Spyder group riding etiquette

[AeroPilot]

We enjoy riding with a small group of friends including multiday trips, but as the years go by recognize that our reflexes and reaction times have changed. Mainly we just like the freedom of a more casual ride pace, and safety of groups of 4 to six at most. Just how we ride. An overall ride plan with the next leg or stop discussed and an ideas of the needs of others makes the ryde smooth.

We still use our hand signals, but are a little less bunched, but still try to keep the group from being compromised.

A couple of Senas for leader and trail and we're good to go. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[ARtraveler]

: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"

RE: Faster Riders...When I was in the group, we had over 50 bikes for each weekly ride. They were split up into 8 or less riders per group, and according to speed of the ride, and ability of the driver. They would also leave about two minutes apart so as to keep space between the groups.

I volunteered to be the road captain of the newbie riders. They were in that group until I said they could "graduate." Interesting experience, but I would not do it gain.

 

[Pandy]

2 wheelers up front staggered.

All trikes last in single file.

Yeah, what he said.

 

[canamjhb]

I've been riding with the same group for the last 16 years. We usually ride 2 times a week, weather permitting. Some days we can have 20 bikes and some days only 6-8. We try to keep each group to 8 or fewer bikes with a captain and tail gunner in communication with each other. Riding is always staggered with 3 wheelers in the back. They can stop faster than a 2 wheeler and require more space to maneuver around obstacles. We have had some group members leave and new ones added from time to time. But we almost always line up in the same order. Everyone knows who they are comfortable being behind or in front of. There are a couple of slower riders who gravitate to the rear. If they miss a stop light, the group just slows a bit until we are together again. This has worked for us for many years..... Jim

 

[UtahPete]

I've been riding with the same group for the last 16 years. We usually ride 2 times a week, weather permitting. Some days we can have 20 bikes and some days only 6-8. We try to keep each group to 8 or fewer bikes with a captain and tail gunner in communication with each other. Riding is always staggered with 3 wheelers in the back. They can stop faster than a 2 wheeler and require more space to maneuver around obstacles. We have had some group members leave and new ones added from time to time. But we almost always line up in the same order. Everyone knows who they are comfortable being behind or in front of. There are a couple of slower riders who gravitate to the rear. If they miss a stop light, the group just slows a bit until we are together again. This has worked for us for many years..... Jim

This sounds like a very cohesive group of similar riding styles and experience. Congratulations.

 

[2dogs]

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.

Yea, us too. We don't ride in groups anymore. Too dam stressful. 1/4 mile separation is my comfort zone. If I can see your brake lights but can't read your license plate, I'm good with that.

 

[Peacekeeper6]

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.

I've ridden in stagger formation MANY times on two-wheels. I like keeping a tight formation especially through towns with traffic lights because IF the light turns yellow, no car would dare cross the intersection when a group of "rolling thunder" is still riding through.

Haven't done a group ride with Spyders though. I imagine I'd adopt a more car-like attitude and give others lots more space.

 

[jcthorne]

We tried that and it caused its own set of problems. You may not think relegating the spyders to the rear of the pack is disrespectful but realize many feel it IS. Doing that causes hard feeling and that results in less than optimum safety in the formation. Having trikes mid formation is not disruptive at all once everyone gets used to it. Southern Cruisers is one of the largest riding clubs in the US, and our local chapter is the largest. We have a good deal of experience with mixed rides and found what does not work and fixed it. Was just trying to give you the benefit of our years of experience and hundreds of thousands of miles doing it. I was actually against this formation myself over the years but learned by example and experience why it works and came around to supporting it.

 

[jcthorne]

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.

No one is speaking of 'close formation' riding. We are talking about group rides and the safest way to accomplish them. We strictly follow the 1 sec 2 sec rule. Not close at all.

 

[UtahPete]

No one is speaking of 'close formation' riding. We are talking about group rides and the safest way to accomplish them...

I disagree. There have been several references to 'staggered formation' and 'trikes to the rear of 2 wheelers' because of stopping distances; both imply close formation riding.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

You ride staggered leaving a 2 second minimum gap between you and the rider in front of you. Riding like this gives you a better line of sight and also gives you more space to maneuver quickly if needed. I don’t understand how anyone can argue with that logic and if you do I won’t be riding with you!

 

[UtahPete]

You ride staggered leaving a 2 second minimum gap between you and the rider in front of you. Riding like this gives you a better line of sight and also gives you more space to maneuver quickly if needed. I don’t understand how anyone can argue with that logic and if you do I won’t be riding with you!

:agree:

 

[Lew L]

You ride staggered leaving a 2 second minimum gap between you and the rider in front of you. Riding like this gives you a better line of sight and also gives you more space to maneuver quickly if needed. I don’t understand how anyone can argue with that logic and if you do I won’t be riding with you!

Tight formation in group traveling is for the Blue Angels. I like a bit of space around me. Staggering is fine but leave that 2+ seconds PLEASE. I ,personally, don't mind being a tail gunner. But when I want tear up the Sierra passes--- I prefer a small, spread out group.

Lew L

 

[ollicat]

Good discussion folks. I know we all ride on lots of different types of roads. Interstates are 10 feet or more wide. But some back roads lanes make only be 6 feet wide. None of this is a problem for two wheels but on a Spyder, there seems to be the need for some grace.

 

[jcthorne]

You ride staggered leaving a 2 second minimum gap between you and the rider in front of you. Riding like this gives you a better line of sight and also gives you more space to maneuver quickly if needed. I don’t understand how anyone can argue with that logic and if you do I won’t be riding with you!

Thanks. You said it better than I did. I obviously was not making myself clear at all.

 

[MRH]

I don't think there is a right or wrong way here, but it is a good question and worthy of thought. Different groups handle it differently, and rarely, if ever, has it been about anything other than what makes sense for the group (not being a second class citizen). If everybody is at the same pace, then putting Spyders in back makes sense for a number of reasons - we just don't "fit" the same way that two wheelers fit together. When I'm on rides where we stretch out at our own paces (and regroup at stops), then I find the place where I'm not slowing others down, or being slowed down - often at back of the faster pack of riders.

I think we have to remember that we aren't on two wheels, and that we are far more welcome with riders who ride more traditionally when the additional volume of three wheels doesn't take away from their experience.

 

[UtahPete]

No one is speaking of 'close formation' riding. We are talking about group rides and the safest way to accomplish them. We strictly follow the 1 sec 2 sec rule. Not close at all.

JC, I think the problem lies with people confusing 'group' riding with 'formation' riding. For many, it's the same thing.

 

[ARtraveler]

JC, I think the problem lies with people confusing 'group' riding with 'formation' riding. For many, it's the same thing.

I am thinking you are on to something here. :bowdown:

 

[2dogs]

No one is speaking of 'close formation' riding. We are talking about group rides and the safest way to accomplish them. We strictly follow the 1 sec 2 sec rule. Not close at all.

In my neck-of-the-woods, we have a secondary highway that leads from the interstate to some high desert open country. That secondary hwy goes through a 20 mile twisty canyon region that follows a river. It's not uncommon to hear on the news of several bikes going down on that hwy because one of them crashed and the others couldn't avoid hitting them. That's group riding, and the 1 sec 2 sec or 10 sec rule doesn't mean a thing if you aren't paying attention.

 

[BoilerAnimal]

I've seen my share of groups where they obviously thought the 2 second rule meant 2 FEET!