miles on the bike an 2015 f3s I am paralyzed so I have the ISCI Hand Brake and I strap my wheelchair on the side of the bike. I would like to thank everyone for there thoughts on this post as my RADAR will be ON HIGH ALERT during
the ride. I may even pass on the group ride and just enjoy the day. It is a great event as they Salute VETERAN sand LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Once again thank you for all the post.
And Happy Riding!!!!!!

Ric

[Docster]

In order to answer, one must FIRST define what you perceive as TIGHT?

Harley chapters typically ride in staggered formation. With 2 seconds between the bike in front of you, and 1 second to the staggered rider on your left or right.

Past Director of Southern Nevada HOG
AJ

Smartest answer yet.

[OkieDoc]

FYI at 75mph you are moving at 110 feet per second!

[BoilerAnimal]

In order to answer, one must FIRST define what you perceive as TIGHT?

Harley chapters typically ride in staggered formation. With 2 seconds between the bike in front of you, and 1 second to the staggered rider on your left or right.

Past Director of Southern Nevada HOG
AJ

I guess I just haven't seen any typical Harley riders then! But based on what I have seen, Paladin's comment should read "Atypical Harley chapters ride in staggered formation".

[Lew L]

I'LL happy ride sweep and give plenty of space for them. It's just my humble opinion but 2 seconds at 70/75 in formation is NOT smart or safe riding.

CHAIN REACTION MOTORCYCLE COLLISIONS CAUSE=========Kaos

[jcthorne]

We ride with a local chapter of the SCRC. Our chapter is about half Spyders at this point. Staggered formation with minimum 2 second separation is a national organization safety requirement. Spyders and other trikes are NOT placed at the rear but rather dispersed throughout the group. We limit to about 12 or so bikes in a group ride. Breaking group rides up into smaller sections when needed. Each with a leader and a tail gunner. Hand signals are required as is a safety course and new member ride before you can ride with the group. If your group is not riding safe, suggest looking for your local SCRC chapter and making some new friends.

Group rides can be SAFE and FUN when done properly.

[Mazo EMS2]

My idea of a fun group ride is to ride with the "people", and not necessarily with the bikes. In other words, ride together, somewhat, but not in a "formation", and gather at some destinations as a group. Maybe some get there early, maybe some a few minutes later, but gather as a group of people, not a pack of bikes.

[jaherbst]

Nothing wrong with formation riding. I did so for years with people I knew and rode with several times a week. Yes we were staggered but very close. Each knew the ability's of the other and therein lies the secret to riding in tight formation. Not a lot different than Flying in formation. You would not want to do this with just anyone who had very little skill or was some one without discipline.

Jack

[Buckeye Bleau]

My idea of a fun group ride is to ride with the "people", and not necessarily with the bikes. In other words, ride together, somewhat, but not in a "formation", and gather at some destinations as a group. Maybe some get there early, maybe some a few minutes later, but gather as a group of people, not a pack of bikes.

Peach to their own preference, if you don't like group rides don't do them, if you do then enjoy.

personally I ride with various groups, Patriot Guard, ALR, 40+ Touring Riders and a local Spyder group.

The first two are very well organized and mostly veterans of the military. These are very structured both as a group and most members say are well versed in discipline and structure. We ride in stager formation unless at parades or at VERY low speeds, then by two's

The 40+ group is mostly older folks and about 90% three wheels. They ride slower and in single file. The same for the Spyder group and all is well, I will say that the later two allow more distance between and this actually causes more issues. Getting through intersections, lights and stop signs is terrible. With the former groups it is tight, managed and works well.

Joe

[Easy Rider]

Nothing wrong with formation riding.

VERY short sighted attitude. There IS something very wrong with it.

STUFF happens.......regardless of how skillful or experienced the riders are.

Not having a sufficient space cushion ALL around is just BAD driving in any vehicle.

On a motorcycle it is even more dangerous.

[Bob Denman]

VERY short sighted attitude. There IS something very wrong with it.

STUFF happens.......regardless of how skillful or experienced the riders are.

Not having a sufficient space cushion ALL around is just BAD driving in any vehicle.

On a motorcycle it is even more dangerous.

So don't ride in groups!
Just don't expect that everyone else should also avoid it.

[Gator37]

So don't ride in groups!
Just don't expect that everyone else should also avoid it.

Good answer, I could care less what or how other ride, I will ride to, and in my comfort zone only.

[asp125]

I recall one time, we came upon a large group .. what I call the leather train. Side by side in the twisty canyons, putting along below the posted limit each time they got to a curve. I'm sitting back "please fircrissakes pull over and let the traffic back up pass!"

Finally as the road turns into sweepers I start passing them, hop scotch like a few at a time. Boy were they pissed! I guess they didn't want their neat little procession interrupted by any interlopers; especially not by leather clad power rangers on sport bikes.

That's why I don't do groups, I don't play well with others.

[UtahPete]

It isn't safe......or sane either. Every motorcycle training ever created specifically says to NOT do that. I don't ride with groups that insist on that kind of riding formation. And it seems that there always are other reasons I don't seem to "fit in" too.

My thoughts exactly. I don't like group rides unless it's with people I know and trust. That 'biker' mentality is not for me at all.

[Casher50]

The group I was riding with was a Patriot Guard group. Maybe they knew each other well, and could thus ride safely, but had a deer entered the formation there could have been some dead veterans. I will always ride sweep with this group.

[UtahPete]

Recently I was with a group (mostly on Harleys) who were riding in tight formation at 75+ MPH. I insisted on bringing up the rear and leaving plenty of space to stop if need be. Riding like this is basically institutionalized tailgating, and I don't like it. However, I see it a lot as groups go by on the interstate. How can this be safe? What do you think?

The other thing that needs to be said (and I know I'll catch a lot of flack for it), is that displays of biker attitude like this tend to be disliked by the general public. And, ultimately, that translates into a negative image for motorcyclists all over. It doesn't matter whether it's color guard or patriot guard or just a biker club out doing its thing - the non-riding public doesn't differentiate.

[Bob Denman]

I guess that it's up to us to show that the stereotypes just aren't true...

[RinconRyder]

I don't do formation rides either and for many of the reasons already mentioned. But I found yet another:

My 2016 RTL's foot brake is not the standard motorcycle type that is level with the footpeg. It takes an additional second or two to lift my leg to put my foot on the brake pedal. That one second could easily be the difference between a safe stop and needing significant repair to body and bike. And that is also one reason why I bought a Spyder with an installed hand brake. My hand is much faster than my foot.

[Bob Denman]

I don't do formation rides either and for many of the reasons already mentioned. But I found yet another:

My 2016 RTL's foot brake is not the standard motorcycle type that is level with the footpeg. It takes an additional second or two to lift my leg to put my foot on the brake pedal. That one second could easily be the difference between a safe stop and needing significant repair to body and bike. And that is also one reason why I bought a Spyder with an installed hand brake. My hand is much faster than my foot.

But "tuning up" your situational awareness will make everything quicker!

[SteveP]

That's why I don't do charity rides anymore . The few we were on someone was constantly telling everyone to stay closer , at one two bikes went down ( one Harley and one Aprillia) and a few close calls . 2 seconds at over 75 miles per hour ( over 120 Km/hr) ? Is insane . Would not want to be the EMT,S dealing with that one if someone made a mistake.