Riding in the US

We haven't ridden in the US yet but are planning to do so for a couple of months or so next year. That prompts a few questions...

We have a couple of Zumo 660s for which I'd need to get US maps but I see it's possible to get weather information on the 665 and I'm wondering about buying one of those and selling it on when we leave. Weather forecasts in the UK can be somewhat 'variable'. Is the weather information on the 665 worth having?

If I'm pulled over by a gentleman with a blue light on his vehicle in Europe I'll get off the bike, remove my lid, smile sweetly and cross my fingers. Am I correct in thinking I should stay on the bike in the US? How about removing my lid?

On a related subject, radar detectors are illegal in much of Europe but seem to be legal in the US, is that true in all states? I managed to get a speeding ticket while driving in Connecticut a few years ago - I was just driving at normal motorway speed, unfortunately it was UK motorway speed. That cost me $250 and I'm quite keen to avoid another. Searching seems to show the V1 is the device of choice but do they really give early warning or just a warning that I'm about to be pulled for speeding?

Is California the only state filtering (lane splitting) is allowed? I fear this is the one that's going to get me in most trouble as sitting in a traffic jam is just so alien to motorcycle riders in Europe (apart from Germany where is is technically illegal but I see more and more motorcyclists doing it, me included, and German car drivers are more tolerant and helpful than they were a few years ago).

I'm sure this is just the start of a myriad of question I'm going to have...

Thanks.

Kevin

1. No info on the Garmins, I'll leave that for others.

2. Be polite to the officer. You can stay on or get off the bike. Often times getting off the bike will show you aren't going to run. I'll usually switch the bike off, put the hands up to show I ain't doing anything and step off the bike and wait for them to approach. They'll usually then tell me I can relax and put my hands down. Might seem silly but I try to to be obvious when I convey that I'm not doing anything to make them nervous.

3. Radar detectors, varies by state. There's some resources out there to make this easy with color coded maps and such.

4. Yes, California is the only state to allow splitting/filtering.

To expand on the police thing....I also don't remove any gear till I'm told to relax. Then I'll point out that I've got ear plugs and and let him/her know I'm going to remove my helmet.

When they request your paperwork I tell them where the paperwork is and that I'm going to get it. This is better than just shoving your hand inside your bag/jacket, etc. People do crazy stuff to police officers on stops and the more relaxed you can make the officer who has you stopped the better it'll come out for you in the end.

Using all of the above I've been cited a $255 ticket. But also on another stop I got let off with a verbal warning for expired tag, expired insurance card, and incorrect address on my drivers license all on the same stop. THAT guy really was a nice guy, but I also think how I handled myself in the situation helped out somewhat.

I'm not doing it again. Here's what I put in your other thread before you changed it:

gixxerjasen said:

<Snip>

2. Be polite to the officer. You can stay on or get off the bike. Often times getting off the bike will show you aren't going to run. I'll usually switch the bike off, put the hands up to show I ain't doing anything and step off the bike and wait for them to approach. They'll usually then tell me I can relax and put my hands down. Might seem silly but I try to to be obvious when I convey that I'm not doing anything to make them nervous.

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Thanks. I have absolutely no intention of doing anything that makes a man with a gun nervous!

wfooshee said:

I'm not doing it again. Here's what I put in your other thread before you changed it:

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Yep, got it thanks wfooshee. We've no idea where we're planning to go yet but I appreciate the graphic, that really puts the distances into perspective. We've been trying and failing to find a couple of wall maps of Europe and the US at the same scale to drum that into our heads before we leave.

Kevin

If you own a smartphone or can get activation on one in the U.S. that is a great way to stay aware of the weather. Weather/Traffic and XM radio is available on XM compatible Garmin GPS units, but I don't think it's worth paying for for a single vacation trip. I use an iPhone app called RadarScope, and it produces extremely accurate current NEXRAD radar for any location with a phone connection. Note that often means it is not available in certain remote areas of the west.

The police are usually fine with you slowing and carefully pulling over where it is safe. Do not pull over where you are exposed to traffic or will obstruct a construction zone. Switching off the bike and removing your helmet before the officer approaches is a good move and acceptable. During a stop, most officers will pause several moments between the time you pull over, and they exit their vehicle to approach. That gives you plenty of time to settle and remove the helmet.

