Filtering Silliness

[Annabella]

As I was mindlessly filtering at 35mph through stationary traffic on the M6 last night thanks to "Warning - Smoke" signs, I wondered at what point does filtering become really stupid?

As the traffic started to move again, I continued to keep my speed a healthy 25 mph above the average speed of the traffid... Until I noticed that I was squeezing between lorries and vans at about 90.

What speeds are you comfortable filtering at?

Also, do you go for gaps between two vehicles alongside each other (at the risk of getting crushed, but not T-boned), or weave around vehicles (i.e. overtake, undertake, overtake, undertake)?
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[Suzuki]

I'm a fan of squeezing between vehicles, rather than overtake/undertake, simply because there's less chance that they'll pull out.

Strangely, I also have the problem of not really knowing when to stop filtering. You get so used to it, that even when the traffic is back up to speed again, it becomes a real problem to stop filtering.
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[Chriss]

When my ex was rushed into hospital, I got from RAF Cosford to Wigan in just under an hour in peak traffic, I reached stupid speads, but that was with real determination. Normally I keep it to around 40 in stationary traffic, and then I take it a car at a time when cages are moving above 20.

I'll also squeeze between vehicals and over/under take, except for lorries. I squeezed between them once on my bandit and my wing mirrors got bent before I promptly dropped back.
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[Annabella]

[Zoffo]

Always filter in first gear so I make plenty of fookin noise. The idea being that it reduces the chances of some tvat pulling out to change lanes right in front of you. I was doing this once and I began to hear music coming from someones car stereo. I slowed down figuring that whoever it was probably couldn't hear me coming and sure enough I spotted an arm out of a car window tapping a beat out on the roof...just before he decided to change lanes right in front of me. If I'd been going any faster he'd have had me off.
BTW that doesnt necessarily mean I filter slowly. first gear is about 80/90 on my bike.
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[Method]

I always used to be timid about filtering full stop... but after i started giving my g/f lifts to work in the morning, filtering becomes almost a necesity to ensure we arive at work on time. So i have got used to it a lot over the past few months.

I feel comfortable filtering at what i feel to be quite fast for filtering - 40-50mph, anything above that i tend to feel that the traffic is allready moving fast enough for me to just sit back. Anything more than 45mph i cant mentally justify filtering through - unless ofcourse it is on a big dualie or motorway. When filtering i tend to go for gaps between cars as there is more chance that they are looking in their mirrors to see if anything is coming up through the middle or whatever, than they are for things coming flying up the hard shoulder... I have gone through some pretty silly gaps at some pretty silly speeds, but i try to limit the risks i take by being as cautious as i can be when doing so. Low gear = Loud noise, Sit up = More of you visible, Weave a little bit = Drivers see you and take notice of you .. not just glance at you in the mirors and see you as stationary, and a green jacket = Visability again.

BTW This is my 1000th post
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[Chriss]

[Method]

[impaler]

I'm a really timid filterer... I'll go past stationary traffic at maybe 20-30mph, once the traffic's going at that speed I slot back in. If I had to do it with any regularity I guess I'd get more confident.
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[Method]

Although despite saying all i have,

If i ever see a police car ahead of me, i will slot back in and will not pass it. The only time i will is if i see another biker in front of me go past it.

Thats the one thing i am still realy timid about when it comes to filtering
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[Wave2k]

Living in london, you have to be agressive or you get no where
in this lane, that lane paths everywhere.
now 4am in london
its a racetrack


just watch out for them speed cameras
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[Adam_P]

I'm usually fairly slow at filtering, about 20-25 mph. But I'm still making progress while all the stupid car drivers are stuck doing nothing, so I'll still make it ahead of them and to my destination quicker than I would if I was sitting in the car.

Besides, it's fun glancing in the mirrors and seeing people pissed off that your moving and they aren't!
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[Kirmit]

I must admit to being a complete nutcase when it comes to filtering. This is partly due to the fact I bottled it when I first ever tried (sat on the hard shoulder for 2 hours).

It does depend on the speed of the surrounding traffic. When filtering through slow traffic will do about 30 over their speed.

When traffic over 50/60 I go mental Will happly filter between cars and have no hesitation passing between 2 lorries/buses at 90+. Last week I even scuffed my shoulder on the side of a lorry.

I will every now and then think to myself 'Slow down you Muppet' but will start accelerating a few minutes later.
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[dainesefreak]

The only time I need to filter is on my commute to work and I'm never in that much of a rush to get there.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Limit my speed quite a lot when filtering. Probably 10~20mph more than the surrounding traffic, and far happier filtering between 2 vehicles than past a vehicle which has a gap beside it.

Going onto the hard shoulder to filter will get you a very big slap from the police if you are seen.

Think TC posted a few months ago about what is regarded as an acceptable speed for filtering, and it was lower than any of us have yet mentioned.

All the best

Keith
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[Chriss]

Haha, acceptable speed, why are the police cars going to chase us?

(Joke, by the way, I know of police motorbikes and helicopters)
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[minesweeper]

10-15 mph above the car traffic is sensible, means you can scrubb off speed alot easier if the cage's decide to act stupid, ive "lost" and nsr125 whilst filtering

[G]

[dainesefreak]

This months Bike mag has an article in there about filtering and has some comments from T.C. in it. Star in our midst!

[yambabe]

I am a very slow filterer. 20-25mph through stationery traffic, about 5-10mph faster than the traffic if moving, but only up to about 45mph. Over that, I tend to just drop back into the traffic.

I also move over for faster bikes when filtering.....
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Found the post from T.C:-

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=32542

Relevant bit

[fuzz]

I tend not to filter if the traffic is going 50 or faster, but I'm comfortable doing 40-50 myself past moving traffic. I tend usually to weave between the traffic - going through when they are side by side is probably safer but I always imagine them to converge at the front when I start to filter between them, particularly lorries, even if they stay perfectly parallel to one another.
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[stinkwheel]

Things can get very silly when filtering. I try not to go mad these days unless I have really lost my temper due to idiotic drivers creeping past one another with a 2mph difference.

I used to regularly ride on the Edinburgh City bypass. There was this wierd effect that happened when the road was nose to tail at about 50mph during rush hour. If you went at just under double the speed of the traffic (so say 90-95mph), gaps seemed to appear in the traffic and you could slip through it moving from lane to lane with no effort. Go much faster or slower and you get snarled up.

I don't know why this happens but it is true, I have spoken to many other bikers who have noticed the same effect.
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[-Savage-]

I was travelling from sout down to Ballymena last week, and an accident on the motorway ment that i had to do the whole journey on normal roads, and so did every other car in northern ireland![seemingly] It was the most filtering i had ever done, as traffic was at a standstill, and I felt a bit dodgey about doing it, as for a part of it I was following a police bike infront of me, but it only took me and extra 15 minuites. Il bet there are cars still stuck there! lol
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