Bike week question

jrc · 06-23-2009, 11:58 AM

The guys on the center line are doing this to get attention, same as the loud pipes guys. I'm a long time bike rider and I know the type, nothing makes them happier than someone complaining about them.

When I ride in a group we ride staggered, not side by side. One guy is in the left tire track, then next guy in the right but a little behind. When we stop at a light we line up side by side to chat.

When I crashed my bike (must be 10 years now) I was glad that I didn't take anyone else down with me. And luckly it was hot, so I had removed my jacket, saved it from getting all covered with road rash and blood

Woodsy · 06-23-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

The guys on the center line are doing this to get attention, same as the loud pipes guys. I'm a long time bike rider and I know the type, nothing makes them happier than someone complaining about them.

When I ride in a group we ride staggered, not side by side. One guy is in the left tire track, then next guy in the right but a little behind. When we stop at a light we line up side by side to chat.

When I crashed my bike (must be 10 years now) I was glad that I didn't take anyone else down with me. And luckly it was hot, so I had removed my jacket, saved it from getting all covered with road rash and blood

JRC got it right...

Your supposed to ride STAGGERED, not side by side, one in the left tire groove, one bike in the right tire groove.... You need to leave enough room in your STAGGERED formation to allow for emergency manouvers. drift over the center and you are going to have a VERY bad day!!

On another note... I think they need to teach some bikers how to tighten up and hold thier line in a turn! It amazes me how many bikers dont know how to do this and end up in the gravel or over the yellow line! The rear brake is your friend! Use it!

Woodsy

ishoot308 · 06-23-2009, 01:28 PM

The only time I seen or have taken part in side by side riding is when a motorcycle club is parade riding. Usually this is done for a charity ride or club event at reduced speeds. Yes, sometimes the clubs Sergeant At Arms who rides 1st position on left will hug the center lane to ensure on comming traffic has made as much room as possible for his members. As long as he has not crossed the center line, no laws have been broken. Most normal riding is staggered formation exactly as Woodsy and slickcraft have previously noted.

GTO...You obviously have never been on a motorcycle. Leather is worn for a reason. Besides the obvious safety factor, leather is heavier and does not flap around when riding at highway speeds. A cotton shirt with a collar will beat your face up pretty good on the highway!

Dan

GTO · 06-23-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

The only time I seen or have taken part in side by side riding is when a motorcycle club is parade riding. Usually this is done for a charity ride or club event at reduced speeds. Yes, sometimes the clubs Sergeant At Arms who rides 1st position on left will hug the center lane to ensure on comming traffic has made as much room as possible for his members. As long as he has not crossed the center line, no laws have been broken. Most normal riding is staggered formation exactly as Woodsy and slickcraft have previously noted.

GTO...You obviously have never been on a motorcycle. Leather is worn for a reason. Besides the obvious safety factor, leather is heavier and does not flap around when riding at highway speeds. A cotton shirt with a collar will beat your face up pretty good on the highway!

Dan

There must of been alot of charity events this past weekend, especially the one that took place on rte 104 at 10:00 at night, while raining. And everybody that was driving on the center line must of been a seargent of arms. Maybe if I would of hit one of them by accident, the next charity event could of been held in his honor. Probably not, his safety leather might have saved him.

HAHLY · 06-24-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

GTO...You obviously have never been on a motorcycle. Leather is worn for a reason. Besides the obvious safety factor, leather is heavier and does not flap around when riding at highway speeds. A cotton shirt with a collar will beat your face up pretty good on the highway!

Dan

Yeah, like he said. But you gotta admit, we look pretty damn cool.

Lakesrider · 06-24-2009, 05:27 PM

The reason jet skis have to be 150' apart is because they are considered boats, and it is the law. And there is usually plenty of room to separate. A road is only so wide. And what, cars stay 150 feet apart on the road? Not the roads I drive on. I actually thought everyone up here was gay when I first moved here. Because everyone on the road was tailgating my a$$ everywhere I did the speed limit.
And 45mph on the lake is because you did not do enough at the State House to get them to kill that idiotic bill. Well, maybe you did do something, but we sure didn't do enough. So there it is, plain and simple.

I have been riding for over 40 years, so Gee, why is it that cars think they can pull out in front of me at intersections where I have the right of way and almost put me into a tree? Who knows. And why does everyone that tows a jet ski or boat trailer, always have their left tire over the yellow when coming around a corner. should I hit them, maybe have a charity event for their skis or boat? Gee, Who knows?

I see a Big rig coming down the road, I pull over. I see a woman walking her dog down the road, I pull over, I see a boat trailer coming, I pull over. I see the Tuftonboro Police cruiser coming down the road with two tires on my side of the road, I pull over.

That said, I have a comment about the charity rides. I attend many charity rides. Many do great good, for great causes, and help many people that are in need. I also belong to the Patriot Guard, who ride to the funerals of fallen soldiers. We have riding rules that do not include riding the center line of the roads if at all possible. In NH there have been over 35 rides for the soldiers of this state who have given their lives, so you can make comments about charity rides, but the next time you see a group of riders on a charity or memorial run, have some respect for they are accomplishing rather than worrying about killing someone, "By accident"....or squeezing us over. Umm , BTW exactly how many charity events has everyone here been to lately. How many service men, and women funerals have you been to?
How many have given to Toys for Tots? How many Blood drive rides have you been to? Not saying you haven't been to any, but Bikers are one group that donate a lot of time and energy to help people, so don't stereotype us all as being "morons".

By the way, riding in pairs or staggered creates a larger frontal section. This helps oncoming traffic to see us coming. Also the headlights when riding abreast make it look like a larger vehicle coming your way. This is all to aid in helping you to see us on our bikes. Usually because your on your cell phone or fiddling with your GPS units, trying light a butt, or texting the wife what you want for dinner.

