First time lane splitter

[jrandom]

I split anything, anywhere

They have traffic in Edgecumbe now?

Jesus H. Christ, next thing you know there'll be electricity and telecommunications, and the natives will be let loose on the internets.

Oh, no, wait... bugger.



Top tip, DB: if a motorcycling topic is raised, just assume you don't know what the fuck you're talking about. It'll improve your posts no end.

[Nagash]

Thirdly, what right under law do you have? Splitting is borderline/tolerated enough as it stands, without someone forcing the government to make a new rule regarding it.

Stay back from the newbies and don't spook them.

No wonder you have the reputation of being a pillock..

It's pretty simple stuff, if someone is a faster lane splitter than you, just pull in and let them pass. It's not difficult to do, there's no loss of pride and you'll probably get a better reputation amoung you're daily commuting group of motorcyclists.

If I have a blind biker infront of me doing 20 through traffic, i'll just try and go round them by splitting through the next lane over, but this isn't the easiest thing to do at the best of times.

It's just simple respect.


Congrats to PB! You'll pick it up soon enough, and don't be afraid to smash your way through a few mirrors while you're learning, it happens. Just try not to do it to the front car at a traffic light.. (Done that one before.. )

[jrandom]

No wonder you have the reputation of being a pillock...

Indeed.

I'm currently chuckling at a mental image of DB wobbling up to an intersection, edging his way between two Mazda 121s at a red light (paddling both feet on the ground, naturally) and then rushing home to post about his newfound hardarse big city filtering mojo.

[imne1]

I've been fairly timid with lane splitting since getting a real bike, but on the scooter I'd split all the time. I rekon across town a scooter ( a good one..)is still faster.
Mostly my filtering extends only to getting to the front of the line at traffic lights. I've been watching Mordeth13 Vblogging in Taiwan on youtube. over there they have a box at the front of every intersection for all the bikes and scooters to filter their way to the front, where they get to go first. We should have that here !!

[slimjim]

dude they have mazda's in kawera..? shives that's an improve..was full of vanguards and oxford's ...lol..
and lane splitting.. hum one day you'll come a cropper...however live and learn... get a big air cool bike and you'll treat it like a car....

[PrincessBandit]

That happens to me when I'm driving the car, too, but I'm always careful not to let truck drivers look in and see what I'm up to.

I have no idea at all what you mean dear sir......

[Katman]

and don't be afraid to smash your way through a few mirrors while you're learning, it happens.

I think you'll find PB knows better than that.

[Swoop]

Loved the Ducati filterer on the NW carpark this morning...
C'mon mate, it was only a community constable, in his Vectra. Show some balls and filter past them!

[madbikeboy]

Hey PB,

I'm no expert, and I'm not advocating anyone take advice from me (since I'm clearly a bit retarded); but here's some thoughts I have on filtering...

1. Speed is your friend.
I'm not waiting around for people to go through any sort of mental decision process about letting me through, I aim for about a 20 kph speed minimum delta. Momentum is your friend. You need to be decisive, so by the time cager realises that you're there, you're already past.

2. Side by side.
Filtering a gap between two parallel cars is safe. Well, safer. You don't get the random lane changes when that cages space is blocked by another cage. If you have a cage with an empty space next to it, if there are any brake lights ahead, you know that the cager will make a dive for that spot. Now, you need an IQ test to ensure that you're dumb enough to drive a car, so that diminished brain capacity is solely focused on steering the cage, and not on looking for bikes using mirrors.

3. The block.
Typically there are certain cars that will block you. Normally execs in Falcons and Commodores, or on the shore, there is a Audi Q7 who's owner is a moron. If you get deliberate blocking, look for an escape route, they're normally the type to hit the brakes to give you a brake check as well. I have removed keys from nasty types before, (or wing mirrors); but this is unadvisable unless there is a very good reason (not from a safety point of view, bullys are cowards, but I'm meaning that KatMan will tell you off).

4. Slow skills:
I've got an advantage since I'm a cyclist as well, but practice the slow speed skills. You can track stand a bicycle for a minute at a time with practice, and with a motorcycle, being able to ride very slowly with you feet on the pegs is a good skill. I can stop and stand without feet for a while, yeah, it's a party trick, but the point is that once you practice the balance and slow skills long enough, when you're in traffic the slow skills are one less thing to spend intellect on (since it's now intuitive and you don't need to think about them since you're a master (or a mistress?)).

5. Danger signs:
Quick looks in the mirror, or a quick look across to the next lane.
A stab of the brake light (followed by some random move)
Compressing traffic ahead (followed by lane changes)
Slippery cat eyes
Oil or diesel around bends on motorways
Aggressive small dicked execs in XR6/HSV types - and for that matter SUV's with tints - always hard to see past and alway unpredictable
People on cell phones, when you pass, they look towards you and the car follows...

Stay safe.