A radar detector is invaluable. I use an Escort 8500 X50 and it has saved me a lot of grief. Higher end models like the Escort 9500 iX can also alert you to speed and traffic light cameras. Use of a radar detector is legal everywhere except Virginia and Washington DC. Use of a radar detector will not be ticketed, but you are less likely to get a sympathy warning. My preference is to avoid the encounter, and so I use a RD (with all respect to Valentine, it's not the only choice). If you choose to resell one of these units rather than keep it, you will take about a 25-30% hit in resale value for used. Your Zumo 660 can be programmed with proximity alerts for red light and speed cameras here. Get a one-month trial for free and you're good to go.

The solution to all your ride issues about filtering and lane splitting is to either avoid metropolitan areas, or ride in California. Be aware, that outside California, drivers very aggressively defend their position in traffic. While it may be possible (albeit illegal) to move around stopped traffic backed up at accidents or construction, be extremely careful about any filtering due to the aggressive behavior of other drivers unfamiliar with this. Indeed, the best riding and variety is right here, why not give us a try? Hope to see you riding in our area Kevin.

kevinw said:

Yep, got it thanks wfooshee. We've no idea where we're planning to go yet but I appreciate the graphic, that really puts the distances into perspective. We've been trying and failing to find a couple of wall maps of Europe and the US at the same scale to drum that into our heads before we leave.
Kevin

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Think of states as countries and that should help.

Funny story. I was born in the Netherlands while my dad was stationed there in the Air Force. Some years later, their dear friends they met over there came to the US for a visit. When they arrived they laid out their itinerary. Using us in Tampa Florida as a base they figured tomorrow they'd see the Grand Canyon, then the next day Nigara Falls, etc etc etc, including a trip to Cape Canaveral to tour the NASA facility for their son.

My parents suggested starting with the Cape instead. It's about 2.5 hours from Tampa to the Cape. After about two hours of driving in the car they asked what country we were in. When they found out we were still in the same state, well, let's just say that the itinerary got changed just a little bit.

kevinw said:

Thanks. I have absolutely no intention of doing anything that makes a man with a gun nervous!

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Wise. Sadly here in the US, traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things the average cop does. They can be understandably nervous so anything you can do to make them comfortable (and feeling in control of the situation) the better it will be.

Although, I'm surprised no one else has come up with an even simpler solution - don't speed.

kevinw said:

We have a couple of Zumo 660s for which I'd need to get US maps but I see it's possible to get weather information on the 665 and I'm wondering about buying one of those and selling it on when we leave. Weather forecasts in the UK can be somewhat 'variable'. Is the weather information on the 665 worth having?

Click to expand...

I think it depends on the price/hassle of reselling. It can't hurt to have the info but local forecasts you can get on a smartphone or watching TV are pretty accurate on a day by day basis. But even the most accurate forecast can be screwed by Mother Nature. Any major weather you'll come across will get talked on the local news or via a smartphone app. For minor weather, make sure you've got good waterproof gear.

If I'm pulled over by a gentleman with a blue light on his vehicle in Europe I'll get off the bike, remove my lid, smile sweetly and cross my fingers. Am I correct in thinking I should stay on the bike in the US? How about removing my lid?

Click to expand...

As you've seen by other responses, it varies. I've always turned the bike off, gotten off, taken off the helmet and made sad eyes at the cop. That last bit has never worked though...

Someone did mention about *telling* the officer when you are going to go into your jacket or bags to get paperwork. ALWAYS do that.

On a related subject, radar detectors are illegal in much of Europe but seem to be legal in the US, is that true in all states?

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Legal in all states EXCEPT Virginia and Washington D.C. For Canada, legal ONLY in British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Is California the only state filtering (lane splitting) is allowed? I fear this is the one that's going to get me in most trouble as sitting in a traffic jam is just so alien to motorcycle riders in Europe

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Only CA allows it but even then it's technically illegal but allowed. You mentioned earlier about buying a new GPS with weather. I would either buy one that included traffic info or forgo weather and make sure you get one that has traffic info.

kevinw said:

We've no idea where we're planning to go yet but I appreciate the graphic, that really puts the distances into perspective. We've been trying and failing to find a couple of wall maps of Europe and the US at the same scale to drum that into our heads before we leave.

Click to expand...

Yeah - every where is farther than you think it is when you're coming from Europe to Canada or the US.

