Pre-Ride Check List

Road Riding Rules

The following is an adaptation of an article that ran in Thunder Press some time ago. The author was a rider of one of those "other" bikes. Some of his terms have been changed to be more recognizable. The main message remains; group riding can be a blast if every rider rides smart.

1. Arrive at the departure site fueled, fed, and ready to ride.

2. Be early, there will be a riders meeting 10 minutes before departure time.

3. If a map is provided, study it, or have your own map to read and mark up the route.

4. Assume responsibility to work with all others in the group for the safety and protection of all.

5. Travel in a staggered formation within a lane with the Road Captain taking the position on the left side of the lane. The next rider will follow at a safe distance on the opposite side of the lane. Other riders follow the same pattern. Riders should position themselves so they can see the face of the rider to their front/opposite in that rider's mirror.

6. Maintain a steady speed and spacing. Do not speed up and slow down or shift your position from side to side, this disrupts the efforts of others to regulate their speed and destroys the main purpose of riding as a group.

7. Maintain a minimum but safe riding distance, depending on conditions. "Holes" in the pack invite motorists driving at faster speeds to cut in and tailgate the bike in front. However, if a car must cut through the pack either from the left or right, be courteous, signal to the riders behind you to slow down, then wave the driver through. Close the hole as quickly as possible.

8. Stay alert. The lives of other people are in the hands of each pack member.

9. When entering traffic from a parking lot, gas station, or leaving a traffic signal, each rider should move out quickly and get in position in formation.

10. When passing a vehicle on a two-lane, two-way road, each rider should pass in order, preferably in single file. Obviously this only applies when riding in small groups. One of the most dangerous situations I have observed occurs when one or more riders tries to force the issue of keeping up and passes blind or without allowing a safe margin regarding oncoming traffic. The Road Captain will slow the pack down and wait for you to pass safely. Never sacrifice safety to the ideal of keeping the pack together.

11. When stopping at a signal or stop sign, pull up to two abreast. Maintain this formation if you will be going through a series of closely spaced stops (e.g., downtown Hollister).

12. When turning at an intersection maintain your position in the formation.

13. When entering a parking area or gas station enter in single file. The Road Captain should "loop" the area to allow all riders to get out of traffic.

14. When riding on narrow, twisting roads, move into single file, while maintaining a safe distance between bikes. The Road Captain will signal this formation by holding up a single finger. Each rider will pass the signal back, as they must with all signals.

15. Anyone not wishing to ride with the pack should inform both the Road Captain and the Tail gunner before departing. If this is not possible, fall back behind the last bike and inform the Tail gunner that you are OK.

16. Be sure to inform the Road Captain and Tail gunner if you will be breaking off from the pack along the way. Otherwise, any bike that pulls over or exits the highway will be considered to be in trouble. The Tail gunner will follow to help.

Pre-Ride Check List

What was true more than 80 years ago is true today. Roads and motorcycles are a lot different from those in the 1920s. But the need for proper maintenance and preparation is just as important as ever, especially before a long trip. The quality of the time we spend on the road often depends on what we do in the garage.

A quick, pre-ride routine will keep your Harley® ready and your mind at peace:

Before riding your motorcycle at any time, do a general inspection of the entire bike to be sure it's in safe riding condition.

You can start by checking the oil and filter and inspect other fluid levels. Harley-Davidson® motorcycles are made to make oil changes easy. If you do it yourself, don't slack off on the maintenance schedule. And make sure the old oil is properly disposed. It should be sealed in an approved container and taken to a legitimate oil disposal facility.

Next you'll want to check the controls to be sure they operate properly. On your list of controls to inspect should be the front and rear brakes, throttle, clutch and shifter. You should also examine the steering for smoothness by turning the handlebars through the full operating range.

Check tire pressure often, daily when you are touring, and always using a good gauge. Consult your owners' manual for correct pressure and load rating. Air pressure can change with the air temperature. While you're at it, inspect the tires. Replace them if there's less than 50 percent of the tread left, or if there's any cracks, cuts or signs of distress. Tires should be changed by your dealer. They are expertly trained to replace tires and to inspect your wheels.

Check for any fuel, oil or hydraulic fluid leaks. Give the cases and lines a once over to make sure there are no leaks.

For high-mileage bikes, inspect the drive belt, sprockets and brakes.

Check your headlights, directionals, tail light and brake light every time you ride. Not only do they help you see where you're going, but they are your best way of being seen by others. If a light is out, it is easy to change yourself. Consult your owners' manual and/or service manual for correct type and removal and replacement procedure. If replacing a headlight, be certain the beam is focused properly.

