The wheel advice is good! Stay as far to the left as you can. There are fewer people moving in and out of lanes as you get farther left (there are nearly zero left hand exit lanes in the area I live in). I do a lot less lane splitting as I'm further over to the right and cars are more likely to be changing lanes and less likely to be looking for bikes. Look for gaps. If there is enough space for a car to change lanes ... assume that someone WILL try to fill that gap and pay special attention. Look at driver's heads. You can see the head through the rear window. You can also see them in in mirrors. If you see a driver looking around, that driver is thinking about changing lanes. If they're thinking about changing lanes they're a potential danger. Look for those front wheels turning. You'll see the wheel turn before the car starts to move as was spoken about in this video. You should know EXACTLY how wide your bike is. I ride a supersport and my shoulders are as wide as the bike at the mirrors or handlebars. So, as long as I can walk between two cars, I know my bike will fit. Do not sit in blind spots. If you're not currently lane splitting, give a reasonable amount of space for the cars around you and try to ride in a position where people can see you. Assume no one can see you. You still want to do everything you can to HELP people to see you. But, you still want to assume people can't see you. People crash into busses because they didn't see them. If that can happen ... no one is gonna see you on a bike. Look for turn signals. Sounds obvious. But, if you assume they can't see you, and you know they want to change lanes ... let them change lanes in front of you, then continue lane splitting. If you think they're pausing to let you pass, and they actually don't see you and just waited a second before changing lanes that could be a major injury for you (hands, collar bone, ankles). Letting someone change lanes in front of you doesn't really slow you down. It's not a big deal. If you ride a black bike and wear all black/grey gear, just understand that when you get hit it's because no one could see you because you made bad life choices. If a car mover over to give you space, give them a friendly wave. The more positive reinforcement drivers have for being polite the more likely they are to do it in the future. I don't pass motorcycles in the same lane unless I know they can see me and they've moved far over to let me pass. Even then I usually dip into the adjacent lane. If I ride by a person in a car and they get scared it's no big deal. If I ride by a person on a bike and they get scared they could fall. Loud exhaust is really helpful when you're lane splitting. It isn't magic. But, if people can see you they're less likely to crash into you. And, if people can hear you they're more likely to be looking for you. If you know things are changing ... a lane is ending, an exit is going to show up .. if you know that people are going to be more likely to do more lane changing ... you should be doing less lane splitting and you should be more careful when you do it. Keep a look out for other motorcyclists that may be coming up behind you. The position you want to ride in is as close to the lane dividing markers as you can get. If there's a break in traffic and you don't NEED to basically be riding directly next to that line, then you want to move over to get deeper into your lane. This gets you farther away from cars in the adjacent lane which gives you more reaction time. A couple of feet can be a big deal. Wear full gear. Boots, pants, gloves, jacket, helmet. Each of those things keep you from getting injured in a crash. They're not that expensive. Not having your feet crushed because there is a steel shank in your boot, and not skinning your hands because you have gloves on ... this stuff just makes sense. That being said, the two most common causes for serious injury are spine and head. If you have a jacket without a spine protector you pretty much might as well not wear a jacket ... no one has ever died because they banged their elbow. 🤣 I play a game when I'm on my bike ... "who's trying to get me now?" If I can't point to someone else as being likely to crash into me, then the answer to the game is "me" and I try to adjust accordingly. I've also been riding for about 15 years in a major metropolitan area (including regular commuting) and I've never been down.
I use strobing auxillary lighting, and Yellow high beam to separate from the mass amount of headlights in traffic while splitting in extremely heavy traffic. I will in rare occasions drive a vehicle to remind me how difficult it is to spot every motorcycle, even when you're looking for them. Safe Travels!
well . do what you do but at least do it on the left of a trucker. u make us real nervous. on the right.. there is a saying the left is the highway to heaven and the right is your 1 way ticket to hell.
The wheel advice is good!
Stay as far to the left as you can. There are fewer people moving in and out of lanes as you get farther left (there are nearly zero left hand exit lanes in the area I live in). I do a lot less lane splitting as I'm further over to the right and cars are more likely to be changing lanes and less likely to be looking for bikes.
Look for gaps. If there is enough space for a car to change lanes ... assume that someone WILL try to fill that gap and pay special attention.
