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Rider Education
Frank Miller Director

 		  
 

February

 

QUICK TIPS:  MSF’s Guide to Group Riding

Motorcycling is primarily a solo activity, but for many, riding as a group -- whether with friends on a Sunday morning ride or with an organized motorcycle rally -- is the epitome of the motorcycling experience.  Here are some tips to help ensure a fun and safe group ride: 

Arrive prepared.  Arrive on time with a full gas tank.

Hold a riders’ meeting.  Discuss things like the route, rest and fuel stops, and hand signals (see diagrams on next page).  Assign a lead and sweep (tail) rider.  Both should be experienced riders who are well-versed in group riding procedures.  The leader should assess everyone’s riding skills and the group’s riding style.

Keep the group to a manageable size, ideally five to seven riders.  If necessary, break the group into smaller sub-groups, each with a lead and sweep rider. 

Ride prepared.  At least one rider in each group should pack a cell phone, first-aid kit, and full tool kit, so the group is prepared for any problem that they might encounter. 

Ride in formation.  The staggered riding formation (see diagram below) allows a proper space cushion between motorcycles so that each rider has enough time and space to maneuver and to react to hazards.  The leader rides in the left third of the lane, while the next rider stays at least one second behind in the right third of the lane; the rest of the group follows the same pattern.  A single-file formation is preferred on a curvy road, under conditions of poor visibility or poor road surfaces, entering/leaving highways, or other situations where an increased space cushion or maneuvering room is needed.

Avoid side-by-side formations, as they reduce the space cushion.  If you suddenly needed to swerve to avoid a hazard, you would not have room to do so.  You don’t want handlebars to get entangled. 

Periodically check the riders following in your rear view mirror.  If you see a rider falling behind, slow down so they may catch up.  If all the riders in the group use this technique, the group should be able to maintain a fairly steady speed without pressure to ride too fast to catch up.

If you’re separated from the group, don’t panic.  Your group should have a pre-planned procedure in place to regroup.  Don’t break the law or ride beyond your skills to catch up.

For mechanical or medical problems, use a cell phone to call for assistance as the situation warrants.


 

 

MSF’s Guide to Group Riding:  Hand Signals

 

 

 

 

 Click here for a PDF Version of this document

September


QUICK TIPS: Guidelines For Carrying A Passenger On Your Motorcycle

Legal Considerations

      1. All state laws and requirements for carrying a passenger must be followed.

      2. Some states have specific equipment requirements. Examples: the motorcycle must have passenger footrests, passengers must be able to reach the footrests, and a motorcycle must have a separate seating area for a passenger.

      3. The decision to carry a child, assuming all safety and legal factors have been considered, is left to the parent or guardian. Ensure that the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, tall enough to reach the footrests, wears a properly fitted helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger hand-holds. Check your state’s laws; a few states have set minimum ages for motorcycle passengers.

Operator Preparation

      1. Passengers should be considered as a second "active" rider so they can help ensure that safety and procedural operations are correctly followed.

      2. A passenger will affect the handling characteristics of a motorcycle due to the extra weight and independent motion.

      3. A passenger tends to move forward in quick stops and may "bump" your helmet with theirs.

      4. Starting from a stop may require more throttle and clutch finesse.

      5. Braking procedures may be affected. Braking sooner and/or with greater pressure may be required.

      6. More weight over the rear tire may increase the usefulness and stopping power of the rear brake, especially in quick stop situations.

      7. Riding on a downgrade will cause braking distance to increase.

      8. Extra caution is called for in a corner because of the extra weight.

      9. Cornering clearances may be affected.

      10. More time and space will be needed for passing.

      11. The effects of wind, especially side wind, may be more pronounced.

Motorcycle Preparation

      1. The motorcycle must be designed to accommodate a passenger.

      2. The motorcycle owner’s manual should be reviewed for manufacturer’s tips about motorcycle setup as well as any related operational recommendations.

      3. The motorcycle’s suspension and tire pressure may need adjustment.

      4. Care should be taken to not exceed the weight limitations specified in the owner’s manual.

Passenger Preparation

      1. Passengers should be tall enough to reach the footrests and mature enough to handle the responsibilities.

      2. Passengers should wear proper protective gear.

      3. Passengers should receive a safety briefing (see #7 below).

      4. Passengers should consider themselves a second operator and share responsibility for safety.

General Safety Considerations

      1. You need to be experienced in the motorcycle’s operation and have a safety-oriented attitude before taking on the added responsibility of carrying a passenger.

      2. Practice low-speed clutch/throttle control as well as normal and emergency braking in a low-risk area like an open parking lot, with a passenger.

      3. Use caution in cornering and develop cornering skills over time to ensure passenger comfort and safety.

      4. Use caution in corners as clearance may be affected.

      5. Use a Search, Evaluate, Execute (S.E.E.) strategy to increase time and space safety margins.

      6. Allow time for a passenger to adjust to the sense of speed and the sensation of leaning; speeds should conservatively safe and reasonable until a passenger acclimates to the proper riding techniques.

