Equipment
Required Equipment
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A Motorcycle. Most of our members ride Honda Gold Wings, Valkyries, or BMWs but any make
and model is welcome. Your bike must be mechanically fit and have a quiet exhaust system. Water cooled is probably
better than air cooled because of the amount of slow riding we do in hot weather. Trikes are acceptable but may be
restricted at some events due to their width and reduced maneuverability.
Some events use SAG (Safety And Gear) vehicles to transport cyclists who are tired, injured, or have mechanical problems. SAG volunteers should have a vehicle large enough to carry at least two passengers and their bicycles (we can usually arrange to borrow trunk-mount or hitch-mount bicycle racks from local bicycle shops).
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License & Liability Insurance. It should seem obvious but in these days of
law suits over increasingly silly causes of action, we have to check that you have a valid motorcycle endorsement
on your driver's license and proper liability insurance coverage.
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A Helmet. All riders must wear a helmet at all times while patrolling an event.
Regardless of the laws of the State, there will be no exceptions – if you don't wear a helmet then you don't ride with us.
The bicycle riders must wear helmets and we should do the same. After all, we are promoting safety!
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Cell Phone.There will be times when a cyclist will require medical attention or will be unable to continue and
need a ride. A cell phone is the fastest way to contact emergency services and/or the ride organizers for assistance.
Optional Equipment
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A CB Radio. Much of what we do requires communication with other motorcycles and
safety vehicles. Your CB radio doesn't have to be built-in on the bike like on a Gold Wing – a handheld unit will serve
the purpose almost as well. You can get a handheld CB at J.C. Whitney for around $50.
We use various channels depending on local radio traffic so the single-channel models are not recommended. We usually have
a handheld radio available that we can lend to first-time riders but returning riders should be prepared to provide their own equipment.
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Flashing Lights. Many of our members have mounted various types of amber flashing
lights on their bikes to warn drivers of slow moving vehicles. These range from the revolving warning lights (available
at your local auto parts store for around $20) to professional strobe lights ($40 and up) or "police-type" strobe bulbs
mounted behind the turn signal lenses ($160 and up for 4 bulbs and a power supply). You can use your bike's hazard flashers
but we have found that they run down the battery on most bikes when used for an extended period.
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First Aid Kit. Although we will provide you with a small quantity of first aid
supplies, you may want to carry a more comprehensive first aid kit on your motorcycle – even when not patrolling a ride.
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Tire Pump. The majority of bicyclists will have a tire pump with them but it never
hurts to be prepared. You may even want to carry one of those 12-volt electric pumps that run on battery or plug into a cigarette lighter.
On GL1500 Gold Wings, you could get an extension hose for the on-board compressor. We will supply tire patch kits and valve
adapters to fit those really narrow tires that many of the cyclists ride.
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Shirt. We have become well known in the cycling community and are recognized by the
SERF logo shirts we wear. Our shirts are white with a large SERF logo on the back as well as a small logo and name
on the front. We can provide shirts at our cost in short or long sleeve t-shirt or short sleeve golf shirt. If you
prefer your own shirt, please wear a plain white one to help distinguish us from other motorcyclists.