Necessary lane splitting... first time

[Manxman]

Left home for work a little late this am, and got caught in Wgn rush hour traffic. At the bottom of the Gorge I notice the temp gauge is slipping up into danger zone and figure it's coz I'm start-stopping all the time. Anyway, I conclude the only way to overcome this is to keep moving at a reasonable speed, which means either using the hard shoulder or lane splitting....so lane splitting it is. First time for me, but not as bad/un nerving as I'd thought. Another one down to experience.

[ShadeeLady]

When lane splitting start with a speed limit of 40km. Also be careful when the traffic is slowing down. You will learn the places that the cars slow and excelerate, remember these places, it will help you to predict what seems to be random actions.:dodge: there are a million things to look-out for.This is enough for you to start. :innocent: Regards Richard :rockon:

[paturoa]

Left home for work a little late this am, and got caught in Wgn rush hour traffic. At the bottom of the Gorge I notice the temp gauge is slipping up into danger zone and figure it's coz I'm start-stopping all the time. Anyway, I conclude the only way to overcome this is to keep moving at a reasonable speed, which means either using the hard shoulder or lane splitting....so lane splitting it is. First time for me, but not as bad/un nerving as I'd thought. Another one down to experience.

What bike? Temp at danger zone is not a good reason to split, its a good reason to stop.

[sedge]

Watch out for loud red bikes behind you ;)

Sedge.

[Manxman]

What bike? Temp at danger zone is not a good reason to split, its a good reason to stop.

Stopping was my third option, but I had a sense that keeping moving would do the trick....it did. Had the temp kept rising for any length of time (eg next 30secs or so) I would def have stopped...:yes:

[paturoa]

Sounds like there is something wrong with your bike - what sort is it? and what does danger zone mean?

[riffer]

My bike gets superhot if I stop in the traffic too and there's nothing wrong with the cooling system. It just takes the fan a while to come on.

As for splitting, Welly traffic is used to motorcycles. Don't be scared.

Do watch your mirrors though. I find a lot of bikes get in my way.

But you don't have to worry about me for a few weeks...

Well done for your first attempt. Just remember, always be prepared to stop. And keep your escape routes open.

[Manxman]

Watch out for loud red bikes behind you ;)

Sedge.

...I did get a bit of a fright when someone flashed past before I'd noticed - was that you LOL?

[xwhatsit]

Yah, I do lane-split in a minor sort of way from time to time, but it was going to work (for the first time in how many months! Yay for engine rebuild!) today in evening rush hour traffic that I got a proper introduction. Was idling along in traffic, engine happily smoking away (tappet covers leaking, hehe), when this guy on a Kwaka adventure bike (dunno what, maybe KLE500? Looked big) went past me on the left. I stuck behind him the whole way, followed him through a maze of wing mirrors and pedestrians, learning how to do the `wing mirror dodge' and cutting square between the bumpers of two cars, nose to tail. What a lesson from Professor Lanesplit! Thank-you sir!

Yeah my bike hates stop-start as well. Being air-cooled it particularly gets the shits.

[Ixion]

You got it sorted then ?

But fix those leaks. Little leaks become bigger leaks and bigger leaks cause Problemz

Dunno why but the Soutern was REALLY bad today. I had to split all the way from Newmarket to Wiri, not once could I get into a lane. Only saving grace was that i didn't see a single cop. (Or another bike, either. Odd ).

Bear in mind that lane splitting is dangerous and of doubtful legality. Nana does not approve of lane splitting, or speeding. Or indulge in either of them . Except for medicinal purposes.

[xwhatsit]

Yep, completely dangerous and irresponsible.

Much like riding on the footpath, innit, Ixion :msn-wink:

[WarlockNZ]

Just remember one thing my friend ... LOOK ... always look.

Look at the cars around you, look at the drivers heads and see where they are looking (most cage drivers will look around before a lane change), look at the cars in front of where you are, look for indicators (yes i know, not everyone signals a lane change, but look anyway) and look ahead at every car in your line of sight.

Look for people closing the gap and for gods sake keep two fingers on the brake and be ready to stop in a second.

we don't want to lose another biker.

Remember this ... every time you split, a cage will try and kill you.

Stay alive mate ... and just so you know. .. this is what my morning run looks like every day:)

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[Manxman]

Appreciate the tips & encouragement evryone, and it's not something I plan to do on a regular basis - yet:shifty: .

Warlock - you reminded me why I get up early...to avoid those traffic queues

[klingon]

Cool vid, Warlock.

My only lane-splitting experience was following WRT along Great North Road in the afternoon rush hour one night. It was an EXCELLENT intro to lane-splitiing because I got to see what he was looking out for, and his technique at different places.

