Filtering onto busy roundabouts.

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Seventeen years of riding and I still don't filter straight to the front of the queue at busy roundabouts, I always join the queue when I reach the second or third car back because it seems safer. I've seen other riders go straight down the middle and join the fast-moving throng with hardly a pause. What's the trick? Am I a wuss?

[Pete.]

Do they do it with both wheels on the floor? If so, they are the wussies. True hero riders only enter roundabouts on the back wheel, with one hand on the bar and the other rolling a cig.

No really, you're doing it right because you're doing what you feel comfortable with. Other riders feel comfortable riding more progressively, so that is more right for them.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Rogerborg]

1) General Bike Chat.

2) All depends on the roads and traffic. There are very few roundabouts near me where it would be practical, and other vehicles just aren't used to it. In London, just get on with it.
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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

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Not "Biking Issues"? Ok!

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

You say just get on with it but don't you need 360 degree vision, a force field and perfect bike control to slip into the current? I'm not bad but I feel it's too risky, yet the other riders are getting there quicker. Are they just riding their luck or is there a key to this which I haven't spotted?

[monkeybiker]

Like Pete says, do what you feel comfortable with. It's not going to make that much difference to your journey times.

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Yes but it is a matter of biking pride, plus if you can slip into the throng you are likely undetected by car drivers whereas if you "jump the queue" and then merge they're probably thinking, "Cheeky sod!" Not that I care about that but if there are skills to be shared I want them!

[CaNsA]

[Pete.]

[bamt]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[MCN]

[talkToTheHat]

Do an ERS for 20 squids when they come around next summer or a bikesafe. Pocket money and a day orr two. Will likely make you consider the things you don't know you don't know.

I don't recommended fleeing your comfort zone just because others do, but improving your skills is a way to stay alive and unpotatoed
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Rogerborg]

It's not covered in The Holy System of Roadcraft, so any 'advanced' training you get on it will just be some bloke's opinion. There's no guarantee that his view will be any more insightful than yours.
____________________
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

[doggone]

Bigger ones are more like a curving one way street and have generously wide lanes.
Others are tight and even the approach lanes have barely enough space for adventurous filtering.
A lot of accidents happen at roundabouts, and most wouldn't happen if users properly follow the rules.

The whole idea is that whenever possible traffic flows freely onto it without having to stop. When running well they can handle much more traffic than any alternative complex junctions.

Even Americans have discovered how to use them in recent years

[Val]

[Kaya75]

I filter straight the front unless it's not busy, I use the car on my right as a shield and once they have joined the lane I take their forward position, if it's two lanes I'm unlikely to skip into the third lane, I feel safer when it's a bus or truck, I'm to their left oncoming traffic would have to get through the vehicle on my right to get to me, then I use a boost to get in front of then once they are clear on their lane, no one as got mad, or braked or being shocked, the main issue is watching joining traffic on the next entrance, they tend to pull out, generally they have the gap and the right of way, they don't know I'm aiming at the same spot and am going to open the throttle to take the dominate road position, I don't get mad as I see it, 1 they haven't registered me, 2 they don't expect me to sudden slam the bike over and I get there faster then they expect. Mostly they make there move based on the car, truck, slower vehicles to my left, cause entering traffic at the next entrance to take the opportunity to get on the roundabout. I know this and always give them right of way, see it that it is there right of way really, they made a decision based on the way both me and the right hand driver where joining, they have no reason to anticipate my sudden burst of speed, but they leave enough gap for me to get into, if they don't I can always move further right or change my exit and re attempt, only changed exits once or twice and the most dangerous thing I perceive is another biker doing the same thing on the entrance before mine, me having to move far right quickly and me not having seen the other bike this has happened more then hassle with cars, I've had cars just use bad lane management and nearly hit me, but when I say burst of speed maybe +10 or 15 mph, I can close the throttle and slow down fast and still have control, must dangerous thing at the moment is diesel spills, for me anyway... Of course there are the days when it just don't feel right and I take the time to chill with the queue. Whatever / however you feel safe, wussiness is not being your own person surely?

[matto]

Sometimes I filter to the front sometimes I tuck in earlier, depends on loads of different factors.

The most important thing to remember is that the cars to your right will not have seen you filtering up their nearside as their time will be split between looking at the car in front and the traffic approaching from the right (and possibly their phone, make-up etc.) so don't expect them to leave you space, or even know you've tucked in, in front of them.

[hellkat]

[Rich Bryce]

[Pete.]

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Yeah but really I wanted to be the fastest. Ah well!
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'93 Yamaha XJR400 grey import (p-ex’d), '99 Kawasaki ZX6R (nicked), another '99 ZX6R (still got it) and '03 Yamaha YZF-R1 (still got that too.)

[Undinist]

Why are people wanting drivers to be aware of them? Pish, it's completely unnecessary. All you need to do is anticipate where the cars might go, which is easy enough at a roundabout, then use your acceleration to nip into the gaps. The drivers don't need to see or hear you. When in doubt, more throttle. Roundabouts are fun.
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Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S