Lane Splitting
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 11,613
Likes: 7,087
From: SoCal / AZ
Depends on the road and the traffic. I split all the time on my SG, but there are some lanes that are too narrow (mostly some small city streets). Also, as others pointed out, cars / trucks crowding the line can block you.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 15,998
Likes: 7,111
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
I followed a guy on a bagger yesterday, lane splitting. We went from Culver City to my exit in Carlsbad, lane splitting. That's about 100 miles. There were about 50 times that his bag got close. I like following another rider while splitting. It's as if I'm riding in their "wake." I don't mind splitting for a minute or two, but for 3 hours straight? That's nerve wracking. I passed a Ford Explorer CHP in Long Beach whilst splitting. Doing about 20mph. He ended up crossing all four lanes behind me and stopping traffic on the 405 Southbound. 3 vehicles collided ahead and were disabled in the carpool lane. They moved all 3 vehicles diagonally to the shoulder for processing.
If it weren't for splitting, I'd still be there!
If it weren't for splitting, I'd still be there!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 150
From: Michigan
you have to be comfortable with it. i get it and understand why it's done, but i'd never do it myself.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
All the time on either my Harley or the Goldwing. Handle Bars, Fairing and Mirrors define the width of the bike. It may not feel like it, but my old DRZ400 took up pretty much the same width as either my Harley or the Goldwing.
Splitting lanes during the Rush Hours is always easier. I suspect that the commuting crowd generally expects it and thus they almost always make extra room. A$$Hats are fairly rare. A rather interesting experience is to follow a CHP bike as they split lanes. It's like watching the parting or the Red Sea. Some drivers may have trouble seeing motorcycles . . . but this challenge doesn't seem to apply to Police Bikes to the same extent that it does to motorcycles in general. That said, modulated headlights definitely help . . . almost as much as following a CHP Motor!
Splitting lanes during the Rush Hours is always easier. I suspect that the commuting crowd generally expects it and thus they almost always make extra room. A$$Hats are fairly rare. A rather interesting experience is to follow a CHP bike as they split lanes. It's like watching the parting or the Red Sea. Some drivers may have trouble seeing motorcycles . . . but this challenge doesn't seem to apply to Police Bikes to the same extent that it does to motorcycles in general. That said, modulated headlights definitely help . . . almost as much as following a CHP Motor!
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