1. A GOOD TEAM MEMBER.....
2. ANYONE not wishing to ride as part of the team should separate themselves at a safe distance.
3. EACH team should consist of not more than five motorcycles. More than five bikes requires the formation of an additional, independent group.
4. EACH team should have a Ride Captain and Rear Bike. They should work together to maneuver the team. Both should have a CB radio for communication to better control and coordinate the team.
5. EACH team travels in a staggered formation within a given automobile lane with the Ride Captain taking the position next to the center line (the left tire track). The next team rider positions himself two seconds behind the leader and in the opposite portion of the same lane (right tire track). This formation is followed to the last member in the team. On curves, each rider should pick his/her own line then regroup into a staggered formation after the curve.
6. WHEN ENTERING traffic, the rear bike MAY move slowly into the traffic first, giving the Leader and the other team members an opportunity to pull out ahead of him. This, when done with caution, will keep the team together, Each team member should be prepared to move out quickly and assume his/her riding position within the team as they pull out onto the street. No attempt should be made to pull out into the street and stop to block the traffic so others can pull out...this is UNWISE, UNSAFE AND ILLEGAL.
7. FOR team riding purposes, car lanes on one-way multi-lane highways are numbered from left to right. The Ride Captain and the rear bike direct the team of lane changes by referring to the lane number when lane changes are desired.
8. WHEN PASSING a vehicle on a two lane, two-way road, each team member should pass in order and in turn. The Ride Captain should accelerate far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to allow room for the rest of the team to pass and the rear bike should inform the Ride Captain when he's around and back in formation.
9. LANE CHANGES by the team on highways with two or more lanes going in the same direction should be made from the rear bike first to the Ride Captain last. That is, the rear bike is the first one in the group to make the lane change. The Ride Captain will inform the rear bike of the need to move the team into another lane and the number of the lane to move into. At the first opportunity, the rear bike moves into the new lane, preventing any traffic from trying to pass the team in that lane. The rear bike informs the team when the lane is "blocked" and each team member, making a head check first (looking behind), moves into the new lane.
10. WHEN STOPPING at a traffic light or stop sign, all team members should pull up, two abreast, while waiting, behind the bike they were directly behind when they were moving.
11. WHEN STARTING up from a stop, the Ride Captain always moves out first. The number two bike moves ONLY after the Ride Captain's bike has moved: the other team members start in turn and in the same manner, leaving the rear bike to be the last one to move. The Ride Captain should accelerate slowly enough for all team members to get rolling and regroup without having to dial up excessive speed. No one should accelerate even with, or past, any team member without permission of the Ride Captain.
12. WHEN ENTERING a parking lot, the team should form a single file line behind the Ride Captain. The Ride Captain should "loop" the parking lot, if necessary, seeking a place large enough for the team to BACK into (GL 1500's reverse not withstanding) side by side. All team members should remain in a single file until the Ride Captain finds a suitable space for all or it is determined that appropriate space is not available. Only then should each team member seek his/her own spot.
These twelve guidelines help lay a good foundation for a safe group ride. The guidelines do not represent a complete list of what can be done, but they are a starting point for the many new GWRRA members (and a few older ones) who may have never before ridden in a group. We do not intend to force upon our members a certain riding style, but as an Association dedicated to rider education and motorcycling safety, we have a responsibility to provide some basic concepts and guidelines in order to make traveling together as risk free as possible.