Look at driver's heads. You can see the head through the rear window. You can also see them in in mirrors. If you see a driver looking around, that driver is thinking about changing lanes. If they're thinking about changing lanes they're a potential danger.
Look for those front wheels turning. You'll see the wheel turn before the car starts to move as was spoken about in this video.
You should know EXACTLY how wide your bike is. I ride a supersport and my shoulders are as wide as the bike at the mirrors or handlebars. So, as long as I can walk between two cars, I know my bike will fit.
Do not sit in blind spots. If you're not currently lane splitting, give a reasonable amount of space for the cars around you and try to ride in a position where people can see you.
Assume no one can see you. You still want to do everything you can to HELP people to see you. But, you still want to assume people can't see you. People crash into busses because they didn't see them. If that can happen ... no one is gonna see you on a bike.
Look for turn signals. Sounds obvious. But, if you assume they can't see you, and you know they want to change lanes ... let them change lanes in front of you, then continue lane splitting. If you think they're pausing to let you pass, and they actually don't see you and just waited a second before changing lanes that could be a major injury for you (hands, collar bone, ankles). Letting someone change lanes in front of you doesn't really slow you down. It's not a big deal.
If you ride a black bike and wear all black/grey gear, just understand that when you get hit it's because no one could see you because you made bad life choices.
If a car mover over to give you space, give them a friendly wave. The more positive reinforcement drivers have for being polite the more likely they are to do it in the future.
I don't pass motorcycles in the same lane unless I know they can see me and they've moved far over to let me pass. Even then I usually dip into the adjacent lane. If I ride by a person in a car and they get scared it's no big deal. If I ride by a person on a bike and they get scared they could fall.
Loud exhaust is really helpful when you're lane splitting. It isn't magic. But, if people can see you they're less likely to crash into you. And, if people can hear you they're more likely to be looking for you.
If you know things are changing ... a lane is ending, an exit is going to show up .. if you know that people are going to be more likely to do more lane changing ... you should be doing less lane splitting and you should be more careful when you do it.
Keep a look out for other motorcyclists that may be coming up behind you.
The position you want to ride in is as close to the lane dividing markers as you can get. If there's a break in traffic and you don't NEED to basically be riding directly next to that line, then you want to move over to get deeper into your lane. This gets you farther away from cars in the adjacent lane which gives you more reaction time. A couple of feet can be a big deal.
Wear full gear. Boots, pants, gloves, jacket, helmet. Each of those things keep you from getting injured in a crash. They're not that expensive. Not having your feet crushed because there is a steel shank in your boot, and not skinning your hands because you have gloves on ... this stuff just makes sense. That being said, the two most common causes for serious injury are spine and head. If you have a jacket without a spine protector you pretty much might as well not wear a jacket ... no one has ever died because they banged their elbow. 🤣
I play a game when I'm on my bike ... "who's trying to get me now?" If I can't point to someone else as being likely to crash into me, then the answer to the game is "me" and I try to adjust accordingly. I've also been riding for about 15 years in a major metropolitan area (including regular commuting) and I've never been down.
I really appreciate the detail in this. Very helpful !
im trippin i thought this was a game for a minute
lol definitely real
this a good video. we need more videos of basic riding skills 👍
I use strobing auxillary lighting, and Yellow high beam to separate from the mass amount of headlights in traffic while splitting in extremely heavy traffic. I will in rare occasions drive a vehicle to remind me how difficult it is to spot every motorcycle, even when you're looking for them. Safe Travels!
great safe riding
Good advice, wish more states legalised lane splitting. In most countries in the world we recognise that its safer for the rider to lane split.
I love safe riders!
well . do what you do but at least do it on the left of a trucker. u make us real nervous. on the right.. there is a saying the left is the highway to heaven and the right is your 1 way ticket to hell.
Will keep that in mind
ps lane splitting depends on the state u live in. some states its illegal
California is the only state that legally allows lane splitting.
Lane filtering is allowed in four states, but only when traffic is completely stopped
@beebs4881 utah and Montana it's legal too but utah is only allowed on roads below 45 mph
AKA how to lane split in a fkn Cadillac 🤣
You got that right ! 😂😂
Yeah, I watch for motorcycles but Im not watching for that nonsense...
That’s okay. I ride expecting nobody to look for me. I’ll be okay 🤷🏿♂️
nonsense?