Reminded me of home

[andym]

I had a lovely experience yesterday whilst riding home after work and thought I would share it with you. 

I was riding down the Tollway as normal when I came across a big queue of slow moving cars, as I started to slow down I  made a couple of lane changes to get through the gaps.  Whilst doing this the traffic virtually stopped but I could not resist the urge to keep going, so I did  [moto].  And I must say the cages were generally very accommodating with most moving across to give me room.  A couple seemed to try and block me but I  think they were just driving as normal and not paying attention to me behind them. Once the speed of traffic picked up again I just slotted in amongst them again.

I know this is not recommended here but it felt no different to riding in the UK and I was never going above 20mph.

[RED]

Happens all the time in L. A. You can't go down the PCH and not have a half dozen bikes come within inches of your rear-view mirror! At stop lights ...forget It. You better look all around you and keep your arms inside the cage.

I actually did the same Andy this past summer when coming into Dallas one time. The traffic on I-30 had stopped for an accident so I split because my Duc was overheating just idling. Most didn't mind at all. A few actually got over and waved at me.  [moto]

[cdc]

Glad you had a good experience.  I'd be careful though.  Ride safe and don't trust the cagers.

No knock on Dallas people that I know or who read this but I was in Dallas yesterday and it is different in Dallas than it is in Fort Worth.  At least it was back then.  In Fort Worth, people used to let you change lanes if you used your turn signals.  They actually let you in front of them.  Even back then, if you used your turn signals in Dallas, people would just speed up to block you off, typical big city driving etiquette.  I can see it here in Fort Worth now, sad but true. 

What about coming over for dinner Thursday?  Westies Thursday dinner, Easties invited.  I'll bring warm beer for you.   

cdc

[Cyclone]

  When I first saw your post I thought maybe you saw traffic on the WRONG side of the road haha  ( which in TX is somewhat likely) !

I'm with CDC on using lane split judiciously !   

[svoloch]

i've actually seen more people doing it lately...  have I missed a rule change?  happy to scofflaw, but would just rather know that I am doing it, so I can take the right tone of "i didn't know I couldn't do that" vs. righteous indignation....

[dallas2r]

I've been getting more "experimental" lately. (hand-sign) On the way over to F.W. tonight, 820 was backed up 4 miles due to a wreck. The first mile I played by the rules and drove like a good cager would, but with no end in sight to the sea of red brake lights I soon ventured into the nether regions between the lanes. The K-bike feels wide and I found myself puckering a little coming up on semi's and large trucks. One guy didn't like what I was cookin' and cut me off and honked so I decided to cool it for a bit before taking the left shoulder the rest of the way out of the melee. All in all it was a favorable experience, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're COMPLETELY aware of what's going on around you. I wouldn't put it past someone to do something stupid.

[svoloch]

I've been getting more "experimental" lately. (hand-sign) On the way over to F.W. tonight, 820 was backed up (hand-sign) 4 miles due to a wreck. The first mile I played by the rules and drove like a good cager would, but with no end in sight to the sea of red brake lights I soon ventured into the nether regions (hand-sign) between the lanes. The K-bike feels wide (hand-sign) and I found myself puckering a little (hand-sign) coming up on semi's and large trucks. One guy didn't like what I was cookin' (hand-sign) and cut me off and honked so I decided to cool it for a bit before taking the left shoulder the rest of the way out (hand-sign) of the melee. All in all it was a favorable experience, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're COMPLETELY aware of what's going on around you (hand-sign). I wouldn't put it past someone to do something stupid.

(hand-sign)

not bad, but you missed a few.

cheers,

-The Svoloch

[andym]

One guy didn't like what I was cookin' and cut me off and honked so I decided to cool it for a bit before taking the left shoulder the rest of the way out of the melee. All in all it was a favorable experience, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're COMPLETELY aware of what's going on around you. I wouldn't put it past someone to do something stupid.

I know this may sound crazy but I feel safer passing between the cages than I do rolling in stop go traffic.  I would rather have to deal with someone in front of me not liking me pass and trying to block me than than someone behind me not paying attention and rear ending me. 

[TresGatos]

I know this may sound crazy but I feel safer passing between the cages than I do rolling in stop go traffic.  I would rather have to deal with someone in front of me not liking me pass and trying to block me than than someone behind me not paying attention and rear ending me. 

I agree, at least you have some control of the situation.  Having spent 6 mo. on a sport bike and on slabs with Tommy as a guide, negotiating traffic with the hammer-lane packed with non-passers I guess it pisses cagers off that someone has the ability to weave through the mess and get somewhere (while having fun on a Duc!) [moto]

[greenohawk69]

Happens all the time in L. A. You can't go down the PCH and not have a half dozen bikes come within inches of your rear-view mirror! At stop lights ...forget It. You better look all around you and keep your arms inside the cage.

I actually did the same Andy this past summer when coming into Dallas one time. The traffic on I-30 had stopped for an accident so I split because my Duc was overheating just idling. Most didn't mind at all. A few actually got over and waved at me.  [moto]

...within a few inches of your rear view mirror?  Now dat be sumz ridin'.   

[BarneePhife]

The K-bike feels wide and I found myself puckering a little coming up on semi's and large trucks.

Tip:  The K-bike is wider than you think.... ask Slag. 

[Slag]

Tip:  The K-bike is wider than you think.... ask Slag. 

And tougher than an F-250

[dallas2r]

Tip:  The K-bike is wider than you think.... ask Slag. 

I can shoe-horn that byatch into any tight spot!  [moto]

[pipeliner1978]

I can shoe-horn that byatch into any tight spot!  [moto]

that's what she said

[svoloch]

Tip:  The K-bike is wider than you think.... ask Slag. 

So, when I lived in SF, I was commuting on the 2001 K1200RS I had, with nice big side bags to hold my laptop, etc..  I would frequently spot my co-worked shooting down the freeway on his zx10, and then it was on.  Lane-split racing through stop and go traffic, and the K1200RS would frequently hold it's own.  I won frequently.  On one occasion, my co-worked congratulated me on my victory, and then pointed out the horizontal white stripe newly appeared on my right side bag....  hmm...  never felt it....  that's how stable those K bikes are