Which side of lane?

Farkles · Nov 5, 2007

:dribble: ok was riding with a friend yesterday and he is a new rider and took the course. He has a hog, I noticed he was riding in the middle of the lane. :blink:

I was told that that is not good because you pick up the goo that comes from cages. and it can build on the tires and can cause problems when you do things that require traction.

So as this board and the denizens of it have the combined knowledge of the ages what is the correct way or most correct.?

v65 · Nov 5, 2007

As soon as your avatar shows her ****s you'll get an answer. I've been staring, but she seems reluctant.

madmike2 · Nov 5, 2007

Farkles said:
:dribble: ok was riding with a friend yesterday and he is a new rider and took the course. He has a hog, I noticed he was riding in the middle of the lane. :blink:
I was told that that is not good because you pick up the goo that comes from cages. and it can build on the tires and can cause problems when you do things that require traction.

So as this board and the denizens of it have the combined knowledge of the ages what is the correct way or most correct.?

Either of the "wheel tracks" depending on the everchanging "threats" from traffic, road conditions, approaching turns or intersections, etc.

You are correct, middle of the lane puts a rider in the puddles of oil, grease and splooge (including transmision fluid) dripped by "normal" vehicles, especially near intersections and turn lanes. This is preached by all who have written books on street riding.

You might buy your friend "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. A lot of street knowledge and tactics for new riders, including lane position, etc.

Scab · Nov 5, 2007

Whew! By the looks of the thread title, I thought you were a tailor!

Joe2Lmaker · Nov 5, 2007

Scab said:
Whew! By the looks of the thread title, I thought you were a tailor!

Now that's funny.

Added points for arcane reference

FJR_pig · Nov 5, 2007

Scab said:
Whew! By the looks of the thread title, I thought you were a tailor!

Confirmed not to be the case by his avatar...luckily for us..

Joe2Lmaker · Nov 5, 2007

v65 said:
As soon as your avatar shows her ****s you'll get an answer. I've been staring, but she seems reluctant.

FJR_pig said:
Scab said:

Whew! By the looks of the thread title, I thought you were a tailor!

Click to expand...

Confirmed not to be the case by his avatar...luckily for us..

Doesn't she need to be a little higher on the tank to be considered a farkle?

sonicspeed · Nov 5, 2007

Doesn't she need to be a little higher on the tank to be considered a farkle?

i don't think i could afford that farkle

wfooshee · Nov 5, 2007

Always in the tire tracks.

Unless it's raining. The tire tracks are usually worn and hold water, in which case you're screwed. Standing water or oil. Standing water or oil. How 'bout a chzburger at this nice place here?

DrBunsen · Nov 8, 2007

I'm also always in the tire tracks as well. Yes, I do worry about the grease in the middle, but I'm probably just as worried about things like nails. If a nail is in the tire tracks of a well travelled road then it'll probably get picked up by a tire pretty quickly, but one in the middle of the lane may stay there for hours waiting for someone changing lanes to find it. I figure that my best chances of not picking up nails is to ride where lots of other tires have gone before.

And, no, it's not a perfect system as evidenced by the fact that I had to pull a nail from the rear tire a couple months back. :/

Bunsen

twowheelnut · Nov 8, 2007

From the FWIW Department...

From the CA Motorcyclist's Handbook:

So if the traffic situation allows, the center lane position is usually the best place for you to be seen by the driver ahead and to prevent lane sharing by others.

On my written rider's test this question was asked:

"Which part of the roadway is best to ride on: Left, middle or right."

If you don't answer, 'middle', you will get this question wrong because of the above CMH quote.

juniorfjr · Nov 8, 2007

However, I was told by a friend that took the safety course that he was told to ride in the middle, so cagers could see him in the mirror. I still ride in the tire track.

7xray · Nov 8, 2007

I like being in the left wheel track when stopped at a red light. That way I'm not hidden behind a vehicle in case somebody coming the other way wants to do a quick left turn behind the vehicle I'm behind.

DrBunsen · Nov 8, 2007

juniorfjr said:
However, I was told by a friend that took the safety course that he was told to ride in the middle, so cagers could see him in the mirror. I still ride in the tire track.

Interesting. In my class I was told to ride in the tire track area... for the exact same reason! I believe that the theory was that drivers will use the side-view mirrors as much as the main rear-view mirror. And if you're behind something that doesn't have an effective center rear-view mirror (e.g. semi's, bob-tails, cars full of junk, etc.) then they'll have only the side-view mirrors to go by. Besides, even if you're right on the tail of a car and they only look in the center rear-view I'd think that you'd still be visible.

As for me, I spend 98% of my time in either the far left part of the left lane or the far right part of the right lane. That way when someone starts coming over I have plenty of notice, and it minimizes the threat from one of the sides. I save most of my fear for the dangers behind me.

Bunsen

Bustanut joker · Nov 8, 2007

Seeing as how this is "off track" already.

I usually just get drunk and run shoulder to shoulder.

Who knew???? :blink:

:jester:

Old Michael · Nov 8, 2007

Doesn't she need to be a little higher on the tank to be considered a farkle?

i don't think i could afford that farkle

I'd borrow the money.

RiderCoach Lar · Nov 8, 2007

Farkles said:
....what is the correct way or most correct.?

Let's start with the INcorrect position. Staying in one position within a lane, whether it's left, right, or middle, constantly, without ever changing is incorrect. Lane position should be dynamic, not static. You should position yourself within whatever portion of the lane that best allows you to see potential hazards ahead as well as allowing others to best see you or see you sooner. There's also the consideration of avoiding wind blasts from other vehicles and giving yourself some space between yourself and other vehicles.

What's correct? The answer is, it depends.

(By the way, GREAT avatar)

Silver Penguin · Nov 8, 2007

The answer has to be 'It depends'. Sometimes the left track is best, sometimes the right track is best and sometimes (especially when taking the DMV written test) the center is best. It all depends on what's going on at the time.

Stop lights, bus stops, toll booths etc where vehicles stand, are likely to have goo in the center lane. Also at intersections, beware of sunken wheel tracks when the road is worn. Vertically challenged riders do best with the bike in the low part of the road and the feet on the higher part. Try it the other way, and reaching the ground is a problem. Then again, sunken wheel tracks will have standing water during a sudden shower.

The right wheel track puts you close to parked vehicles with doors that open, kids that run out, parked cars that pull out. The left track puts you closer to oncoming traffic yet gives a better view of intersections on the right.

Left or right gives the driver in front of you better visibility of you, than a center position. That is, of course, if he/she is equipped with the necessary desire and ability to use the mirrors.

Jill

twowheelnut · Nov 8, 2007

Depends is the answer for leaky seniors, not where to position your motorcycle.

Which side of lane?

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