187 replies to this topic

[Dave Burrell]

That F800GS is sweet, but I'm not sure I'd call it a "dirt bike". I know, I know...there are people who ride these things in crazy places. I bet it would be a blast on fire roads and reasonably well graded dirt/gravel roads!

How much do one of those bikes go for? they'd be great for riding the fire trails near tahoe and around here and then also being able to ride back home down hwy 50

[Darth Lefty]

Looks like $10k-11k depending on options. Might be a hard sell sitting next to a DL1000...

Best writeup I have found

It looks like they flattened out the torque curve quite a lot. I want that engine in the S version!

[chris v]

Look at those specs..... you guys are making me drool....

[Andrea V]

Look at those specs..... you guys are making me drool....

[Darth Lefty]

My dad bought a CJ-5 when Mom was pregnant with me. The last toy that was "his". Let Chris have his motos!

[Andrea V]

My dad bought a CJ-5 when Mom was pregnant with me. The last toy that was "his". Let Chris have his motos!

He has PLENTY of motos! Hell I have 2 myself.... I think we have enough for now!

No more till the ones we have are paid off.... hmmm but that will be this year, maybe I should tell you to wait a bit MORE then just the end of this year!

[chris v]

He has PLENTY of motos! Hell I have 2 myself.... I think we have enough for now!

No more till the ones we have are paid off.... hmmm but that will be this year, maybe I should tell you to wait a bit MORE then just the end of this year!

Nope, you already said it. Did I ever mention I want to try supermoto racing?

[Orangetj]

Husqvarna SM610?

[Andrea V]

Nope, you already said it. Did I ever mention I want to try supermoto racing?

about every 2 days!

[headshrink]

Interesting that I found this old thread because I just logged on to post on this very topic. However, I'm bitching for the motorcyclists (been in the shoes of both sides).

Interestingly enough, I notice when I drive around town (in the larger Sacramento sense), I notice the driving habits and personalties tend to change a little bit through different cities. Folsom seems to me to have relatively courteous drivers.... mind you I said "relatively", but I find this isn't necessarily the case (of cars attitudes) when it comes to motorcycles splitting lanes. Folsom is literally the ONLY city in the Sacramento area where I have had encounters with angry (entitled) drivers.... and consistently. I ride a small and quiet bike, so lets not rehash that scary surprise noise argument... but I am starting to wonder if drivers in Folsom don't know it is legal. Keep in mind the only splitting I do is when traffic is stopped (lights), and I have literally been yelled at and intimidated (well they tried).

Today a big black Cadillac SUV started creeping up on me when I pulled up to the line on Oak Ave. Pkwy..... like it was pissed I took its position (it sounds subjective in print, but you should have seen it). I didn't get a clear look, but I think it was a female driver, which actually surprised me since men usually get bigger egos behind the wheel. Trust me, I'm not going to slow it down a single second. Motorcycles intentionally take off a little faster after splitting just to get out of the way and so there is no question who is in whose lane (I don't think I am only speaking for myself).

Oh well, there is my rant.... Well actually my question was going to be, "Do people know lane splitting is legal?" but since I found this thread, I guess most do.

As a technical side note: although everyone in this thread (including myself) is talking about lane-splitting in CA being legal, it actually isn't "legal." It just isn't "illegal." The criteria for doing so "legally" is actually quite subjective..... if anyone cared, you can do a search on any major motorcycle forum for more on that, but I digress.

EDIT: Most of this thread has focused on motorcyclists being irresponsible, which I won't argue, some are, but lets not forget, that to ride a motorcycle, you have to be CONSTANTLY, and I mean CONSTANTLY watching for the other guys. We are constantly cut off and do get to see a different side of auto drivers. It is true what they say about ridding like you are invisible, a lot of the time a car can just move right into your lane (maybe they are just "lane-splitting", lol), motorcycle will take evasive action, and car will still be oblivious. We just don't make big deals about it because we expect it.

[FolsomResident2002]

I didn't know it was legal until I took the MC class and started riding myself.

Interesting that I found this old thread because I just logged on to post on this very topic. However, I'm bitching for the motorcyclists (been in the shoes of both sides).

