Group Riding with Motorcycles

What's an easy way to make riding motorcycles even better? Hit the open road with a group of buddies of course! Group riding allows you to share the travel experience with others and gain everything from help finding destination spots to help to pass the time on long routes. But adding more members can make trip planning complicated. We've created the following guide to planning and executing a smooth group experience. If you are looking to upgrade your ride before your journey and want to see a range of motorcycles for sale, visit Abernathy's Cycles. We are a motorcycle dealer proudly serving those in Memphis, Nashville, and Union City, Tennessee.

Prepare the Motorbikes

Before you head out on a long ride, make sure your motorcycle is ready for it! No one wants to slow down the group because their vehicle is encountering a maintenance issue they should have caught, and fixed, before the big day. Every rider should do a pre-ride inspection checking things such as the fluid levels, tire air pressure, lights, brakes, and so on. If anyone uncovers a performance issue,  they should visit a motorcycle dealer with a service department as soon as possible.

Build the Route

You'll want to get together to plan your path in advance. Make sure everyone is on the same page - you don't want someone getting confused and getting left behind! Spend some time discussing where you all want to go as well as whether you want to take the scenic routes or the fastest ones. Don't forget to plan in breaks! Riding motorcycles is a physically-taxing experience and you'll want to give everyone chances to stretch their arms, rest their eyes, and recharge for the next leg of the journey.

Decide on a Riding Formation

You don't want to be a scattered group of motorbikes weaving in and out of traffic haphazardly. Instead, you'll want to be an organized group of riders that help traffic flow smoothly and keep you all safe.

The standard formation is known as the staggered double line. Those in front and behind you are two seconds away. The person next to you is one second away. If you took a bird's eye view of your motorbikes, you would all look like a zipper.

You'll also want to be strategic about who is at the front and the back of the group. These both are important roles. The leader is responsible for noticing any traffic or road changes and alerting the group to them. They also set the pace and need to have a good understanding of everyone's skill and comfort level. The person in the back is responsible for hanging back with anyone who falls behind. They need to bring riding experience as well as patience. In general, you'll want more experienced riders to take these roles. But make sure they also have the right temperament!

Pick Hand Signals

Hand signals help you all communicate with each other while you ride. Even if you all have radios or Bluetooth helmets, you'll still want to have these as a backup plan. Simply search the internet for common signals or make up your own. You'll want a sign for identifying hazards on the road, stopping, turning, and pulling off. Make sure everyone is familiar with the signs in case they get used on the trip.

We hope you found these tips helpful! If you are looking for motorbikes for sale, visit Abernathy's Cycles. We are a motorcycle dealer located in Union City, Tennessee and we also serve those in Memphis and Nashville. Stop by today!