Ok boys and girls, i will try & make this work: This is to give you a basic understanding of what is going on in a group ride. I want everyone to have fun, enjoy their ride and the people around them.

I have been riding for 6 years now and have been on over 30 group rides, ranging from 4-30 people in a group. I feel that if you read these guidlines (not rules) you will enjoy yourself more on a group ride, fit in and understand what is going on in the pack.

A group ride with people you have never met before is not the place for you to try something new; for example: drag a knee, wheelie/stunt, go faster than you have ever before. We've all seen it and you wont impress us with anything.


Basic Recomended Gear:
Slow/Mid: Jeans, Jacket and Helmet
-You are welcome to show up in what ever you want but most people will be wearing this and if your new you might feel you dont fit in (i went through that when i rolled up one time in shorts and a T many moons ago... you tend to feel out of place)
Fast-Tracklike: Boots, Jeans, Leathers, Gloves & Helmet
-Most people who go on these rides wear full leathers but iv done it in jeans for most of the time till i got leather pants.

Basic Formations:
On highway or any straight road (staggered):
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/stag.jpg

On back roads and when entering a turn:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/enterturn.jpg

When Passing a Car:
Speed up to the car, pass and move infront of it by at least 50 feet, give the guy behind you room to get infront of the car also. DO NOT: pass and slow down to the speed of the car at X, this will give the next passing guy no room to come back into the lane, just keep going at least 5-10mph faster than the car (you did pass to go faster). Also dont pass 1 car out of a line of 3, only pass if you can really get ahead and proceed at a faster rate of speed. passing for no reason is just stupid and the group gets all messed up.
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/howtopass.jpg

Once you've passed:
Use this hand signal to help the next rider pass by indicating he has the clear of way (in other words no on-coming traffic) If you are the rider who is being helped you do NOT have to pass the car unless you feel 100% about it. If you are worried about holding up others behind you let them come upfront and drop back. We do not want anyone to feel pressued into passing.
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/safepass.jpg

Move out of the way
First tell the ride behind you to catch up or get closer, this is also used for any "speed up" situation:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/speedup.jpg

If you feel you want the guy behind you infront for any reason or you simply want to drop back, wave him up:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/youlead.jpg

NEVER PASS ON THE RIGHT:
The only time is when you have your own lane to do so, DO NOT DO A FLY BY, make the pass easy (5-10mph faster than the other riders).
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/insidepass.jpg

Speeds:
Even though a ride might be Slow/Mid(5-20mph over the limit), doesnt mean it will always stay that way. Leaders usualy know the roads and want to enjoy themselves, thus they might speed up for a turn just to push the bike a little, YOU DO NOT NEED TO FOLLOW ON HIS ASS. If you feel you are going over your head/limits back off, the leader will always wait for you at the next straight away, stop sign or turn. Remember, a group ride is not the place to try something new you have never done before.

Other Hand Signals:
Left Turn:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/left.jpg

Right Turn:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/right.jpg

U-Turn/Turn Around:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/uturn.jpg

Stopping (Fist at 90 Degrees):
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/stop.jpg

Your High Beams are on or turn signal still flashing:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/highbeam.jpg

Road Hazard, Debree
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/hazard.jpg

Slow Down or Bumpy road:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/bumps.jpg

COP/5-0 (tap on helmet):
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/cop.jpg

I Need Food/Drink:
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/food.jpg

I Need Gas (Point at tank):
http://www.negativelight.net/images/random/odfu/grouprides/fuel.jpg

Getting Pulled Over by a Cop:
The Group Gets Pulled Over
Everyone stops. You dont know why, you dont know where you dont know anything!

One Person Gets Pulled Over
Member X did a wheelie and is now getting pulled over, let him, just continue slow to the next rest area, store, parking lot and wait for him to catch back up. If you are also asked to pull over do so but you dont know why, what, when or how member X did something.

If you run from the cops
And i end up getting pulled over, i will tell the cop everything to save my own ass, your bike make, name, hair color, you fucking name it im telling it. If its you or me, and youre the fucker that ran, its going to end up being you.

Leaving a Group
No matter what happens dont just split off and not tell anyone. As part of a group ride you are to double check once in a while on the guy behind you, if you split off the guys upfront have no clue what happened and might think you crashed, turn around, do a search and so on. So never just leave, let someone know somehow that you are splitting off.


Feel free to post up any recommendations or suggestions!!!
REMEBER TO HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE!!!

This was a very informative posting. Thank You for taking the time to do this. There are lots of riders that don't know these things.

I'm one of those peole that didn't know most of that information. Thanks for taking the time to write that up. :thumb:

Great thread man have been riding for more than 20 years on street bikes. You would be shocked at the number of individuals who ride in small groups who have no ideal about what you have just posted :moto2: