Necessary lane splitting... first time

**Manxman** · 23rd February 2007, 19:18

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** · 23rd February 2007, 19:36

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.

there are a million things to look-out for.This is enough for you to start.

Regards Richard

**paturoa** · 23rd February 2007, 19:40

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**sedge** · 23rd February 2007, 19:47

Watch out for loud red bikes behind you

Sedge.

**Manxman** · 23rd February 2007, 20:27

Originally Posted by paturoa

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...

**paturoa** · 23rd February 2007, 20:43

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

**riffer** · 23rd February 2007, 20:48

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** · 23rd February 2007, 21:03

Originally Posted by sedge

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** · 23rd February 2007, 21:14

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** · 23rd February 2007, 21:23

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** · 24th February 2007, 00:29

Yep, completely dangerous and irresponsible.

Much like riding on the footpath, innit, Ixion

**WarlockNZ** · 24th February 2007, 02:14

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

**Manxman** · 24th February 2007, 06:47

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

.

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

**klingon** · 24th February 2007, 10:39

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.

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.

**YLWDUC** · 24th February 2007, 11:29

Originally Posted by 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,

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?"