Yep, nothing like it. Coming back from a run up Crest this morning and hit traffic (saturday morning? WTF?, welcome to L.A.) and I get passed by a CHP. Immediately after he passes me the traffic really backs up. Here I am 30 ft behind this CHP moto cop on his BMW and we're splitting lanes for about 20 minutes. Third bike tries to keep up but gives up in short order.
Nothing like seeing a guy on a big bike manhandling it around and in between cars. It was quite a sight. Also interesting was how cars would squeeze in and then jerk away opening up the gap once they realized it was a cop.
I love L.A. Just thought I'd share.
Here in the New York City are we have the same thing. Except we have to watch out for the cops when we lane split. The most beautiful sight I ever saw was two Hell's Angels splitting lanes on the BQE in Brooklyn doing 55 when traffic was going between 45 and 50. Loud pipes and an attitude make a difference when it comes to assholes that close up the lane when they see you coming. The worst assholes are the ones by the Lincoln Tunnel heading for the Catskill Mountains on a Friday afternoon. They won't give an inch and will even close-up the lane. There is nothing sweeter than watching their faces as you pass them. You see the glares of pure hate they give you when you finally maneuver past them and they realize that they will be stuck there for another 45 minutes. Yes life can sometimes be sweet.
Lane splitting is for the brave, skilful and the stupid, since I only qualify for one of the above.......heh, heh, I had to find another way.
Enter the ex-cop bike. Yup, I've gone and bought a K750 RT/P in white. It only needs a pair of blue lights on the front and I'll be outrider for the Pantablos of the world.
I'll let you know how well my theory works.
Now to persuade my wife that I still need the GS500 as well!
Lane-splitting just becomes part of the LA riding experience. Last weekend when I headed home from the Malibu group ride, I lane-split for about 40 miles. During rush hour, it's not uncommon to get in a "train" of lane-splitting bikes, with 5 or 6 bikes doing the same thing.
I hesitate to call lane-splitting 'fun' though. Is it better than sitting in stop and go traffic, yes. But is it 'fun' to constantly be scanning traffic looking for someone to cut you off? Well, not so much.
Of course some guys lane-split even when there is no traffic. I remember going an indicated 90mph on the GS when all of a sudden I saw a bike in my mirrors. The guy passed me on the Carpool double-yellows as if I were standing still. Did the same thing to the car traffic ahead of him.
:? hey traveler, ive got a galls siren controller/horn ill sell ya :mrgreen:
Re Traveller's ex-cop bike, there is a bloke in the nearbye town of Deal who rides a white ex-cop Pan-European (ST1100) about 5 years old, the cops now use ST1300s. The effect on traffic is amazing to watch. The cops on motorway patrols must pee themselves laughing all the time at the way people behave.
Hey Wazu, you gonna get me in that deep stuff!
Impoisonating a Police officer is a serious offence...............just in case I change my mind though, how much do you want for the horn? 8)
Quote from: Adam RI hesitate to call lane-splitting 'fun' though. Is it better than sitting in stop and go traffic, yes. But is it 'fun' to constantly be scanning traffic looking for someone to cut you off? Well, not so much.
Not so much fun, though I think it can be if you are doing it with somebody else, i.e. follow the leader, but it is more so exciting and quite a rush. I was (squid moment, dont thrash on me) coming home from a weekend drill on a sat, and just passed this guy on an older (96-ish?) SRAD GSXR 600, who caught up with me, passed me, then had to try to keep up with me when traffic got tight. We were doing a roughly 100mpg lanesplit train with 80-90 mph traffic. I was just in the "groove" and cars just happened to be in the perfect line up. It was great until traffic cleared and he left me in the dust.
Hehehe :) I have kept more than one GSXR in my mirrors while navigating through congested traffic.
It must suck to own a GSXR :nana: