Personally I am not fond of it, they are in my space but with so many things to worry about in life that ranks very low on my list to pick a battle over. Who leaves first? Whoever is quicker.

 

I was also curious of this. In addition what about if you are on the highway and catch up to another rider. IF you are not grouped previously is it ok to fall into the fish bone?

 

IF I see you there, I`ll pull up and see if we can ride together fer a bit...
Sorta like: Where ya going???
If we`re going the same direction, then; Wanna ride together??? if`n th answer is yes, You lead...

 

never heard the term fishbone, so you will have to explain that one.

If I pull up near another rider on the highway, I go straight into staggered formation and watch how they ride. If they are all over the lane, I switch lanes and jump ahead.

If they ride well, I may stay staggered, many times they will wave me past

at a red light.........I agree with CD, I am not comfortable with people I dont know pulling next to me, just because, I have no clue if they are a yahoo or not.

at a stop light, I do the same thing, pull up in staggered, if they were there first, I expect them to pull out first.


now if you come up on a group of riders on the highway, I would not pull into formation, especially a mc/rc ride

 

No invasion of another riders space unless they specifically wave me up.
Otherwise I stay behind and in a staggered formation.

 

Good question!!!

One of my first times out I was in the left turn lane waiting for the light and another rider pulled up to the right, not quite even with me but definitely not behind me. Newbie that I was/am, it was unnerving. I am actually more comfortable at this point with what four-wheeled drivers are going to do than motorcyclists. He was certainly more experienced and I wondered at that point what the etiquette is, but it hasn't come up again and as CD says there are a lot of other things to be concerned about so I forgot about it. Still will be interested to see what others have to say.

I don't like it either. I don't want to have to worry about picking a line of travel that might cross the other rider's, I guess. Might be different after I get more experience.

 

If I'm not riding with you, I don't want you alongside of me -- I have no idea what your skills are.
If you do pull up alongside me at a light, you better believe I'm going to let you go first (especially in a turn lane) so I don't have to worry about you taking me down.
Besides, if someone is willing to pull up alongside someone they don't know, how much experience do you really think they have? :wink:

 

nooone has ever directly pulled up next to me. they always fall behind in a staggered position. and i do the same. i think that is the rule. doing it like this lessens the worries about who is going first. my ride wouldn't be ruined if someone pulled up next to me but i wouldn't appreciate it.

 

Generally considered bad form.

Only it's happend to me, (other than when riding with friends that wanted to talk), was a guy on a bike pulled up to tell me my turn signal wasn't working. That I appreicated.

 

No invasion of another riders space unless they specifically wave me up.
Otherwise I stay behind and in a staggered formation.

+1.

this happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I was in the straight lane, and the first of the group of 2 bikes was able to pull ahead of me from their turn lane at the light, but his buddy was not. At the next stop light, the first bike got thru, but I had to stop, and so did the other biker. I waved him up next to me so he can go right on the green, and I held up for a second to give him room. He thanked me and waved as he took off.

 

I am new to the riding scene but it just feels right to pull up behind and staggered of another rider, not beside. Maybe they are turning and you pull up to their right... that would lead to a bad situation.


What does the term "Fish bone" mean?

I have a question about riding formation in general. I went riding the other day for the first time with a friend of mine who has rode for years. I told him I would just follow his lead. On the highway he was hugging the white line and I stayed around 2/3 seconds behind him on the yellow line (not on it but beside it ).

What is the right way to ride with someone like that? Sounds lame but I would rather make a fool of myself here instead of on the road.

-Denison

 

What does the term "Fish bone" mean?

What is the right way to ride with someone like that?
-Denison

Lead bike is always to left side of the lane. The next bike is to the right whether you're riding together or not.


I've only been riding for 40 years, I have no idea what the hell "fishbone" is.




















l

 

I can take a hint... 8)
I`ll just stay back, and let ya go on then...
Naah, I can tell when I ain`t a nuisence and when I get that "Look" to leave ya alone...
I`m glad to read all this feedback...

