• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Lane Splitting

Last edited:
Rexedgar said:
I have done some shade tree m/c repair. I once put a starter on a reverse equipped Gold Wing. I insisted that the customer drive the bike onto the pneumatic lift because it was too top heavy for my liking. I also turned down a courtesy ride on a Boss Hog or Hoss, that V-8 small block bike. Way too much weight for my comfort level.
Click to expand...

When I got home from the Gulf War I sold my Yamaha 650 and got my Goldwing. Big difference. One was skinny and light. The other was wide, long and heavy. It took some getting used to, but the Goldwing is very well balanced. I've never had a problem keeping it upright. And it's surprisingly nimble for its size.

But I don't think it's nimble enough to try lane splitting. Plus, being in my later 60's my reaction time is a bit slower. I'm content to take up my position in traffic just as any car would.
 
Mycroft said:
When I got home from the Gulf War I sold my Yamaha 650 and got my Goldwing. Big difference. One was skinny and light. The other was wide, long and heavy. It took some getting used to, but the Goldwing is very well balanced. I've never had a problem keeping it upright. And it's surprisingly nimble for its size.

But I don't think it's nimble enough to try lane splitting. Plus, being in my later 60's my reaction time is a bit slower. I'm content to take up my position in traffic just as any car would.
Click to expand...

Yamaha 650 twin or four?

Between my wife and I we had three 650 twins
 
Gaius46 said:
Been there in the cold. An interestingly enough with a Rebel as well. After our kids were born and my wife stopped working we were down to one car and the Rebel. For two solid years I rode it daily in all kinds of **** weather - including snow a couple of times - and froze my nuts off both winters. It made me a very good rider but I really wouldn't recommend the experience if you can avoid it. I have a older Honda that I use to commute to the train station on nice days only and am looking at getting a decent ride.

Had a mid 80s vintage 1200 Sportster for a few years. Nice bike but the hard mounted engine rattled my teeth. Wife and I toured the Nevada desert on a (rented) Heritage Soft-tail Classic a few years back. Loved that bike enough to be saving my pennies for one.
Click to expand...

My Sportster started out life as an "883 Sportster Low", but less than a year after buying it new, I had the Screaming Eagle 1200 conversion kit done, after getting the carb jetted, added a Vance & Hines Straight Shots mufflers(with the optional 'quiet baffles'). It's volume was in between stock mufflers and regular V&H Straight Shots, so not too loud. After having the 1200 kit done, with new cylinders and pistons, it started having this concerning habit of making loud knocking noises when riding it on a really hot day(85-90°+), and driving in stop & go traffic. It happened when I would give it slightly more than half throttle when accelerating from a stoplight. It was a loud, metallic knock. It went away as soon as I backed off the throttle. It worried me. But when it was cooler out, or I was constantly moving, with good airflow, it didn't do it.

But then the economy collpsed in 2008, just a year after I'd paid it off. I lost my house a year later, and sold the bike about 7 months earlier...
 
Fledermaus said:
England
Click to expand...

There's probably no passing at all on many secondary roads in England. Many of their secondary roads are no wider than 1 lane anyway. So even if you and the slowpoke in front of you are on Vespa scooters, you ain't getting around him!
 
Bodhisattva said:
I did not say it was a car drivers right to use all the lane either... good Lord man, do you have any ability to debate properly?



Do you have any concept as to what the laws pertaining to lanes and driving actually are? There are reasons why there are lanes and we use blinkers and cops can get people for unsafe lane changes and such...
Click to expand...

Can you actually remember what you said?

Just because motorcycles are legally allowed to lane split does not mean that car drivers are mandated to give them room to do so. Car drivers have every right to use all of their lane and when bikers come flying through and/or get mad when a car is in their way the biker is an asshole. What I would really like to do is catch one of these ****ing ******s that hit a car's side mirror as they flee off in to the traffic like the little bitches that they are.

What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

It is not their lane in that they do not own it.

Cops can also get you for attempting to kill other raod users by deliberatly having a bad attitude to people who are using the road more efficently than you.
 
ModerationNow! said:
My Sportster started out life as an "883 Sportster Low", but less than a year after buying it new, I had the Screaming Eagle 1200 conversion kit done, after getting the carb jetted, added a Vance & Hines Straight Shots mufflers(with the optional 'quiet baffles'). It's volume was in between stock mufflers and regular V&H Straight Shots, so not too loud. After having the 1200 kit done, with new cylinders and pistons, it started having this concerning habit of making loud knocking noises when riding it on a really hot day(85-90°+), and driving in stop & go traffic. It happened when I would give it slightly more than half throttle when accelerating from a stoplight. It was a loud, metallic knock. It went away as soon as I backed off the throttle. It worried me. But when it was cooler out, or I was constantly moving, with good airflow, it didn't do it.

But then the economy collpsed in 2008, just a year after I'd paid it off. I lost my house a year later, and sold the bike about 7 months earlier...
Click to expand...

I’m sorry to hear that. Hope things have turned around for you.
 
Skeptic Bob said:
In the US I have never lived in a state where lane splitting is legal so the first time I experienced it on a road trip out west it freaked me out. I thought maybe he was running from the cops or something. Then it happened a couple more times and I figured it out. Of course in places I lived in Asia it happens dozens of times a minute.