Once you get your plan in place as to where you want to go/how long you'll be here, it will get easier to make plans based on location and time. The US interstate system gets you places pretty quick but they are generally not fun roads on a motorcycle. Backroads are great but they generally add about twice the time, depending on the distance.

ShawnKing said:

Although, I'm surprised no one else has come up with an even simpler solution - don't speed.

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That suggestion is...um...how do you say? Obvious?

ShawnKing said:

Although, I'm surprised no one else has come up with an even simpler solution - don't speed.

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Of course don't speed...that would be illegal. Especially illegal if there is a patrol car around.

Although speeding is illeagal someplaces you will get run over unless your about 15 over the limit and going with the flow..

Most states wont mess with you at 5mph over the limit and some at even 10 over. Last I knew Montana was like $5 for anything less than 20 over the limit on the highways while most states are a couple hundered for that speed. I also heard that Florida is now also allowing lane splitting at least in parts of the state.

vandy said:

I also heard that Florida is now also allowing lane splitting at least in parts of the state.

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Someone tried to put it up in the legislature, just for a certain county, I think. (Dade?) Didn't fly. (This is from memory, can't be bothered to verify "facts" at suppertime.)

vandy said:

Although speeding is illeagal someplaces you will get run over unless your about 15 over the limit and going with the flow..

Most states wont mess with you at 5mph over the limit and some at even 10 over. Last I knew Montana was like $5 for anything less than 20 over the limit on the highways while most states are a couple hundered for that speed. I also heard that Florida is now also allowing lane splitting at least in parts of the state.

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*sigh* I miss Montana...a road that would have a speed limit of 45mph here in Colorado would be 65 or 70mph up there

...back to your regularly scheduled program

vandy said:

Although speeding is illeagal someplaces you will get run over unless your about 15 over the limit and going with the flow..

Most states wont mess with you at 5mph over the limit and some at even 10 over. Last I knew Montana was like $5 for anything less than 20 over the limit on the highways while most states are a couple hundered for that speed. I also heard that Florida is now also allowing lane splitting at least in parts of the state.

Click to expand...

Just to set the record straight, on Montana highways, anything 10 miles-per-hour or less over posted is a $20 ticket and no points. However, they seldom bother with a stop or citation. If they do stop you, they're probably doing a DUI/safety dragnet and will usually only issue a warning.

Yes, I've ridden the Northern Rockies all my life and Montana has the most liberal speed limits of all states and provinces in the region, which I enjoy (75 on Interstate, 70 on secondaries with some exceptions). Given that, Montana has the highest regional accident and fatality rates per million miles driven, too. Causation? or correlation?

Thanks to legislation that considers county population densities, some interstates in TX are now posted 80 while places like I-35 south of the OK border are 75.

I think one of your biggest issues, as referenced above, is adjusting to the distances here. When we lived in the U.K. we did a couple of 350 mile days and every one of the locals we told about it were stunned. 350 miles here will barely get you between major cities, let alone out of most Western states. The northeast is closer to riding in Europe, maybe some of the NERD's that have ridden in Europe will chime in.

You mentioned "we". Are you two up or on two bikes? We try to limit our rides to 350-450 miles/day which leaves some time for sight seeing (not too much) plus a lesurely send off in the morning and arrival just about cocktail hour.

A motoring guidebook we found while living in Weybridge recommended 110 miles/day for a good "average" speed around S.W. England :lol: :lol:

100 miles will barely get you across the greater Los Angeles area from West to East

Just to set the record straight, on Montana highways, anything 10 miles-per-hour or less over posted is a $20 ticket and no points. However, they seldom bother with a stop or citation. If they do stop you, they're probably doing a DUI/safety dragnet and will usually only issue a warning.

Yes, I've ridden the Northern Rockies all my life and Montana has the most liberal speed limits of all states and provinces in the region, which I enjoy (75 on Interstate, 70 on secondaries with some exceptions). Given that, Montana has the highest regional accident and fatality rates per million miles driven, too. Causation? or correlation?

Yes I remember now.. it was 20 bucks and no points and way more liberal in the east side of the state than the west.

I just took a 7 thousand something mile trip through almost every western state usually doing 300 to 350 miles per day and none on main roads.. that didnt leave alot of time for site seeing so if I do another long trip I think I'll try planning 250 to 300 instead and allow at least 2 hours for anything that I might want to visit along the way.