View Full Version : Cage queue passing - Experiences & protocols?
I have only felt envious of bikers slipping past me on their way to the front, while I'm stuck in the cage queue, but I guess this is not necessarily the sentiments of 'other' drivers.
What's the protocol - yes I know, queue up behind the last cage - or experiences of some of you more experienced riders? Is it OK to trundle past to the front? have you had any bad experiences? ...
Kflasher
8th May 2007, 07:17
Hey dude, yes you would be jealous watching us all go by…
But anyways, I tend to sit in between the outer two lanes, right indicator on and sitting around 40-45kph. Once traffic gets to that speed I slip back into the flow.
Now this was explained to me by a fellow biker (cop) and I follow it I have had no issues in passing patrol cars and the like.
Only issues I have had was spitting and the occasional closing in, but I can put that down to frustrated cagers that have not seen the light yet, watch for cagers changing lanes with no indication (you can pick up head movements juat before they swerve).
If you don't do anything stupid you will be left alone...my 2 cents
Ahhh, now I get it. i thought you were talking about the open road, but now I figure you're asking about what is known as "lane splitting"?
There's a lot of accidents on KB as a result of lane splitting. Just as kflasher saiys, there's heaps of drivers simply don't look or see you because you're not where they expect a vehicle to be. And they are right - that's not where you're supposed to be ..... BUT.
Everyone, including the cops, are tolerant of lane splitters if it is done carefully and considerately. Personally if the traffic is getting up to 35kmh then I merge back into the lane because at those speeds drivers start ducking and diving between lanes. They're all hyped up and desperate to get into the "fastest" lane.
I also only lane split at about 40kmh max, usually about 30kmh only. It's just that I have an aversion to pain and suffering ... and I like my bike and don't want to have to fix it.
Going into Wellington I have seen crazy bastards split lanes at 70kmh between stationary queues down the motorway, that's just bloody stupid and what really pisses me off is that they make drivers angry at motorbikes. That means one day, when I am pootling betweeen lanes one of them might just think f*ck it and pull into my path "just to teach the bastards a lesson"
[/rant] :)
DougieNZ
8th May 2007, 08:17
Yes agreed. heard the other day from a guy who collided with a car while lane splitting. The car changed lanes in front of him. he seemed to think that he had a good case. I think less so. I wouyld say thast in such circumstances you would have little chance of not being found at fault insurance wise... Would be interested to hear opinions on this though.
I've almost hit a lanesplitter with my cage before, and I don't think it was my fault at all. I was going along a stretch of 2 lane highway around a relitively tight corner side by side with another car doing about 65kph, and this idiot on a white cruiser shoots between us - no lights, no gear and no brains. If you're going to split make sure you do your best to let people in front know about it and don't do it on an overtly retarded place like that.
Delphinus
8th May 2007, 08:32
Are we talking about lane splitting or hitting a queue of cars 20 vehicles long behind a stock truck/campervan?
As the few km's of "motorway" Otago has never gets slow enough to have to split... but there are often large queues out on the open road...
Freebird
8th May 2007, 08:36
Only one tip when things get backed up headlight on full :rockon:
Make sure your seen or at least give yourself as much chance as possible
ruphus
8th May 2007, 09:13
My sister in law got hit but a lane splitter a few years back. I do remember that she was heading to the doctors as my nephew wasn't feeling that well. :sick:
Anyway, she was in the left hand lane of a double lane heading towards a set of lights and the traffic was backed up a bit, the enterence to the doctors car park was just before the lights, as she turned into the driveway, a motorcylist hit her just by the lefthand front wheel :gob: and went up and over the bonnet. Everyone was alright but both vehicles were written off. I remember the police charging the motorcylist for dangerous driving as he "created his own lane" when he wasn't suposed to. :nono:
I lane-split at approximately 30kph in 2nd gear. Two fingers over the clutch & two fingers over the front brake (different hands though, obviously). I make it a point to thank the cars that get out of the way. I try not to dispense the "Finger" more than is absolutely required. I now take perverse joy in letting the nobbers overtake me doing 120kph+, then gently saunter pass them when they get snarled up in traffic.
