The Unwritten Rules of Motorcycle Riding
You know the basic rules of riding, and how to keep yourself safe on the road. You took the motorcycle safety course and got your license, after all, so you have to know at least that much. But riding a motorcycle is about much more than just following the rules of the road. There’s a whole culture and community around motorcycles, and with that culture comes a few rules you may not have learned in motorcycle school. Most of these rules center around riding etiquette, especially in group rides, and how to keep yourself safe and make friends at the same time. At Barnes Harley-Davidson, we know a lot of these unwritten rules, and we’ve broken some of them down for you in this article. And when you’re ready to shop for new gear or a new bike, come see us at one of our dealerships - we have locations in Langley, Victoria, and Kamloops, British Columbia, and we’re happy to serve customers from all over the province.
Most Important: Keep Yourself Safe
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t ride while intoxicated - whether drunk, high, sleep-deprived, or otherwise impaired. But there are other circumstances where you might not be at your best, and those times might not be the best for a ride. If you’re angry about something, or you’re distracted, or you’re ill - those are situations where your attention may not be where it needs to be. You’ll be doing yourself a favor - and your fellow riders - if you stay off your bike until you’re in a place where you have clear focus and can ride without distractions.
Never Touch Someone Else’s Bike
Without asking. Ask first. It’s that simple. Touching another biker’s ride without asking is a huge faux pas - not to mention that the other rider might think you’re trying to boost their bike. Just as you wouldn’t just hop into the driver’s seat of a stranger’s car without asking, you shouldn’t grope a stranger’s bike without asking. Even if you’re entranced by the beauty of the chrome and just have to touch it, don’t.
Never Ask to Ride
Don’t ask to hop on another rider’s bike and take it for a spin. If a rider is comfortable with others riding their bike, they might offer you a chance to ride, but you shouldn’t assume that anyone else is willing to have you ride their bike. You know how precious your own bike is to you - would you be comfortable with someone just coming up and asking to ride it?
Hand Signals
The motorcycling community has developed some pretty universal hand signals, and it’s important to know what they mean, especially on a group ride. Some of these hand signals will tell you to slow down, speed up, stop, or that a rider is in trouble. Following these signals will keep you and your fellow riders safe on the road.
Beyond the safety signals, there are social hand signals that bikers use as a way of acknowledging each other on the road. You’re all part of the same club, after all - might as well acknowledge it. When you approach another bike coming the opposite direction, look for the other rider to drop their hand down and give you a “two-finger salute.” This just means “hey there, fellow rider.” If they salute you, then you should salute them back. Even better, initiate the salute yourself, and see if they reciprocate. And don’t be elitist about it. Salute all the bikers you see - yes, even the scooters.
Another useful hand signal is the helmet tap. This is a handy signal that tells you there’s a speed trap or a police car ahead, so if you’re speeding - slow down!
Ride Staggered
You see this all the time - bikers riding next to each other on the road. But it’s really not a great idea, especially on a group ride. If one of the riders loses control, they might take out the bike next to them - and a few others along the way. The safest way to ride in a group is to stagger bikes in one lane - so, if the first bike is riding on the left edge of the lane, the next bike should ride at least two bike lengths behind and position themselves at the right edge of the lane. This staggered riding position helps every rider see what’s ahead of them and gives them the reaction time they need to respond appropriately. In the same vein, don’t roll up and stop next to another bike in the same lane, especially if you don’t know the rider.
The best way to learn all of these unwritten rules is to ride often and ride with others. Nothing beats on the road experience. And when you’re ready to shop for a new bike, or if you need gear or accessories for your current ride, please come see us at Barnes Harley-Davidson. We look forward to seeing you!