bad idea

don't do it.

 

Unless you're sleeping with them - just say no....

 

I wouldnt mind if you fall in behind me. If I get behind you, I'll be far enough away to not be intrusive. I don't ride parallel and I would never pull up parallel to someone I didn't know at a light. I've been waved up close plenty of times, like an invitation to fall in, but I'll keep my polite distance. If I'm riding with you, I stay fairly close. Side by side at a light is fine but first up is first to take off. Never in tandem.

 

... and if that rider needs to swerve you're going to do what?

 

Never side by side. Too dangerous, one guy swerves to avoid hitting a bit of road debris or a pot hole, or a car that's slipping over the center line, and boom... both riders down.

I always assume the left lane position if someone rides up behind me. I don't mind if someone rides staggered with me. If I pull up on someone else, I always ride second on the right side. The guys that know what I'm doing often will follow suit. If they don't, no biggie.

I like to be by other motorcyclists, it helps cars see us. We're safer together. If I see one on the same route as me, I will make an effort to be by them. But I'm never trusting them, I make sure I have enough room should they do something drastic or sudden.

If it's a group, like more than 2 guys, I'll keep my distance.

 

I don't ride side by side with anyone going down the road, alway staggered and back a bit on the road.. I will pull up at stop lights to have a quick talk..

 

If I end up riding the same route as another guy and he has acknowledged me positively I will usually pull up to him at a light or have him pull up to me and say hello, what year is your bike, etc. always good to have a friend on the road. But let the other guy take the lead once the light lets you start rolling again as a courtesy.

 

Riding to one side of the other is a strategic decision, not an invitation. For example, when passing a car, I ride to the right of the lane to stay in the most visible area of their mirrors, then before I get next to them, I switch to the left side to give me room to react in case they didn't see me (or they just hate motorcycles).

I would never share a lane with someone, legal or not. Too many things can go wrong quickly. If they are staying to one side, I might get closer than I would otherwise, perhaps a 2 second gap. The closest I come is to come up back wheel to front wheel, in the opposite side of the lane, but even then, only if I know the other rider and have confidence in his or her skills.

At stops, I might pull up next to them, if I know them or feel like I'm being invited (by more than just lane position).