Motorway Filtering.

[Tracer1234]

So, when the "avoid the motorway at all costs" becomes un-avoidable, I have a quick question for you?

When filtering on the motorway, in standstill or very slow moving traffic, do you prefer to filter between the inside lane / middle lane, or between overtaking lane / outside lane.

Tyia.


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Riding: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Occasionally Riding: 08 Suzuki SV650, Potato: 2011 Yamaha YBR Custom.
Used to ride: 2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (smidsy) 09 Triumph Street Triple (P/X'd) 08 Yamaha YBR (Sold)
CBT 04/14. A: Mod 1 & 2 13/04/15

[Mark_F]

Depends on lots of circumstances.

Are any lanes closed up ahead?
What kind of traffic is queued?
Where is the most room?
Are any drivers acting up?
Are there other bikes to follow?
Are we near a merging point?
Am I exiting soon?

Lots of variables that can make either the better choice.

[Bigvern72]

Pretty much only filter between middle and outside lane. Reason being that the huge lorries rarely go on the outside lane so the chances of getting sandwiched are much lower.
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Tracer 700 (66) and Triumph America (65) - current rides
Yamaha xj600 diversion and Honda cb125f (65) - both 'retired'

[BTTD]

[P.]

I go through any gap possible. Don't care where it is. If I fits I fits.

[Holdawayt]

As above really, but as a rule of thumb I'll filter between the middle and outside lane, moving to between the first and middle lane a few hundred yards from my exit.

I commute on the M5 between junction 3 and 2 so there's rarely a day without standstill traffic.

[CliveFa]

[Rogerborg]

A handy primer about motorway lane names:

https://i.imgur.com/OcdZnaZ.jpg

Less of this inside slow fast middle overtaking crawler jibba jibba, please.
____________________
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

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[hellkat]

[bamt]

Lane 2.5 (or 3.5 on a four lane) is my default, as it is where most people ride, the car drivers are more likely to expect you and in areas where there are lots of bikes there is usually a wider gap there as earlier bikes have encouraged drivers to move to the lane extremities of 2 and 3 giving a space you could get a truck down.

One of the irritations on smaller roads is when someone rides up 1.5 (potentially to skip a line of bikes in 2.5) , causing cars to narrow the gap on 2.5 - sometimes with a jerking reaction as they get surprised.

[angryjonny]

Between 2 and 3 is generally where cars will expect you to be. So I'll typically use that, unless some arsehole is intentionally blocking and I'll find another way around them.

[Matt B]

[Nemo]

I filter between lane 2/3, as said drivers are more likely to expect you there.

Now I'm using motorways again I've noticed a lot of drivers in the outside lane move over to the right, and using their right indicator to let you know they're letting you pass.

Sometimes it's useful, but other times when you're happily plodding along at 80 behind them with the correct gap in front, they do it and you feel obliged to go past.
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Previously owned: Kawasaki KH125, Suzuki GP125, Suzuki GX 125, Honda CB125 TDC '83, Honda ntv 600, Kawasaki ER5, Kawasaki ZZR600, Aprilia RSV 1000 Mille
Now own: Ducati 848 evo

[anthony_r6]

2/3 normally just because that's where I tend to be riding most of the time. Then again, I take the Paddy approach to motorway filtering. If there's a gap and I can make it, I'll use it.
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[linuxyeti]

Generally between 2&3, but have quite often done between 1 & 2
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[angryjonny]

[Hawkeye1250FA]

[kramdra]

It is safer to be lane splitting at 100 than to sit in traffic at 70 or 80. Most of my passes are in the empty slow lane as no one else will use it. Most people in the middle lane were born there and wont move over, unless you are hesitant and they notice. This makes it less risk to pass between than the fast lane as most will want to be back in the middle where they belong.

[P.]

[Bigvern72]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Mark_F]