The 'Stagger' riding formation

As with most things there are many ways to do it. Group riding is one thing that needs control and planning so everyone has some idea what the others are doing and where they are. Most of the group will not ride together enough so they can be comfortable with the reactions of the rider in front, back or beside them on every ride so the 'Stagger' riding formation is the primary riding formation. Single file is used when directed by the Road Captain leading your group.

The lead motorcycle should be in the left 1/3 of the lane, the second motorcycle should be in the right 1/3 of the lane, one second behind the first rider and so on. Leave enough room between each motorcycle so that any rider can maneuver to the right or left without hitting anyone else. Always stay in line with the bike in front of you. Do Not switch between left and right side of the lane. If a rider should fall out of formation, maintain your lane and not switch from side to side, If a gap should open up to one side of you, the rider behind the gap should carefully motor ahead to fill the gap. The bike behind him/her will then move up to fill the new gap, and so on.

If you want to ride with someone, the best advice is to stay in the same lane together, one in front of the other. That way during the ride if the pack re-adjusts to fill open gaps, then you will still be with your riding buddy.

Following MSF guidelines, the following distance used within the formation is based on the "2 Second Rule" of thumb. That is you should be 2 seconds back from the bike directly ahead of you and 1 second back from the bike either ahead left or ahead right in stagger from you, within the lane. This following distance is designed to provide a space cushion around each rider that gives each one in the formation enough time and distance to brake and/or swerve in case of a sudden, unexpected hazard that requires evasive action by any part or all of the group, while keeping the group tight enough for group safety.

REMEMBER: Too much following distance can be just as bad as, and frequently is Worse than too little following distance. If the formation lacks uniformity in what we appear to be doing, then we don't "look" like we are "together" as group. And we become regarded as random individual vehicles in the traffic pattern, and not like a group or unit trying to function as one vehicle. Too much following distance Invites cars into the formation, splitting it up in traffic. And if we don't control our lane space the cars Will take it away from us. Be prepared! Non-motorcycling car drivers really do Not understand what we do when we ride as a group or why. So, if a car starts to blindly move into or through the group LET THEM IN!! We can always re-form the group a little later down the road.

IMPORTANT:
If you are new to group riding or are uncomfortable riding in a group, please let the Road Captain leading your group and /or sweep rider(s) in the back of the group know your intentions. Excessive following distance defeats the purpose of maintaining an equally spaced stagger formation. It is much better for your safety and the safety of the group, that you ride individually 1/4 mile behind the group. And we want to encourage you to be comfortable about making that choice.