Stagered riding while with other bikes

[Gremlin]

Proberly a dumb question but... what do you mean by undertaking? Overtaking from the left?

I believe so. In NZ according to the road code it is frowned on, in some countries (I think the UK is one) it is actually illegal.

[Ixion]

I believe so. In NZ according to the road code it is frowned on, in some countries (I think the UK is one) it is actually illegal.

tis illegal in NZ (assuming that you are in the same lane). May only overtake on the left if the other vehicle is stopped ; or indicating a right turn; or turning right (I think there's one other case that I can't be shagged to remember or look up).

[justsomeguy]

The only people who shouldn't know what staggered riding is are those who haven't sat the scratch test or haven't read the road code or don't know about target fixation or don't have common sense or are......

[dangerous]

May only overtake on the left if the other vehicle is stopped ; or indicating a right turn; or turning right (I think there's one other case that I can't be shagged to remember or look up).

That would be that it is ok to pass on the left if in another lane.... like on the motorway, a lot of people dont relise that down here were we only have one motorway and every bastard wants both lanes

[Gremlin]

tis illegal in NZ (assuming that you are in the same lane). May only overtake on the left if the other vehicle is stopped ; or indicating a right turn; or turning right (I think there's one other case that I can't be shagged to remember or look up).

I think thats about it.

What I tried to mean is that OK, its illegal, but I don't think they actively enforce the law as such. My aunt was in the UK a little while ago, and said the law is very much umm.... seen as a revenue source...

[Gremlin]

That would be that it is ok to pass on the left if in another lane.... like on the motorway, a lot of people dont relise that down here were we only have one motorway and every bastard wants both lanes

It is still technically undertaking though, you can do it, but I don't think you are actually meant to use a left lane like a right lane...

[dangerous]

It is still technically undertaking though, you can do it, but I don't think you are actually meant to use a left lane like a right lane...

yes you are........ how ballsed up are we in NZ must be the only country in the world were ya can...... no such thing as a fast lane slow lane here

[DingDong]

Proper staggered formation riding only applys on the straight bits.

Turns and twistys dictate that you fall into single file to negotiate the turn, then form up again as you exit the turn.

agreed, you can never predict what someone will do next... and to quote "riding is not a hobby, it's a way of life" some people are crooked and some are straight.

[Jantar]

A bad habit a lot of us motorcyclists have developed..... tailgating

Done a lot of group rides through the years and staggered has always been the order of the day. It also makes it a little easier for the bike in front to see you in his mirrors.

Grumpy has got it perfectly. One of the main reasons for staggered riding is to be able to see the rider in front in HIS rear view mirror. If you can see him, then he can see you. The secondary effect of not being in the same part of the traffic lane is also an added safety issue, but not as important as the fact of knowing where other riders are.

When in general traffic I tend to ride in the same part of the road on my bike as if I was in the drivers seat in my cage, but positioned so that I can see the driver in front in his mirror. I would then expect other bikes following me to form in a staggered pattern so that I can see them.

If following another bike I will always ride staggered so that I can see the rider in front in his mirror. On tighter corners I will then drop back a bit further and take my own line through the corners.

[RiderInBlack]

OK, in this case when I was refuring to undertaking, I meant when riding in a group where there is only one lane in each direction, the passing rider is on the leftside of the rider he is passing, and both riders are in the left lane (in NZ that is NOT the oncoming traffic lane). Doing this does not leave you much room for error which puts you and the rider you passing at greater risk. Most Poker Runs will tell riders not to do this as part of their preride brief. It does not matter whether it is against the rules, it is just not safe. Don't do it unless it is to avoid an accident and there is no other option.

[XP@]

If every rider in the group knows the basic rules and you can trust them to follow them then you can have a lot more fun. and not have any surprises... we don't like surprises

[Dafe]

Yep, I've seen alot of riders all over the place too. I think riders should be responsible themselves and consider doing a CBTA safety course every two to three years. You might be suprised when you come to realise that there are a number of things you're not doing right and we can all use a friendly reminder from time to time.

[Jackrat]

A bad habit a lot of us motorcyclists have developed..... tailgating

Done a lot of group rides through the years and staggered has always been the order of the day. It also makes it a little easier for the bike in front to see you in his mirrors.

Couldn't agree with you more mate.
I like to have around 60/70 meters between myself an the rider in front.
I've been known to get REAL vocal towards riders that tail gate me.They seldom get it an often claim to have felt ok an quite safe about it.
It's then I've pointed out that their opinion doesn't come into it,I don't feel safe an that's the begining and end of it.
I certainly won't continue to make somebody feel unsafe just because it feels ok to me.In a situation like that, if I'm doing something they don't feel happy about, then my opinion doesn't count.
It's called consideration,just shouldn't be that hard to work out I reckon.
I also know my hanging way back has saved me a yarn with the law before today.On the main highways I'll often be a km or more back and I've had mates waved down by the law.They got booked an I just rode on by with a big smile.

[Coldkiwi]

I understand about the relationship between speed and distance. What I don't understand is why a rider would want to be so close behind another that staggering becomes important, unless it is a race. I would have thought that dropping back to a safer distance would have been preferable.

yeah, you would think a bit more distance would make sense, but going by what I've seen on a few KB rides in the last year, that all goes out the windows for some reason at regular intervals. Some serious tailgating goes on (no freakin fun at all when its right behind you) and I'm pretty sure the riders don't even know they're doing it.

Perhaps this subject of staggering and/or distance is something that people organising rides should consider highlighting before the group leaves the first rendezvous point?