Safer Filtering

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

T.C. ,
I have a 1999 Triumph Daytona and I can't turn my lights off!
This isn't part of the legal thing cos its an older bike, but it has no switch to turn them off. Where do I stand? Confused

____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

TiN · Pocket Tin Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Karma :

Some very good info there T.C. Smile

Just an extra question though (open to anyone) - I remember reading something about not being allowed to filter in front of traffic stopped at pedestrian crossings (they usually have zig-zagged lines in the middle of the road around here). Could someone please clear up the legalities of this for me?
____________________
TiN
dotgems.net

Ian (GPX) · Brolly Dolly Joined: 05 Aug 2003 Karma :

T.C · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Major_Grooves · The Doctor Joined: 10 May 2002 Karma :

Do the police ride with their headlights on? I can't remember noticing if they do.

I did the London Bikesafe training with the Met police a few weeks ago and they never mentioned anything about having your headlights on being a cause of accidents as far as I can remember.

Get a bright YELLOW helmet then everyone will see you coming! Razz

____________________
About me|@Major_Grooves|My company|Digg|Flickr

T.C · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Major_Grooves · The Doctor Joined: 10 May 2002 Karma :

Seeing as you're looking at this from a legal point of view, with headlights being a contributing factor to accidents where insurance claims are involved, surely there is no way you can place legal blame on a biker if they are told to put headlights on by the DSA, regardless of what advanced training says?
____________________
About me|@Major_Grooves|My company|Digg|Flickr

T.C · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Scotty · Scooter Boi Joined: 31 Jul 2002 Karma :

I tend to only ride with the headlight on when its needed,
As the old man told me the light mess's up peoples perception of speed.

which on a motorbike could be quite costly.
so i dont ride with it on.

And the fact my battery is a bit iffy now...
So i don't want to drain it all the time...
____________________
Regards
Scott

mtthwpez · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Karma :

the easiest way is to trust no one believe they are going to block your path 9 times out of 10 they do!

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

When you're riding on the motorways, or anywhere for that matter in a group with lights on in daylight it does look all the time like people are flashing thier lights when they go over a small bump. Quite annoying, as you never know if they are flashing or not Confused

NSR125-Kid-UK · Attention Whore Joined: 03 May 2003 Karma :

When I'm on the bike, I always have the lights on low beam, as not only does it help other drivers to notice me, but it prevents me from forgetting to turn the lights on when it goes dark.

As for lights preventing other drivers from being able to judge your distance and speed, I'd have to agree with that one too. There are times when there's no way i can react to anything, because i am dazzled by oncoming traffic, always a big pain when riding.

I agree with ste about drivers going over bumps while their lights are on. When oncoming traffic is close to me, it dazzles me, and when it's further away, it's merely an annoying distraction.

When all's said and done however, I still ride with lights on. Better safe than not.
____________________
https://www.bikepics.com/members/nsrandy/96rs250/ My Bike!

"I'm either going to teach andy to get his knee down, or I'm going to get him killed. One of the two" - Teaman

djr · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Karma :

Most newish bikes i've seen seem to have the side lights on all day and then just have high and dipped main beam lights or are they riding with dipped full beams and it's just they're not that bright?

Dave_gimber · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Karma :

Hey this kinda related Confused

say if u have a 4 mile traffic jam on a motorway(4 lane ones) can you just go on the hard shoulder, or right next to it an blast down there? Wink

Be kinda cool if you could Razz

____________________
ChRiS- fUcKs ThE lAw, SmOkEs ThE dRaW, aN lIsTeNs To ArRdCoRe!

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

There is nothing stopping you using the hard shoulder at any time, but just because there is a traffic jam doesn't make it any more legal at all.

T.C · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

annndy · Nova Slayer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

I've got a question about filtering up to roundabouts/ juctions.

Say you've filtered up the middle of the road and you've come up to a roundabout and you want to go left, but the car next to you is going straight accross or maybe even right.

Some people rely on accelleration to get out before the car but that can be dangerous

I'd probably hang back a little from the front car with my indicator on and let him go first and then push my way infront of the car behind, is this the best way?

How do you do it?

Thanks
____________________
1991 Suzuki GSF 250 Bandit - 2001 Yamaha YZF R6 - 1998 Suzuki GSF 600 Bandit N

McJamweasel · BCF Junkie Joined: 22 Mar 2002 Karma :

Do not EVER do what you've drawn - that the quickest route to A&E.

If you insist on filtering up to roundabouts then find a gap a few cars back from the front.
____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

...or just go all the way round the roundabout to the exit you're after Wink

____________________
NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

annndy · Nova Slayer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Visitor Q · $25 whore Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Karma :

Marc_Buck · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 31 May 2004 Karma :

McJ he did say hang back behind the front car and go left, that is not so dangerous is it?
____________________
94 fzr600r

Visitor Q · $25 whore Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Karma :

Jinx · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 10 Apr 2004 Karma :

<jewish mother mode>

worth remembering that if you are filtering at a sensible speed the police don't mind but if you go to fast it will be considered dangerous driving and you could well get pulled!

</jewish mother mode>
____________________
Sticks and stones may break my bones but leather and chains excite me! Twisted Evil

Shade_BW · I'm better than you Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Karma :

If that's the case, you guys never want to see me filter.

One thing to bear in mind though, if the opposite side of the road is free of oncoming traffic, feel free to use it. The object here is to get you as far from the danger as possible ie the line of cars you are overtaking.

Filtering depends entirely on your confidence in yourself, the punch of the bike you are riding, the size of the bike and any luggage, the road conditions including weather, and finally the amount of traffic and the general layout of the road.

Golden rules of filtering.

Identify your gap ahead and go for it.
Don't be afraid to abort a maneuver if things change.
Sudden braking can hurt.
Your horn is their to alert other road users of your presence, USE IT!
Thank yous cost nothing, if it is safe to do so.
Be aware of everything that is going on around you.
Lifesavers - there may be other bikes around who want past.
If the gap looks too small, it probably is.
Rain makes things slippery along prime filtering routes.
Traffic lights change, so keep an eye on them, or you may find your foot gets run over Embarassed

Not all wing mirrors are at the same height.
Look out for dust and gravel on unused portions of road.

I can happily filter at speeds up to 80mph on the M4 every day, and anything from a feet down crawl to 40mph through the streets of London. But that's me, I do it every day, and I'm not suggesting any of you should try to do the same, unless you are as confident as I am.

And I don't mean that in a general way. Every single filtering move I make, I do so with 100% confidence, because each one has to be weighed and measured due to the ever changing conditions. If I don't think I can make it, I don't go.

Shade
Even my coffee filters.
____________________
If you like this post, rate it!
Karma is there for a reason.