Group Riding Etiquette Do's & Don'ts

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

Heres a link to look at to get started:
http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/group_ride.pdf

Have fun!
~Sandee~

i like the hand signal stuff on that link, i will have my wife practice them

 

[kbwitt]

I don't know about any set rules, but I will say, that it is hard seeing around a trike and getting a visual to see if everyone is still there. Unfortunately I seem to end up being the leader since it seems like I know all the interesting places. I usually ask if the guys with 3 wheels would either ride in the rear, or be responsible for the bikes behind them.

Spyder trikes are easier to see around than rear wheel trikes. Are front wheels are low and that is were our widest spot is. II have even seen some 2 wheel bikes with bigbags wider than our bag or front cowling width. Any one who says it is dangerous to have trikes any were but the back I think might be a danger rider and not know what he is talking about.
Kenn

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Sad but

As a leader in the Patriot Guard Riders, between missions was an individual's choice escort of the hearse with state police doing traffic control. What that means is the official mission involved members seeing the hearse off from the airport, and receiving it at the funeral home in another city. The procession left at 7pm, westward into the sun, with darkness before arrival. My Navy Pilot instincts prevented me from sanctioning riders joining the escort. Five riders decided to go, regardless.

So with extenuating circumstances, halfway while on the interstate, there was a terrible accident involving a Harley Trike in the left half of the left lane, and a Spyder riding staggered behind in the right side of the same lane.

Louis Sevin died at the scene and Rick Kline sustained life threatening injuries which he is recovering from. Both are/were my dear friends serving in the PGR.

State Police press release: "Louis Sevin Jr. of Slidell was traveling west along I-10 on his Can Am motorcycle when Richard Kline's Harley Davidson drifted to the right and hit the Can Am's front left tire, police said. The contact caused the Harley to veer to the left side of the road, and the Can Am to veer to the right. The crash occurred just before 7:30 p.m"

Upon review, it was unfortunate that they were in the formation like that. The two Harley trike rear wheels plus the two Spyder front wheels added together where quite a bit wider than a lane.

So, for future missions that involve me, I will put the 3 wheel bikes of any make in the same line, probably the far right, behind each other leaving the other line for 2 wheel bikes. If there is a problem and a bike ending up too fast or too slow, and is next to a 3 wheeler, it will not take up more than a lane's width.

Two trikes should never be that close for that to happen. One or both of these riders made a very costly error. As was mentioned by Anne. Not only should they be staggered but three seconds behind the trike in front. I am very sorry for your loss, and I pray for the speedy recover of your surviving friend!

 

[Trbayth]

What we did at Spyderquest:

1. Road captain in the front, Tailgunner at the rear.
2. At a turn, the Road Captain signals to the person immediately behind him to pull over to the side and direct the rest of the group as to the proper turn.
3. When the Tailgunner catches up, the person that pulled over pulls out directly in front of the Tailgunner.
4. Lather, rinse, repeat

And according to my MSF course, trikes are never staggered although I do tend to stagger with the person in front of me when stopping at a light or a stop sign.

 

[WEB-WVR]

Group Riding Hmmmm, best advice I can give is don't get to close to anybody not only for their sake but for yours. Ride sweep (last) if you can. Safest place for a newbie. Ride your own ride. ( an old Harley saying) If you can figure that out it could save your life. i.e. Don't do anything that you feel uncomfortable with, or that makes your pillion rider uneasy.

My personal recipe for a safe group ride.

Jack

I agree with Jack.
I would say #1; RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE ! Dont ride or go faster beyond your skill level....yes I would take a rear position.
Staggered position for sure.
Know the route in case you get left behind.

Some Clubs have extensive rules, you as a group should set some ground rules.

Personally......I dont like it !!! I dont mind riding with a bud that you know and your riding style is similar. But these larger group rides, I think some are just asking for trouble.

Stay safe !

 

[PatriotRider]

as far as hand signals go, I strongly discourage it when I'm ride leader. I want everyone's hand on both bars at all times. I encourage everyone to pay close attention to brake lights and turn signals. and I teach throttle control. a perfect PGR escort rider never touches his brakes but learns "formation" flying with very gradual throttle inputs. we only ride staggered and have to stay closer than a recreational ride to stay up with police and to discourage vehicles pushing into the formation breaking it up into pieces.

the referenced accident's first link in the chain of events was the formation coming from 60mph to 25mph because of an errant car driver who ran up an onramp toward the procession. the Harley trike was staggered on the left side of the left lane and the spyder was staggered behind and off the corner of the trike at the right side of the same left lane. a two wheeler would be able to pass the staggered 3 wheel bike in front of them space wise if necessary. the spyder had no room in the lane to come up to the side of the trike which lowered it's escape space by 75%.
PGR processions, by the nature of the beast, are a potentially dangerous type of riding. On the other hand, I've participated or led over 300 PGR missions with never a problem that required a hospital stay. and this was the first fatality and serious injury requiring a helicopter

 

[blacklightning]

I have even seen some 2 wheel bikes with bigbags wider than our bag or front cowling width.

