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Motorcycle Hand Signals and Pointers While Riding In Groups
The following guidelines for riding in a group are not gospel. There are situations in which they don't apply. Regardless of the Lead Bike's signals, a rider is responsible for his or her own safety at all times.
Hand Signals 
UP
Most hand signals are given with the left hand so that the right hand remains on the throttle and near the brake controls for safety.
* Signaling for a turn: Use
BOTH electronic and hand signals. Electronic signals may cancel prematurely, are difficult to see in the daytime and hand signals are difficult to see at night.
* Left forearm up: Right Turn
* Left arm straight out: Left Turn
* Left hand up, making circular motion: Start your engines/Prepare to go
* Left hand up above head, one finger pointing up: Single file
* Left hand up above head, two fingers pointing up: Staggered riding formation
* Left arm out, downward angle, palm back: Stay behind me/Prepare to stop
* Left arm out, downward angle, forward waving: Go past me
* Left arm waving in quick downward motion, with palm down and parallel to ground: Slow down! Often used for bikes traveling in the opposite direction to warn of hazard or police.
* Left hand waving upward with palm up and parallel to ground: Speed up
* Left hand tap top of helmet, or hand on helmet: Cop nearby (This signal is designed to be both noticeable and indecipherable by the cop.)
* Left hand, little wave to oncoming motorcyclist: "Aren't motorcycles great?"
* Left hand up, tapping fingers together: Turn off your turn signal
* Left hand, point forward, shrug shoulders: "I don't know where we're going, I probably shouldn't be leading!"
* Left hand, point at ground, rub fingers together: Road is slippery
* Point at ground: "Careful, there's something on the road." Sometimes done with the right arm if hazards are on the right.
* Point to tank: "I need gas/Pit stop Stop at the next station."
* Point at another rider, then pat leg: You want that rider to come alongside you (usually so you can talk).
* Point at another rider, then point to side of road: Pull over now.
* Right hand, point at sign: Read the sign. If it's a highway sign with multiple exits listed, hold up the number of fingers corresponding to which exit you want (i.e. two fingers for the second exit listed).
* Flash brake lights very rapidly: Major watch out! Be prepared to stop QUICK.
* Finally, when someone gives you a signal: You should nod your head so they know you understand, since they can't see your face very well behind a helmet.
Group Riding Tips UP
The group should ride in staggered formation unless otherwise indicated by the lead Road Captain. Maintain a safe, but not too distant gap between you and the rider directly in front of you. This following distance is to provide a space cushion around each rider that gives each one in the formation enough time and distance to brake and/or swerve in case of a sudden, unexpected hazard that requires evasive action by any part or all of the group. If this doesn't seem to make any sense to you, watch what the other riders are doing and follow their example for following distance and space cushioning.
REMEMBER! Too much following distance can be just as bad as, and frequently is WORSE, than too little following distance. If the formation lacks uniformity in what we appear to be doing, then we don't "look" like we are "together" as group. And we become regarded as random individual vehicles in the traffic pattern, and not like a group or unit trying to function as one vehicle.
Too much following distance INVITES cars into the formation, splitting it up in traffic. If we don't control our lane space the cars WILL take it away from us. Be prepared! Non-motorcycling car drivers really DO NOT understand what we do when we ride as a group or why. So, if a car starts to blindly move into or through the group - LET THEM IN. We can always re-form the group a little later down the road. Also, always let the Road Captain know if you intend to leave the group before the end of the ride.
# 1 RULE UP
The number one rule in a ride group situation almost sounds like a joke, but it is
VERY SERIOUS. The primary job for every rider is to NOT hit the motorcycle in front of him or her!
New or Inexperienced Riders UP
If you are a new, inexperienced rider, or have not ridden with the group before: Let the Road Captain know so you can be placed towards the rear of the pack on the right side of the lane. This will allow you to observe the group's riding procedures. If you think you will not be comfortable with any portion of the planned ride, let the Road Captain know before leaving.
Three-Wheelers, Sidecars and Trailers UP
If you are riding a 3-Wheeler, have a Sidecar, or are pulling a Trailer: Ride at the rear of the pack, just in front of the Sweeper (rear guard, drag bike). This allows the 2 wheel bikes to keep a uniform formation.
