Where do you ride?!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,395
Likes: 266
From: Southern California
Left Tire "groove" of the left most lane, preferably the Car Pool (HOV) Lane. If there is no shoulder on the Left (Freeway) I will use the Right Tire "Groove" of the Left Most Lane to give me room between the lanes if traffic makes a sudden stop and I need the extra Motorcycle stopping lane I get between the two car lanes. When traffic slows to a stop or near stop I will Lane Split here in California. On the Freeway I Lane Split between the Car Pool and the Regular Lane. On Surface Streets I Lane Split only to pull up to the front of the line at a Red Light.
As for watching the "Other Car." Watching the tires will always telegraph what the car is going to do. The Drivers Head will always point in the direction they're going. It helps to "Look" at the Driver if you can. It is a natural response to look back at anything that is looking at you, and I have gone so far as to point at the Driver (appropriate finger of course) as that also gets a strong reaction. Even with a Helmet on, Staring at a driver has a noticeable effect.
As for watching the "Other Car." Watching the tires will always telegraph what the car is going to do. The Drivers Head will always point in the direction they're going. It helps to "Look" at the Driver if you can. It is a natural response to look back at anything that is looking at you, and I have gone so far as to point at the Driver (appropriate finger of course) as that also gets a strong reaction. Even with a Helmet on, Staring at a driver has a noticeable effect.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Riding alone use the whole lane sometimes into other lane when riding on bad roads trying to avoid you name it bad roads have it.Riding with a group or another biker 99.9% of the time ride the ditch side always prepared for having to avoid something or someone.Roads with no shoulders never ride beside another biker just because of no escape route.Also always keeping an eye out for deer or varmits in those prone areas.
I ride on the left side of the lane, but tend to drift into the center at times. The only time I get real aggressive is if I have to pass a big truck, because if one of their tires blow, you've got some major road debris to manuver. So, I slide completely to the left in the passing lane and goose the throttle hard until I'm clear.
Mike
Mike
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: Bellefonte PA
One recurring theme I've noticed in a lot of these posts is staying in a position so the driver in front of you can see you in their mirror. That is fine, just don't assume that the driver will actually check their mirror. Seems that a lot of drivers get tunnel vision and only look at what's ahead, if that. Just because you are somewhere where they should be able to see you, doesn't mean they will. And even if they do, always prepare for the fact that they may do something stupid anyway. Ride safe.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 33,718
Likes: 3,723
From: Connecticut.
Lot of good stuff in here. Like big cahuna said, It's impossible in Manhattan to follow the MSF guidlines when some asshat is always jumping into any open space. For me staying visible sometimes means shaking my bike which sometimes wakes 'em up. I use my horn alot in traffic, and I always have a blocker when I go through a multi-lane intersection- I wait for some one else to pullout so I only have to worry about traffic from one direction.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
A lot of resplies. Probably a repeat, but I ride to the right of center when in the left lane, and left of center when in the right lane. This way I stay in mirrors of the cages.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 40
From: New York
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Hershey, PA
I switch my position in the lane to wherever I think I will be seen. If I'm behind someone, I center up. If I am passing someone, I am on the left side of the lane, to give them extra room to see me, and me more reaction time for when they swoop left. The right side of a split lane is usually for when I am riding tandem, or apexing a corner on my sportster.
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