Motorway Filtering Etequette...

[HughiusMaximu...]

Evening gents,

Let me start out by saying the filtering rocks..

With the combination of Cornwall and Glastonbury traffic this evening the M5 south was a right bitch around Bristol.
There is something extremely satisfying about bejng able to despatch a few miles of stanstill traffic in a few minutes on a bike that would have taken an hour in a car.

As I was filtering I came up behind another bike that was going slower which was probably understandable as he had side panniers on so he was probably more wary of the gaps.

Another bike came up behind me, and I thought tge lead bike would pull into one of the gaps to ket us through... but he never did.

We eventually ended up crossing over to filter between lanes 1and 2, and then swapped back to 2and 3 when we were past him.

So my question is, would bikeres normally pull in to let faster bikes pass or was this the norm?

[Albigularis]

If they seen you, yes. However, when I'm filtering I spend so much time scanning and looking ahead that I don't check my mirrors, so you could probably sit right behind me and I wouldn't notice.
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[b422063]

Few beeps on the horn, but then do exactly as you would. Probably would start looking for my gap after about 30 seconds of sounding my horn.

[Beehive Bedlam]

I normally let them pass if they get up my ass and follow with caution keeping my distance.

[CaNsA]

inb4 sammy and

[Rogerborg]

I've been taken from behind by surprise before. It's easy to get used to being the fastest traffic in the jam and forget that while you're doing careful, considerate filtering some scofflaw maniac might be jumping the queue a few mph faster.

As above, use the 'friendly' setting on your horn, and do it quite some distance back. That's actually what it's there for.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[BrownTrousers]

I let people through when I'm filtering . If they've caught me up, they are filtering faster so seems polite to do so.

Also when filtering I'm more than happy not to be the first bike as I feel like cars will be slightly more aware one one has just gone past and less chance of them doing something silly to me.
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Bikers make great organ donors - add your name to the register
Ducati Multistrada 950 | Triumph Tiger 800 XR | Honda CBR500R | Yamaha YBR 125 Custom

[DrSnoosnoo]

I try to let them through, if I spot them. Let them go first and get drivers' attention then I'm a bit safer, in my mind.
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[delsol]

[delsol]

I was sat in the A8 east bound one morning, looking for a gap between haphazard queuing traffic.

I hear 'toot-toot' behind me, did not notice the (only) 6 motorcycle cops waiting to pass me.

I pull over and they pass me without even saying 'poor obs' , but not even an acknowledging nod for getting out of their way, then they put on their siren so they can get through.

Oh how I really really wished I could have told them " I don't have a fkn siren".

[Moo.]

i'd usually let them past, then follow their wake
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[Sable]

It is polite to get out of the way if someone quicker filters up behind you.

What utterly boils my my piss is people like the now almost infamous KTM rider in the Hillingdon area who filters slow as crap down Long Lane about 7:30am. The road widens enough for you to get past him. When the traffic eases up he will then make it his mission to blat past as many people as he can before hitting the A40 traffic and filtering as slow as shit for miles utterly refusing to move over and let people past him. He has been tooted, revved and shouted at and he utterly refuses to move into traffic to let people past. I have seen ques of 10 bikes behind him and he just wont budge.

[HughiusMaximu...]

Follow up question please!

I was advised by another more experienced biker to put on full beams if filtering in day time to increase the chance of cars seeing you coming.

Whats the view on this?

[DrSnoosnoo]

[HughiusMaximu...]

It thought it didnt sound like the wisest move alright.

I have never done it but thought it was worth bouncing off the learned BCF masses...

[ScaredyCat]

[bamt]

Agree with the above, and also don't put your hazard lights on when filtering, which some riders seem to like to do. Car drivers may only be able to see one side of your bike, so it gives them a misleading view of your intentions (and it tacitly admits that you believe you are undertaking a dangerous manoeuvre).

[Sable]

You wont just piss off car drivers. Motorcyclists are just as easily dazzled by particularly bright (and potentially badly aimed) full beam lights from other bikes.

[bamt]

Yes - like the bikes who flash and honk at me from behind as I filter at a safe speed on my lovely KTM up the A40.


Only kidding - though I am on that road at around that time.

[Going]

Will let faster people past when I see a gap, but it's annoying when they wait for the last second to pass, causing you to come to a stop

[Rogerborg]

[pompousporcup...]

Wait..what..does full beam actually do anything on your bikes then?

[Nobby the Bastard]