About Changing Lanes UP
Whenever possible, the lead bike will only attempt to enter traffic if there is room for all (or most) of the ride group to follow immediately. If the group is split, the Lead Bike will normally take the slow lane and keep the speed relatively low until the group forms into normal staggered riding formation.
Do not change your position within the lane (i.e.: if you are in the left side of the lane, do not move to the right side of the lane). If a gap develops due to a departing bike, the space can be left open, or the rider in line behind moves up to fill the space. Each rider in that lane position should move up sequentially as soon as it is safe to do so. A stoplight or stop sign is the most logical place to do this, as you should be moving up to a side-by-side formation at that time anyway.
When performing lane changes as a group the Road Captain will signal and every rider will signal accordingly. The Sweeper (rear guard, drag bike) will make the lane change FIRST. Then the Road Captain will move over after the lane has cleared of traffic and each rider from there on will follow the bike in front of him/her. Regardless of what other riders in the group are doing, each rider must check to see that the new lane is clear of traffic before entering it.
When making a left or right turn, maintain your position within the lane. For instance, if you are in the left side of the lane, and making a right turn, stay in the left side through the turn.
Passing a slow moving vehicle on a two-lane road typically cannot be done while in formation. If oncoming traffic requires the group to pass individually, the lead Bike will signal to move into single-file formation to make known that the group members are to pass the vehicle one at a time. The forward members of the group will gradually position themselves single-file in the left side of the lane to prepare to pull into the oncoming lane. The Lead Bike will usually wait for a gap in oncoming traffic that is big enough for more than one bike to pass, but that is not always possible. When a safe interval is observed, the Lead Bike will signal and pull into the oncoming lane.
After passing the "obstacle," the Lead Bike signals that it is moving into the right lane and does so, taking its normal position in front of the slower vehicle(s). The Lead Bike will maintain or increase its speed while falling back into formation. Each bike should safely repeat this procedure and be aware of the need to create a gap into which the next bike in succession can fit after overtaking the "obstacle." For this reason each bike should maintain speed after passing, until the Sweeper has passed and the group has reformed.
On any stretch of curvy road and in any corner, a group may ride in single-file momentarily, to enable each rider to corner at his own speed and to have as much room as possible for maneuvering this is especially helpful for new riders. This is an accepted variance to the staggered formation, the Lead Bike will not signal for single-file at each curve/corner, but will expect the riders to choose their own path of travel.
Spacing out on less congested rural back roads, the riders in the group may spread out to create larger intervals between motorcycles. This allows a rider to negotiate corners more safely, relax a bit and enjoy the scenery and ride. Do not leave gaps large enough for a car to enter the formation. The riders should remain close enough to each other to see hand signals passed back from the Lead Bike.
Lead Bike Responsibilities UP
The Lead Bike rides in the most forward position in the group and relays information to all other riders via hand signals. The Lead Bike determines the group's direction, speed, choice of lane and formation. He/she must often make quick navigation decisions in the face of road hazards, changes of road surface conditions, poor signage, construction and other obstacles while maintaining control of his/her own bike and communicating to those following in the group.
Sweeper Bike Responsibilities UP
The Sweeper (rear guard, drag bike) rides in the last position in the group and relays information to the lead bike regarding the other riders in the group, traffic patterns, bike problems, etc. The Sweeper secures the lane for the rest of the group during lane changes, moving over first to block upcoming traffic. He/she also "closes the door" by moving over to block passing traffic when a lane is lost in a merging lane situation. The Sweeper drops out or designates someone to drop out to assist a rider who has mechanical trouble, loses control, or drops out of a ride for some other reason.
Rider's Responsibilities UP
Riders are expected to arrive on time at the departure point with a full tank of gas, proper attire for the conditions, and physically ready to ride (potty stop, medications packed, sober and alert).
If a rider brings a passenger for a group ride, he/she is expected to manage and attend to the passenger's needs personally before the departure time.
* Do not permit the passenger to mount the motorcycle until all riding gear is on and fastened securely (beware of outside pockets).
* Passengers should not give hand signals or anything resembling hand signals as this can be confusing for other riders and become a safety hazard.
