I commute 50 miles everyday on the 405 in Los Angeles. 80% of this commute involves lane splitting. I've been doing this for a while and I think I'm quick, but safe. So I'm splitting lanes heading South. I'm just to the left of the double yellow taking it easy when some prick pulled in front of me. There was no space for him to go into and he would've been breaking the double yellow. I swerved as much as I could (very litte room). Honestly, my front wheel was probably alongside when he made his move. His fender hit my shin, ankle, and rearset. Though often ridiculed by my Harley friends, I wear full gear. The padding on my shin in my pants absorbed most of the impact. My ankle got thrown back and knocked me into the next highest gear. I took pride in the fact that my footpeg probably left a huge gouge in his ride. Another inch and my ankle probably would've been broken and I'd have had a get off. If I had stopped to chat he would've been picking his teeth up off the freeway, so I moved on.
There, I feel better now.
Be careful out there.
Glad you're generally ok hon. Stupid cager. >:(
sorry to hear that. I'm about to switch jobs and will be on the 405 with you on my S2R from the start in south OC to Santa Monica Blvd... My better half is very nervous about me doing that commute, but I would go insane in a cage.
Quote from: monster2b on August 13, 2008, 09:25:12 AM
sorry to hear that. I'm about to switch jobs and will be on the 405 with you on my S2R from the start in south OC to Santa Monica Blvd... My better half is very nervous about me doing that commute, but I would go insane in a cage.
I had my bike in the shop for a valve job for 3 or 4 days and I thought I would blow my brains out. Difference in commute time - an additional 50 minutes.
Just take it easy at first until you get your groove on. I'm sure plenty of people have given good lane splitting advice previously. There's a lot of new riders out there too and I'm finding I have to watch out for them as much as some cars. I hear "motorcycle down" on the radio every day now.
Glad to hear you are ok....
Quote from: zenjim on August 13, 2008, 09:11:49 AM
I commute 50 miles everyday on the 405 in Los Angeles. 80% of this commute involves lane splitting. I've been doing this for a while and I think I'm quick, but safe. So I'm splitting lanes heading South. I'm just to the left of the double yellow taking it easy when some prick pulled in front of me.
First, glad you are OK.
Now, for the rest of us out here in America that are not allowed lane splitting, paint us a verbal pic please. How many lanes, were in them you were etc. When I hear you were up against the double yellow, I picture the left most stripe, struggling with how a hit on your right changed gears on ya.
I wish the legislature back here would get their head out and allow it. Stuck in traffic with an air cooled bike in leather is a drag.
Quote from: Bigbore4 on August 13, 2008, 10:47:09 AM
First, glad you are OK.
Now, for the rest of us out here in America that are not allowed lane splitting, paint us a verbal pic please. How many lanes, were in them you were etc. When I hear you were up against the double yellow, I picture the left most stripe, struggling with how a hit on your right changed gears on ya.
OK, the car was in the number 1 lane, which is a designated car pool lane. It is the lane all the way to the left. That lane is separated from the other 4 lanes by a double yellow line. It is a $375 fine to cross the double yellow. I was on the right hand side of the cars in that lane with the double yellow just to my right and the cars in the number 2 lane just on the other side of the double yellow. So with the double yellow just on my right and other cars 1-2 feet beyond that, I had the douchebag in the car pool lane on my left swing out in front of me nearly crossing the double yellow. Aside from the fact that there was a double yellow he was illeagally crossing, about 18 inches to the right of the double yellow was the passenger door of another car. So I'm not sure what he was attempting, short of ruining my day. Now those of us who have been around know enough to slow down when there's a "pocket" in the traffic. Just because it's illeagal to dart out of your lane and cross the double yellow doesn't mean people won't do it. But I'm kind of at a loss as to the reason for this behavior other than messing with riders or dropped the latte. The last near hit I had involved a woman (on the phone) doing the exact same thing from the other direction only she completely blocked off the lane. A near stoppie prevented me from entering the rear seat vis a vis the rear window and landing in the lap of her terrified children.
Glad your alright [thumbsup] that close of a call can really shake you up.
i remember SoCal traffic - when it turns into a carpark and you're splitting, pop on your hazard flashers, you'll see people paying more attention and going wider for you.
glad you're still in one piece and posting! [thumbsup]
sounds totally hairball and screwed up in that "slightly" deliberate way. >:(
Quote from: m0t0g0th on August 13, 2008, 12:09:56 PM
i remember SoCal traffic - when it turns into a carpark and you're splitting, pop on your hazard flashers, you'll see people paying more attention and going wider for you.
glad you're still in one piece and posting! [thumbsup]
sounds totally hairball and screwed up in that "slightly" deliberate way. >:(
Bikes have hazards/flashers? I seriously have never found where they are [laugh]
Serioulsy. i wish my bike had them. I have LEDs so i could leave them on if i have to pull over for a whizz and a cigg without fear of my batt dying on me.
