Which side of lane?

[RiderCoach Lar]

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

Based on the fact that two nationally certified instructors/RiderCoaches gave essentially the exact same answer at the exact same time might be a good indication that it IS where to position yourself on your motorcycle, regardless of whether or not you have an incontinence problem :blink:

 

[Windjammer]

Lane position should be dynamic, not static.

WOOF!

Can't believe it took so many posts for someone to say this! But then there was the rather significant and entertaining avatar to discuss. WOOF to that as well!

 

[evil_henchman]

I vote for it depends. Either tire track is fine and it depends on lots of variables. Also, debris of all types is usually found everywhere but the tire tracks.

 

[cougar8000]

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

Based on the fact that two nationally certified instructors/RiderCoaches gave essentially the exact same answer at the exact same time might be a good indication that it IS where to position yourself on your motorcycle, regardless of whether or not you have an incontinence problem :blink:

make it 3.

Lane positioning should be fluid. If you get stuck in one lane for too long you are falling off the radar of riders around you. I always demand space form other riders and it alows me to move from left to right and back. I would swing each direction sometimes just to wake up people on front and back. kind of saying hey I am still here.

 

[cougar8000]

Oh and the avatar is HOT. Would she like to take a picture on the 07 :dribble:

 

[cadman]

i ride mostly in the left side of the lane during summer months, due to a/c condensate in my hot, humid part of the country. in the summer months its amazing how much water is added to the road. in the cooler months i tend to i ride in both right and left tire lanes.

alan

 

[FJR1300Mark]

Which lane and then which track in that lane is a changing target. Depends on who and or what is around you, infront of you and beside you. Evaluate the possibilities and then make your decision. I've made some less than stellar choices and it hasn't bitten me yet. I think I'm getting better at it.

Fluid

 

[madmike2]

....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)

Remarkably similar, though far more wordy and detailed, to my answer of post #3 on Nov. 5th:

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

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.

Okay, Tim, that is the "legal" answer according to CA DMV. Now, for the practical and applicable answer: What part of the traffic lane do you actually ride in (Ditch is NOT an acceptable answer)?

Lane positioning should be fluid. If you get stuck in one lane for too long you are falling off the radar of riders around you. I always demand space form other riders and it alows me to move from left to right and back. I would swing each direction sometimes just to wake up people on front and back. kind of saying hey I am still here.

I like the term "fluid". I try to keep in mind that traffic must "flow" and perception of interruptions to that flow alert me to possible dangers. Changing lane position helps keep the commuters awake. I do the same thing, changing positions to see if the driver is "tracking" me.
Are we including certain avatar pictures in "I've been everywhere, man"?

 

[twowheelnut]

Based on the fact that two nationally certified instructors/RiderCoaches gave essentially the exact same answer at the exact same time might be a good indication that it IS where to position yourself on your motorcycle, regardless of whether or not you have an incontinence problem :blink:

Frankly, I could give a **** about what anyone says, regardless of their accreditation. I had college 'professors' teach me wrong information. The State of California has it wrong on their written test. BFD. 'Depends' is not a position on the roadway. It's not even an answer. It's fluff. It's smoke. There is an answer for every situation as there are options for that situation.

Besides (and with apologies to Frank),

"For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught

To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the throws and did it my way!

Yes, it was my way"

 

[twowheelnut]

Okay, Tim, that is the "legal" answer according to CA DMV. Now, for the practical and applicable answer: What part of the traffic lane do you actually ride in (Ditch is NOT an acceptable answer)?

Which ever lane I'm in at the moment.

I like the term "fluid".... ... "flow" ...

See? Depends will fix those issues! :lol:

 

[FJRottie]

Depending on which lane I am in, road type, and surrounding environment I will use the left, centre and right track.

I am also prepared to use the road shoulder, the sidewalk and someone's lawn.

 

[cougar8000]

Which lane and then which track in that lane is a changing target. Depends on who and or what is around you, infront of you and beside you. Evaluate the possibilities and then make your decision. I've made some less than stellar choices and it hasn't bitten me yet. I think I'm getting better at it.
Fluid

I did not read what you really said. Only this morning I REALLY read what you were saying.

