Spyder group riding etiquette

[ollicat]

I have a question for you folks out there in the know. When riding motorcycles in groups, we stagger, with lead rider on the inside closest to the center lane. Then all the other riders stagger for safety reasons. What do you do if a Spyder is in the mix with other motorcycle riders? It is hard to stagger a Spyder because they are so wide. And secondly, if you are riding in a group of all Spyders, what is the safest way to travel? Do you still stagger?

Sounds like a crazy question but I was thinking about this.

 

[jwulf74]

We have 2 spyders and always stagger when possible...

 

[jcthorne]

We ride with Southern Cruisers Riding Club. Louise and I are both road captains (she is second officer for Conroe chapter). Spyders fall in formation and stagger just like other bikes do. Do be aware that some 2 wheel riders do not like to ride behind Spyders. Its not so much not being able to see, its that they have learned that Spyders can STOP very quickly. Much faster than most 2 wheelers. So be aware of this and let those that feel this way ride ahead.

 

[lstayner]

Our club is mainly a two wheel club with several trikes and a Spyder. Trikes should go to the back because they block a wider view than a motorcycle. The same cannot be said for the Spyder. They can be anywhere in the group. They don't block the view nearly as much as a trike. We ride staggered no matter what type of bike is in the group.

 

[Bfromla]

Been on few Leo escorted larger group (100+) & after a good introduction & communication briefing there is mix of two wheels & standard trikes, the two wheels would be up front & trikes in rear all staggered as normal. If someone has issues en route they pull to side & fall back to the end of line. * communication part of briefing was on what route & stops would be involved, & hand signals (pointing at obstacles/holes to avoid) not linking headsets. **

 

[Copperman]

I like to stagger because on a Spyder you can see farther ahead than if you were directly behind another Spyder. And that equates to being safer.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Our group always staggers. It makes it easier to see what's ahead due to the size of the Spyder, and it also creates a safe zone for emergency braking or evasive actions. At stoplights, our group tries to put two on the line at once to get the line through the light easier and quicker than it would be single file.

 

[Grandpot]

2 wheelers up front staggered.

All trikes last in single file.

 

[2RTsGV]

2 wheelers up front staggered.

All trikes last in single file.

Was wondering when someone was going to say single file, below is what the manufacturers manual says:

(Page 54 2019 RTL Owners Manual)
Width
Because this vehicle is wider than a
typical motorcycle:
– Always keep the front wheels in
your lane. Be especially aware of
the front wheels location when entering in a curve or during an overtaking.
– Do not share lanes or split lanes
(ride between two lanes of traffic).
Group riding should proceed in a single file, even with motorcycles.
– Be prepared to swerve farther to
avoid obstacles

 

[Trbayth]

When I took the MSF 3-wheel course they said trikes in general shouldn't stagger.

That said, when I'm in a group of mixed 2 and 3 wheels, I usually stagger. When in a group of all Spyders, I'll stagger if the group is staggering, otherwise no.

 

[ARtraveler]

Now you know why we don't like to drive in groups with other motorcycles/Spyders/trikes. Was in a riding club for several years, and one of the road captains. Seen enough "stupid" to cure me of it.

Don't mind riding with friends, who I am familiar with though.

 

[jcthorne]

2 wheelers up front staggered.

All trikes last in single file.

Sorry but that is not safe nor friendly to the Spyders. We went through that phase years ago and learned the lessons. There is no need to push second class citizens to the back of the bus nor for the hard feelings it causes. It adds NO additional safety and riders with a chip on their shoulder are not safe riders.

We also found from a rubber band perspective, Spyder up front actually works better. Its also kinda dumb to push spyders to the back when half your road captains are spyder riders. Ride leader and wing are always up front and in our group, often one or both are on 3 wheels.

 

[KosherKid]

In our club, I ride as the tail gunner. Road Captain leading with radio and me in the back also with radio.