I have also noticed that when the road gets clearer, some turds scoot by at 120+ only to turn off at the slip road 50 metres in front of you. That used to piss me off greatly, but now I understand that these "Boy-Racer-Egos" must feel awfully frustrated sitting in a queue for over 1 hour, so I let it pass.
bobsmith
8th May 2007, 09:36
Exploit every advantage you have over cars. Then just maybe, maybe some of them will see the way and get bikes and the traffic problem won't be so bad.
.........Is it OK to trundle past to the front?.... ...
OK? It's our god given right.
If I'm going to sit in the queue with the cagers then I may as well take my cage.
As always, you pays your money - you takes your chances.
Deviant Esq
8th May 2007, 09:47
Personally if the traffic is getting up to 35kmh then I merge back into the lane because at those speeds drivers start ducking and diving between lanes. They're all hyped up and desperate to get into the "fastest" lane.
I also only lane split at about 40kmh max, usually about 30kmh only. It's just that I have an aversion to pain and suffering ... and I like my bike and don't want to have to fix it.
Pretty much exactly how you should lanesplit, IMO. Generally Christchurch traffic isn't too bad anyway, so I tend to only lanesplit when the traffic drops under 30km/h or when it's stopped in a queue. Best way in my opinion is to never be going any more than about 20km/h faster than the traffic, unless it's stopped, and don't rev your bike stupidly. Loud noises surprise cagers, they get all cranky and don't know how to deal with it, so I try to keep the bike quiet by splitting smoothly in a gear... the bike is loud enough anyway.
Only one tip when things get backed up headlight on full :rockon:
Not such a good idea. Headlight on high beam might let you be seen a teensy bit earlier or easier, but it really pisses cagers off too because they get blinded. Hell, it annoys me when I'm on the bike and a biker goes past the other way with his light on high beam. I figure if it blinds me on the bike, it's definitely going to blind people in a car, I'm sitting higher than them.
Reckless
8th May 2007, 09:56
Jeepers I see only some of you live in Auckland (me only 10 years rest in good ol Wgtn).
But back to the point:
Reason 1: You ride a bike here so you can lane split! Go to the front of the queue! Get through the traffic when its jambed up! Its a way of life here!:bye:
Reason 2: So you can get the Ferk outa the traffic in the weekend and away on a good ride.:scooter:
You guys outa this town have no idea how we live around the constant traffic woes! This would be the most fucked up city where traffic is concerned. 40 years of procrastination by the beaurocrats means Auckland has no public transport infrastructure and the motorway system will never ever catch up. And to top it all off they wanna tax us extra, when our taxs over the last 40 years have gone into the general coffers for eveyone else.
I know! I know! move out if ya don't like it! ye would love to, back to wgtn or even down south. But you know kids at school, lotsa friends etc etc.
And I agree with all your points on speed etc during lane splitting. Its just a shit when you get 2 4wd's too close together to get through
Sorry to rant! but lane splitting is a must!
Are we talking about lane splitting or hitting a queue of cars 20 vehicles long behind a stock truck/campervan?
This is all great stuff guys n gals ... thanks - I was thinking of queues at traffic lights, road works ... we have 'suffered' the Nevis Bluff closure here in Otago for several years - open for 10 minutes or so on the hour - 3>4 kM queues building up in the height of the tourist season. Most bikers work their way to pole position.
I'll never sit in traffic if I don't have to so I get as close to the front of any queue as I can although I'll normally stop behind the 1st cars at lights. That way I don't encourage them to a drag.
I pass when and where I can on motorways and hiways but I endeavour to read the 'body language' of the other drivers/riders. ie you can spot an erratic or impatient driver and have to make allowances. Also if you see gaps you need to assess whether or not the cage in the other lane is going to go for it.
Intuition and alertness count for everything when you put your life at risk!
