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  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!   
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!   
sounds totally hairball and screwed up in that "slightly" deliberate way.   

Bikes have hazards/flashers?  I seriously have never found where they are 

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 

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 , 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

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.