crabio, you have nothing to learn.
A motorcyclist should always ride in the left portion of a lane.
This does 2 things.

1. It gives the rider the most visibility of traffic ahead (and also being seen), and

2. It allows a larger "cushion" as you're passing parked cars (either parallel or diagonal.)

Never "side-by-side" (except at a redlight, fully stopped), as that leaves no chance for an evasive maneuver.

This we teach in "Formation 101" at the local HD dealership. Wish it was available industry wide. There are many other tenants also.

I wish we could teach this in the BRC in the classroom, at least. (Gotta stick to a curriculum. (In my very first class, it was motorcycle drag racing launching, believe it or not!))

Stagger 2 seconds following distance behind the bike in front of you, 1 second following to the bike that's diagonal to you. It makes for a safer ride.

 

Agreed. Once I even had a Gold Wing pass me on the right (in my own lane) on a residential street in front of a school (20 mph) zone.
Scared the hell out of me because the GW was so quiet and you don't expect a retard move like that under those circumstances.
I wanted to stab him

 

Be careful stifling your desires like that. That could lead to all sorts of long term health issues. Just do it!

 

The typical road lane has 3 lanes for motorcycles: left, middle, and right. There is no need or obligation on yours, or anyone's part to ride in any one of them. I prefer to ride in the middle most of the time, but I routinely swing from one side to the other depending on road conditions and particularly in the twisties. You are entitled to use the whole lane, just like any other motorized vehicle on the road.

Riding staggered is a technique to make more efficient use of space, not to make it easier to be seen. Riding staggered makes it possible to get more bikes in the same space while not giving up braking distance. In groups, it is a way to keep everyone together, but in my opinion is not very safe and for novice riders, it can be very difficult to maintain the formation. Experienced riders can even get away with riding side-by-side, but is illegal in some states and for good reason: it limits the rider's ability to make emergency maneuvers. I automatically swing to the opposite side of the lane of a slower rider in front of me to avoid "tailgating", giving me ample room to brake, while also giving myself a chance to safely pass when the opportunity comes.

You are under no obligation to move to the right. It would be courteous however. If a faster bike comes up from behind you, especially in the twisties, it is just polite to give them room to pass you on the left, safely, without having to leave the lane. On the freeway, while in the car pool lane, I routinely ride the left lane to stay far away from the cagers. When a faster rider comes up from behind, I will wave them to pass me on the right, which also the polite thing to do. Moving over to the right is implied permission to pass on their left in the same lane, a wave is still appreciate though to remove all uncertainty.

 

I guess it's about a one second following the diagonal in front of me but I like to see the riders face in his mirror. That way I know he can see me.

 

Exception for motors, they will always ride side by side in the #1 lane.

 

I pretty much follow the Op train of thought. The Only Exception would be is if I'm in a heavily congested City. Then if I'm following a bike that appears to be a local I will follow in there tire tracks. They tend to know where the potholes and the bumps and where to avoid are

 

I would agree, potholes would normally be found in the wheel tracks but riding in the center "oil track" presents other hazards.

 

yeah you are weird. I wouldn't over think it.

 

A more experienced rider than I am once told me that he stays in the right tire track on two lane roads. His reason being is that a vehicle coming towards you might have another vehicle close behind them wanting to pass. If the vehicle behind tries to pass the vehicle in front, you're likely to be seen sooner by the passing vehicle if you're in the right tire track. I had never thought of that since I almost always ride in the left tire track. I thought it made a lot of sense.

As far as a rider directly behind me in the same tire track, I always switch to the opposite tire track.