What's the protocol
Fistful of gas and drop the clutch :innocent:
Toaster
10th May 2007, 18:55
Fistful of gas and drop the clutch :innocent:
Classic! Nice.
Try that on a three foot wide cruiser dude.
Try that on a three foot wide cruiser dude.
Sure. Care to lend me yours? :devil2:
Toaster
10th May 2007, 19:00
laughs..... nervously.
jafar
13th May 2007, 23:26
Easiest way to split is to wait until the cages are going slow or stopped, less chance of one of the idjits changing lanes into you. The legality of lane splitting is dubious so do it @ your own risk (as we all seem to do ). Nailing it through fast moving traffic isn't recommended .... creating your own lane on the left is technically a :nono: as there is a law against this.
ZeroIndex
13th May 2007, 23:36
I have only felt envious of bikers slipping past me on their way to the front, while I'm stuck in the cage queue, but I guess this is not necessarily the sentiments of 'other' drivers.
What's the protocol - yes I know, queue up behind the last cage - or experiences of some of you more experienced riders? Is it OK to trundle past to the front? have you had any bad experiences? ...
You have a DR650 and you don't lanesplit? Just get over it and speed... Lanesplitting in 60km/h zones at 100km/h+ is what riding a motorcycle is all about
skidMark
13th May 2007, 23:37
i learnt that going into a van doing about 10-20 kph when your doing 80-90 kph is not fun :shit:
ZeroIndex
15th May 2007, 00:04
i learnt that going into a van doing about 10-20 kph when your doing 80-90 kph is not fun :shit:
Don't drive into vans... go around them... that's the purpose of lanesplitting in the first place... to avoid dumb cages
Whynot
15th May 2007, 00:58
You guys outa this town have no idea how we live around the constant traffic woes! This would be the most fucked up city where traffic is concerned. 40 years of procrastination by the beaurocrats means Auckland has no public transport infrastructure and the motorway system will never ever catch up. And to top it all off they wanna tax us extra, when our taxs over the last 40 years have gone into the general coffers for eveyone else.
F*ck that, almost makes you want to leave and go somewhere less conjested like ........... London.
:mellow:
Jinx3d
17th May 2007, 21:22
Lane splitting - everyone does it but its fucking dangerous. Avoid the motorways if possible. Take it easy, just go a couple of cars at a time if its moving, be happy with 20 kmh faster in a stationary or slow moving ques.
Que jumping at the light?
Fuck yes - heres the protocol.
Ride up the inside (preferable to the outside)
Pull right to the front and make it obvious your'e fucking fast so there is no point trying to drag you off (easier to pull this one off on a bigger bike)
When the light turns green, move off at a moderate pace - if the cock in the HSV beside you wants to give you a run, let him blast out the front and you can drop in behind him. If no one is dragging you, slide off the front so as not to hold up the traffic.
2 golden rules
Dont move into a gap between two cars slowing down
If the light turns green just before you get to the front, dont pin it, you will get cleaned up by the red light runners coming the other way .
boomer
17th May 2007, 21:58
there are no rules... just bloody do it, be aggressive and own the road.
any fucker tries to bully you pull up and give 'em a mouth full. Like the twat in his new 4*4 tonight.. tried to undertake me and when i moved into the centre of the lane he had the fukin cheek to give me the hurry up with his hands. needless to say his journey was considerably longer after i stopped infront of him and told him what i thought of him.
there are no rules... just bloody do it, be aggressive and own the road ... needless to say his journey was considerably longer after i stopped infront of him and told him what i thought of him.
Lemme guess: it wasn't some 6'6" 20 stone Samoan driving?
xwhatsit
17th May 2007, 22:56
Jeepers I see only some of you live in Auckland (me only 10 years rest in good ol Wgtn).
But back to the point:
Reason 1: You ride a bike here so you can lane split! Go to the front of the queue! Get through the traffic when its jambed up! Its a way of life here!:bye:
Reason 2: So you can get the Ferk outa the traffic in the weekend and away on a good ride.:scooter:
You guys outa this town have no idea how we live around the constant traffic woes! This would be the most fucked up city where traffic is concerned. 40 years of procrastination by the beaurocrats means Auckland has no public transport infrastructure and the motorway system will never ever catch up. And to top it all off they wanna tax us extra, when our taxs over the last 40 years have gone into the general coffers for eveyone else.
I know! I know! move out if ya don't like it! ye would love to, back to wgtn or even down south. But you know kids at school, lotsa friends etc etc.
And I agree with all your points on speed etc during lane splitting. Its just a shit when you get 2 4wd's too close together to get through
Sorry to rant! but lane splitting is a must!
Lol have you ever been to overseas? And I don't mean to armpits like Fiji or Vanuatu. Auckland is a breezy relaxed Sunday drive compared to Hong Kong.
Chisanga
17th May 2007, 23:14
I had my first "conversation" today with a lovely lady who felt the need to try and actively block me passing her whilst she was stationary at the lights. She seemed quite suprised that I could swerve around the otherside, tap on her window and engage her in pleasant conversation regarding the weather.
jafar
17th May 2007, 23:18
I had my first "conversation" today with a lovely lady who felt the need to try and actively block me passing her whilst she was stationary at the lights. She seemed quite suprised that I could swerve around the otherside, tap on her window and engage her in pleasant conversation regarding the weather.
leaving the wing mirror on the ground works better :innocent:
Chisanga
17th May 2007, 23:21
leaving the wing mirror on the ground works better :innocent:
If I did that (which I wouldn't) i'm sure she would get my rego as I sped off and phoned the police ... doesn't seem worth it. Having a pleasant "chat" probably works better.
BarBender
17th May 2007, 23:25
Lemme guess: it wasn't some 6'6" 20 stone Samoan driving?
A Sa would have run him over Sanxie.
I'm with Boom Boom. Own the road.
I'm with Boom Boom. Own the road.
Oh, I agree too. Get to the front, get ahead and keep out of trouble. But he did say he stopped to give the driver some verbals.
BarBender
17th May 2007, 23:58
Oh, I agree too. Get to the front, get ahead and keep out of trouble. But he did say he stopped to give the driver some verbals.
Oh dear.
You cant keep an angry Scotsman from speaking his mind.
Disco Dan
18th May 2007, 00:26
Lane splitting - everyone does it but its fucking dangerous.
2 golden rules
Dont move into a gap between two cars slowing down
If the light turns green just before you get to the front, dont pin it, you will get cleaned up by the red light runners coming the other way .
Absolutly! That happens fairly often for me! Get to the front just as they turn green... the urge to pin it is very huge! I try and always check both ways before entering the intersection. ...its an impatient city unfortunatly.
leaving the wing mirror on the ground works better :innocent:
This practice of 'mirroroctamy' for retaliation, is becoming increasingly common. Most people will clip the odd mirror by accident every now and again, but a car mirror can cost $120+ ...some of the modern cars crammed full of electrics... I darnt think... $$$$ ...however, pushing them forward on their hinges (they dont spring back) and giving a clear 'hand signal' will often achieve the same objective without the court case. Use rarely, and wisely.
I find cars on your right (in your lane) while splitting are harder to 'read' than those to your left (in left lane). When a gap opens to your left, you should be braking.
Its easy to keep splitting and the traffic speeds up slowly... you look down and your doing 70k+ ...too many idiots out there. It aint worth it.
Cr1MiNaL
18th May 2007, 01:06
v good idea to be safe... even though my bike is fairly stable at mad speeds... like tdy was goin to whangarei frm auk... this v10 holden revs his engine n lines up to me doin 100. i try n let it slip n dont look... then he steps on it and pulls into my lane cuttin me off i get pissed off change into the other lane put it down to 3rd and clip it. i wheelied for like 20 feet at well past 100 n nailed it once i landed was doin 220 still in 3rd.. then it struck me... wtf was i tryin to proove? that an 06 R6 is quick? I lerned my lesson what if i had fallen off... fuk that... ride safe n responsible u all.
boomer
18th May 2007, 07:39
Lemme guess: it wasn't some 6'6" 20 stone Samoan driving?
you saw me..?
Oh dear. You cant keep an angry Scotsman from speaking his mind.
Scotsman? They be fighting words, young man! :nono:
you saw me..?
Heh heh
Reckless
18th May 2007, 11:37
When the light turns green, move off at a moderate pace - if the cock in the HSV beside you wants to give you a run, let him blast out the front and you can drop in behind him.
or if your in the mood!! Give it a fist full and fuck off so fast it makes his "HSV" look like a "limp dick" (pref with the front off the ground).
Actually did it on the old 78' Z1R:love: the other day. The old girl still gets along in a straight line if you treat it like a bitch. There was a guy in a new V8 Audi (i could tell by the engine noise). Was at the Carbine Road lights. 3 lanes, I was in between the two outside cages, with a truck to my left, so i couldn't see him. I took off at normal pace ahead of the cars to hear this engine roaring, him gathering pace in my periferal vision. Well without even thinking "fuck you mate" I'd red lined it in the first four gears and he was 800m behind. Thank christ it wasn't a cop! But you just can't help yourself sometimes. So much for your flash car mate on my 30 year old baby. haha! Wish I'd been on the Honda thousand. He caught me up as I don't thrash the old girl for long and gave me the thumbs up etc. So we both had a good time and all was well. Jeepers its times like that, that make us ride.:scooter:
All good advice here - key thing don't get seduced by PlayStation syndrome - you can burn 100k up the centre of SH1 & 16 whilst the traffic stops, but eventually will pay the price. Keep your speed relative to traffic speed, and merge back in when the flow picks up. Use your judgement. Give all cages the benefit of the doubt. Blocking you? Get over yourself - they really can't see us, are on mobile phones, playing with the iPod or can hardly see over the stearing wheel, have fogges windows and are generally idiots. 'Retaliation' only makes things worse for us all (although the retaliator feels good for 5 mins ... )
Know the law - know when you are 1) technically overtaking a stationary Q within your lane (indicating of course, legal), and when you are 2) riding creatively (ie. lanesplitting; illegal). Don't abuse the common sense approach to leave us alone when we lanesplit responsibly and indciate overtaking.
Filtering through to the front at lights is legal as in 1) but does make some car drivers mad. I'll admit that my acceleration brings me such joy, but again a little sensitivity for cages doesn't hurt. Err to caution until you are experienced and have had some direct experience of all the things that WILL happen, so you get used to responding and reading the signs:
1) drivers swerve between lanes, no indication;
1b) also when stationary in traffic
2) moving over at lights (not always to block us - poor positioning)
3) accelerating to deny us merging in
4) sudden apparently random braking on multi-lane highways because they need to change lanes (ie. SH16 where people stop dead on an empty lane to join the SH1)
5) cars with fogged windows etc 'coming at'cha'.
and
NOT being cars learn to consider going for the GAP and not braking when caught out by the above!
Ride safe. We are not cars. We should use our advantages ride like bikes but take it easy at first.
Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)
18th May 2007, 15:48
I'll never sit in traffic if I don't have to so I get as close to the front of any queue as I can although I'll normally stop behind the 1st cars at lights. That way I don't encourage them to a drag.
I pass when and where I can on motorways and hiways but I endeavour to read the 'body language' of the other drivers/riders. ie you can spot an erratic or impatient driver and have to make allowances. Also if you see gaps you need to assess whether or not the cage in the other lane is going to go for it.
Intuition and alertness count for everything when you put your life at risk!
Totally agree. Whenever I'm in a cage and not driving - I'm a very nervous passenger as I'm reading the traffic so far ahead and looking at body language etc. I get really shitty at my driver if he brakes hard when it could have bloody well been avoided had he read the traffic ahead.
Racey Rider
18th May 2007, 20:03
Know the law - know when you are 1) technically overtaking a stationary Q within your lane (indicating of course, legal),
But why would you indicate to pass a car on the right while staying in the same lane as that car. Surly you indicate to notify a change of lanes, not to notify a pass in the same lane? If you pass while remaining in the same lane as the other vehicle, you don't need to indicate?
True or False?
Puddlejumper
18th May 2007, 22:10
But why would you indicate to pass a car on the right while staying in the same lane as that car. Surly you indicate to notify a change of lanes, not to notify a pass in the same lane? If you pass while remaining in the same lane as the other vehicle, you don't need to indicate?
True or False?
I'd like to know this and more. I thought it was illegal to do any kind of lane splitting but that cops turned a blind eye if you were sensible. Could one of the legal sages give us a summary of what you can and can't do? On the same sort of thing, Is it illegal to overtake at over 100k? Got a cage driving mate who was ticketed at 120 while overtaking. This just seems wrong. Surely it's safer to spend as little time as possible on t'other side of road. I know how to ride safely but legally...... not so sure now.
skidMark
18th May 2007, 22:17
I had my first "conversation" today with a lovely lady who felt the need to try and actively block me passing her whilst she was stationary at the lights. She seemed quite suprised that I could swerve around the otherside, tap on her window and engage her in pleasant conversation regarding the weather.
at which point yo8u yanked the keys from the ignition said thanks
and rode away with them?
ZeroIndex
19th May 2007, 03:28
I had my first "conversation" today with a lovely lady who felt the need to try and actively block me passing her whilst she was stationary at the lights. She seemed quite suprised that I could swerve around the otherside, tap on her window and engage her in pleasant conversation regarding the weather.
Nice one man!!! Green rep sent
But why would you indicate to pass a car on the right while staying in the same lane as that car. Surly you indicate to notify a change of lanes, not to notify a pass in the same lane? If you pass while remaining in the same lane as the other vehicle, you don't need to indicate?
True or False?
My understanding of the road code and lansplitting is that lanesplitting is not technically legal, although as I indicated, sensible lanesplitting is generally ignored. What is legal is overtaking stationary and parked traffic within your lane. You always need to indicate overtaking. In reality you do not really stay in any one lane, but that is what you can conceptualise.
Apparently if the cops decide to pull you over for lanesplitting the first thing they can get you for is overtaking without indicating, so always indicate overtaking. If you are indicating and the traffic is moving, you can say you were completing your overtaking maneouvre and merging back in. If you are riding like a twat then they can take you for dangerous driving or a variety of other things.
Hopefully realising that we are 'allowed' to laneplit if responsible puts the focus back on responsible riding.
ZeroIndex
20th May 2007, 06:06
I've almost hit a lanesplitter with my cage before, and I don't think it was my fault at all. I was going along a stretch of 2 lane highway around a relitively tight corner side by side with another car doing about 65kph, and this idiot on a white cruiser shoots between us - no lights, no gear and no brains. If you're going to split make sure you do your best to let people in front know about it and don't do it on an overtly retarded place like that.
Damn that's reckless, you should be more careful...
Sidewinder
20th May 2007, 06:29
I've almost hit a lanesplitter with my cage before, and I don't think it was my fault at all. I was going along a stretch of 2 lane highway around a relitively tight corner side by side with another car doing about 65kph, and this idiot on a white cruiser shoots between us - no lights, no gear and no brains. If you're going to split make sure you do your best to let people in front know about it and don't do it on an overtly retarded place like that.
you should be more careful. bikers are more valuable than cage drivers.
