187 replies to this topic

[Orangetj]

I'm thinking a dual sport (i.e. street legal dirtbike) would be the ultimate lane splitting motorcycle - high riding position to see what's happening in traffic, extremely narrow, metal reinforced handguards to protect hands from wayward mirrors, maneuverability and last but not least......the ability to just ride that sucker right over the car in front of you if somebody gets out of line!

Seriously, though. I lane split when I judge it to be safe to do so (typically in bumper to bumper traffic moving a 15mph or less. I never ride more than about 5 mph faster than traffic in those circumstances. I feel safer, truth be told. I have a Harley and if I do find myself at the front of the line at a stop light after lane splitting, I accelerate away quickly enough that I am no impediment to traffic. figure I'm doing the cagers a favor by doing my little part to reduce traffic congestion.

It's funny to me to hear people gripe about lane sharers on motorcycles, considering that most people in cars do it as well, but they just don't think about it. Example - driver wanting to turn right at an upcoming intersection who is stuck 5 or 6 cars back from the light. If traffic is stopped and there is sufficient room to the right of the line of traffic, MANY drivers squeeze between the curb and the line of traffic to make it to the intersection to turn right. Not much difference, IMO.

[chris v]

I'm thinking a dual sport (i.e. street legal dirtbike) would be the ultimate lane splitting motorcycle - high riding position to see what's happening in traffic, extremely narrow, metal reinforced handguards to protect hands from wayward mirrors, maneuverability and last but not least......the ability to just ride that sucker right over the car in front of you if somebody gets out of line!

It is the ultimate everything motorcycle. Tons of fun.

[Darth Lefty]

I'm thinking it depends on the model. Those BMW boxers are huge.

[doj_gal]

If lane splitting was illegal there would be law against it! I will look in the Vehical Code book tomorrow and see if it mentions anything.

I move over...I couldn't careless if that motorcycle gets to go in front of me...I just hate when they do unsafe stuff like trying to force in when there is no room. I notice a lot of motorcycle riders are jerks. I give them space and lots of it but they try to go around you and force room when there is not. If I have to step on my breaks, better yet slam on my breaks, for you then there wasn't enough room...I just wish all motorcycle people would ride like my Dad. He has never been in an accident or caused another one and has ridden his motorcycle to and from work for many years.

I was so mad the other night at the JERK who works in the same building as me and rides his motorcycle. He always rides the bumper of my car down Broadway where the speed limit is 30, which is the speed I drive on that rode, because the CHP station is right down the street and they are constantly driving up and down that rode. So I usually get over and let that jerk by and he takes off driving 50+ down that residental street. Well the other night he wasn't riding me so I thought maybe he would like to adhere to the laws...Well not really...I start to Merge on the 50 Freeway at 65th and the Jerk decides he's gonna scare the s--- out of me and pass me when we are merging on the freeway by passing me on ther right side where there is no lane. I was trying to pay attention to merging and the people in the other lanes merging right trying to get off the freeway and ther jerk merges to the right in the most unsafe time he could. I just cannot wait until the day I see him plowed over by a Semi...I really don't feel bad for thinking that way because he constanly drives that way every night and he not only is endangering his life but others.

I am really thinking of writting a note on his bike or finding out who he is and confronting him but I think that would be bad at work. What would you do?

[dimeracer]

If lane splitting was illegal there would be law against it!

Isn't that the same thing?

[Bill Z]

If lane splitting was illegal there would be law against it! I will look in the Vehical Code book tomorrow and see if it mentions anything.

Good luck, I tried finding where it was authorized and I found a bunch of links stating it's not in there. I think it used to be in the CA MC Handbook, but it's been removed and they actually kind of discourage it now. But the CHP website FAQ's specifically say it is permissible. See my post on page 4, post#58, this thread.

[SunshineServices]

Here's a question for all you motorcycle riders out there. As it seems you have no problem sharing my lane with me when I am at the front of the line, how would you feel if I pulled up alongside YOU at the light? Just wondering.

jeff

PS I rode for 20+ years.

[Orangetj]

If there were plenty of room for you to pull up beside me at a light, I'd have no problem with it. People actually do it all the time, but it generally happens that they are planning to turn right at the intersection.

[Bill Z]

Here's a question for all you motorcycle riders out there. As it seems you have no problem sharing my lane with me when I am at the front of the line, how would you feel if I pulled up alongside YOU at the light? Just wondering.

jeff

PS I rode for 20+ years.

as long as you are along side of me and not on top of me, not a problem.

[Orangetj]

I notice a lot of motorcycle riders are jerks.

A lot of PEOPLE are jerks, regardless of whether they ride a motorcycle or drive a car. Motorcyclists can't all be lumped together, just as all drivers can't be lumped together.

[SunshineServices]

If there were plenty of room for you to pull up beside me at a light, I'd have no problem with it. People actually do it all the time, but it generally happens that they are planning to turn right at the intersection.

Well then technically they are not in YOUR lane, and are not going to race you for the right to BE in the lane.

[Orangetj]

I'm thinking it depends on the model. Those BMW boxers are huge.

Well...I wouldn't really consider those to be true dualsports. I actually owned a BMW boxer (R1150R) for several years and never found it to be difficult to lane-split with. The truth is that the cylinders don't stick out much further than your knees or feet would anyway. The upside is that you feet and calves are nicely protected by the jutting cylinders!

[SunshineServices]

as long as you are along side of me and not on top of me, not a problem.

Anybody crazy enough to try this and note the motorcyclists reaction? I bet it won't be 'Not a problem'

I think if EVERYONE was a little more considerate on the road it would make life way more pleasant.

I drive a trailer and a whole lot of people love to cut me off or not let me merge, or not understand that I need a few more feet to stop, and the extra room I leave in front of me TO stop is not the space for you to cut into.

Let's hear from the trailer and truck drivers out there!

[Bill Z]

I notice a lot of motorcycle riders are jerks.

That's funny, I notice a lot of young dipsh_t girls are idiots that can't drive and talk on the phone at the same time. I always give them a wide berth as well so they don't turn into me. I also put construction foreman in the same category, I almost was run over by the guy that was contracted to landscape my side yard while he was driving and on the phone. I was glad when he was done with my yard, because I haven't seen him driving in my neighborhood since.

[SunshineServices]

That's funny, I notice a lot of young dipsh_t girls are idiots that can't drive and talk on the phone at the same time. I always give them a wide berth as well so they don't turn into me. I also put construction foreman in the same category, I almost was run over by the guy that was contracted to landscape my side yard while he was driving and on the phone. I was glad when he was done with my yard, because I haven't seen him driving in my neighborhood since.

Hey Bill,

It wasn't a guy in big yellow Truck and Trailer was it?? :-)

jeff