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[guppytrash]

My background is aviation.  Here is the simple rules we live by, and I try to teach my kids.  Pretty much adapts to most things in life.

You are going to make mistakes.

1. Accountability...if you cant take ownership your screwed.  And if you think your perfect and don't make mistakes...well then your hopeless.
2. Learn from it...analyze and think it through...what went wrong?
3. Most important!  Adopt a new procedure...this is how I do it now so it won't happen again.

Looks to me like you have number one handled. 
You have gotten some good advice here for number two.
Now it is all about number three.  What is going to work for you so it doesn't happen again.  Number three, only you can come up with...what works for others may not work for you.
Don't be offended by some of the remarks here...you are flirting with a possible disaster.  On a motorcycle there is no such thing as a fender bender. 
I like most here consider "brushing up against cars" on the roads, in any circumstance riding out of control and unacceptable. 
KNOW your LIMITS! 
Get it under control before you do any more lane splitting. 
Nobody wants to see you get hurt or killed.








 

[JCZ]

JC,

Can you cut-n-paste that article for us?

Mark, I'll look for it and see what I can do.  If worse comes to worse, I'll just mail it to you.

Motorcycle Consumer News is the Consumer Reports of the motorcycle industry.  They accept no advertising from anybody and are beholding to nobody.  In my humble opinion......it's a magazine that everybody should be subscribing to.

[Cvostu]

Boy.  I gottem all going now on this one.   

[JCZ]

One observation regarding lane splitting/sharing.  Most CA drivers are used to motorcycles going by between lanes.  My philosophy is to be extra observant, extra careful, and make it through safely. 

If I am approaching a car with non-California plates, my caution goes up even more because most likely they aren't expecting me to be there since they don't have lane splitting where they live.  I will flash my headlight at their mirror, rev the engine, whatever I feel will make them aware of me as I approach them.

I try to do the same.....get their attention before I get to them.

For those who've never done it before......while you have those crazies out there that'll lane split at 50-60 mph when five lanes of freeway are dead stopped, I generally will go approx. 10-15 mph over what ever the traffic is moving at.  So if the traffic is dead stopped and not likely to move in the next few minutes, I'm lane splitting at 10-15 mph.  If the traffic is moving at say 15 mph then I'm lane splitting at 25-30 mph and constantly watching several cars ahead.

For the most part, again, generally speaking, most cars will move over when they see a bike or bikes coming.  The cars in the fast lane will move to the left and the cars in the second lane will move a bit to the right.

My personal experience, I can only remember touching a mirror one time........years ago.  No paint scratched and no damage to the mirror (I was lane splitting to the front of stopped traffic at a red light) but it scared me so bad that from that point on, I mentally added 4" more to what I thought I'd need.  Mark made a good point......always be looking several cars ahead, not where you're at.....makes it a much smoother operation.

[Jock]

One of the articles in Motorcycle Consume News was in the October 2011 issue titled "Lane Sharing" and I will attempt to scan it and post it.

Another one that was in the editorial section was "Be The Solution" dated April 2011.

[1sharprdkg]

My background is aviation.  Here is the simple rules we live by, and I try to teach my kids.  Pretty much adapts to most things in life.

You are going to make mistakes.

1. Accountability...if you cant take ownership your screwed.  And if you think your perfect and don't make mistakes...well then your hopeless.
2. Learn from it...analyze and think it through...what went wrong?
3. Most important!  Adopt a new procedure...this is how I do it now so it won't happen again.

Looks to me like you have number one handled. 
You have gotten some good advice here for number two.
Now it is all about number three.  What is going to work for you so it doesn't happen again.  Number three, only you can come up with...what works for others may not work for you.
Don't be offended by some of the remarks here...you are flirting with a possible disaster.  On a motorcycle there is no such thing as a fender bender. 
I like most here consider "brushing up against cars" on the roads, in any circumstance riding out of control and unacceptable. 
KNOW your LIMITS! 
Get it under control before you do any more lane splitting. 
Nobody wants to see you get hurt or killed.








 

Whew...I thought this was going to be another "troll" sighting. guppytrash, well said my friend, 100% AGREE! HeadAndEyes, welcome to the site from Tennessee! Heed the expert advice that you have asked for and received from this site and don't wear your feelings on your shoulder. We are all on your side an want everyone to Ride Safe!

[HogBreath]

Is this guy is for real?  Either way he sure got some action out of the thread. I find it hard to believe that someone keeps running into cars when lane sharing, yet, keeps lane sharing. I've heard of people trying to quick draw a pistol, and shot themselves in the foot...ONCE. I told my wife I didn't like her new haircut...ONCE. I think ya'll are being played.

[JCZ]

One of the articles in Motorcycle Consume News was in the October 2011 issue titled "Lane Sharing" and I will attempt to scan it and post it.

Another one that was in the editorial section was "Be The Solution" dated April 2011.

Thank you Jock.  I just found the magazine and Terrie's in there trying to download the software so that we can scan.  The title "Lane Sharing...Not A Hazard, But A Global Solution for Motorcycle Safety".

The caption below the photograph on the first page of the article says "It is surprising that so many motorists and riders view lane-sharing as an unsafe or unsavory action, because sttistics show that the motorcyclist in the photo on the left (he's lane splitting) is less likely to be injured than the motorcyclist shown on the right" (he's in the lane behind the car in front of him with another car right on his butt).

  

[Twolanerider]

Is this guy is for real?   Either way he sure got some action out of the thread. I find it hard to believe that someone keeps running into cars when lane sharing, yet, keeps lane sharing. I've heard of people trying to quick draw a pistol, and shot themselves in the foot...ONCE. I told my wife I didn't like her new haircut...ONCE. I think ya'll are being played.  

That was my thought too Ken.  So far fetched have to at least question.  Even if benefit of the doubt is given no one really said the obvious; if you keep screwing up the same way stop doing it.  D'uh.  Before you hurt yourself or someone else.  

[grandpadoc]

Welcome from SoCal. I live up the road in Lake Elsinore and have commuted to the OC on a daily basis for many years. In my experience most folks will move over for you if they know your there, so loud pipes are a must. A new cam to rock the pavement works for the hard a hearing.  Doc

[grayghost731]

Is this guy is for real?  Either way he sure got some action out of the thread. I find it hard to believe that someone keeps running into cars when lane sharing, yet, keeps lane sharing. I've heard of people trying to quick draw a pistol, and shot themselves in the foot...ONCE. I told my wife I didn't like her new haircut...ONCE. I think ya'll are being played.

I was thinking the same thing  :nixweiss  This goes back to should you drve a bike or not? But who am I to say
Hopefully someone is just bored and is trying to get a RISE out of the site. Three pages I think it worked if it is for REAL and I kept bumping cars I dont think I would lane-split jus sayin 

[fresh oil and pipes]

I have been a lurker on this site for 8 months, make my first post, and this is the kind of reply I get?
Good to meet you too.

Pretty sure this is one of those gotcha type posts since he has been lurking for 8 months he would prob know we do have a new member thread for introing onceself. Having said that it certainly has stimulated some conversation and a few good points have been made for and againest.

[indcoltz]

There is no way I'm gambling the use of my legs in order to shave a few minutes by riding between lanes. It's not worth it I don't care how much time you save. To think you have to assume the person in front of you sees you?? Thats like running threw a mine field, making it and then running back threw to see if you can do it again. I'm not assuming anyone has there mirrors adjusted on the right side of there vehicle just so I can get by. I don't feel that lucky. JMHO

[Screamin]

Is this guy is for real?  Either way he sure got some action out of the thread. I find it hard to believe that someone keeps running into cars when lane sharing, yet, keeps lane sharing. I've heard of people trying to quick draw a pistol, and shot themselves in the foot...ONCE. I told my wife I didn't like her new haircut...ONCE. I think ya'll are being played.

I keep hitting myself in the head w/ a hammer but I'm getting better at missing. Any tricks or should I just keep practicing?

[spydglide]

I keep hitting myself in the head w/ a hammer but I'm getting better at missing. Any tricks or should I just keep practicing?

Screamin.....you need to just think:  bobblehead.    har.  spyder