Riding between cars to the front.

[MilanoRex]

I only have about 100 miles riding so far... i've been taking it nice and easy and riding just like i do in my car. I wanted some tips on how you guys ride between cars and get to the front of the 'line'(while they are stopped at a red light of course) What are things to look out for? I don't plan on doing it until i get more experience, but I want to try and start practicing when I see a nice wide open gap between cars to get up front. Thanks

[MattLikesBikes]

Don't bother. It makes cagers (car drivers) totally flip out.. I've heard stories of cars opening their doors as you pass to make you fall on your ass, throw coke cans bottles etc. at you as you pass, and it just gives sportbikers a bad rep. Plus then you gotta haul ass off the line to get back into a lane, and if a cops sees you pulling that, you'll get yourself a bigass ticket.

The only time you should ever do it, is if you're at a light and you want to make a right turn on a red light, and not everyone in the right lane is turning right.. Then just cruise down the shoulder and make sure the car beside you isn't about to turn..

[RACER X]

get training www.msf-usa.org , they'll teach you alot about street riding, or you can ask there as well.

[taziscool]

Lane splitting for newbies.......NOT a good idea.

[cole]

I've often times wondered about doing that but I'm always too chicken. Personally, I'd rather wait the extra 30 seconds and not risk getting hurt.

Where I live we have to cross a bridge to get into town and it's only 3 lanes so it can get backed up sometimes when there is only one lane going in. I ride down the shoulder and merge in right at the bottom sometimes to save a bunch of time. Other than that I don't lane split much.

[ZeuSeason]

The only time I can see lane splitting is in a traffic jam on a major highway. Why would you worry about it sitting at a stop light? Unless you are impatient, and in that case you should just hang your helmet now while you still can.

[brentsR6]

ive never lane split up to the front at a red light. id just feel way too vulnerable.

[chesus]

in california it's legal and i do it all the time, i personally feel more endangered stuck behind a bunch of cars, i would rather be at the front and get away from them all.

so far nobody has bothered me or tried to kill me, just watch for mirrors and when u pull up to the light judge if you have enough room or not before entering. please dont try until you are comfortable moving the bike back and forth at slow speed if you need to clear the other cars mirrors.

[MilanoRex]

Originally Posted by RACER X

get training www.msf-usa.org , they'll teach you alot about street riding, or you can ask there as well.

I've already taken the MSF course, they dont teach you much on street riding or laws at all..we actually asked questions about laws and such, and they said they dont teach that in there. I passed with a 100% on the skills and written test. Same with the DMV. I'm in CA and I see it all the time... seems I'm the only one who actually stays behind the cars I haven't had the balls to do it yet, just wanted some tips for the future. Thanks

[Cicada]

Originally Posted by MattLikesBikes

Plus then you gotta haul ass off the line to get back into a lane, and if a cops sees you pulling that, you'll get yourself a bigass ticket.

Lane splitting is legal in CA ;)

[cole]

Yeah, if it was legal I would do it all the time.

[Naughty76]

The only time I have ever done it is when I am stuck behind something I see as being more of a hazard to me than lane splitting....not a cool thing to be doing otherwise.... Pay attention to the drivers heads and look to see where they are looking. Make sure they are focused on the road (not talking on a cell phone, smoking, putting on make up, etc) Judge beforehand to make sure they dont tend to wander in their lanes!

[sjlee]

The only place that I am aware of where lane splitting is legal is in CA.

[Hagios]

In CA, where traffic jams run rampant, back in the 70's (IIRC--this was information passed along by a room-mate and long-time rider) almost all, if not all motorcycle engines were air cooled. Aparently, some people got wise and started suing the state of CA for the cost of their engines, which would slowly roast if the bikes weren't in motion--and winning. Since then, lane splitting has been tolerated in CA, if the surrounding traffic is less than 5 mph.

All this to say, I imagine the only logical time that lane splitting would be a "good" idea, is when you are at less risk--monetary and physical--while splitting lanes, than you are doing otherwise. A stoplight is not such a place.

[Samurai Jack]

It's not legal here in Alabama, I'm not sure I'd do it if it was. Unless there was a major traffic jam or something of that nature.

M.