I think it's all situational, I wouldn't mind and I've had hasabusas wave for me to follow them at stop signs, you just have to feel out each situation independently, also I've even cruised with an outlaw on the freeway, when he pulled off he even waved at me.

Given how many other hand signals exist, I'm surprised there isn't a hand signal around that can be used to ask if you can join a group you encounter while riding.

Seems like you'd basically need one signal for the question and three for responses: 'no' and maybe two for 'yes', one indicating that the person should insert their self in front of the rider in the group's back door position and one indicating that they should advance and insert their self behind the leader.

Well, thanks for all your responses everyone. The situation I cited involved just two riders on straight, boring freeway, but I was curious what your thoughts would be for this kind of encounter in general. In fact, I saw both riders kick out their left legs once or twice and hold them there for a few seconds. Perhaps this was an invitation to pass but I'm used to the left hand over the shoulder movement. And I didn't see any potholes or obvious road hazards: I had concluded they were stretching their legs but wasn't sure. One of them did the same with their right leg as well at some point.

To clarify though, I tried to keep a bit more distance behind the second rider than he was keeping behind the leader. I didn't want to presume to be too familiar.

Quote from: kininja on May 20, 2011, 09:01:52 AM
To clarify though, I tried to keep a bit more distance behind the second rider than he was keeping behind the leader. I didn't want to presume to be too familiar.

That's probably how I would have done it as well...like nik said...

Quote from: nikfleisch on May 20, 2011, 08:45:02 AM
I think it's all situational...

If the guys totally ignore you, or speed up to put a little distance between you and them...let them have their ride...if they wave you in, you can form up...but otherwise, I just leave a normal space like I would a cager and continue on my ride...as long as you are enjoying the ride and they don't seem annoyed that you are there...do what feels right...

Later.

Quote from: NickyNumbers on May 20, 2011, 03:51:44 AM

Quote from: philgs500F on May 19, 2011, 05:10:50 PM


Most experienced riders avoid riding with people they don't know.  I'm one of those experienced riders.  If you are behind me, you might run up on me, miss a braking zone, take me out.  If you are in front of me, you might slam on your brakes unexpectedly, or make a dumb move in general.  If you are talking about highway droning...which is probably the most boring and torturous riding that there is...someone "joining" out of nowhere is plain creepy.

On the backroads where things get twisty, I ride with just a couple people that I know, who are very predictable.  I could care less about people "keeping me company."  It's not like I need others to ride with, to make a ride enjoyable.

Actually, "most" experienced riders,  based on the responses in this thread, don't agree with you.



There really is no sense keeping this discussion up.   Phil, nobody wants to ride with a guy that doesn't use his rear brake anyway.  Maybe you're lack of basics on the bike make it so people think your the squid. 


Just for background here, Phil doesn't like to use his rear brake.  Says its useless.  This is the guy we are debating here people lol. 

Everyone has a different riding style.  Some prefer race shift, others standard shift.  Some stress counter steer, others swear by peg weighting.  Some swivel around the tank, others hang off....

More than one way to skin a cat, or go fast on a motorcycle.  Does it really matter how you do it?  I personally don't use the rear brake, and I do think it's useless.  Am I a professional racer?  Nope.  But I am experienced enough on the street and track, and fast enough in both locations...to know what works for me.  You I wager to guess...are not.

I'm assuming people that ride with you ask themselves one of two questions.

1-is he towing a boat anchor?
2-when did he forfeit his man card?

What now the thread is being reduced to insults?  

Gotta love the internet 

Just be helpful. shaZam!. How hard is it to figure out. Even if I were to ride with a friend (if I had one), I wouldn't ride side-by-side so we could hold hands. Cover a lane. Take turns blasting (take the risk of the ticket). If you don't like riding with me, outrun me; slow down, or wave goodbye.

Quote from: Twisted on May 20, 2011, 06:14:25 PM
What now the thread is being reduced to insults?  

Gotta love the internet 

Yessum. Everything on the internet is real.

Take me for instance. I am a semi professional motorcycle rider who does track days every 2nd weekend. I'm so good I don't use any brakes at all and stop the bike by dragging my big toe on the pavement. (I choose to use no brakes after seeing a "front brake only" riding buddy bite it several times all cause of front brake use alone - so I figure no brakes has to be better.)

But on other forums I am a 16 year old nubile hot female with epic boobies. See my profile pics...



In other forums I have a six pack to die for, can bench press 200 pounds 35 times and can run a mile under three minutes.

But in reality...



Michael

It's perfectly ok to go into formation behind a series of motorcycles. Just be curtious and respectful, like you normally are.  We are all sisters & brothers on two wheels. 

I ride in California, San Francisco Bay Area.  Out here it's not presumptuous or ill-mannered; if a given group doesn't want joiners they either outrun them or wave them by, no harm, no foul.

And especially on the freeways, most riders recognize safety in numbers and welcome others.

After all this, besides the laughter from the insults I've learnt the following.

Australia is friendly to other riders even if they don't know them.

Oh and someone doesn't understand brake balance hence a front and back brake on bikes and cars and trucks and bicycles. Planes don't as a rule but then they do have reverse thrust to use. Not sure about trains.

 I never use reverse thrust in my plane.

I can understand not using reverse thrust in your plane. It shows great skill, or that you don't have it to use.

I never used reverse thrust on the Cessnas I've flown. Did use the brakes though, both left and right brakes - cool 

Michael