I trully dislike center lane on the 3 lane highway. Maybe because I am paranoid maybe not, but I am trying to limit my exposure as much as posible. I keep telling myself there is no KGB left, but it is hard to kick old habit

Utilizing, not staying in one track, left or right lane allows me to have a much easier out and 99% my exposure is only from 3 sides and not all 4. Out of those two my least favorable is a right lane due to all cars leaving and entering highway.

 

[JimLor]

I ride on the side of the lane that I want to "protect." Coming up 95 this AM in the far left lane, I ride on the right 1/3 of the lane. If I'm in the right lane, I'll ride in the left 1/3 of the lane unless an on-ramp is coming up - if I see someone entering I'll switch to the right 1/3 until I pass them or they get in front of me. On the beautiful 2 lane roads around here, I'll ride in the left 1/3 - when I come up to a "blind" hill, I'll get in the right 1/3 and then go back to the left after I crest the hill. I rarely if ever ride in the center of the lane. And nothing makes me more queasy than the biker who rides as far away from traffic as they can (far left of the far left lane) - in my opinion they're inviting other drivers to try and share their lane, or they're doing their best to make sure they are not, not visible. Trying to shrink into the scenary is, in my humble opinion, the absolute worst tactic out there!!!!

I opt for a position where I think people will see me better, rather than a position farthest from vehicles in lanes next to me so I have more time to react. Where traffic is all headed the same direction (ie, RT 95) I work hard at never getting myself blocked in. I'll speed up or slow down so that I'm never in someone's blind spot and I have an "out" into the lane next to me. Plus, I will get past cars in lanes next to me at a "brisk" pace so I spend as little time as possible in the danger zone.

Bottom line for me is that I am an "active" rider and will position myself where I think I need to be so that the dimwitted drivers can see me best (if they bother to look) and where I can react and have somewhere to go if they don't see me (or look) and attempt to occupy my space at the same time I'd doing so! Other drivers (regardless of vehicle type) are the enemy!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES (actually tomorrow...) and Axeman a special HB to your son!

 

[RiderCoach Lar]

Based on the fact that two nationally certified instructors/RiderCoaches gave essentially the exact same answer at the exact same time might be a good indication that it IS where to position yourself on your motorcycle, regardless of whether or not you have an incontinence problem :blink:

Frankly, I could give a **** about what anyone says, regardless of their accreditation.....[/i]

Now THAT'S the attitude we should all have. To hell with learning from someone else's mistakes; let's just go make 'em all ourselves. And if we're very lucky, maybe we won't become someone's hood ornament!!!!

(thank God most responsible riders....including most on this forum..... don't think that way)

 

[Toecutter]

I ride wherever I'm farthest from other vehicles. See the link "Stay right, stay alive" in my sig file to read a good discussion about lane positions. No search needed....

 

[Inlaw1]

Agreed you need to be a bit dynamic when choosing which part of the lane to run dependent on circumstances. That said, I ride the center the least, and ride the left of center the most. I do so in order to not be hidden behind any traffic I may be following and to be seen by oncoming traffic that may want to turn across my path.... which happens to be one of the most common accidents motorcyclist are involved in.

 

[fitrx]

Obviously, riding a bike is just far more complicated than I realized. After 30 years, only now can I fully appreciate the difficulty. Not to make too little of the safety issue or the need to always be aware, but jeez.

Reading this I think I will sell the bike and just drive the cage.

 

[madmike2]

Reading this I think I will sell the bike and just drive the cage.

Okay....but a couple of things you should consider while enjoying a thread like this:

1) Its an in-house discussion by enthusiasts who really do care (Regardless of TWN's alter-ego responses). :glare:

2) Similar to religion and politics, everyone has different skill-sets, experience levels, motivation, riding habits and perceptions.

3) Its Winter! It always gets a little "testy" here when FJR owners can't ride as often as they'd like.

4) Are you going to sell it cheap? :lol:

Signed: der shtirrenuppenmeister

 

[twowheelnut]

(thank God most responsible riders....including most on this forum..... know that TWN is only yanking my chain.)

Fixed.

 

[madmike2]

(thank God most responsible riders....including most on this forum..... know that TWN is only yanking my chain.)

Fixed.

Y'old softy. :fie: If only more people realized your avatar is a pomeranian--not a German Shepherd. :group hug smilie: