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[porthole]

didn't have the seat time splitting traffic ....... that I wasn't going to split traffic at 90 on this ride, knew where everyone was headed so why push.

And this means what?

[110tHunDer]

And this means what?

AK, correct me if I'm wrong, but I read it as the guys in front of him didn't have an enormous amount of experience lane-splitting (legal in CA), were riding at a high rate of speed, and AK's experience told him not to follow.

[mr_magoo]

Its things like this that get a man to thinkin,  Maybe it is time to get a better helmet than the 1/2 helmet I always wear.  JCZ thanks for the info on the nolan now if they just make one big enough.  

[JCZ]

AK, correct me if I'm wrong, but I read it as the guys in front of him didn't have an enormous amount of experience lane-splitting (legal in CA), were riding at a high rate of speed, and AK's experience told him not to follow.

I'll help out here...........lane splitting is a way of life for motorcyclists in the bay area and around L.A. due to the amount of traffic on the freeways and it going very, very slow or stopped most of the time.  

Yes, it is legal out here and most of us do it.  It's a little smarter to do it at about 10 mph over what ever the traffic is moving, so that you can still stop in time if there's an emergency.  However, as Andy explained to me........when they approached the stopped traffic they were still moving at a very high rate of speed and just went down the middle.  First couple of guys made it and the third (the 24 yr. old who died) and fifth (Andy) went down.  The kid went down due to lack of experience and panicked in the moment.  Andy went down trying to avoid the bike that cut in front of him and was stopping faster than he.

[spydglide]

JC, I'm sure that running 90mph splitting traffic is a 'rush', but this ole biker has had to forego that level of excitement.  I get nervous  [smiley=nervous.gif] running 80mph on I-95 and I-40 with all the yo-yo's out there rapid lane changing in everything from Yugos to DumpTrucks.  Everyone follows way to close to have any chance of surviving if something happens out there and it invariably does........if you fall back from the vehicle in from a safe distance someone just fills the hole in front.  And w/ traffic running on both sides of you at those speeds what are you gonna do if something malefunctions on the scooter?  Like a belt breaks and runs out the back.  You are gonna be 'dog-meat' in a instant.  No way to get over to safely slow down in those situations.  If you stop and think about it, you'd never run the interstates again just to make the trip faster.  I know.  We all do it, but TwoLaneRider has the right handle in my estimation, I'm all for two-lanes or the 4-lanes that haven't become bumper to bumper demolition derby deals.  Guess I'm just getting older, but everytime I do it, I say no more!  So, if you and Andy are gonna run that way when you come out here this summer, you'll have to get Hubbard and Otis and the other rough riders to hang with you and I'll catch up later.  I usually get to the next beer stop just in time anyway.  [smiley=drink.gif] Har!  spyder   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[grc]

I get nervous  [smiley=nervous.gif] running 80mph on I-95 and I-40 with all the yo-yo's out there rapid lane changing in everything from Yugos to DumpTrucks.  Everyone follows way to close to have any chance of surviving if something happens out there and it invariably does........if you fall back from the vehicle in from a safe distance someone just fills the hole in front.   Har!  spyder   [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that a large number of folks seem to think they are Formula 1 or NASCAR drivers now days?  I get the distinct impression watching some of these idiots run up to someones bumper and then jump out to pass that they watched a little too much drafting at Daytona on TV. It seems to have gotten exponentially worse in the past ten years.

Spyder - I'm with you on this one.  Let the idiots run over each other while I bide my time and get there in one piece.  In fact, I'd rather run regular roads and leave the interstates to someone else when traffic gets heavy.

Jerry

[erniezap]

I'll tell you, with the amount of traffic in the Bay Area of CA, if you're in a car or don't split lanes on a bike it takes forever to get to where you are going.  That being said, it beats not getting there.  I'll split lanes up to about 30 MPH.  Anything faster I don't feel that I can react fast enough to save my butt.  Too many inattentive and/or unpredictable drivers...

[RedFXR2]

Everything Spyder and grc said.

Lane splitting may be legal but is it smart?   Down here folks juke and dive from lane to lane on I-95 no matter if they're doing 80 or 5 mph.  In fact, sometimes they themselves are traveling at a much higher speed than the rest of the flow while they're doing all this rapid lane changing.  Exceeding their speed and cruising up between two sets of door handles seems to me to be just asking for tragedy.  Spyder and I talked about intentially dodging I-40 on the way to Maggie last Spring--it's the same think on that road.

I ride to relax.  The trip is what's supposed to be fun, IMO.  As has already been said, put me down for the scenic country roads.  If it takes me longer to get somewhere, well, I've had a good ride along the way.

[JCZ]

Spyder.......I didn't say that I or Andy do it that fast (and that's why he dropped to the back of the pack).  I'm with you on this one......I do it but I try to keep it down to no more than 10 mph faster than they're moving.  So if they're doing 10 mph (not exagerated) then I may do it at 15 or 20 and if they're doing 20 mph then I may lane split at 30 mph.  But some do it much, much faster.

If you remember, from the recap of my accident, as busted up as I got, I was only doing 25 mph.  Now mine wasn't from lane splitting (although I was just a block earlier), it was still the same kind of impact......running into somebody at that speed.

I am probably a more agressive rider than Andy, by nature, but I've really slowed down in the past couple years and I do keep a large gap between me and the guy in front.  If a car wants to fill it, then I just slow down a little more.  But when all four lanes are moving pretty much the same speed, people usually keep there spot and there's not a lot of lane hopping.

In the bay area, I'd leave Milpitas and drive 24 miles to the job site in Palo Alto and it would take two hours and fifteen minutes.

[ak]

Spyder-Not looking to run hard when were are back your way.Just looking forward to meeting folks,site-seeing,stc. . We will ride all day to get to next location . I value the time we have off and want to enjoy new area-AK Will attach before and after photos of 04 seeg. Dealer said may be able to upgrade my raido to new HK as part of the repair Ihpoe that works

[CVOJOE]

Sounds like a 'local' plan, please post the meet time over that Bovine Palace and let's see how many can make it  [smiley=nixweiss.gif] ?

[naitram]

Spyder-Not looking to run hard when were are back your way.Just looking forward to meeting folks,site-seeing,stc. . We will ride all day to get to next location . I value the time we have off and want to enjoy new area-AK Will attach before and after photos of 04 seeg. Dealer said may be able to upgrade my raido to new HK as part of the repair Ihpoe that works

looks like you are one lucky guy AK

[porthole]

Down here folks juke and dive from lane to lane on I-95 no matter if they're doing 80 or 5 mph.

Red,

"Down there" your roads have an immense number of hazards, and most of them should also retire from driving [smiley=dead.gif]

Even driving a cage can be downright scary at times!

[porthole]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that a large number of folks seem to think they are Formula 1 or NASCAR drivers now days?  I get the distinct impression watching some of these idiots run up to someones bumper and then jump out to pass that they watched a little too much drafting at Daytona on TV.

Garden State Parkway: On a weekday morning I merge onto the highway from the rest stop in the center island. It is not unusual to have to accelerate to 85 - 90 just to merge into traffic, and at that it is bumper to bumper, draft style!. Typically the fast lane travels north (toward NYC) at 80-90, bumper to bumper.

Actually, with the speed limit on pit road I think it is safer to get onto the track then the Parkway.

[erniezap]

Andy, who's doing the work?