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Post by shalomrider on Mar 15, 2013 1:53:07 GMT -5
howdy, i met a fellow sunday and today we went for a ride of about 50 miles each way on two lanes and four lane roads. we hadn't discussed vehicle positioning. i just said i'll follow you. at first he just rode the middle of the lane but after i jockeyed to the other side of the lane each time he moved to one side, he started staying on one side or the other and i moved to the opposite side of the lane and a couple car lengths behind. on four lanes while in the slow lane i always moved to the right so overtaking traffic could see him ahead.
what do y'all think about safest riding together and vehicle position.
i know we had something on scootdawg but nothing here yet.
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by wutzthedeal on Mar 15, 2013 1:57:24 GMT -5
My riding partner has a Goldwing, so part of out positioning is about his bike's weight (around 900 lbs, or 1200 with him on it) and how bad it would be if he ran into me; he rides behind, nearest the center since I'm the slower one so he doesn't have to constantly check his rearview to see if he lost me, and I ride ahead and to the road-side, so that if I do have to suddenly stop, we aren't relying on his brakes--he would just zoom right past me. He stays two car lengths back.
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Post by rockynv on Mar 15, 2013 4:20:48 GMT -5
Rear rider stays to the curb side of the lane while the front rider stays to the opposite so traffic entering the road will be more visible to the lead bike and the lead bike will be more visible to them.
When I ride with motorcycles I find most are slower to 55 mph than my fuel injected 250cc scooter and that the Aprilia I ride has much better brakes so I will take the back position an go light on the throttle so I don't push them along. The Aprilia handles better in the corners too so the motorcycles hold me back there also.
When I ride in front I have to tone things down to accomodate the less nimble motorcycles behind me. Don't accelerate too fast, go easy on the corners and don't stop too fast or they will overshoot you. It is really lousy to have a half ton or so cruiser motorcycle sliding along out of control comming up behind you.
Somtimes I will pass on a ride with a bunch of cruisers just so I can get motoring and get to my destination in 1 hour instead of 1.5 or 2.
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Sophomore Rider
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Post by jwalz1 on Mar 15, 2013 9:18:08 GMT -5
Yeah pretty much what Rocky said. According to MSF you alternate left, right, left, right for group riding in the lane you are in. You will fall in line through corners because you still want to take a safe line, see what is ahead etc, but once through the corner, left, right,left,right......
The staggering helps you see what is in front of you, and helps the oncoming traffic see more headlights coming at them.
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Post by wutzthedeal on Mar 15, 2013 14:36:41 GMT -5
In my situation, it wouldn't make sense for the lead rider to be in the center; the rear rider, in this case, will need the most space in an emergency, not only because it's harder to stop but because the bike is so huge, so if he got even a little squirelly on it, he would need a lot of space and being next to dirt/gravel wouldn't serve well. Plus, my riding position really doesn't change--I always stay to the far right except at night. But it is important to stagger and give ample following distance.
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Post by prodigit on Mar 15, 2013 16:03:44 GMT -5
Depends on how big the vehicle is.
On a motorcycle, or large scooter like a burgman or silverwing, I'd be cautious to go with 2 on one lane, other than behind a stop light.
On a 50cc scoot there is less trouble.
Generally, if one scoot is on the right side of the road, and I would ride the other scoot, I'd go on the left side of the road, with my front wheel about the same distance as the rear tire of the other scoot (Basically riding in a 'V' formation but with 2 scoots).
I prefer not to ride with 2 scoots next to each other, as if one scoot makes a mistake, or needs to swirl around an obstacle, I'd have too little time to react.
The front wheel always responds faster than a rear wheel to move left or right on the road, so I find it safer.
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Post by rockynv on Mar 15, 2013 20:36:54 GMT -5
In my situation, it wouldn't make sense for the lead rider to be in the center; the rear rider, in this case, will need the most space in an emergency, not only because it's harder to stop but because the bike is so huge, so if he got even a little squirelly on it, he would need a lot of space and being next to dirt/gravel wouldn't serve well. Plus, my riding position really doesn't change--I always stay to the far right except at night. But it is important to stagger and give ample following distance. Be mindfull that curb side riding with no lead bike on the other side of the lane clearing the way puts you in the "Dead Zone" making you invisible to many people pulling out of parking lots, drive ways and side streets. |
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Post by skuttadawg on Mar 15, 2013 22:45:44 GMT -5
Slow scooters near the curb to allow faster cars to pass by giving them room instead of being a near miss . I like to ride on the left side in order to be in the view of a driver behind me . In the middle is where the oil leaks are as it will be slicker when it rains . In the rain I ride in the tracks of previous cars as the water level is less .
