Filtering speed and tehnique.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Just trying to get some info from other people concerning filtering and see if I can learn anything to improve. Doing ok so far and have learnt to pick up my speed and remain safe from watching others. So a few quick question's and if you can answer I'd be very grateful. Also any tip's/hint's on good filtering technique's whilst remaining safe would be appreciated. For all the pedant's out there I realise filtering will never be 'safe' as such, so only useful info/answers to the question's required thank's, no "filtering is dangerous" malarky.

Question's.

1) What speed do you filter at through stationary motorway traffic?

2) What speed do you filter at through slow moving traffic (10-30mph)?

3) What speed, if any, do you filter at through normal moving motorway traffic(70-90mph)?

4) Do you reduce your speed when it's raining, if so by how much, or do you stop filtering altogther?

I realise they are slightly odd qeustion's and you won't know the exact speed but any answer's to the question's and any other tips will be taken on board, thanks.

[UrbanRacer]

1) What speed do you filter at through stationary motorway traffic?
40-50mph

2) What speed do you filter at through slow moving traffic (10-30mph)?
45-60mph

3) What speed, if any, do you filter at through normal moving motorway traffic(70-90mph)?
i dont filter

4) Do you reduce your speed when it's raining, if so by how much, or do you stop filtering altogther?
Yes, about 10mph less

[lilredmachine]

The way i filter ain't safe at all. On the way into newport every morning you get 'large' ques, i chop and change through them, going over and through jammed round abouts, swapping from overtaking to undertaking etc. I get a buzz from doing it, i'll come a-cropper one day but high bars and instant torque make it simpler than it should be. All I do is be extra careful and maintain a good view of indicators, especially at junctions.

Through stationary traffic about 30-50 depending on speed limit and the oncoming traffic.

through motorway, i don't really ride on the motorway.
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[.....]

I think the main thing with filtering is to be aware of all the tell tale signs that you pick up on subconsciously and trust your gut instinct. You think that red car is going to swap lanes without signalling? It probably is because it has done something that you have picked up on without realising. The traffic gives lots of clues as to what it's going to do - it's picking up on these that is crucial.

Failing that blast through the traffic at 100mph +.

[feef]

Like a skier in a slalom race..

it's not big, and it's not clever

a
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[Rawker]

[GearboxGeezer]

Its simple, Only got 10-15mph faster than traffic. So you dont get some prick trying to u-turn without look and you whack him at 60mph.

And dont go for small gaps if you think the traffic might move and u might get squashed and die.

[Finglonga]

1) What speed do you filter at through stationary motorway traffic?.....Slow as its safe due to cagers opening doors to stretch their legs.

2) What speed do you filter at through slow moving traffic (10-30mph)?.....Again depends on the situation but never more than 15Mph faster than the surrounding traffic. But if the traffic is going at the spped limit or close It not filtering. Its overtaking.

3) What speed, if any, do you filter at through normal moving motorway traffic(70-90mph)?......You don't as its not filtering at those speeds. Its undertaking and technically illegal.

4) Do you reduce your speed when it's raining, if so by how much, or do you stop filtering altogther?.....I don't stop filtering but ride to the conditions at the time. its just a matter of learning to read the road.

Oh and Never Filter while passing junctions.
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[colin1]

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[gavin]

[Whosthedaddy]

[UrbanRacer]

[P4LERIDER]

back when i used to do lots of motorway miles, sometimes you couldn't help but filter especially when the traffic is at a standstill or crawling along.

If you're going to do it, I find it best to keep in a low gear so that you've always got the engine breaking to rely on & you've also got the power there to squirt on the throttle and get out of a situation if you need it.

Like other people have said i generally filter at probably 5-15 mph faster than the other traffic but only when the road is wide enough and i tend not to filter at over 45 but always keep the power ready in case i need to speed up rapidly..

Also.. i think a good tip is that when you're filtering, filter at your own pace, if you see another bike closing in behind you & you feel that you've got to up the pace as they're gaining on you... panic not. Just move into a space, let them pass & carry on at your own pace. Don't try to keep up with them if they're filtering at stupid mph... just do what you're comfortable with. I can remember some tit coming up behind me when i was filtering on the M4 at a good pace, wanting to get past me. I moved over to let him through and he cracked the throttle open & pissed off up the motorway. About 2 mile up the road I went past him sitting on the hard shoulder rubbing his knee, fairing panels next to him having a heated discussion with a volvo driver... it looked like the volvo had won to me!!

Keep an eye out for people looking in mirrors, wheels turning etc... car positioning in the road & always try to anticipate the worst case scenario.

hope this helps a little

[feef]

[P4LERIDER]

[yambabe]

1) What speed do you filter at through stationary motorway traffic?