Interestingly enough, I notice when I drive around town (in the larger Sacramento sense), I notice the driving habits and personalties tend to change a little bit through different cities. Folsom seems to me to have relatively courteous drivers.... mind you I said "relatively", but I find this isn't necessarily the case (of cars attitudes) when it comes to motorcycles splitting lanes. Folsom is literally the ONLY city in the Sacramento area where I have had encounters with angry (entitled) drivers.... and consistently. I ride a small and quiet bike, so lets not rehash that scary surprise noise argument... but I am starting to wonder if drivers in Folsom don't know it is legal. Keep in mind the only splitting I do is when traffic is stopped (lights), and I have literally been yelled at and intimidated (well they tried).

Today a big black Cadillac SUV started creeping up on me when I pulled up to the line on Oak Ave. Pkwy..... like it was pissed I took its position (it sounds subjective in print, but you should have seen it). I didn't get a clear look, but I think it was a female driver, which actually surprised me since men usually get bigger egos behind the wheel. Trust me, I'm not going to slow it down a single second. Motorcycles intentionally take off a little faster after splitting just to get out of the way and so there is no question who is in whose lane (I don't think I am only speaking for myself).

Oh well, there is my rant.... Well actually my question was going to be, "Do people know lane splitting is legal?" but since I found this thread, I guess most do.

As a technical side note: although everyone in this thread (including myself) is talking about lane-splitting in CA being legal, it actually isn't "legal." It just isn't "illegal." The criteria for doing so "legally" is actually quite subjective..... if anyone cared, you can do a search on any major motorcycle forum for more on that, but I digress.

EDIT: Most of this thread has focused on motorcyclists being irresponsible, which I won't argue, some are, but lets not forget, that to ride a motorcycle, you have to be CONSTANTLY, and I mean CONSTANTLY watching for the other guys. We are constantly cut off and do get to see a different side of auto drivers. It is true what they say about ridding like you are invisible, a lot of the time a car can just move right into your lane (maybe they are just "lane-splitting", lol), motorcycle will take evasive action, and car will still be oblivious. We just don't make big deals about it because we expect it.

[Bill Z]

Trust me, I'm not going to slow it down a single second. Motorcycles intentionally take off a little faster after splitting just to get out of the way and so there is no question who is in whose lane (I don't think I am only speaking for myself).

I recently became bikeless after 30 years of riding, but I for one after splitting lanes the way you do, always left the intersection rapidly as well thereby not causing anyone in cars to go slower than they normally would. I do however have a pet peeve with some Harley riders that split lanes and get in front of me at red lights while I'm in my sports car. They don't take off faster than i normally do and thereby slow me down. If you are going to split lanes to get to the front of the pack at a redlight, make sure you get out of the way of those you just passed taking your short-cut. If you see a two seater sports car, realize a motorcycle rider might be the driver that plans on getting to the speed limit ASAP when the light turns green.

[Twize]

I currently still ride a bike, but no longer split lanes at stoplight/Intersection. I recently had a close call when I saw a car (in cross traffic) run a red light, good thing I was able to see the rooftop of this car moving (behind the other stopped cars); Even though I already left the line on my green light, I was able to brake in time and avoid collision. That person didn't even acknowledge what they did and kept looking straight.

I pulled to the side, checked my undies....Whew! Too close of a call.

I still however split lanes only when traffic is at a stop/crawl on the highways.

[dimeracer]

I recently became bikeless after 30 years of riding, but I for one after splitting lanes the way you do, always left the intersection rapidly as well thereby not causing anyone in cars to go slower than they normally would. I do however have a pet peeve with some Harley riders that split lanes and get in front of me at red lights while I'm in my sports car. They don't take off faster than i normally do and thereby slow me down. If you are going to split lanes to get to the front of the pack at a redlight, make sure you get out of the way of those you just passed taking your short-cut. If you see a two seater sports car, realize a motorcycle rider might be the driver that plans on getting to the speed limit ASAP when the light turns green.

I had some guy on a Harley and dressed up like a badass come up between lanes and get in front of me. When the light turned green, rather than take off fast like most lane splitters do, he took off slowly and I could see him looking in his mirror at me I guess to see if I was going to tailgate him. What an A$$.

[Dave Burrell]

hey now, come on you know Cadillac drivers are special people, especially the ones in Escalade SUV's

I think being able to split lanes is a great benefit of riding motorcycles - but its got to be done right

the #1 unwritten rule is if you ride up to the front of the line, you better jump off that line when the light turns green and not impede any traffic behind you that you just rode up to the front to pass - it'd be stupid and assanine to do otherwise and go slowly... only a complete idiot rider would not take off when the light turns green.

Personally I only split lanes when traffic is stopped