I will say that even as a car driver I am annoyed when cars don’t stay in the middle of their lane. When they ride the line I feel like they are about to swerve into me. Road rage is even worse, though.
Click to expand...

Agree. In a car I was taught to always stay in the middle of the lane - my dad was pretty adamant that there was often a film of oil in the center of the lane that could be dangerous in the rain. Was taught to stay to the right or left of center on a bike for the same reason.

While it may not be law it is the best practice.
 
Mycroft said:
Twin. 1979 Yamaha XS 650 Special.

Like this one...

View attachment 67243740
Click to expand...

1976 XS650
1978 XS650
1979 XS650 Special

Bolted on a disc and caliper from an XS750 onto the left fork of the 1979... Twin disc. Two finger braking after that. Grabbing a handful of front brake = locked front wheel at low speeds.
 
Fledermaus said:
1976 XS650
1978 XS650
1979 XS650 Special

Bolted on a disc and caliper from an XS750 onto the left fork of the 1979... Twin disc. Two finger braking after that. Grabbing a handful of front brake = locked front wheel at low speeds.
Click to expand...

The Army sent me to Germany in '83. I stayed there till the end of '89. I shipped my 650 with the rest of my household goods. I rode that bike all over Germany. I loved it.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Just because motorcycles are legally allowed to lane split does not mean that car drivers are mandated to give them room to do so. Car drivers have every right to use all of their lane and when bikers come flying through and/or get mad when a car is in their way the biker is an asshole. What I would really like to do is catch one of these ****ing ******s that hit a car's side mirror as they flee off in to the traffic like the little bitches that they are.

What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

My thoughts? That you're not a fan of motorcycles, or their drivers? lol

Don't sweat the small stuff, ya grump. You sound like a psycho, my dude. Leave your road rage in the car... :lol:
 
Bodhisattva said:
I am talking about lane splitters that come flying up to a car lane changing or that is "too far" to the side of the lane impeding their progress...
Click to expand...

Someone splitting lanes needs to ride safely and responsibly as well. That being said, cars should check for splitters before changing lanes. Also cars that are "too far to the side" often are putting themselves there because they're pissed off at lane splitters and trying to stop/endanger them.

Drive in the middle of your lane and act line an adult.
 
Bodhisattva said:
Even if the car is purposely driving close to the side of the lane that only means that the biker needs to wait a minute until a safe opening occurs in order to pass... becoming a dick about it and honking or hitting a side mirror is not acceptable...
Click to expand...

When purposefully done, it's a thread and a danger to the rider. If you live in a state that allows splitting, then you need to understand that people may split. Drive responsibly and be an adult. The biker shouldn't hit the mirror of the selfish dick who wants to endanger their lives by throwing their 3000 lb vehicle into their path, but the cager shouldn't be a rage filled asshole to begin with.
 
Fledermaus said:
I have split traffic for over 40 years... I probably have more miles splitting than many, many weekend warrior riders have total.

Not one accident due to splitting. More close calls due to other factors and one crash after I quit splitting and was riding "responsibly" .

When done intelligently it is only marginally more dangerous than riding in traffic.

In some cases it is even encouraged in some places.
Click to expand...

That's because in certain conditions, like heavy traffic, splitting lanes is statistically safer for the motorcyclist than being in a full lane.
 
Manc Skipper said:
It's about being reasonable. I only lane-split if traffic is doing less than about 20-25 down to stationary, and never more than 15-20 more than the traffic. It gets me there with a little reaction-time built in for the occasional arsehole. Most UK drivers are aware of the law, and can work out that if I'm riding between lanes then I'm not taking up a car-space, making the jam even longer.
I too have a camera. On my helmet! :shock:

(we call it "filtering)

https://www.bikerandbike.co.uk/filtering-motorbike-whats-law/
Click to expand...

Do you think they have the highway code over there, in the USA, or its' equivalent? Would solve a lot of this trouble. Not everything is best written in law.
 
Someone posted a photo; this is my favorite. Manager@ Hooters asked me if it was for sale, I told him he would have to wait for the estate sale......2002 HD FXSTDI, lowered, custom cams, 1550 cc, PPG Harlequin paint, powder-coated cylinders/heads & V&H exhaust.

View attachment 67243760
 
Mach said:
I had no idea that was legal in some places. I assumed it was reckless driving.
Click to expand...

Apparently it is only legal in California... but since I am from there I assumed it was legal in every state.
 
Gaius46 said:
It is not necessarily dangerous. I've done it in NY on highways in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It's completely safe done that way as long as some fool doesn't open their car door in front of you. I personally see not point in doing it under any other circumstances than when traffic is pretty much at a standstill.
Click to expand...

When traffic is like that I certainly wish I was on a bike instead of just sitting there inching along... :lol:
 
Fledermaus said:
Not if you maintain that placement. But if you visibly swerve to block you will get a ticket if the Gendarmes see you. I have seen it and cheered it.
Click to expand...

Same here... even with the police in the United States...
 
Bodhisattva said:
When traffic is like that I certainly wish I was on a bike instead of just sitting there inching along... :lol:
Click to expand...

A great billboard near the 405/5 split showed a motorcycle between two cars with the caption "If you were one a motorcycle you would be home by now"
 
Fledermaus said:
A great billboard near the 405/5 split showed a motorcycle between two cars with the caption "If you were one a motorcycle you would be home by now"
Click to expand...

I'll be driving around there in a month or so... LOL, in a car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom