How to Ride in a Motorcycle Pack 

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"... Unless you are the most antisocial human on the planet" I'm trying man😂

To add to the don't ride beyond your ability, I have ridden with people who want to go 55 on a straight highway that is 70 mph. In my opinion this is just as dangerous as the person who wants to go 100.

Our group rides often have a "sweeper", someone who rides at the back of the pack and keeps an eye on those that drop to the back of the pack for whatever reason. I've ridden this position several times and those that can't keep up are often very grateful that at least one rider had their back. It's a tedious job and no one really likes doing it, but we take turns doing it and it's always help to keep our groups together and no one gets lost. Group rides are about comradery, just like having a beer together at the end of the ride.

I prefer riding alone. Clears my head, helps me cope, it's my therapy, and I don't have to worry about someone else and their gear/bike/habits. I have rode in packs from time to time to go to events etc. It's ok, I just prefer me and the road. Maybe this makes me the worlds most anti social person!

Never ridden in a pack. Never plan to. Still, live and let live.

Best riding rule: Everybody is responsible for the guy behind them. Don’t lose him, make sure he sees where you turn etc. Keeps the pack together. Also: ride in staggered formation.

Thanks Lemmy, just realized im the Biggest Antisocial person on planet earth.

Great tips especially the “ride your own ride”. 👍🏼 😎

😂 And don’t be that guy at the end of the video on the Honda Rebel making a right hand turn with the left signal on. Def confusing for the riders behind.

One the most fun/dangerous parts about riding. Great video! I’ve found riding in a group is a lot of fun as long as you can trust the other riders to respect your space and know each others riding ability. I’ve ridden with certain people who are trying to show off or ride above their skill level and it never ends well. Be safe, respectful, and most of all have fun! ✌🏻😁

Ridden with strangers...and I'm over it. I find I have the most fun solo or in a small group of riders I know.

Up here in northern NY most of the big rides are from bar to bar. Because throwing a few+ drinks into the ride makes it more exciting!? I finished one, my last one I dropped out due to 1) drinking 2) excessive speed and drum roll please 3) RAIN! I have a few competent riders I'll ride with, usually I ride alone.

Many of these tips would have been useful for a group of Harley riders that I saw a few months back. The group was too large for one. None of them was wearing any gear for another. But the worst thing was that they had the newest rider in the back of the group, and through peer pressure caused him to ride beyond his ability on a bike he'd just bought that day. He did not survive. Literally. So yes, be conscious of the slowest, least experienced member of your group, and the slowest bike. Keep them safe.

I'm new to riding (a few months in). First time that I rode with others (two guys I just met at a stop) I let them know that if I was too slow they could just go ahead. The older biker looked kind of offended and said, "We don't leave people behind." Next time, two other guys I rode with and kind of knew, really watched out for me. Next ride, I was in a wave of 200 bikes with another wave the same size near behind. Again, felt really protected. I prefer riding alone, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed riding with a group and how safe I felt. Even though I was just one of two non-Harleys in the group.

The first rule in riding in a pack is not to ride in a pack.

Safe and respectful tips. Love it.

Thanks love the tips especially for new riders like me

Group rides = herding cats. Maximum 4 bikes in a group IMO.

I would add learn how to judge a safe distance between bikes, ride offset when roads get narrower and windy, if your new to a group ask if there are any hand signals you should know.

Diggin these educational vids, keep them coming, thanks! Also, love Hightside\Lowside!

Great tips I did a video about the same stuff with had signals. I ride with a group of buddies often. Thanks for making this video.

Some of the best advise eva!!!!! Ty dude, just for sharing

Almost every time I have done a manufacture test ride, there is someone that does not know how to ride in a staggered formation even when they are told to do so.

Thanks Lem. always use some tips here n there

All great points, thanks for addressing this! Going to miss you big guy.

A bit of a group discussion at the beginning is a good thing, if everyone knows where they are going, less ppl get lost. Mark your corners. If the pack is changing direction, turning off or what ever, the last rider who knows where your going, marks the corner until the stragglers catch up. I always ride in a group with the basic rule, we ride out together, we ride home together. Sure ppl have other plans and that's ok. But tell someone, don't just decided it's time and split. Let a few ppl know, then no body goes back to find you. If you break down, get lost what evs, don't go your own way. Within 10 mins I promise you someone is going to notice you're not there and they will turn around and come back to find you. If you get your bike going and head off in another direction, there is going to be a few ppl riding around looking for you, instead of enjoying their ride. Man ! I hate that! Just sit tight. Oh ,it's an age of technology...use your damn phone and send your buddy a msg, that way when I stop and go 'where is fred?' I can look at my phone and go ' huh, no msg, maybe I better head back' or , Fred is lost, /broken down, we better wait/go back/ find a comfy pub to wait for him' USEYOURPHONE Use your mirrors. If someone was there, isn't there. Have the courage to stop and find out what happened. Maybe you don't have the skills to help, but at least we will know where you are. Use your ph. Stick to your line. If riding in a staggered formation, hold your line. Ride at a pace that allows you to HOLD YoUR LINE! If you are wandering to either side of the lane, it causes ppl to slow down, speed up etc...being that rubber band rider Lem was talking about. Keep the pack tight. It's safer. If you're allowing enough space for a car to bust into, you're splitting the pack up and ppl get worried if they don't know where they're going and do silly things to catch up. It's also easier for a car driver if we keep it locked tight, because if they are hell bent on over taking ( over taken by a car - do you even ride?) they need to account for the whole group and won't just drop in and wipe someone out who was hidden by a sloppy formation. As Lem said, if your fast, slow down you're in a group now so the least able rider sets the pace. If you're the least able rider, stretch yourself a bit, stop being such a chicken. Don't over stretch, but make an effort. Be predictable. Use your blinkers/flashers/ hand signals to inform ppl of your intentions and or dangerous obstacles such as road kill, mega pot holes etc. point at them. Alert your friends if your passing a speed camera ..point the damn thing out. Point at cops with speed cameras. It's not offence if we are all aware and travelling at or under the legal limit. But if we don't know and you saw it and didn't tell me...you can pay my fine. I hate parades.

Love pack rides...just great feeling.

My favorite rule when riding in a pack is to do what you suggest, NOT ride in a pack. Stagger the take-off times for smaller groups within the pack so that there isn't a parade or a stampede mentality. It's more fun this way. I've done this and we tend to group up sometimes throughout the day, then take off in staggered times for the small groups again. It's social but not too social.

Great stuff Lem!

Lemmy again another great video.

Very nice Lem. Good info.

Now I know why I don't group ride Thank you for the Reminder.

Always good info..👍🏍

I love the right turn with the left blinker on. 😂😂😂

Nice tips. As a returning “new” rider, and as a vet, one of my goals is to ride in veteran memorial groups (ALR, AMVET, PGR type) and I definitely don’t want to be “that guy”. Any advise is gratefully accepted.

When we go for a ride as a group, not everyone has intercoms but we make sure the lead and tail bikes do so if anyone breaks down the geezer at the back can let the lead rider know and he can pull over.

MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) offers a great class from I have never been on a bike all the way up to riding in a group. They have a class for trikes as well. MSF is what most riding programs base their programs on. It is in my opinion the best program available. It has been time yested. Harley dealers use it along with many other business that offer classes. The majority of states use the MSF course to test on. This is a great program. Look it up and ride your ride. Great video buddy!!!

Lem got to agree with all your points except for #1. If your tail light and brake light isn’t working fix it before you show up or don’t show up. I ride with several packs HOG,ALR and PGR. If your shit isn’t together as far as your bike goes don’t show up. Also here is one more tip show up with a full tank of gas. Don’t be that guy who a quarter way through a ride has to hold the group up to get gas

Getting behind another rider that has one of those 3-flash brake lights is both annoying and dangerous, in a pack. When I've been in a pack and had to ride at slow speeds, thru the city, etc. those brake lights seem to be at "constant strobing". You can't tell if they're stopping, slowing down or just plain fidgety because the strobing takes your focus away from your speed, his speed and the overall flow of the pack. It's like a target fixation. The last time I rode in a pack, behind a guy with a strobing brake light, the pack was around 250+ motorcycles. I don't ride in any larger than 5 or 6 riders anymore except if I'm at the Sturgis Rally. Like you said, stick with a small group, it's safer and easier to observe their riding skill.

Common sense, good advice. I'm just starting into riding with packs and a few things u said are " unwritten rules" that u don't know till u screw up everyone else's weekend trip whatever lol thanks for the heads up

Good tips Lem. I have seldom ridden in a pack and prefer to ride alone.

Good points. A sweeper with headset paired with the leader, if not a support vehicle so if someone breaks down they can load it up and the ride can continue. Also kinda surprised no mention of spacing. Packs only make me nervous because they try to ride in such tight formations like they're fighter pilots, or CHiPs, or Shriners in a parade or something. Just "staggering" positions L/R/L/R (vs side-by-side) bikes gives one much more time/ space to react front-to-back, AND side-to-side.