In SC it is legal for two motorcycles or scooters to ride side by side in one lane . I have done so with riders I know and trust but had several almost collisions when one of us was not paying as much of attention as needed . When I ride with a buddy we take turns being the leader as its no fun to follow as it is to lead .
When I had mopeds I would wave for cars to pass me instead of riding my tail making me nervous and them mad for noting being able to speed . I also would pull over when going up a big hill to lets traffic pass by as I prefer to be on the road myself rather than among cagers .
Even on my fast scooters some people go nuts over having a small scooter go faster than they are and go out of their way to pass me even though I am speeding . I understand how some rude riders with a slow scooter can back up traffic and make them upset . It sucks to get hate when on a slow ride and a rude cager yells BS .
What would really be super cool if both or a group all had intercoms in their helmets in order to say " Lookout " as its heard to be heard at highway speeds with a FF helmet on all riders
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Post by wutzthedeal on Mar 15, 2013 23:25:14 GMT -5
In my situation, it wouldn't make sense for the lead rider to be in the center; the rear rider, in this case, will need the most space in an emergency, not only because it's harder to stop but because the bike is so huge, so if he got even a little squirelly on it, he would need a lot of space and being next to dirt/gravel wouldn't serve well. Plus, my riding position really doesn't change--I always stay to the far right except at night. But it is important to stagger and give ample following distance. Be mindfull that curb side riding with no lead bike on the other side of the lane clearing the way puts you in the "Dead Zone" making you invisible to many people pulling out of parking lots, drive ways and side streets. Yeah I realize that; matter of fact, when we're in town where most driveways are, I tend to ride closer to the center. Here, there just isn't enough traffic for there to be any oil spots (though I wouldn't ride toward the middle in the rain, just in case). But most of our ride around here is all rural with good visibility coming out of lanes. Of all the near misses I've had so far, none have been from people pulling out of lanes. Either head-on while drifting over the line, turning left in front of me, passing me then immediately applying brakes to turn, and a couple of "almost" pulling out, where they give gas but then stomp on the brake. I think I have a natural awareness for creating a line of site. Considering my partner already took a spill last summer that hurt him, I would take the blind-spot risk any day to give him some more room. (He took a left turn too hard on the lean and went down toward the inside, messed his ribs up). |
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Post by skuttadawg on Mar 15, 2013 23:32:05 GMT -5
Now when on a fast road without a divider I tend to ride away from the outer edge to avoid a head on collision as I have had several cross into my lane in a curve
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Post by shalomrider on Mar 15, 2013 23:59:27 GMT -5
howdy, thanks for the input. i do take pro-active moves to make sure i am seen. a pick-up started across the median to turn across our lanes and i got out and sigged and zagged so he would realize there were two of us. anyway, all the conversation is appreciated. i've been riding for 50 years so know most of what was said to be helpful to beginners. i wanted to travel with that fellow cause he is scheduled for open heart surgery the end of this month and needs to have someone with him in case of trouble. both our scoots are fast enough to keep the speed limit and a bit more------
lotsa miles and smiles to ya
ken
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Post by rockynv on Mar 18, 2013 4:16:30 GMT -5
Even on my fast scooters some people go nuts over having a small scooter go faster than they are and go out of their way to pass me even though I am speeding . I got chased down by one last week. They were making a left from the median left turn only lane and then changed their minds, pulled back into the far left travel lane then crossing over two lanes into mine as I was beside them. I hit the brakes and yielded passing them on the left afterwards. The woman on the cell phone then took off after me in a fit of rage not giving up until about  mph. I don't ride a particularly small bike either. There are indeed plenty of those types of nuts out there. Glad I was on a bike capable of pulling away as there was not a good turn off until the State Police barracks several miles down the road. |
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mph. I don't ride a particularly small bike either. There are indeed plenty of those types of nuts out there. Glad I was on a bike capable of pulling away as there was not a good turn off until the State Police barracks several miles down the road.