So it's not 1080p for some reason, but I just got a GoPro that was on sale at my local Cycle Gear.

Here's the vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tslpGWhZZnU

p.s. If anybody knows how to embed videos, please tell me and I'll edit.

       I'm kind of new here, thanks!

Nice. I don't think there is ever a "relaxing" lanesplitting here in Cali. Even splitting in light traffic can get tensed

Is lane splitting ok in Texas?  I thought California was the only state it was allowed?

If its not ok in Texas - to each their own - but what is the penalty for lane splitting and what are the odds of getting caught?

Umm, I dunno, but you're not gonna see a patrol car at this time on this road.

Who would WANT to sit in stop and go traffic? They just patrol the nearby area off the freeway.

Right now I'm currently waiting on a court date in January for "Unsafe Lane Change," but really that was a long series of lane changes and then a split at the red light and then gunning it to get out of traffic.

I was one street away!

I don't think there really is a law against lane sharing, it's just not deemed or seen as "legal."

Not to mention a bill is currently in committee to legalize lane-splitting here in Texas, so that's another thing I've got written down to cite to any officers or judges in an attempt to keep my driving history clean.

Nice camera you got there. I bought the Contour GPS a few months back. I got it mounted in the same place too 

Here in Ontario, lane splitting is a big no-no. It's not in the culture here, drivers are uneducated about it and so they will actively try to block you and stop you. It makes it quite a dangerous activity, so I stick to waiting in traffic

A few days ago I was having a conversation with a friend who told me he tries to block people who lane split because he shouldn't have to worry about looking into his lane for motorcycles or why they should pass him if he has to wait.



Honestly, and I'm dead serious about this, I think less of him because of that.  I hate hate hate when people are so selfish about use of public property.  Basically, and I could tell this was obvious just based on how he was answering me, he doesn't want anyone to be able to go faster than he can. 

How childish is that? 

Nice vid - How long you been riding ?

Do you ever see other bikers lane splitting in Houston ?

Thumbs up for bravery. I'm a new rider and i don't think i'd try that.  I'd just keep thinking of someone opening their driver's door to empty their coffee cup or take a spit without looking first.....the result would be horrible.

I can't imagine living in houston and not lane splitting.  Nice video 

Quote from: tricky on November 30, 2011, 11:38:36 PM
Nice camera you got there. I bought the Contour GPS a few months back. I got it mounted in the same place too 

Here in Ontario, lane splitting is a big no-no. It's not in the culture here, drivers are uneducated about it and so they will actively try to block you and stop you. It makes it quite a dangerous activity, so I stick to waiting in traffic

Drivers around the Greater Toronto Area are some of the most dangerous and impolite in the world if you ask me. Passing left and right without signalling, rear view mirror use appears to be purely optional and actively blocking people that may have some advantage because of their size such as is the case with cyclists and motorcyclists.
With busy traffic where two lanes are merging nobody understands the concept of zippering (letting a car from each lane merge one after another) but they actively promote the gridlock by not wanting to give an inch to another person. Absolutely maddening and dangerous to boot.
When cycling downtown I've had drivers swear at me for not being on the sidewalk while riding on the sidewalk with a bike is actually illegal.

Okay, apologies for somewhat off-topic rant included ...

Joris.

Nice video, how do you like the gopro? Have you tried mounting it on the top of your helmet opposed to the sides? I think the panoramic shot would be better if you're able to see both lanes of traffic fully.

Why did you wave to that red Chevy at 1:18?

Okay, first of all thanks for all the positive replies, I didn't know what to expect from this community.

To answer a few questions.

I got my bike Early August. No previous riding experience, but I've already clocked 8500 miles. I deliver meds for a hospital to other children's hospitals on my bike.

I saw one guy split me and another car @ 80mphish, I was going 60. That was just two cars though, I've never EVER seen another motorcyclist split lanes here in Houston.

Yes, lanesplitting is always scary at first, my heart used to pound and pound when I did it, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes and more natural it feels. (And the less you care about what others think about you for doing it).

I really like the GoPro. They were having a close out sale on them at Cycle Gear to make room for the HD Hero2's.
It was reduced to $200 and I had a 15% off coupon with me.

I haven't mounted it on the top of my helmet yet, but I immediately regretted the way I mounted it because of the view and also because at 80mph with a strong headwind, you get a significant amount of drag on the left side of your face which is tiresome on your neck after about 10 minutes.

I waved to the red Chevrolet car because they moved over to give me more room, I always make a point to wave at those drivers because they didn't have to, but they did anyways and it's a nice gesture.


A note about Houston drivers.
They're pretty much the same everywhere, you can't really see many people trying to block me in this vid because of the lens distortion, but people always try to block me.

If you notice the 18 wheeler 2 minutes in, he slowly creeps over to block me.
These guys are usually the best drivers on the road and the last people you'd expect to do that kind of thing.

Nothin bad to say about it.
just that you've got some BALLS! 

but im sure with all the slow & stop and go traffic, I would be doing it too.
that crap Kills ur wrist after awhile!
I would probably just get fed up.

but sure as heck wouldnt otherwise! haha

Quote from: NickyNumbers on December 01, 2011, 03:40:22 AM
A few days ago I was having a conversation with a friend who told me he tries to block people who lane split because he shouldn't have to worry about looking into his lane for motorcycles or why they should pass him if he has to wait.