-Tank up before the meet up. It's nice to actually go 50-100 miles before the group first has to stop. Don't be that guy/gal. Meet up near a bathroom and a gas station. Make sure everyone fills up and empties out before the pack starts out. Reduces the "that guy/gal" embarrassment. -Comms sprinkled in the group. Lots of folks don't like them/don't want them, and that is fine, but communicating that the guy near the back needs to gas up so the lead can start looking for a good stop happens better. Hand signals work, but dark and twisties make them less sure. -If the group gets split up, those ahead should ride the speed limit and those behind can catch up at +5MPH speed limit without blue light attention in a few minutes. -Carry a trauma pack and road flares and may you never need them..

Group rides can be some of the best rides. Just depends on where your going I guess. My first group ride was 294 miles I had a damn good time.

Good tips 👍

Biggest group ride I've done was only a group of 4 and it was so 2 of us could get warranty repairs done at the Harley dealer after our day trip got cancelled due to issues.

"how to" , but staggered formation was not mentioned.

I have only gone on two group rides and the things I wish everyone in the group knew were 1) The route of the ride to the destination /designated stops to reorganize . 2) hands signals like "Your blinker is on " ..3) I wish the lead and the sweeper had an intercom ..

I often ride alone unless its the weekend in which we usually have a pk of about 10 bike mostly riding 2-up (married couples) and it can be challenging to keep everyone togeather with redlights and intersections, slow riders, fast rider, ect,... we just make sure everyone knows where we are headed and where we are stoping ahead of time and that way if the group gets split up its usually only split into 2 smaller groups and we rejoin at the next gas stop ya know cause there's always that one guy on a sportster trying tour

Idk I'm pretty antisocial...

I'm somewhat social or at least try to be but It's exhausting when I'm with other people. I thrive alone when riding or not.

Can you do a video on fork rebuilds

Well i know im that guy who doesnt ride consistent. I also dont like group riding so it works out fine. If there is a group coming up behind me,I just give them space and signal if its safe to pass.

Please don't be rubberband man. That's the person that lets the group get 1/4 mile ahead of them riding too slowly then realizes it and accelerates hard to catch back up. Worst person ever to be behind in a group.

spooge and lemlem are the best of riding buddies

Dude you cut a lot of weight! GG to you my man

Just for the record I would totally ride with Lemmy

Off topic. Is drifting with Packing useful and easy?

It's fun to get out on the road with a small group of fellow motorcycle riders from time to time. Is there a post somewhere about why Lemmy is leaving Revzilla? I'd like to read it.

This is more about riding in a group ride. What about situations like leaving a concert and being in a crowd of strangers?

Funny hearing you say “ slow is smooth, and smooth is fast” because I don’t hear it very much outside of the Army.

What helmets you two had during the last segment @ 5:15?

I never try to leave anyone behind for the simple fact it only takes a fraction of a second for something to happen to another rider.

Stagger... usually the best way is person in front on the left side. (in the US) .. then the next on the right and next on left... You ONLY come beside each other at stops and you form single file in turns. It's actually illegal to ride side by side in the same lane in most states. It's because the same reason splitting lanes is also illegal in most states. Two vehicles can't take up the same lane.

Does three or four ppl constitute a pack??

Being a road captain in an "association" we pack ride . Like most MC's the pack moves as one. Looks good going down the road. No yoyo effect . I've ridden with a couple of hog chapters , to the uninitiated they seem good but truly they could do a lot better. I can barely ride with them. Biggest pack I've personally lead was 32 bikes. It's nerve wracking . Groups nope don't do those.

I ride in the front never in the middle to dangerous the back is cool to

Ride together in, ride out together!

Don't get panicky about what other people think of your riding. People do stupid things when they're worried about impressing others and not screwing up in front of them, which just exacerbates the problem. Take your ego out of the pack. Ask for a regular to be your wingman if you don't know how they ride. Not all packs ride alike. I would say most don't, even when on the same classes of bike. Been on Hog rides where the leaders were constantly trying to get everyone pushed to the limits on curves, and Ricer rides that were stately and chill, not wound out.

Check tire pressure, oil, coolant, and GAS UP before the ride starts.

The best way to ride in a group is to keep one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousands apart and single file. Riding in a tight group severely limits a riders escape route when trying to avoid an accident. Every rider should have the entire road at there disposal without worrying where other riders in the group are. Think the group in New Hampshire a few years ago.