I would get an HID bulb, aim it at sideview mirrors and slam on the high beam. Then If its a fast paced lane split, i use my Stebel horn and blip it everytime someone looks like they arent paying attention i blare the horn. I have a stebel horn at that.
But glad to hear your okay man. I think you need to get boots with spikes on em!
Quote from: He Man on August 13, 2008, 12:33:44 PM
I would get an HID bulb, aim it at sideview mirrors and slam on the high beam. Then If its a fast paced lane split, i use my Stebel horn and blip it everytime someone looks like they arent paying attention i blare the horn. I have a stebel horn at that.
I think you need to get boots with spikes on em!
That stuff sounds like science fiction to me. This morning I barely had time to swerve. I may in fact have only moved off my line by a few inches.
Appreciate the well wishes from everyone.
Yes, I have thought about mounting short katana blades just below the footpegs Egyptian chariot style to deal with these occasions. Also, tossable C4 attached to a magnet with a remote control detonator wired to my horn. As well as many of the practical devices we have seen in the James Bond automobiles throughout the years. Nothing says clear the way like a heat seeking missile!
Quote from: GLantern on August 13, 2008, 12:18:44 PM
Bikes have hazards/flashers? I seriously have never found where they are [laugh]
you're not kidding?
... i've had a Yamaha 250, Kawasaki 500, and the Ducati - all have hazard flashers.
...... if it turns out to be a "little bike" thing i'm gonna hit the floor.
Quote from: m0t0g0th on August 13, 2008, 01:29:43 PM
you're not kidding?
... i've had a Yamaha 250, Kawasaki 500, and the Ducati - all have hazard flashers.
...... if it turns out to be a "little bike" thing i'm gonna hit the floor.
Just checked the owners manual of my 1098 and there is nothing about hazards/flashers in it, i don't remember the 695 having them either.
Quote from: zenjim on August 13, 2008, 01:22:16 PM
That stuff sounds like science fiction to me. This morning I barely had time to swerve. I may in fact have only moved off my line by a few inches.
Appreciate the well wishes from everyone.
Yes, I have thought about mounting short katana blades just below the footpegs Egyptian chariot style to deal with these occasions. Also, tossable C4 attached to a magnet with a remote control detonator wired to my horn. As well as many of the practical devices we have seen in the James Bond automobiles throughout the years. Nothing says clear the way like a heat seeking missile!
PS sorry for the threadjack!! I think the blades on the side of the bike would be a great mod [thumbsup], u need to also have a switch to add extra preload to your shocks so when you flip it off it shoots you into the air to avoid cars. Or you can jump on top of cars using it too [popcorn]
Theres never been a hazard flasher on the monsters. maybe on the touring models, but never on the monsters. if it does, its probably after market.
and the side blades on your pegs sound like a sweet idea..... brb. going to home depot.
We have hazard lights, just not ones that you can access while in motion. When you turn the key left to turn the engine off, there is that one more step beyond 'off' you can go to, which turns on flashers. Obviously, in order to do this the bike needs to be off...
It's important to be careful not to turn these on by accident, because it'll drain your battery pretty quick if you don't notice them as you get off the bike.
I think in the case of the original post here, the car did it intentionally, so sneaking up in a quieter and less noticeable fashion would have worked better. Sort of like how when you want to change lanes in heavy traffic you don't just leave your turn signal on the whole time, because people would see it and try extra hard to keep you out of their lane.
Quote from: Alex on August 13, 2008, 02:13:41 PM
We have hazard lights, just not ones that you can access while in motion. When you turn the key left to turn the engine off, there is that one more step beyond 'off' you can go to, which turns on flashers. Obviously, in order to do this the bike needs to be off...
On my 05 and 06 Monster, the only thing turning the key to "P" (park) does is turn on the parking light, no flashers...
Quote from: NAKID on August 13, 2008, 02:48:36 PM
On my 05 and 06 Monster, the only thing turning the key to "P" (park) does is turn on the parking light, no flashers...
+1 07 S4R...just parking lights.
Quote from: Alex on August 13, 2008, 02:13:41 PM
I think in the case of the original post here, the car did it intentionally, so sneaking up in a quieter and less noticeable fashion would have worked better. Sort of like how when you want to change lanes in heavy traffic you don't just leave your turn signal on the whole time, because people would see it and try extra hard to keep you out of their lane.
Dude, traffic is stopped and I'm the only thing in between the lanes. Ain't a lot of sneakin up to be done.
