Wellington motorway 7.30am ZX-9R vs blue Falcon

[pzkpfw]

Thats easy to say but try it on the wellington motorway. In general you can see 5 to 8 cars back one GOOD day. Often its much much less. Some lane splitters will be passing at least a car a second so by the time you check for a gap, check behind, indicate, check again and move they are on you.... Lane splitting is OK but not when you are running 60 to 70 kph faster than the traffic...

That's why, when splitting, I give way to cars indicating. The assumption is they won't see me, so just "pause" and let them go.

Fair enough, I don't split moving traffic, I like having my shit do what it does now.

I don't mind splitting between moving cars, because I assume they've seen each other and don't want to bang into themselves. It's where you pass a car on one side and a gap on the other that's dodgy - that's when I slow down, and watch the drivers head to see what they might be up to. (Hopefully not about to do a quick lane change without indicating...)

[imdying]

I don't mind splitting between moving cars, because I assume they've seen each other and don't want to bang into themselves. It's where you pass a car on one side and a gap on the other that's dodgy - that's when I slow down, and watch the drivers head to see what they might be up to. (Hopefully not about to do a quick lane change without indicating...)

Fair enough, gotta have a balance between getting places in a timely manner and actually getting places at all

[MrKiwi]

It would seem the scoot was following too close then

That depends if the car overtook the scoot and then immediately cut in front. I was once in a slow car (Bettle) and the car behind me was getting frustrated. He overtook me and then cut in front of me and jammed on his brakes. I had no time to adjust my following distance. Fortunately for me a man in blue was coming the other way . Sad for the other car driver.

[thepom]

imdying is right......in the uk its called a lifesaver.........you check before changing lanes,coming from a 70 to a 50 you check your mirrors as my examiner told me to make sure nobody is running into the back of you.....etc etc......I,m not being biased but the standard of riding/driving in the uk is higher than here due to training required to pass the driving test..........now bring on the abuse....

[swbarnett]

It would seem the scoot was following too close then

Not if the car swerved in front and the scooter did not have a reasonable time to pull back.

[GrayWolf]

If someone is lanesplitting faster than you get out of his/her way.I do on a regular basis.

So you don't pay attention to see if someone else was lanesplitting before changing lanes? As someone who admits to lanesplitting I would've thought you would at least pay others the same courtesy that you must appreciate yourself.

Try checking behind you before you change lanes.

One of the advantages of the written word is (should be) before sending we can remove stupidity... however the above remarks???
Simply put, if a following motorcycle is DIRECTLY behind, not only are they in the mirrors blind spot, even if performing a 'life saver' unless equipt with a 180 degree neck, (or reevu helmet) they are OUT OF SIGHT!!!!! so the onus is also on them to not be a dick brain and THINK for themselves, not rely on others doing it for them!!
As for 'moving over'??? lane splitting is NOT technicaly legal, and if I am too slow for you? tough titties, I am overtaking/undertaking the lanes I am splitting... the onus is on YOU to wait till I can move aside into a reasonable gap. I WILL NOT place myself at risk, just because numbnuts wishes to play russian roulette at higher speeds than I am willing to play it.

Yes I look behind me, and I use the technique to either side (left or right rear observation, depending on the situation) If I am passing cars at 50kph and you come up behind me at 70-80kph?? how can I SEE YOU?? you are directly behind me, have the courtesy you are accusing me of not having. All statements like that indicate is, to quote the UK Police motorcyclist who Tutored my advanced riding course... "Only those with no imagination, or are just plain stupid; cannot 'see' the possible consequences of any action they take on the road" So if you are following me at higher speed when lane splitting, do you expect me to just pull over the instant you arrive? Can you not 'see' I would have to find a suitable safe gap to pull into? Do you EXPECT me to carve up the car to my left/right, so YOU can barrel on down the road?? What concequence can you IMAGINE for me if I do that and the car reacts aggressively???
I have survived 36 years as a Motorcyclist, including 17 years living and riding in London.... so I must be doing SOMETHING correctly, ay?

Thats easy to say but try it on the wellington motorway. In general you can see 5 to 8 cars back one GOOD day. Often its much much less. Some lane splitters will be passing at least a car a second so by the time you check for a gap, check behind, indicate, check again and move they are on you.... Lane splitting is OK but not when you are running 60 to 70 kph faster than the traffic...

One of the best laws I've seen re this is in some US states where you can lane split only IF the traffic is doing (say) less than 80kph and at no more than 20kph faster than the traffic is moving. Seems fair...

Well said Paul, thank you for being a 'thinker'......

[pzkpfw]

... lane splitting is NOT technicaly legal ...

Yes it is.

(Unless you mean "not" to the "technical" bit. In which case, if you meant, "lane splitting is legal", then you'd be right.)

[MIXONE]

I think you are assuming a little too much there graywolf.I try to stay aware of everything around me,spatial awareness,and when I see bikes catching me uo I wait for the next gap between cars and let them pass.I get a wave of thanks everytime whereas the wave you get with your attitude would be of the one finger variety.

[MIXONE]

. Lane splitting is OK but not when you are running 60 to 70 kph faster than the traffic...

I ride the Welly motorway everyday but have yet to see these badass bikers splitting at those sort of speeds.

[Swoop]

...the standard of riding/driving in the uk is higher than here due to training required to pass the driving test...

I've been saying that for years. The test here is shit and nobody has to be properly trained. Just "pass the test" and you are on the road and in the case of a car licence you can drive a car with ANY amount of power (Veyron on a learners = legal here).

Not that any political party will listen to this, but just keep telling us that "speed kills" and not shit driving skills.

[Grasshopperus]

One of the advantages of the written word is (should be) before sending we can remove stupidity...

Well said Paul, thank you for being a 'thinker'......

Oh right, the ol' "Anyone who agrees with me is a 'thinker' and anyone who calls me out on being a dickhead is stupid".

Ghan'get'fucked.

[Deano]

The guy (same bike as your profile one) was riding like a muppet

I'm pretty sure that bike was a KTM 660 or 690 thingie.

And on re-reading this thread, if a blue Falcon squashed Ben, I wouldn't be crying about it.....

Pardon ? Are you taking the piss here ?

[swbarnett]

Simply put, if a following motorcycle is DIRECTLY behind, not only are they in the mirrors blind spot, even if performing a 'life saver' unless equipt with a 180 degree neck, (or reevu helmet) they are OUT OF SIGHT!!!!!

Yes and no. Your ZZR may not have the best mirrors (as sports bikes are known for) All the bikes I've owned have had at most a rear blind spot of one to two bike lengths. My current bike has the best mirrors I've ever had, if I move my arm slightly I can see underneath my top box.

[scumdog]

That's why, when splitting, I give way to cars indicating. The assumption is they won't see me, so just "pause" and let them go.



I don't mind splitting between moving cars, because I assume they've seen each other and don't want to bang into themselves...)

THAT kind of 'thinking' can get you killed...

[Usarka]

Fair enough, I don't split moving traffic, I like having my shit do what it does now.

DAMHIK (since been repaired) but that is a very good reason for not crashing.