Take your next motorcycle ride from good to great by going with friends instead of by yourself. Group motorcycle riding offers you a unique way to spend time and make memories with your fellow bikers. However, it also requires a little more planning and preparation than a solo ride, in order to make sure that everyone has a say in where you go, that you ride safely together and that you’re all on the same page in terms of the route and the time needed to complete it.

H&W Marine Powersports, with dealership locations in Marshall, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, is proud to be your Gulf Coast Yamaha motorcycle dealer. To help you stay safe and enjoy your time with your friends, we’ve provided some tips for group motorcycle riding below.

Packing For the Journey

The nice thing about traveling with a group is that you can consolidate your supplies a bit so that not everyone has to bring a huge pile of stuff. For example, you can designate the rear rider to carry the repair kit and the first-aid kit, since they’re likely to be the rider to pull over to help anyone else who needs to stop. Another rider could carry snacks or a picnic lunch; yet another rider could carry an air compressor to fill up tires.

Every single rider in the group should have their riding gear with them, as well as some waterproof gear to wear in case it rains. All riders also need to tune up their bikes before the ride and fill up their gas tanks to ensure that no one falls behind. Make sure everyone has a GPS unit, their phone and some water to drink, also.

Determine the Route

You’ll want to select and go over a route in advance of your journey so that everyone can offer their input. If it’s a place that some of the riders have never gone to before, you’ll want to make sure that more experienced riders can lead the way. And you’ll want to take recommendations for scenic viewpoints, tourist attractions, roadside diners and other pit-stops you may want to take as a group along the way. After all, the fun of a motorcycle ride is the getting there, not the destination!

Selecting a route and going over it early will also help you to plan around areas of traffic congestion and road construction. You can make any necessary adjustments now so that you won’t have to slow down later to figure out what you’re doing. Make sure that everyone knows where you’re going and how to get there.

Choose a Riding Formation

The next step is to pick a riding formation that is comfortable for everyone. One of the best group formations is a staggered double line, which resembles a zipper when viewed from above. Each rider is two seconds behind and to the side of the rider in front of them.

Place a more experienced rider at the front and the rear of the group so that they can use their expertise to guide and assist less-experienced riders. These two riders should also possess even temperaments so they can be patient with stragglers. The front rider will set the pace and should take into account the fact that not everyone will want to go at top speed the whole time, while the rear rider will stop to assist any riders who pull over and help them to get back to the group. Your front-most rider should also establish some hand signals that they will use to communicate any changes or movements to the rest of the group.

We hope this guide helps you and your biker friends to enjoy your next ride together! If you’re still in the market for a bike, visit one of our dealerships in Texas or Louisiana to take a look at our full stock of new and used motorcycles for sale. We even provide financing options if you’d like to make use of them. H&W Marine Powersports proudly serves the cities of Longview, Texas, and Bossier City, Louisiana.