Sidewinder
20th May 2007, 06:45
I've almost hit a lanesplitter with my cage before, and I don't think it was my fault at all. I was going along a stretch of 2 lane highway around a relitively tight corner side by side with another car doing about 65kph, and this idiot on a white cruiser shoots between us - no lights, no gear and no brains. If you're going to split make sure you do your best to let people in front know about it and don't do it on an overtly retarded place like that.
no if you let cars know your coming there allover the road, its better to pass them fast then look behind you and see them panic and be n00bs and get shitty, if they don't move i wont hit them like i did the car that was in the bike park last night.
gay cagers
terbang
21st May 2007, 12:20
Just go to the front of the Que because you can. Watch out for cars that may, accidentally or intentionally, shift in front of you.
ZeroIndex
21st May 2007, 15:43
no if you let cars know your coming there allover the road, its better to pass them fast then look behind you and see them panic and be n00bs and get shitty, if they don't move i wont hit them like i did the car that was in the bike park last night.
gay cagers
That was barely intelligible... can you rephrase that?
Let me try:
No... if you let cars know you're about to lanesplit between them, they'll just try get in the way. It is better to just go hooning past, and then they can get all fidgety.
The last sentence is about some dick that parked his white car in the bike parking in town, so Sidewindow ended up with some white paint on his exhaust
Cynos
24th May 2007, 22:40
I commute 50km into Christchurch each day, I live to the north of Christchurch, so I get to deal with the Rangiora/Kaiapoi traffic. I'll spend most of my time on Main North Road travelling up the middle... generally I'll be doing it at 40km/h and I'm reasonably happy doing so while the cars are creeping along, but the moment they're getting close to my 40 I'll merge back in, because when they get to that speeed, that's when they start playing silly buggers and changing lanes all over the show.
I had to lanesplit initially because my bike's cooling system was screwed (and I had the idle set too high) and waiting in queue caused it to overheat. By the time I'd got that sorted, I was sufficiently over my fear of lanesplitting - and yeah, it takes me 45 minutes to get to work in the mornings now, if I wait in queue, you can add another 30 - 45 minutes to that time, I may as well drive my damned car.
I figure that being able to lanesplit is the plus to balance the minus of frosty mornings at 100km/h - besides, if more people rode motorbikes and lanesplit, there'd be less congestion.
Sidewinder
29th May 2007, 16:03
I commute 50km into Christchurch each day, I live to the north of Christchurch, so I get to deal with the Rangiora/Kaiapoi traffic. I'll spend most of my time on Main North Road travelling up the middle... generally I'll be doing it at 40km/h and I'm reasonably happy doing so while the cars are creeping along, but the moment they're getting close to my 40 I'll merge back in, because when they get to that speeed, that's when they start playing silly buggers and changing lanes all over the show.
I had to lanesplit initially because my bike's cooling system was screwed (and I had the idle set too high) and waiting in queue caused it to overheat. By the time I'd got that sorted, I was sufficiently over my fear of lanesplitting - and yeah, it takes me 45 minutes to get to work in the mornings now, if I wait in queue, you can add another 30 - 45 minutes to that time, I may as well drive my damned car.
I figure that being able to lanesplit is the plus to balance the minus of frosty mornings at 100km/h - besides, if more people rode motorbikes and lanesplit, there'd be less congestion.
my favourite is lane splitting between 2 cars when ones trying to pass the other, it gives them the shits when you do that twice as fast as there moving
avgas
29th May 2007, 16:55
Don't use the bus lane unless everyone can see you.
noise is your friend.
Also if you look threatening, people will notice you more often. Kinda stupid really.
avgas
29th May 2007, 17:02
You have a DR650 and you don't lanesplit? Just get over it and speed... Lanesplitting in 60km/h zones at 100km/h+ is what riding a motorcycle is all about
Ah yes, quotes from the 10 foot tall unbroken.....don't worry i was there before.
ZeroIndex
29th May 2007, 17:14
Ah yes, quotes from the 10 foot tall unbroken.....don't worry i was there before.
I'm slowly coming around...
If I'm on a piece of road I don't normally ride I'm far more cautious than normal. However on my daily commute there are many places I split so as not to add to the congestion ;-) I've quickly learnt the places that the winners who need to be in a different lane all of a sudden change so keep both eyes open and look for cover.
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