I also knew that his bike was much bigger than mine so if he could get it through those teeny-weeny gaps then I could definitely follow him. :yes:

But the best thing about following another bike is that it forces you to keep your head up and looking ahead instead of making the newbie mistake of looking down. When I was following WRT, by looking at him it meant I was looking at the gaps between the cars, not at the cars.

So yeah, waiting for another bike to go by and hooking up behind it seems like a really good technique for a newbie like me. But remember, it freaks them out when they pull into their garage at home and you're still on their tail. :mellow:

[YLWDUC]

When lane splitting start with a speed limit of 40km. Also be careful when the traffic is slowing down. You will learn the places that the cars slow and excelerate, :rockon:

Good advice from Shovel/Shadee :).

After a year of riding around palmy as a 'No Splitter' one day in auckland traffic was enough to convince me to give it a go. And yes, I did get tooted a few times by bikes behind me. My 2 cents: If a cage obviously moves out of your way, to give you more room, a little thankyou wave goes a long way. They'll probably do it more often in the future.
And if I do get pulled over by the BMW Bacon Patrol, my defence will have to go something like this:
"Officer, If I wanted to spend two hours of my life on this shitty road going nowhere, I would have driven my car......Now are you gonna give me the ticket?"

[$CENSLS1$]

I'm in the same boat as you mate, have just started doing it and have found that it's infact not as hard as it look and it certainly gets you through traffic a lot quicker!I've just been waiting for experienced guys to come through and then just follow them and watch what they do and where, seems to be the easiest way :yes:

[Swoop]

(most cage drivers will look around before a lane change)
Sorry, but wrong!
Cagers will possibly move their head, but actually "look" is a different thing altogether.

for gods sake keep two fingers on the brake and be ready to stop in a second
Four fingers is better than two. Also, cover the rear brake as well.

(we don't want to lose another biker.
Damn right on that one!!!

[Steam]

I never used to Lane Split until they opened that STUPID new inner city bypass in Wellington, now there's no alternative but to split, it would take ages to get anywhere otherwise. It's good that the lanes are quite wide, leaves lots of room for us.

[Fub@r]

I started splitting by following other bikes. If you do follow other bikes don't try to keep up with them if you are not comfortable with the speed. If they got too quick I would duck back in to the lane as I wasn't confident enough at the time to do it on my own.

Use more caution when passing trucks seeing they fill their lane way more than a car does, and when you get the typical Auckland cager they seem to gravitate towards the truck as you are going through at times.

When splitting always treat it as though the cagers don't know your there, 9/10 times they don't as they are doing their makeup, talking on cells, or reading the paper.

If you are splitting between a moving lane and a near stationary one watch out for the lane changers who never indicate to grab a gap.

Before starting your lanesplit make sure there are no bikes splitting up fast behind you.

For me when I split I have my right hand indicator going, when I stop splitting I turn it off. This is trying to signal what I'm doing if there are other bikes behind me. usually if a faster bike comes up behind and I can do so safetly I will jump in to the lane turn off my indicator and let them through. Last thing you want is a bike vs bike when lane splitting

Just keep doing it at your own pace and as you get more experienced your skills and wits will develop.

[Gremlin]

know your bike, know its width, mirror heights etc. Know how to handle the bike while locked up, when a cager darted out in front of you. You will be tested.

I find its good to have the brights on, revs up a bit if your pipe is loud. Don't assume this will help, but if it helps just once, its worth it. Once you have done it a while... you will be surprised how few cars will actually see you, before you pass them.

Learn the laws on splitting (plenty of threads on it), a $150 fine applies if you do it wrong. I find I have had less potential incidents when splitting, than sitting in traffic. I still remember a time long ago, when I heard a screech, moved to the left of the fast lane, and a car pulled up on my right. :mellow:

[oldguy]

[QUOTE=WarlockNZ;950038]

Stay alive mate ... and just so you know. .. this is what my morning run looks like every day:)

Cool vid mate. sorry of topic, the music who is it, love that.

[crazybigal]

Try a blackbird! they overheat at the lights!
just make sure your ready to stop, some of those fuckers are out to get us!
Went for a ride with the mrs into town this morning and some silly bitch moved into my lane nearly hitting me! hello bitch!!!! cant you see the fuckn big black bike next to you! she was in auto pilot!!
The the other day i came down from Newtown in 5pm traffic, bumper to bumper at a stand still, so down by the hospital i decide to ride down the middle of the road on the xxx lines and right turn lanes ( you cant use any of them as the construction of the new hospital building has blocked all those entry points off) so i think sweet, none of these car are going to turn right in front of me, Wrong!! silly bitch in a kiddy mover decides she has had enough of sitting in the traffic and does a U turn in front of me without indicating! lucky for me i was watching and on the anchors! near miss!!
So take care out there dude! those cages want blood!!!!

[_intense_]

technicaly legal: you may pass a vehical on the left as long as it is stationary. be careful tho bud. can turn messy.