Just remembered that Tues & Thurs I take my Eskrima* sticks with me to work for class afterwards. If this had been yesterday and I stopped the bike and he gets out of the car - could've been a real Jet Li scene.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskrima
Quote from: zenjim on August 13, 2008, 03:27:56 PM
Dude, traffic is stopped and I'm the only thing in between the lanes. Ain't a lot of sneakin up to be done.
Just remembered that Tues & Thurs I take my Eskrima* sticks with me to work for class afterwards. If this had been yesterday and I stopped the bike and he gets out of the car - could've been a real Jet Li scene.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskrima (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskrima)
Link Fixed
Could have been very painful without full gear. You had a lucky escape dude! [thumbsup]
zenjim, glad you are ok!!!!
was there a car on your right or was there a gap that this guy was going for? it sort of sounds like he did it intentionally. I had someone do this to me once breaking my rearset (and somehow not my leg). I think some people are just pissed off that they have to sit in traffic and do crazy things as a consequence. I often remind myself that the cars want to kill me.
also, I would venture to guess that it isn't legal to lane split on the double yellows. technically, I believe the law refers to "lane sharing" but we all know this involves shifting back and forth between lanes. I've wondered if you can be ticketed for not signaling while doing this. I'm not putting any blame on you at all, just saying you might want to split lanes 2 and 3.
again, glad you weren't hurt.
Bummer dude. That kind of crap happens to us riders all the time in the land of friendliness, Las Vegas. Glad you're ok though.
Glad to hear you made it out okay. I've had a few close calls myself in the last few months. one was a lady throwing a Big Gulp cup out her window... at 80! ouch and two exits later a dude steering with his knees as he was eating a burrito almost put me into the K-rail. [bang] Ride like you are invisible in the front, and a big red target on your back.
Quote from: zenjim on August 13, 2008, 10:08:41 AM
There's a lot of new riders out there too and I'm finding I have to watch out for them as much as some cars. I hear "motorcycle down" on the radio every day now.
I counted seven this morning... and that was before 8am! One of them was a moto [leo].
Please be safe everyone.
Quote from: sh on August 13, 2008, 03:58:13 PM
zenjim, glad you are ok!!!!
was there a car on your right or was there a gap that this guy was going for? it sort of sounds like he did it intentionally. I had someone do this to me once breaking my rearset (and somehow not my leg). I think some people are just pissed off that they have to sit in traffic and do crazy things as a consequence. I often remind myself that the cars want to kill me.
also, I would venture to guess that it isn't legal to lane split on the double yellows. technically, I believe the law refers to "lane sharing" but we all know this involves shifting back and forth between lanes. I've wondered if you can be ticketed for not signaling while doing this. I'm not putting any blame on you at all, just saying you might want to split lanes 2 and 3.
again, glad you weren't hurt.
There was no gap. If he continued for another 2 feet he would have run into the door of another car.
I was not on the double yellow. I was between the copious amount of room between it and the row of cars.
Here in LA motorcycles cross the double yellow frequently when lane sharing in a reasonable manner. I have done it with motorcycle cops in front and behind. No signaling required.
I'm convinced he was f*cking with me.
But it gets better. I just got home. I'm heading North on the 405 going home. Splitting lanes at 5 pm, I'm between lanes 1 & 2. Ahead there's a Caddy in lane 1 and a Rent-an-RV in lane 2. The RV guy looks at me and starts moving over real slow to close off what was once a generous gap. Then he starts laughing. As I pass him eventually (as we always do) and flip him off it's just the funniest thing ever for him.
Never underestimate the selfishness, stupidity and cruelty of human beings.
Quote
Never underestimate the selfishness, stupidity and cruelty of human beings
If someone took this statement seriously they would never lane split. Maybe that's the answer? Society has moved in a direction that denies the existance of others to further the image of self fulfillment and egoism. Maybe the time of lane-slitting has come and gone? Maybe those that believe it is still possible to safely lane-split on I-405 are denying reality?
Quote from: tangueroHondo on August 13, 2008, 06:58:50 PM
If someone took this statement seriously they would never lane split. Maybe that's the answer? Society has moved in a direction that denies the existance of others to further the image of self fulfillment and egoism. Maybe the time of lane-slitting has come and gone? Maybe those that believe it is still possible to safely lane-split on I-405 are denying reality?
No, those who took that statement seriously would never get on a bike. Even stopped in traffic, you're subject to people pulling up, yelling at you, tapping you for fun, and trying to squish you.
Answer? There's rarely a concrete answer to something gray. One just needs to protect oneself.
Quote from: zenjim on August 13, 2008, 06:28:00 PM
But it gets better. I just got home. I'm heading North on the 405 going home. Splitting lanes at 5 pm, I'm between lanes 1 & 2. Ahead there's a Caddy in lane 1 and a Rent-an-RV in lane 2. The RV guy looks at me and starts moving over real slow to close off what was once a generous gap. Then he starts laughing. As I pass him eventually (as we always do) and flip him off it's just the funniest thing ever for him.
