Riding in a Group

One of the best parts of spending time on a motorcycle is sharing the experience with some of your closest friends. Riding on the open road and heading to a goal destination with other people can be a lot more fun and entertaining than going alone. Here are a few tips for riding in a group to remain safe and to practice proper etiquette during the ride. For more information, visit Timms Harley-Davidson Anderson, serving Anderson, South Carolina.

Meet in Advance

Make it a point to meet with your buddies in advance to discuss the details of your upcoming ride. This will make it easier to decide when stops will be made and what rider will lead the group. The directions of the route also need to be discussed in advance to ensure that everyone knows what highways to take so all riders can stick together.

Keep It Exclusive

Many people have the mindset of "the more, the merrier" when it comes to riding in a larger group. Unfortunately, this can make the journey more dangerous and inconvenient for other motorists on the road. Stick to keeping your ride exclusive and to limiting the number of people you invite. If there are fewer experienced riders, limit the number of riders to five. More experienced motorcyclists can typically ride in a group of up to seven.

Prepare for the Ride

Preparation is key to ensure you have everything you need during the ride and don't encounter any issues. It's important for one of the riders to have a first aid kit or certain tools to ensure that you can take the necessary steps to treat injuries or to respond to an accident.

Don't Dominate the Road

Dominating the road can put your safety at risk, as well as the safety of other drivers. Pass other cars safely by following the leader and going one by one. Position yourself in the third lane to the left, and maintain a good following distance to avoid collisions. Adjust your positions if one of the riders can't pass a car on the road.

Rely on Hand Signals

One of the best ways to communicate with each other and other drivers on the road is to use hand signals. Everyone in the group needs to be educated about basic hand signals and what they mean. This will allow the entire group to be on the same page while traveling at high speeds. Discuss the hand signals during your pre-ride meeting to refresh everyone's memory.

Do you want to find the right motorcycle for your next group ride? You can select the right model from Timms Harley-Davidson Anderson. Our location is in Anderson, South Carolina.