 

[Grandpot]

Sorry but that is not safe nor friendly to the Spyders. We went through that phase years ago and learned the lessons. There is no need to push second class citizens to the back of the bus nor for the hard feelings it causes. It adds NO additional safety and riders with a chip on their shoulder are not safe riders.

We also found from a rubber band perspective, Spyder up front actually works better. Its also kinda dumb to push spyders to the back when half your road captains are spyder riders. Ride leader and wing are always up front and in our group, often one or both are on 3 wheels.

It's not a matter of treating Spyders as second class citizens. Two wheelers in a staggered formation work well. If you put a trike (any trike) in the middle of that, it is disruptive. When we ride, all trikes go behind the two wheelers. The only exception is if the leader is on a trike; then it will be the lead trike, followed by two wheelers, followed by all other trikes. Sidecar units count as trikes. We have never had an issue with this protocol.

 

[UtahPete]

Sorry but that is not safe nor friendly to the Spyders. We went through that phase years ago and learned the lessons. There is no need to push second class citizens to the back of the bus nor for the hard feelings it causes. It adds NO additional safety and riders with a chip on their shoulder are not safe riders.

We also found from a rubber band perspective, Spyder up front actually works better. Its also kinda dumb to push spyders to the back when half your road captains are spyder riders. Ride leader and wing are always up front and in our group, often one or both are on 3 wheels.

:agree:

Faster riders in their own group separate from slower riders.

Formation riding makes no sense to me and I avoid it as much as possible.

Everybody should know the route at least to the next reconnoiter point. Friends familiar and comfortable riding together can do so, but otherwise it's "ryde your own ryde"

 

[ned64]

Years ago when I rode a motorcycle with a small group. There was a guy an his wife that rode a trike that wanted to ride with them. You should of heard all the complaining from guys in group about letting the trike ride with them. It is way to unsafe for them to be anywhere inside the group. They have to ride at the very back or they cant ride with them at all.. If something happens there is no way you could get around them or you cant see the road. Oh yes the trike wasnt as safe to ride as a motorcycle. Slower getting going, couldnt go as fast in the corners, cant stop as quick. It was a nice goldwing trike. I had no problem with them on the trike in front of me. If those other riders could not stop if they had to they werent paying very good attention in my book an if something happened to a bike they probaly hit it too.I rode in front of the trike too alot. But I liked being last or right in front of the last person bringing up the rear. Now I ride a spyder an the wife rides her's. I follow her sometimes an she follows me sometimes. Dont group ride anymore from the bad vibes got from those riders yrs ago. We can ride our ride's an not be told we have to be at the back. To each there own.

 

[Peteoz]

:agree:
Faster riders in their own group than slower riders.
Formation riding makes no sense to me and I avoid as much as possible.
Everybody should know the route at least to the next reconnoiter point. Friends familiar and comfortable riding together can do so, but otherwise it's "ryde your own ryde".

Couldn’t agree more, Pete.:thumbup:

Pete

 

[bikerbillone]

Pete your comment has a lot of merit, I'm always concerned bout the guy on my six, is he too close or what. Just don't ride with groups, not against it, I just done't do it anymore.

 

[UtahPete]

It's not a matter of treating Spyders as second class citizens. Two wheelers in a staggered formation work well. If you put a trike (any trike) in the middle of that, it is disruptive. When we ride, all trikes go behind the two wheelers. The only exception is if the leader is on a trike; then it will be the lead trike, followed by two wheelers, followed by all other trikes. Sidecar units count as trikes. We have never had an issue with this protocol.

Some people enjoy the discipline of formation riding and do it well and safely. But, I believe most Ryders, particularly relative novices and casual riders, should not attempt close formation riding, for everyone's peace of mind.

 

[LongIsland]

Generally our club ride single file but stagger at stops so we are not strung out too far. I've attended Americade for several years and when I first did their group rides they put all trikes at the end of the line. In the last 2 to 3 years they have them line up as they arrive no longer relegated to the rear of the congo line. I will admit I liked it better at the rear as sometimes the 2 wheelers almost lose it on some of the tighter curves. Luckily, they didn't fall at those times but it was close.