The problem here is that the guy you just flipped off is now behind you. This puts you in an extremely vulnerable position unless you are absolutely sure he can't catch up to you.
I was splitting once and had a guy in a huge SUV almost squeeze me into a parked delivery truck. I tapped on the guys window to let him know I was there. Seems harmless enough, right? Wrong. He completely flips out and drives around traffic into the shoulder to come after me. People are friggin nuts.
zenjim, sorry to hear about your incident, glad you made it through OK. [thumbsup]
Quote from: sh on August 13, 2008, 07:41:38 PM
The problem here is that the guy you just flipped off is now behind you. This puts you in an extremely vulnerable position unless you are absolutely sure he can't catch up to you.
+1, I learned after getting attacked on my bicycle that it is never a good idea to flip off or otherwise piss off someone in a larger
vehicle weapon than you.
Quote from: zenjim on August 13, 2008, 11:30:25 AM
OK, the car was in the number 1 lane, which is a designated car pool lane. It is the lane all the way to the left. That lane is separated from the other 4 lanes by a double yellow line. It is a $375 fine to cross the double yellow. I was on the right hand side of the cars in that lane with the double yellow just to my right and the cars in the number 2 lane just on the other side of the double yellow. So with the double yellow just on my right and other cars 1-2 feet beyond that, I had the douchebag in the car pool lane on my left swing out in front of me nearly crossing the double yellow. Aside from the fact that there was a double yellow he was illeagally crossing, about 18 inches to the right of the double yellow was the passenger door of another car. So I'm not sure what he was attempting, short of ruining my day.
got it, thanks.
I could list a bunch more things along the lines of other posts to even the score, but stay on the high ground, it isn't worth dropping to their level. I wrote a while back about an incident where I ended up finding the a-hole and seriously contemplated freeing the fire trapped in his pickup. Ultimately I called the cops. Best case, the a-hole's spouse took the call from the cops.
Anyhow, end game is you're OK and he's still an a-hole.
Ride Safe!
Most important is you are OK.
IMO, since he hit you and lane splitting is considered legal in Ca, but crossing a double yellow clearly isn't, it seems a call to the police and an accident report would have been a good idea. If he didn't hang around, even better, hit and run.
zenjim, It's good for you that you are well aware of your surroundings & able to avoid a worse case scenario.
Quote from: sh on August 13, 2008, 07:41:38 PM
I was splitting once and had a guy in a huge SUV almost squeeze me into a parked delivery truck. I tapped on the guys window to let him know I was there. Seems harmless enough, right? Wrong. He completely flips out and drives around traffic into the shoulder to come after me. People are friggin nuts.
You right about the "nuts" part ....... I've met someone who blew his top just because I told him that "his car brake light malfunction".
Quote from: tangueroHondo on August 13, 2008, 06:58:50 PM
If someone took this statement seriously they would never lane split. Maybe that's the answer? Society has moved in a direction that denies the existance of others to further the image of self fulfillment and egoism. Maybe the time of lane-slitting has come and gone? Maybe those that believe it is still possible to safely lane-split on I-405 are denying reality?
What an interesting thought. I have a friend who is a way better rider than me and a monster at the track and he doesn't lane split. Perhaps he's right?
But I also think if you dwell on those negative qualities of human beings, forget lane splitting, you'd never leave the house. Look at the cruelty of nature. And the beauty. Life's no picnic. You also need to take into account your own positive qualities. It is achieving in this adversity that brings us honor, or makes life worth living, however you want to phrase it.. Maybe a little heady for a ride on a bike...
Anyways, made a nice dinner for my girlfriend and my boys, had some beverages [drink] played a game of escaped prisoner and the warden's wife, and all was well in the zenjim household.
Then got up and did it all over again.
Quote from: sh on August 13, 2008, 07:41:38 PM
The problem here is that the guy you just flipped off is now behind you. This puts you in an extremely vulnerable position unless you are absolutely sure he can't catch up to you.
I was splitting once and had a guy in a huge SUV almost squeeze me into a parked delivery truck. I tapped on the guys window to let him know I was there. Seems harmless enough, right? Wrong. He completely flips out and drives around traffic into the shoulder to come after me. People are friggin nuts.
405 at 5pm traffic is stopped. In an RV he couldn't chase me for more than 3 feet.
But I need to not flip people off. It's not very zen of me. I'm getting out of my usual headspace. Need to head back to the zenjim cave and meditate. Then I can get back to just levitating around these obstructions.
Quote from: zenjim on August 14, 2008, 06:51:39 AM
Anyways, made a nice dinner for my girlfriend and my boys, had some beverages [drink] played a game of escaped prisoner and the warden's wife, and all was well in the zenjim household.
there ya go [thumbsup]