      7. Ensure passengers follow safety procedures:

          a. Complete personal protective gear is properly in use.

          b. Hold operator’s waist or hips, or motorcycle’s passenger hand-holds provided.

          c. Keep feet on footrests at all times, including while stopped.

          d. Keep hands and feet away from hot or moving parts.

          e. When in a corner, look over the operator’s shoulder in the direction of the corner.

          f. Avoid turning around or making sudden moves that might affect operation.

          g. If crossing an obstacle, stand on the pegs with the knees slightly bent and allow the legs to absorb the shock upon impact.

      8. Allow more time for passing.

      9. Be ready to counter the effects of wind.

      10. Avoid extreme speeds and dramatic lean angles.

      11. Be ready for a passenger "bump" with their helmet when stopping quickly.

      12. Start the motorcycle before the passenger mounts.

      13. Have the passenger mount after the motorcycle’s stand is raised and the motorcycle is securely braced.

      14. Annually complete an ERC Skills Plus RiderCourseSM with a passenger.

      15. Have frequent passengers complete a Basic RiderCourse so they can better understand the operator’s task.

Taken from www.msf-usa.org 4/05

 

April

Rider Education Program Participant Stats as of April 1, 2008

Alberta has 68 members and 21 Rider Education participants, which is 30.9%

·         Chapter A –   3 members and 2 participants, which is 66% 

·         Chapter B – 23 members and 9 participants, which is 39.1%

·         Chapter C – 42 members and 4 participants, which is 23.8%

British Columbia has 40 members and 4 Rider Education participants, which is 10%

·         Chapter A –  40 members and 4 participants, which is 10%

Idaho has 75 members and 12 Rider Education participants, which is 16%

·         Non chapter – 24 members an 0 participants, which is 0%

·         Chapter A –  51 members and 12 participants, which is 23.5%

Montana has 9 members and 1 Rider Education participants, which is 11%

·         Non chapter – 11 members and 1 participants, which is 11%

Oregon has 214 members and 62 Rider Education participants, which is 28.9%

·         Non chapter – 11 members and 0 participants, which is 0%

·         Chapter A –  70 members and 34 participants, which is 48.6%

·         Chapter B –  10 members and 0 participants, which is 0%

·         Chapter M – 63 members and 14 participants, which is 22.2%

·         Chapter P –  53 members and 8 participants, which is 15.1%

·         Chapter T -     7 members and 6 participants, which is 85.7%

Washington has 961 members and 181 Rider Education participants, which is 18.8%

·         Non chapter – 110 members and 13 participants, which is 11.8%

·         Chapter A –   80 members and 8 participants, which is 10%

·         Chapter B –   30 members and 7 participants, which is 23.3%

·         Chapter C – 154 members and 21 participants, which is 13.6%

·         Chapter D –   24 members and 4 participants, which is 16.7%

·         Chapter E –    81 members and 14 participants, which is 17.3%

·         Chapter G –   95 members and 33 participants, which is 34.7%

·         Chapter H –  10 members and 0 participants, which is 0%

·         Chapter I –    48 members and 5 participants, which is 10.4%

·         Chapter K –   10 members and 0 participants, which is 0%

·         Chapter L –    52 members and 5 participants, which is 9.6%

·         Chapter Q –   32 members and 5 participants, which is 15.6%

·         Chapter S –    70 members and 15 participants, which is 21.4%

·         Chapter U –   41 members and 7 participants, which is 17.1%

·         Chapter V – 137 members and 32 participants, which is 23.4%

·         Chapter Y –    25 members and 4 participants, which is 16.0%

·         Chapter Z –    42 members and 8 participants, which is 19.0%

Wyoming has 2 members and 0 Rider Education participants, which is 0%

·         Non chapter- 2 members and 0 participants, which is 0%

Questions ??  Email me at RIDERED.REGIONA@VERIZON.NET

February

The focus for the Rider Education Program in 2008 will be to increase the chapter participation. I will try to accomplish this by more chapter visitations and enlightening the membership to the benefits of the program. I have reviewed all of the chapters in Region A and their percentage of participation and the following is a breakdown.

Canada (includes Alberta and British Columbia) 12.1% of all members participating.

U.S. broken down by state:

Idaho: 14.9%

Montana: 11.1%

Oregon: 21.4%

Washington: 11.7%

Wyoming: 0%

As you can see, there is a lot of room for improvement and I am hoping I can count on all of the membership to help me achieve my goal.

I am putting out a challenge to each Chapter within the Region to reach at least 25% participation by Gold Rush and the completion of all four levels by the end of 2008. Next month I will issue the percentage break down by chapter.

Questions ??  Email me at RIDERED.REGIONA@VERIZON.NET