MBB

[vifferman]

It's weird having bikers talking about deliberately smashing cars' mirrors - last week I was on a Mrkn biker forum and there was a post from a guy who tapped a pickup truck's wing mirror with his bikes' mirror, while lanesplitting.
He said he felt really bad about it, and wondered what he should do.
The overwhelming consensus on the forum was that he should make an effort to find the guy again, and "do the right thing": apologise, pay him $100 or whatever.
I guess he was running the risk of getting shot next time.

Maybe there's some Mrkn law about any contact between vehicles like this being "hit and run". That's the impression I got.

[MarkH]

It's weird having bikers talking about deliberately smashing cars' mirrors - last week I was on a Mrkn biker forum and there was a post from a guy who tapped a pickup truck's wing mirror with his bikes' mirror, while lanesplitting.
He said he felt really bad about it, and wondered what he should do.
The overwhelming consensus on the forum was that he should make an effort to find the guy again, and "do the right thing": apologise, pay him $100 or whatever.
I guess he was running the risk of getting shot next time.

Maybe there's some Mrkn law about any contact between vehicles like this being "hit and run". That's the impression I got.

Crazy 'merkins!

But really you do have to be a bit careful about pissing of people in 'merica, so many forums I read people start talking about their 9mm pistols & 45s & assault rifles. That is one well armed country!

[UberRhys]

My left hand was getting so sore as I watched countless bikes zoom past inbetween the lanes.

That happens to me when I'm driving the car, too, but I'm always careful not to let truck drivers look in and see what I'm up to.

That sounds like a danger wank to me...

[UberRhys]

I only started lane splitting when I was once scared my bike would blow up cause it was over 3/4 on the temp guage and on motorway amongst slow moving traffic so i couldnt just pull over... needed to get some more air flow!

I have heard that in California (in the U, S of A) the law was ammended so air cooled cycles could split lanes so they didn't overheat.

Hey PB,

I'm no expert, and I'm not advocating anyone take advice from me (since I'm clearly a bit retarded); but here's some thoughts I have on filtering...

1. Speed is your friend.
I'm not waiting around for people to go through any sort of mental decision process about letting me through, I aim for about a 20 kph speed minimum delta. Momentum is your friend. You need to be decisive, so by the time cager realises that you're there, you're already past.

2. Side by side.
Filtering a gap between two parallel cars is safe. Well, safer. You don't get the random lane changes when that cages space is blocked by another cage. If you have a cage with an empty space next to it, if there are any brake lights ahead, you know that the cager will make a dive for that spot. Now, you need an IQ test to ensure that you're dumb enough to drive a car, so that diminished brain capacity is solely focused on steering the cage, and not on looking for bikes using mirrors.

3. The block.
Typically there are certain cars that will block you. Normally execs in Falcons and Commodores, or on the shore, there is a Audi Q7 who's owner is a moron. If you get deliberate blocking, look for an escape route, they're normally the type to hit the brakes to give you a brake check as well. I have removed keys from nasty types before, (or wing mirrors); but this is unadvisable unless there is a very good reason (not from a safety point of view, bullys are cowards, but I'm meaning that KatMan will tell you off).

4. Slow skills:
I've got an advantage since I'm a cyclist as well, but practice the slow speed skills. You can track stand a bicycle for a minute at a time with practice, and with a motorcycle, being able to ride very slowly with you feet on the pegs is a good skill. I can stop and stand without feet for a while, yeah, it's a party trick, but the point is that once you practice the balance and slow skills long enough, when you're in traffic the slow skills are one less thing to spend intellect on (since it's now intuitive and you don't need to think about them since you're a master (or a mistress?)).

5. Danger signs:
Quick looks in the mirror, or a quick look across to the next lane.
A stab of the brake light (followed by some random move)
Compressing traffic ahead (followed by lane changes)
Slippery cat eyes
Oil or diesel around bends on motorways
Aggressive small dicked execs in XR6/HSV types - and for that matter SUV's with tints - always hard to see past and alway unpredictable
People on cell phones, when you pass, they look towards you and the car follows...

Stay safe.

MBB

What an excellent bit of info. Green bling on it's way.

[madbikeboy]

It's weird having bikers talking about deliberately smashing cars' mirrors - last week I was on a Mrkn biker forum and there was a post from a guy who tapped a pickup truck's wing mirror with his bikes' mirror, while lanesplitting.
He said he felt really bad about it, and wondered what he should do.
The overwhelming consensus on the forum was that he should make an effort to find the guy again, and "do the right thing": apologise, pay him $100 or whatever.
I guess he was running the risk of getting shot next time.

Maybe there's some Mrkn law about any contact between vehicles like this being "hit and run". That's the impression I got.

I got shot at while I was in the states. They do it to make you feel welcome (odd culture, a strange gentlemen wearing a big fur coat offered me a bitch while I was in SF, but instead of a nice puppy, he tried delivering me a woman..., how odd )

[Swoop]

(not from a safety point of view, bullys are cowards, but I'm meaning that KatMan will tell you off).

Who the f cares about someone who dosen't live in a city that has traffic.


There is also a retard bitch who drives a VW golf down Onewa Rd in the mornings.