I don’t ever lead large group rides but if I did and someone showed up for one without a working taillight I’d ask them to leave personally, or go to the very back. Definitely not riding behind them at least

Going in a group ride in 45 minute Talk about timing!

Wow lemmy has lost a lot of weight!

Yeah, in my opinion riding with more than 3 people is just a waste of time. Whenever we do a large(50+) group ride, it takes 2 hours to get everyone ready and takes 4 hours to cover 50kms. There's the super sports crowd who keep complaining their air-cooled engine is getting too hot due to slow speed (slow being 120kmh) while the grom squad split up half an hour after the start and just doing wheelies in a parking lot and 3 shitheads got into a fistfight about who'll hit on the single rider chick in the group. Not to mention half of the pack got lost an hour ago and now they are somehow in a different country and can't find their way back. Once I've started a group ride with 20 riders 2 hours later when we pulled in to a fuel station with 50. No one from our group knew who any of the other 30 riders were. Turns out 2 completely separate groups, though we were part of their pack and decided to follow us.

Here is a note.....If you have an older bike (95ci 103ci) is hard to keep up while accelerating. Newer bikes with 107ci 114ci, you just don’t have the acceleration, and you will fine yourself riding harder than anyone else, and that’s tiresome. Ride your speed....ride your distance....ride safe!

rubber band rider... loved the term. got a few friends i can correctly title now

Where could we get that shirt you're wearing Lem?

0:10 ... I felt that.

The last charity run I did I’ve never been more stressed and angry because of a rider in front of me that not only kept swerving from side to side and not allowing anyone to ride beside him, he split the whole pack in two with a gap the length of over ten bikes. He should of pulled over and sat at the back but insisted of staying where he was. He came close to been knocked out when we stopped because he almost sent the president of my club into on coming traffic

I feel stupid looking this up but being safe is smart

Lemmy......Are you saying that you are not going to host a public ride? 😂. If you’re riding South I will make it to your ride! (Hint, come on Lemmy host a ride for your fans.)

Thanks, Lemmy! You brought up some stuff that I hadn't even thought of. So far my experience with pack riding has been just my son and I. Even then, some of the things you brought up still applies. My bike is much bigger than my son's (Yamaha Raider vs Kawasamj Vulcan 900), so I have to take it a little slower going up the mountain passes while riding along with him. His bike does ok, but that Raider is a beast! Anyway, I appreciate your tips for group riding!

Great, all I need is another rider..

Oh Yeah😍

00:10 ouch

I've been riding for years and have never ride with anyone else. Only solo.

In my motorcycle club we ban 125s from some rides LOL

...not using your left turn signal when making a right hand turn...

What bike is the the big guy riding at 5:19?

Communication, before or during the ride is key. Get the who, what, where, why & how down before you start. I tell the other riders in the faster group I'll be slower b/c I'm more cautious & trying to learn my ride. At less obvious turns there's at least one guy waiting there. Be a decent fellow motorcyclist and don't f-up the day for another group when two meet. I'm looking at you rally-mob of 100 Harley riders all riding in the middle w/the super slow trailer/enforcer at the end on a nice, technical road. It's ridiculous. Like the pack of stunt motorcycles holding up traffic for a mile on the highway so they can practice their 15mph wheelies on their 10 PSI rear tires. GTFO the road and find an abandoned industrial park. What you do today is going to affect someone else's ride that day or the next if it gets the attention of the authorities or an uptight cager, and they will pay the penalty. Riding in a group adds more responsibility so be prepared, but it's only a temporary relationship/commitment.

Don't ride two feet from the tail pipe of the bike ahead of you, even if you are staggered. Give yourself a second or two between you and the next bike. I hate it when the bike behind me is just to the left or right of my rear tire like we were in a Blue Angels formation or something.

Two years later and it now cost $29 to fill up my Street Glide WTF!

We miss you Remi

Don't ever ride in a pack it's dangerous used to do it when I was younger there's always someone showing off in the pack. Best idea just 2 or three of your trusted friends to ride with and whose riding style suits yours.

I ride a trike, and always am made to ride in the rear, since I am wider than others.

Hate riding pack .. I’m the one who will keep speed limit and enjoy my ride.. those 2 times I have ridden with other 3+ persons they all wanted to ride faster than speed limit.. I mean come on slow down get time to enjoy the view and not constant be afraid of getting a speed ticket or lose your license.. I drive for anti stress and joy not fast and .....

You forgot to check tyre pressure.

I’m having trouble understanding “slow is smooth and smooth is fast”.