Probably only about 15-20mph tops, often less than that. Rarely get out of 2nd when filtering past stationery traffic.

2) What speed do you filter at through slow moving traffic (10-30mph)?

About 5-10mph faster than the traffic usually.

3) What speed, if any, do you filter at through normal moving motorway traffic(70-90mph)?

I don't. Once the traffic gets to over about 40 I tend to stick with it as these are the speeds where (in my experience anyway) people tend to change lanes and/or pull out on you. Unless I'm in a HUGE hurry to get somewhere, in which case it's still the 5-10mph faster option.

4) Do you reduce your speed when it's raining, if so by how much, or do you stop filtering altogther?

Still filter, but yes speed is reduced beause usually visibility is reduced too. I don't need to reduce my speed a whole lot because I'm not usually going very fast to start with!

Finally, a couple of tips from my own filtering experiences (most of the filtering I have done has been on the motorway btw, I don't commute on the bike so rarely need to filter elsewhere. This means I am usually carrying luggage, often tent and other camping gear on the back so my bike is quite wide!)

If you're not sure if you'll fit through a gap, stop! No point squeezing, the traffic will usually move for you quite quickly anyway.

Always acknowledege cars who move over for you with a little wave, thumbs up, or (if it's nice and their window is open) a "thanks".

Don't get wound up by blockers. Try and be patient, you will almost always get an opportunity to get past (see first tip) when other traffic moves and at that point you can "acknowledge" them too - I usually find a finger does the trick!

If a faster bike comes up behind you, move over for them if you can.
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[Kickstart]

1) What speed do you filter at through stationary motorway traffic?

Depends on the space, but probably about 20mph max.

2) What speed do you filter at through slow moving traffic (10-30mph)?

20mph~30mph, if they are doing more than that then I am probably not going to be filtering.

3) What speed, if any, do you filter at through normal moving motorway traffic(70-90mph)?

I don't.

4) Do you reduce your speed when it's raining, if so by how much, or do you stop filtering altogther?

Still filter just with a touch more paranoia and more care over white lines and cats eyes.

All the best

Keith
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[0ddball]

[Paivi]

1) What speed do you filter at through stationary motorway traffic?

15-20mph tops.

2) What speed do you filter at through slow moving traffic (10-30mph)?

10-15mph more than the traffic, but not exceeding the speed limit.

3) What speed, if any, do you filter at through normal moving motorway traffic(70-90mph)?

I don't. When the speed gets to about 50mph, I go with the flow.

4) Do you reduce your speed when it's raining, if so by how much, or do you stop filtering altogther?

Perhaps 5mph less, but definitely more carefully. If it's bucketing down, I tend to stop filtering.

[Vincent]

For the first time about a year and a half ago I was sideswiped while filtering through traffic on a dual carriageway. The first time in 30 years. Turned out the guy was racing his mate in another car into town. I had my headlight on and was wearing a dayglo vest, also had my son on the back. I had no chance of avoiding him as I was alongside the guys passenger door when he decided to change lanes. No indication, no looking in his morror. The result was a broken shoulder and written off Beemer. The worst thing was that the driver that hit me tried to drag me out of the road so he could disappear.
After the accident my confidence while filtering was completely shatered and still feel very vunerable. Now I use a cheap 12V siren from Maplins while filtering. Not only do people check in their mirrors but they actualy move out of the way.

[THCi]

Cant you get done for fitting sirens to non emergency vehicles?

Still willing to try!
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[Vincent]

Probably can get done but I feel it's worth the risk.

[headlamp]

Question's.

1) What speed do you filter at through stationary motorway traffic?

15mph-23mph

2) What speed do you filter at through slow moving traffic (10-30mph)?

15mph-40mph

3) What speed, if any, do you filter at through normal moving motorway traffic(70-90mph)?

I wouldn't

4) Do you reduce your speed when it's raining, if so by how much, or do you stop filtering altogther?

I do filter, but take into account the longer braking distances, in case I have to stop.
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[Itchy]

[JonB]

Can't be bothered to answer all the questions, but the max speed I do filtering on the M-Way is about 40MPH. After that I slip back into the fast lane and wait for traffic to speed up to NSL again.

I never filter near junctions and on the motorway I only filter inbetween the 2nd and 3rd lane. Less chance of drivers swapping lanes.

On Motorways I would say it would be good common sense for when there is a mile til the next junction, to slip back into a lane on the motorway, this is the point when most drivers will be doing lane swapping. Same applies for just after the motorway junction.
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