 

lol, Cap'n... besides, how are you going to have this "gettin' to know you" conversation? Here in the Show-Me-Your-Helmet-Hair state of Missouri, I wear a full face... nobody can understand a word I'm saying when the bike is off... I can imagine that all you'd be saying in a conversation with me at a light would be "Ehhhh, WHAAAAATTT????"

:wink:

 

I think staggered is safer MHO

 

I wouldn't pull up even with another rider at a stop light if I didn't know them. If they are catching me on the highway, I move to the right side of the lane and wave them past. If traffic is bad or I am getting ready to turn I move around a lot so they don't try to come up beside me. If someone stops beside me at a light I let them go first.. or goat the same time and take off slow. If they want to fall in behind they'll have to make a point of it, and if they rocket off ahead so much the better. If you want to ride with me and come up beside me at a light at least have the decency to ask or introduce yourself.

 

SOrry i said fish bone. I ment herring bone. It is a term the military uses when convoys stop. THe herring bone every other vehicle goes to the right side of the rode the rest got to the left. Seperates vehicle sso if attact it lessons the damage as the vehicles won't be bunched up. Basicaly it is the same as saying staggered. sorry for the confusion.

I would never invite myself into a group ride but if another solo is in the area i try to stagger. I would never pull up on some one side by side sahing the lane.

I had a guy do somethign strange in Cincinnati a few weeks again. I slowed to help him merge with out getting ran down by on coming cages. When he merged he stayed in the right hand side of the lane infront of me. I kept my distance and tried to float over to the right as he was in front and would normally be on the left. He would not move left. I just let him have a full 4 seconds in front and stayed left after a mile of trying to hint to him I felt more comfortable in the normal left then right stagger.

 

I never pull up next to someone unless it is someone I am riding with, and i have never had that happen to me. Although the other day I did have a guy almost pull up next to me, but not quite. I don't really like it for the same reason that others have stated here.

I also ride staggered when I come up on other riders on the road, and in my experience all other riders have done the same for me. I think it is kind of inconsiderate to encroach on another rider's space on the road unless waved up by the rider.

 

I don't pull up, nor do I would I like it if others did.

I also don't fall in to a stagger if riding behind. I drop back far enough to make it clear there's not a group, that or pass.

 

I've had one or two pull up CLOSE to me in a lane at a red light, but never up beside me. Knowing what I know now after my BRC yesterday? I'd be real leary to let an "unknown" rider pull up beside me. Are they a skilled rider or someone who's so new that they can barely keep the bike up when stopping.?? Ya know?

 

I think if another rider is in the "grease strip" (center of the lane) then they don't want you pulling up next to them. If they make an obvious attempt to make room for you by getting to the left then you might think about pulling up. Otherwise, stay behind and only pass in the other lane.

The same goes for you too! If you are looking to be more social then keep to the left if you're the lead. But if you're feeing anti-social or don't want anyone to approach then keep it in the middle or even to the right of your lane. After all, staggered formation says that the lead rider is always to stay to the left so if you are looking for a partner then get to the left so another rider can pull up on the right. It's not too hard a concept but somehow a lot of riders usually just don't get it - usually newbies.

 

I tend to stop in the "grease strip", mainly because around here if you leave enough room on your left or right, a cager will pull along side you and try to beat you off the line. Maybe they don't want to hear your exhaust, or don't see you, I don't know.

The survey wasn't kidding that said 25% of Connecticut drivers want motorcycles off the road completely.

 

I don't pull up, nor do I would I like it if others did.

I also don't fall in to a stagger if riding behind. I drop back far enough to make it clear there's not a group, that or pass.

+1 - Same here....I don't 'fall in' with a group ride ever......if it's a single rider and I intend to pass I will come and ride close waiting for a dotted line or passing opportunity in the left (oncoming) lane, but have no intention of sharing a lane to pass.

 

Is it an acceptable practice, to pull up next to another rider, you are not riding with, in the same lane, at an intersection to wait for the light?

I don't. But I'm anti-social and since I'm geared up and on a Harley, I'm naturally shunned by all groups anyway.

 

I do not. I'm not that crazy about it even in a known group. I like to have my space.