The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Tips for Riding Safely in a Large Group of Bikes
August 31, 2009

There is nothing like the sight and the sound of a large group of Harley Davidsons, cruisers, or sport bikes rumbling down the street or highway. For many riders, seeing a group of bikers at a young age was the catalyst for their love of motorcycles. With motorcycles in formation, there seems to be an unspoken precision about how the riders move together as a group. Surprisingly, there is generally very little coordination in most cases.

Riding in large groups is something that should not be left to chance. It is best to get the group together and discuss a few things before heading out on the road.

• Leaders: In a group ride, there should be two leaders. One who leads the pack and one who rides in the rear. These riders should be very experienced individual and group riders.

• The Route: Everyone in the pack should know exactly where the end destination is, the route the group is taking to get there, and where all scheduled stops for fuel and food will be.

• The Pace: Everyone in the group should know what to expect in terms of the speed of the ride. Faster riders should be in the front so passing and rear end collisions are minimized.

• Signals: Several motorcycle hand signals should be discussed and used to pass information back to the group and to the front to the leader. These signs could be for stops, slowing down, or to let the leaders know someone has fallen behind.

• Positioning: Every rider should know where to position themselves in the pack while riding and when stopped at traffic lights.

• Partners: Each rider should have a partner in case of emergency. That way, no single biker is left behind without help.

• Emergencies: Everyone in the group should have phone numbers of the other members. Everyone in the group should know who has supplies like first aid, motorcycle tire repair kit, tools, etc.

Before heading out on your group ride, make sure all members are sober and in good condition to ride. One mistake can cause multiple bikers to suffer injuries. If you have fears or concerns, make sure to either drop out of the group ride completely or ride in the rear. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.