Honestly, and I'm dead serious about this, I think less of him because of that.  I hate hate hate when people are so selfish about use of public property.  Basically, and I could tell this was obvious just based on how he was answering me, he doesn't want anyone to be able to go faster than he can. 

How childish is that?

You should. He's the reason motorcyclists get hurt. Even though lane splitting is illegal here if a cop isn't around I'll do it. I'll chance a guy getting pissed off over the dangers of me looming in the middle of traffic. I don't split while moving, only at lights/dead stops and never when a car can turn out in front of me (lane splitting the right/left lane to turn).

People threaten me telling me they'll open their door on me, some people even roll down their window to yell. I simply say back "You're on your cell phone, drinking your designer coffee, changing the station, and doing anything but paying attention and I'M the one who's wrong?"

Alternatively if they're on a cell phone I'll split the lane and get up to their door and rev my engine loud enough they can't hear anything.




Driving is a privilege. Cagers need to understand this. They're jealous they can't split lanes (it has nothing to do with checking for anyone - they don't do it anyway) so they want us to suffer along side them.

I never put my life in somebody else's  hands, sorry 

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 04:52:26 PM
I've never EVER seen another motorcyclist split lanes here in Houston.

When I'm riding to work about 90% of the bikes split lol.

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 04:52:26 PM
Yes, lanesplitting is always scary at first, my heart used to pound and pound when I did it, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes and more natural it feels. (And the less you care about what others think about you for doing it).

+1 But just don't get too cocky, or over confident with it and expect the unexpected.

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 04:52:26 PM
I haven't mounted it on the top of my helmet yet, but I immediately regretted the way I mounted it because of the view and also because at 80mph with a strong headwind, you get a significant amount of drag on the left side of your face which is tiresome on your neck after about 10 minutes.

Yeah I'd rather see both lanes but I'm around 6'1 and with the GoPro a mount and adapter it's about 6'3 and kind of looks annoying

This is a test video I did which shows how high it looks (especially with the fisheye lens - maybe a flat lens is different?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRd5dGsAGsg

An alternative might be to put the GoPro under your chin, like if you have enough room to fit a mount in between your visor and the part that protects the chin (not sure how safe it is though from a short term perspective eg. crashing with it near your neck, or long term perspective, it might be a bit heavy and cause you neck problems.

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 04:52:26 PM
I waved to the red Chevrolet car because they moved over to give me more room, I always make a point to wave at those drivers because they didn't have to, but they did anyways and it's a nice gesture.

I do this as well, not sure if it matters but I guess it brightens up their morning/afternoon. At least I think to myself there's at least one motorist that looks out for bikes.

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 04:52:26 PM
A note about Houston drivers.
They're pretty much the same everywhere, you can't really see many people trying to block me in this vid because of the lens distortion, but people always try to block me.

Yeah, the lanes look nice and wide where you were riding,  and people seem to stick to the left hand side of the lane, I'm not sure if it's a law/guideline (I think we're supposed to do it in Australia but hardly any one does) but it does make splitting easier between the left and middle/right lane.

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 04:52:26 PM
If you notice the 18 wheeler 2 minutes in, he slowly creeps over to block me.
These guys are usually the best drivers on the road and the last people you'd expect to do that kind of thing.

Yeah I ride to work where the ports (sea freight/air freight) is coming into Australia so there's just as much trucks as there is cars, 99/100 the trucks notice you and give a thumbs, or move over or even have a chat once I'm at the front of the queue and then let me get in front so I'm more noticeable to them (doesn't happen heaps often but still nice to see truckies like that).

One time one of the guys (happens to be my boss) from my work was at the petrol/gas (for the US people ) station getting a newspaper or whatever and I left about 30 seconds before him and it was traffic the whole way to work (it's about 20km to work from the petrol/gas station), we left about 30 seconds a part and I split about after a minute staring at the back of a SUV (when you're on the bike with no music and nothing to do it's kind of fustrating) any way we both left around 7:10am and I got to work at 8:20am (usually get in around 7:45am) and he got to work at 9:45. I told him what time I got into work and he started laughing. Fast forward about 6 months later and his now got a bike (doesn't ride it to work though - but none the less I felt good that day).

I've split lanes in SoCal traffic every day for years. Once a month or so I see or hear about some squid that got cocky and f%&ked himself up doing it; but overall, if you wreck a motorcycle it's your fault. Being prepared for assholes who want to block you, or toss a burrito out their window or cross double yellow lines into the carpool lane is part of riding, well, here anyway.

After watching the video (1/2 way then I commented) I noticed that if people would drive and pay attention most of the traffic won't be like that. There were lots of gaps and empty pockets of lanes, but I forgot that people need to text, put on their makeup, read the paper while their driving which makes for traffic jams. So the cage drivers need not get upset at those of us who pass them by.

So to those drivers  and double

Ya hum, i would definitely pull you over for that and most likely give you a ticket. You got some balls doing it, but if I had to pick you up off the ground I wouldn't be giving you any sympathy. But im tanted that way.

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 04:52:26 PM

Yes, lanesplitting is always scary at first, my heart used to pound and pound when I did it, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes and more natural it feels. (And the less you care about what others think about you for doing it).

you're way outside my comfort zone, especially at the 5:35 mark in the video. wether it's you, or a car driver that makes a mistake won't matter at those speeds and close proximities to cars/trucks. you will lose.

splitting stopped traffic is one thing, but i don't do it for moving traffic. i hope you'll see some of the other crash videos on youtube of folks splitting at speed and re-think your take on it.

ride safe homie !