What's Wrong w/ Cage Drivers?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 5
From: Hudson Valley, NY
So let me get this straight, you are illegally splitting lanes getting thru "the same traffic jam that happens every morning" and YOU are upset because someone does not appreciate what you are doing and shows you the universal hand signal for displeasure? did you miss the part where he turned into him which could've killed him???? 
What makes you so special that you don't have to wait in the line of traffic like everyone else? He rides an air cooled bike, not a car, lane splitting has been accepted for decades, it only recently became taboo, and a "biker" defending a car turning into a biker lane splitting is stomach churning frankly Just because you can slide thru dosen't mean you should. More often than not these jams are compounded from the result of people trying to slide thru instead of waiting their turn.
JMHO BUT, How can we expect any sympathy for our causes and complain about what cars do to us when we break the law and try to justify it by using lame excuses (I can slide thru, my air cooled engine will overheat, my clutch hand hurts...). No wonder we can't get stiffer penalities legislation passed.
you want the government imposing stiffer penalties???
Please just sell your bike and find another hobby you just don't get it...
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 319
Likes: 4
From: Southeastern Michigan
BULL!!! I would never defend a car turning into a bike but I will also not defend a biker breaking the law!
1)The rider saw what the guy in the car was doing and it couldn't have been that close. Don't give me that crap about could have killed him... it was a traffic jam... you know slow moving, bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic!
2)Appearantly you have never tried to get to Destination Daytona from I-95 during Bike Week.
3)You have not heard of the stiffer penalities legislation ABATE and many other MRO's are trying to get passed for motorcyclists?
4)You can't compare CA, where splitting lanes is legal, with situations in the rest of the country.
I'll keep my bike and will continue to ride as safely as I can. You can continue to ride as you wish and good luck.
1)The rider saw what the guy in the car was doing and it couldn't have been that close. Don't give me that crap about could have killed him... it was a traffic jam... you know slow moving, bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic!
2)Appearantly you have never tried to get to Destination Daytona from I-95 during Bike Week.
3)You have not heard of the stiffer penalities legislation ABATE and many other MRO's are trying to get passed for motorcyclists?
4)You can't compare CA, where splitting lanes is legal, with situations in the rest of the country.
I'll keep my bike and will continue to ride as safely as I can. You can continue to ride as you wish and good luck.
Last edited by cigarowens; Sep 14, 2011 at 11:37 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
Jesus Christ I lane split all the time, we have air cooled motors we have to move or they overheat. Most people know this and have no issue with it, other people are complete ******** who attempt to kill or seriously maim you. These people deserve to be beaten severely.
Lane splitters are ********? LMFAO you just buy that Harley yesterday?
I imagine he stands a MUCH greater chance of scratching his precious Mercedes by turning into the bike and almost crushing the rider no? God seeing a "biker" defend this aggressive behavior by someone in a cage makes me want to puke.
Lane splitters are ********? LMFAO you just buy that Harley yesterday?
I imagine he stands a MUCH greater chance of scratching his precious Mercedes by turning into the bike and almost crushing the rider no? God seeing a "biker" defend this aggressive behavior by someone in a cage makes me want to puke.
As I posted, only ONCE was I in danger of overheating on my Warrior on a 110F day in stop and go traffic, and I putted along at about 5mph in first gear on the *shoulder*, where there was plenty of room to esacpe to avoid any contact with a car.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
Yeah and turning into the bike almost causing a crash makes his chances a lot better of not getting scratched? WTF do you guys come up with this idiotic logic?
Any biker who hasn't lane split probably rides less than 1000 miles a year. An air cooled engine and stiff hand clutch, isn't the same as a cushy car with AC, sitting in traffic is not equivalent. At times you have no choice but to lane split. It is only dangerous if some sociopath decides to try and murder you because you're beating traffic.
Any biker who hasn't lane split probably rides less than 1000 miles a year. An air cooled engine and stiff hand clutch, isn't the same as a cushy car with AC, sitting in traffic is not equivalent. At times you have no choice but to lane split. It is only dangerous if some sociopath decides to try and murder you because you're beating traffic.
I got my 883 less than a month ago, there are 1200 miles on it, up from 15 when I bought it brand new and I have NEVER ever lane split.
Its sounds like YOU are the one who needs to stop riding if your clutch hand gets too stiff to deal with traffic.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: California
In my opinion you cannot honestly judge lane splitting until you live in a high traffic area for a while. You just will not understand the reason for lane splitting. It isn't just about the engine overheating. You sit in traffic here and you are going to get hit by a car. I know it sounds crazy but if you get a bunch of people together on a freeway in southern California and people see a space to move into they will not see a bike sitting in that space. It is flat out dangerous to sit in traffic here. That is the reason behind why lane splitting is legal here in California. We are safer riding in between lanes in stop and go traffic than sitting in between a bunch of cages that think if I pull in to that spot faster than anyone else I am 8 feet closer to my destination. I understand that you guys from states such as Illinois don't have traffic. By that I mean traffic like we do. It still gets me when my Army buddies talk about how bad traffic is when in my opinion it isn't traffic but normal driving for what I am used to.
Now Parabellum you need to realize that 1200 miles in a month is barely riding for some of us. I was home from Afghanistan for a little less than two weeks back in July and put 1800 on my bike in 12 days of riding. Did not go on a road trip or anything but just normal day to day riding for me. I am not saying that your 1200 miles in a month is bad or that you are a whatever expletive someone would use. I am just saying that we all ride differently due to our surroundings and experiences. Lots of guys say they won't go above the posted limit. If you come here and are not doing at least 10 over you are going to get run over.
Now Parabellum you need to realize that 1200 miles in a month is barely riding for some of us. I was home from Afghanistan for a little less than two weeks back in July and put 1800 on my bike in 12 days of riding. Did not go on a road trip or anything but just normal day to day riding for me. I am not saying that your 1200 miles in a month is bad or that you are a whatever expletive someone would use. I am just saying that we all ride differently due to our surroundings and experiences. Lots of guys say they won't go above the posted limit. If you come here and are not doing at least 10 over you are going to get run over.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK
I don't know if the width of your roads/lanes is similar to the States..but over in Europe, I'd lean towards the cars are smaller over there? Not as wide? Thus probably a little easier to lane split over there versus here in the States where so many people have those massive oversized battleship SUVs and cars.
Speaking of lane splitting...this past summer I made a few work related trips to New York City...in Manhattan, going up to East 86th. Usually when I go to this client ...it's in late fall into winter. This was first time in summer I think...and I was surprised to see more bikes than I expected to see I guess.
How can anyone enjoy riding in that? Can't even get out of 2nd gear. Taxi drivers that own the road. Buses. Crazy delivery kids on bikes.
I'd rather cut my hair with a toenail clipper than try to cruise the Harley through that craziness!
How can anyone enjoy riding in that? Can't even get out of 2nd gear. Taxi drivers that own the road. Buses. Crazy delivery kids on bikes.
I'd rather cut my hair with a toenail clipper than try to cruise the Harley through that craziness!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
In my opinion you cannot honestly judge lane splitting until you live in a high traffic area for a while. You just will not understand the reason for lane splitting. It isn't just about the engine overheating. You sit in traffic here and you are going to get hit by a car. I know it sounds crazy but if you get a bunch of people together on a freeway in southern California and people see a space to move into they will not see a bike sitting in that space. It is flat out dangerous to sit in traffic here. That is the reason behind why lane splitting is legal here in California. We are safer riding in between lanes in stop and go traffic than sitting in between a bunch of cages that think if I pull in to that spot faster than anyone else I am 8 feet closer to my destination. I understand that you guys from states such as Illinois don't have traffic. By that I mean traffic like we do. It still gets me when my Army buddies talk about how bad traffic is when in my opinion it isn't traffic but normal driving for what I am used to.
Now Parabellum you need to realize that 1200 miles in a month is barely riding for some of us. I was home from Afghanistan for a little less than two weeks back in July and put 1800 on my bike in 12 days of riding. Did not go on a road trip or anything but just normal day to day riding for me. I am not saying that your 1200 miles in a month is bad or that you are a whatever expletive someone would use. I am just saying that we all ride differently due to our surroundings and experiences. Lots of guys say they won't go above the posted limit. If you come here and are not doing at least 10 over you are going to get run over.
Now Parabellum you need to realize that 1200 miles in a month is barely riding for some of us. I was home from Afghanistan for a little less than two weeks back in July and put 1800 on my bike in 12 days of riding. Did not go on a road trip or anything but just normal day to day riding for me. I am not saying that your 1200 miles in a month is bad or that you are a whatever expletive someone would use. I am just saying that we all ride differently due to our surroundings and experiences. Lots of guys say they won't go above the posted limit. If you come here and are not doing at least 10 over you are going to get run over.
And I'm out in CA all the time, I know how bad it is there.
My comments were:
If you lane split where its legal, that is crazy.
If you lane split where its ILLEGAL, you are an *******.
I stand by that. I don't want to make it illegal to lane split, if you want to ride like that, by all means go for it...but its crazy to me.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: California
Parabellum my post was not meant to seem like it was directed at you. I put your name on it to tell you i wasn't making fun of you. After re-reading my post I see how you thought it was a crack at you. It was not meant to be.
In my opinion you would have to be crazy not to lane split here.
In my opinion you would have to be crazy not to lane split here.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 11
From: Central Illinois
Parabellum my post was not meant to seem like it was directed at you. I put your name on it to tell you i wasn't making fun of you. After re-reading my post I see how you thought it was a crack at you. It was not meant to be.
In my opinion you would have to be crazy not to lane split here.
In my opinion you would have to be crazy not to lane split here.
Ive only been in ONE accident in my life in a car, and that was getting rear ended by a semi on the 405 in rush hour traffic, and driven 30 feet into two other vehicles.
I was stopped, he pulled up until he could no longer see me (in his "no-zone" front blind spot), then we sat there for five minutes. He forgot I was there, and when traffic started to move, he pulled forward and drove me forward into two other vehicles with me on the horn the ENTIRE time.
CHP showed up, he lied and said I cut him off (absolute and total lie), but no one stopped to tell the story, so CHP believed him and it was ruled my fault, but I was issued no citation.
If I had to live out there, I would hang up my leathers.