This is the main advantage for riding two abreast....Just an FYI.

Just drive like a considerate person. I do. The bike will be gone down the road behind you, and you'll still be driving down the road ahead of you. Both going home to your respective families. not wondering if you are going to get sued for killing a biker..."By accident"....

One last thing...Yes I like my leather. I paid a lot of money for them, and I like them in Black.

chipj29 · 06-25-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakesrider

I have been riding for over 40 years, so Gee, why is it that cars think they can pull out in front of me at intersections where I have the right of way and almost put me into a tree? Who knows. And why does everyone that tows a jet ski or boat trailer, always have their left tire over the yellow when coming around a corner. should I hit them, maybe have a charity event for their skis or boat? Gee, Who knows?

I agree with your whole post, with one exception which I bolded.
A car pulling out in front of you would be an accident. Not done intentionally*.
A bike riding on or partially over the yellow line would be intentional*.
To me, that is a real big difference.

*MOST of the time

ironhorsetim · 06-23-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsy

JRC got it right...

Your supposed to ride STAGGERED, not side by side, one in the left tire groove, one bike in the right tire groove.... You need to leave enough room in your STAGGERED formation to allow for emergency manouvers. drift over the center and you are going to have a VERY bad day!!

On another note... I think they need to teach some bikers how to tighten up and hold thier line in a turn! It amazes me how many bikers dont know how to do this and end up in the gravel or over the yellow line! The rear brake is your friend! Use it!

Woodsy

As usual my friend you ARE correct as are many others here, we can always count on you for the correct answer

Some people just don't have enough time on the road to do it right without getting too close, those are the one's we put on the right

06-23-2009, 11:58 AM	#1
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	The guys on the center line are doing this to get attention, same as the loud pipes guys. I'm a long time bike rider and I know the type, nothing makes them happier than someone complaining about them. When I ride in a group we ride staggered, not side by side. One guy is in the left tire track, then next guy in the right but a little behind. When we stop at a light we line up side by side to chat. When I crashed my bike (must be 10 years now) I was glad that I didn't take anyone else down with me. And luckly it was hot, so I had removed my jacket, saved it from getting all covered with road rash and blood

06-23-2009, 01:28 PM	#3
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,232 Thanks: 2,384 Thanked 5,277 Times in 2,051 Posts	The only time I seen or have taken part in side by side riding is when a motorcycle club is parade riding. Usually this is done for a charity ride or club event at reduced speeds. Yes, sometimes the clubs Sergeant At Arms who rides 1st position on left will hug the center lane to ensure on comming traffic has made as much room as possible for his members. As long as he has not crossed the center line, no laws have been broken. Most normal riding is staggered formation exactly as Woodsy and slickcraft have previously noted. GTO...You obviously have never been on a motorcycle. Leather is worn for a reason. Besides the obvious safety factor, leather is heavier and does not flap around when riding at highway speeds. A cotton shirt with a collar will beat your face up pretty good on the highway! Dan

06-24-2009, 05:27 PM	#6
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	The reason jet skis have to be 150' apart is because they are considered boats, and it is the law. And there is usually plenty of room to separate. A road is only so wide. And what, cars stay 150 feet apart on the road? Not the roads I drive on. I actually thought everyone up here was gay when I first moved here. Because everyone on the road was tailgating my a$$ everywhere I did the speed limit. And 45mph on the lake is because *you* did not do enough at the State House to get them to kill that idiotic bill. Well, maybe you did do something, but we sure didn't do enough. So there it is, plain and simple. I have been riding for over 40 years, so Gee, why is it that cars think they can pull out in front of me at intersections where I have the right of way and almost put me into a tree? Who knows. And why does everyone that tows a jet ski or boat trailer, always have their left tire over the yellow when coming around a corner. should I hit them, maybe have a charity event for their skis or boat? Gee, Who knows? I see a Big rig coming down the road, I pull over. I see a woman walking her dog down the road, I pull over, I see a boat trailer coming, I pull over. I see the Tuftonboro Police cruiser coming down the road with two tires on my side of the road, I pull over. That said, I have a comment about the charity rides. I attend many charity rides. Many do great good, for great causes, and help many people that are in need. I also belong to the Patriot Guard, who ride to the funerals of fallen soldiers. We have riding rules that do not include riding the center line of the roads if at all possible. In NH there have been over 35 rides for the soldiers of this state who have given their lives, so you can make comments about charity rides, but the next time you see a group of riders on a charity or memorial run, have some respect for they are accomplishing rather than worrying about killing someone, "By accident"....or squeezing us over. Umm , BTW exactly how many charity events has everyone here been to lately. How many service men, and women funerals have you been to? How many have given to Toys for Tots? How many Blood drive rides have you been to? Not saying you haven't been to any, but Bikers are one group that donate a lot of time and energy to help people, so don't stereotype us all as being "morons". By the way, riding in pairs or staggered creates a larger frontal section. This helps oncoming traffic to see us coming. Also the headlights when riding abreast make it look like a larger vehicle coming your way. This is all to aid in helping you to see us on our bikes. Usually because your on your cell phone or fiddling with your GPS units, trying light a butt, or texting the wife what you want for dinner. This is the main advantage for riding two abreast....Just an FYI. Just drive like a considerate person. I do. The bike will be gone down the road behind you, and you'll still be driving down the road ahead of you. Both going home to your respective families. not wondering if you are going to get sued for killing a biker..."By accident".... One last thing...Yes I like my leather. I paid a lot of money for them, and I like them in Black.