I have been around a lot of different bikes with big bags, and they all seem to be easier to see around then a spyder. The only bike close to the spyder width that I have been around is my cousins decked out goldwing 1500, which is huge.
Anyway, I am not here to argue, bust anyones bubble, or change anyones opinion. I am just stating what works for me. After talking to 3 of my close friends that have joined the spyder band wagon, we all seem to prefer that the wider bikes, and 3 wheeled bikes (spyders included) stay in the rear in order to help with visibility of the entire group.
PS, normally we keep our groups in a 10 or less number. The only exceptions are when we do group charity rides. On those, I rarely lead, and therefore, I only have 2 to keep up with the one in front of me, and the one behind me.

 

[PatriotRider]

PS, normally we keep our groups in a 10 or less number. The only exceptions are when we do group charity rides.

strongly agree to keep the groups small...I stick to eight when leading recreational rides...me plus 7 others...that way, I can glance in my mirrors and see the last bike...I also run a CB and try to put a CB equipped (experienced rider) last and maybe one in the middle of the pack.

 

[hecoon]

Spyder trikes are easier to see around than rear wheel trikes. Are front wheels are low and that is were our widest spot is. II have even seen some 2 wheel bikes with bigbags wider than our bag or front cowling width. Any one who says it is dangerous to have trikes any were but the back I think might be a danger rider and not know what he is talking about.
Kenn

amen

 

[hecoon]

as far as hand signals go, I strongly discourage it when I'm ride leader. I want everyone's hand on both bars at all times. I encourage everyone to pay close attention to brake lights and turn signals. and I teach throttle control. a perfect PGR escort rider never touches his brakes but learns "formation" flying with very gradual throttle inputs. we only ride staggered and have to stay closer than a recreational ride to stay up with police and to discourage vehicles pushing into the formation breaking it up into pieces.

the referenced accident's first link in the chain of events was the formation coming from 60mph to 25mph because of an errant car driver who ran up an onramp toward the procession. the Harley trike was staggered on the left side of the left lane and the spyder was staggered behind and off the corner of the trike at the right side of the same left lane. a two wheeler would be able to pass the staggered 3 wheel bike in front of them space wise if necessary. the spyder had no room in the lane to come up to the side of the trike which lowered it's escape space by 75%.
PGR processions, by the nature of the beast, are a potentially dangerous type of riding. On the other hand, I've participated or led over 300 PGR missions with never a problem that required a hospital stay. and this was the first fatality and serious injury requiring a helicopter

many of the sheriff's motormen are hurt during funeral processions..requires fast movements on the bikes between intersections

 

[PaladinLV]

Trikes tend to overlap tracks, especially Spyders.

From what you stated, they were not following the minimum 1 second rule for staggered positions (minimum 2 seconds in single or the bike in front of you).
Shame and sorry for your lose.

AJ

As a leader in the Patriot Guard Riders, between missions was an individual's choice escort of the hearse with state police doing traffic control. What that means is the official mission involved members seeing the hearse off from the airport, and receiving it at the funeral home in another city. The procession left at 7pm, westward into the sun, with darkness before arrival. My Navy Pilot instincts prevented me from sanctioning riders joining the escort. Five riders decided to go, regardless.

So with extenuating circumstances, halfway while on the interstate, there was a terrible accident involving a Harley Trike in the left half of the left lane, and a Spyder riding staggered behind in the right side of the same lane.

Louis Sevin died at the scene and Rick Kline sustained life threatening injuries which he is recovering from. Both are/were my dear friends serving in the PGR.

State Police press release: "Louis Sevin Jr. of Slidell was traveling west along I-10 on his Can Am motorcycle when Richard Kline's Harley Davidson drifted to the right and hit the Can Am's front left tire, police said. The contact caused the Harley to veer to the left side of the road, and the Can Am to veer to the right. The crash occurred just before 7:30 p.m"

Upon review, it was unfortunate that they were in the formation like that. The two Harley trike rear wheels plus the two Spyder front wheels added together where quite a bit wider than a lane.

So, for future missions that involve me, I will put the 3 wheel bikes of any make in the same line, probably the far right, behind each other leaving the other line for 2 wheel bikes. If there is a problem and a bike ending up too fast or too slow, and is next to a 3 wheeler, it will not take up more than a lane's width.

 

[skak72]

I love group riding! We have ridden in trike and mixed trike/bike formations, and I don't see a difference. Just keep up with the group, be aware of the rider in front of you in case they have to stop, and also be aware of the person behind you..to be sure they are still there..and have fun!

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