Motorcycle Riding Formations: Staggered vs. Side-BySide

[@saralou7084]

When I was in England, UK we always rode side by side (often referred to as Outlaw). It wasn't till I moved to the USA and rode with a HOG group for a couple of years that I'd even heard of 'staggered'. When not riding with the club, most of the charity/group rides I do now are required staggered. Saying that I have had occasions when someone in the ride has 'Parade' ridden with me, which I find a compliment, that a stranger considers my riding skills 'on par' enough to go side by side during the ride.

[@BikerProtocol]

On public rides definitely staggered. You never know the riding style or experience of strangers. It is kind of an honor when someone asked you to come pull up next to them especially going from prospect to a member.

[@WickedPissa85]

It depends on the circumstances. Sometimes side by side is safer, sometimes staggered is safer.

[@robertlynn8802]

Riding motorman in the pack I think is much safer when you’re on the highway. It makes a big body presence and it keeps people away. It is hard to miss so they see you. They don’t have anywhere to cut between you. A big mass going down the road. Yes being tight at speed you need to trust your brother. You guys are doing great!

[@badkarma-f3l]

We always ride staggered formation. It gives us more escape routes some don't ride as well as others. Try to get everyone home alive.

[@cquilty673]

I mostly ride solo. I tend to see no option in ad hoc groups and while teaching noobs, staggered is the way to go since I don't know the people well nor has there been time to build the trust needed for parade. Truthfully, I avoid a lot of group rides simply because I don't know the people and I trust there will always be at least one a-hole who thinks he's king of the road. I don't need that aggravation. I'm the kind of guy who stops at a wreck and the first question I ask is "Still in a rush?" 44 years riding (some gaps, money wasn't always there) and every bike wreck I've seen, save one, was the result of the rider acting the idiot.

[@BikerProtocol]

There's definitely a lot of truth to that.

[@martincvitkovich724]

When we were on dope in the 70's we rode side by side. Now it doesn't matter because I am the only one left and ride solo

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

I love riding with my brothers but often find the most peace riding alone. I can ride as fast as I want how I want .. we all ride FAST but riding alone .. idk .. dare I say it’s my favorite. Maybe depends on the day

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

Sometimes tho I just want to cruise easy tho. Just hit the left lane at 85 and enjoy a stretch on the hwy ..

[@brianpastelito]

Down in Mexico the potholes are really bad so we usually ride staggered to have more space to maneuver. However we do sometimes ride side by side if we know the road and the riding style of the one next to us. You sometimes catch us officers riding side by side on the front and back while the prospects and new guys ride staggered in the middle of the column

[@BikerProtocol]

We always have our prospects in the back.

[@brianpastelito]

@BikerProtocol before being VP I was the tailgunner, so probably more out of habit but I like to go all the way back, even behind the prospects, preferably with at least one more full patch next to me to keep tabs on everyone and make sure no one stays behind. I'm by no means a mechanic or doctor, but I'm one of the most mechanically inclined and have much first aid experience, so in case anything goes wrong, I can assess and call the road captain to stop or keep going we'll catch up to them

[@geraldgoodiii6993]

Bar to bar 6-9’ spacing tire to tire. 90+ mph Granted this is only when u know how your brothers ride intimately. Down to how they time their shifts and react to road obstruction. Yea we go single file if needed or on some windy roads that are tight we stagger so we can relax some more But damn nothing beats bombing down chi town hwys at 100mph so tight we may as well be in a car together There’s one brother who I ride with more than anyone. We ride together allll the time and we ride those big power road glides like they’re sport bikes taking corners side by side often inches apart. This from thousands of miles together tho. And a couple guys who have insane lifetime miles We don’t get it twisted tho.. there’s a lot of risk. And this is respected by both of us. Love the content gents We love South Dakota and the surrounding areas for riding .. but that 960mi in one day ride from Chicago is so boring until almost to rapid city. IA.. 😴 Doing 1k in a day bar to bar .. gotta stay sharp *out there I had a rock hit 2” from my oil cooler and woulda Smashed the ultra cool if I mounted it where it was SUPPOSED to be (low just in front of the low side floor board .. oh man that woulda been bad .. road side repairs .. had a clutch go out down in FL on some hwy there .. had to pull off derby cover on the shoulder thank God someone had some basic tools to fix it

[@bobberguy1]

Nice bullshit story.

[@ghostrider564]

Our Club chapters ride staggered its mandated, however we do have one chapter that rides side by side because of the reason you mentioned with cars. I agree with one of the other comments the road condition where we are need to be improved so can really only ride staggered due to safety.

[@FallbackCruzn]

We ride side by side unless going through mountain or rain then we go stager

[@jpreacherdenton238]

next time you go through Ely wave as you go by, when we can get people together most of them ride staggered even to the point they stop staggered, coming out of so cal 20 years ago side by side , spiting lanes only way to ride .. and yes LV drivers are the wears

[@BikerProtocol]

We have so many accidents here in Vegas. We tend to as a community blame the cagers but sometimes we need to look at ourselves and how we ride. We shouldn't ride offensively but more defensively.

[@JanneOksanen]

I think trust is good but safety margin is better.

[@PershingDragoon]

There's no doubt riding 'parade' looks impressive (and honestly it IS an impressive feat for a whole club to ride like that), but I think staggered just feels (and is) safer for everyone. And I think the comment Hollywood made about clubs in the 60s not really riding side by side is an important detail to remember in the discussion of what is the "true" way of club riding, and to guys like me who wants to pay homage to the old ways as much as possible. In other words, I don't think I'd sweat it about not being able to ride side by side. I'm curious how long it took you to feel good and confident about riding side by side when you first started learning and doing it. To me as a rookie rider (only a year and a few months of total riding experience, not counting winter months) I feel kinda terrified just thinking about riding like that. Should be said that I live in a country that doesn't have as wide or straight roads as the US, and the quality of the tarmac can be questionable at times. Obviously I'd need to be more experienced before trying it regardless, and ride with people I trust and know well.

[@JonQpublic0311]

Situation dictates. Parade 90% of the time. Inclement weather plus turns = staggered. Twisties in the mountains is about the only time we single file. Large charity rides we are in front and we instruct riders to ride at their comfort level

[@FrankS-c5h]

STAGGERED, I'M NOT A PRO.

[@BikerProtocol]

Don't need to be a pro, just trust the one next to you.

[@georgedelarosa5437]

The roads in Michigan suck, so my friends and I ride staggered most of the time. If we get on some fresh roads or farther north, past Saginaw, we go side by side. We all have touring bikes, and trust each other. Always a good time. Got about 2 1/2 months and we can start riding again. Winter sucks.