Before you start riding, sit on your bike and take a look in the mirrors to be sure they're adjusted properly. Even if you don't think you've moved the mirrors, do a quick check just to be sure.

You can double the life of your battery by checking and correcting its water level regularly. It's as easy as looking at it with a flashlight for most models. In warm weather climates, check the water level on a regular basis. Otherwise, every 2,500 miles is a good guideline. For those who can't ride as often as they'd like, install a battery charger with a convenient disconnect. If you travel often, for instance, the charger will help you avoid a dead-battery homecoming.

The Harley-Davidson Extended Service Plan™ prevents a breakdown from ruining a trip. If you ever get stranded on the road, you'll be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses* you pay while covered repairs are being made to your bike, including car rental costs and pick-up charges. Plus, if you're ever stuck overnight, your Harley-Davidson Extended Service Plan will even pick up the tab for your hotel and meals.*See contract for complete details.

Doing basic maintenance yourself can save you time and money in the long run, but don't venture into the land of do-it-yourself if it's not your natural habitat. The risks just aren't worth it. If you are the least bit unsure, go see the experts in their natural habitat: a Harley-Davidson dealership.

Riding Skills Series: Avoiding Obstacles in a Turn

By Evans Brasfield
Photography: Dean Groover

riding. Nowhere is this more important than when entering a blind turn. Good street riding practice recommends that you scan three to five seconds ahead while riding. Cornering, however, reduces your scanning distance. Rounding blind corners such as those with bushes or rock faces obscuring your view, reduces it dramatically. Although these situations are best handled by lowering your entry speed, entering a corner with a plan can help you overcome surprises that may lurk ahead. Most experienced riders have stories of strange things they have encountered in the middle of the road. It's probably only a matter of time until the same happens to you.

2. When you encounter an obstacle midcorner, you have little time to react. Immediately determine on which side of the object you plan to pass. Then, to prevent target fixation, focus your attention on your desired path of travel. If the obstruction is dirt or gravel, selecting a car's outside tire track will usually provide the cleanest line through the corner. Often your avoidance maneuver will require only a slight change of line either inside or outside of the obstacle. However, if your speed is high enough that adjusting your line in this manner will send you into the oncoming lane or off the road, you will need to brake, too. Since traction for braking is limited while cornering, you need to stand the bike up prior to applying the brakes.

3. To achieve maximum application of the brakes while swerving, steering inputs must be separated from braking or you risk losing traction. The swerving and braking maneuver happens so quickly that, while the bike may be upright when you apply the brakes, your body will still be off the center of the bike. Don't worry. Let the bike move underneath you. Don't grab the brakes; apply the brakes firmly while recognizing your bike is probably not completely upright and traction will still be limited. If your front brake locks and starts to skid, immediately release then reapply the brake. Keep your eyes focused on your intended path of travel. Looking at an obstacle or off the road will only help you become intimately acquainted with them.

4. As soon as you have slowed your bike enough to complete the turn, release the brakes and direct the bike back toward your original path of travel. Since this maneuver takes less than a second from beginning to end, practice is essential. Find a lightly traveled road with a right hand turn (to give yourself some runoff if you make a mistake) with good visibility throughout the entire turn. Using chalk or tape, mark the section of the road you want to swerve around. Starting at low speeds, swerve around an imaginary object while cornering. Once you are comfortable, gradually increase your speed until you reach the point where you need to insert braking into the swerve. You'll be glad you took the time should you ever encounter a child's stuffed animal in the middle of your line.

This story originally appeared in the December 2000 issue of Sport Rider.

Left Hand Salute

ack in medæval times, when two knights on horseback passed one another on the open road they would offer each other a greeting. They would raise their right hand to the visor of their helmet and expose their face, or simply raise their open right hand (their weapon hand) as a gesture of respect between brothers in arms. This behavior still exists in a more symbolic manner, as the military salute. Today, a similar practice takes places on the modern roads of the world. When two motorcyclists pass one another, they exchange a greeting like the knights of old. With the right hand on still on the throttle, a motorcyclist often will drop his or her left hand as a show of respect and camaraderie to a fellow rider. This "left-hand" salute acknowledges a bond between those who share a love for traveling on two wheels. Cruisers, Sportbikes, and Tourers all enjoy the rush of riding with the wind in one's face, the road right underfoot, and the horizon waiting just ahead.