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Ride to Live-Safety First Click on
the link below to open and read our new Group Riding Manual.
H.O.G. Chapter 1796 Group Riding Manual
As a member of the Harley Owners Group®, safe riding is a top priority. The open road we love
to ride will never be completely safe. However, by taking safety seriously, you can be better prepared for what may
lie just around the next corner. Use the information on this page to help manage the risk involved in riding a motorcycle.
Remember, planning for a safe trip is the first step to enjoying your ride to the fullest.
Safety Article of the Month
By Russ Linstrom, Safety Officer
The Skilled Rider Course (SRC) at Harley-Davidson
of Ocala has already filled up! For those that were not able to make it into this class, I am working on another date
for early November for a second class. If I can get another 12 participants, the cost will be $75.00 and upon successful completion
you will be eligible for a $50.00 certificate from H.O.G. In addition, you will be entitled to a 10% discount on your motorcycle
insurance. This is a great way to brush up or improve your riding skills. SPACING: Due
to the nature of the Crystal River H.O.G. Chapter, the thing we do the most is RIDE!! We may be a small Chapter but
we sure do accumulate the miles and we do this as a group. What is a group? Anything more than one, becomes a group and our
riding must reflect this. Riding in a group environment takes extra effort, maintaining the integrity
of the group by proper spacing, being fully aware of those around you and your position within the group. The Motorcycle
Safety Foundation as well as Harley Davidson in their Rider's Edge Program recommends a minimum following distance of two
(2) seconds. This is under ideal conditions, and the two seconds is behind the bike directly in front of you. This means
one second behind the bike to your left or right. By keeping this as a minimum distance, a rider has the ability to
move left or right to avoid potential hazards without impacting the rider behind him or her. Obviously, in less than
ideal conditions such as rain, etc., the distance should be more. This two-second rule will automatically adjust as
speed increases or decreases. Keeping the proper distance will keep the group together and discourages
other motorists from breaking into the group. When an individual starts leaving too much space, it is an invitation
for other motorists to "join" in. This may not be as much of a problem on a highway, but in heavier traffic it can
break the group especially at traffic lights and intersections. There will be times when we go from our
standard staggered riding formation to single file due to narrow roads, sharper corners, on and off ramps. At these times
the following distance should increase to allow a good "space cushion" and upon return to staggered formation, back
to our two-second minimum. There is a short video on "Group Riding" by the MSF at http://www.msf-usa.org/ Check it out!! Don't forget to arrive with a full tank of gas and an empty bladder and "Don't forget
to enjoy the ride!" Ride safe!! Russ Linstrom
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Crystal River Chapter Crystal River Florida H.O.G. #1796 This is a Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.®) Certified Web Site!
Live to Ride, Ride to Live
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permission from their respective owners. Harley-Davidson, Harley Owners Group, H.O.G®. and Ladies of Harley are registered
trademarks of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Copyright © 2006-2010 Crystal
River Florida Harley Owners Group Chapter 1796, Joey Bennett, Webmaster/Newsletter Editor and Publisher.
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