| Author | Message | ||
     Skully |
If I remember correctly, the lane that you are in is split into the zones when riding a motorcycle. Which one is the correct one to ride in? Closest to the yellow line, center of the lane, or closer to the white line (outside)? Thanks, Keith | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
I'm not an instructor, but from what I remember it all depends on your surroundings. I generally stay in the same path as the left wheels of a 4wheeled vehicle. I can see oncoming traffic easily and it's pretty easy to maintain sight of the driver in front of me through his mirror (as long as I can see him, he can see me too) I do remember from the course that it was suggested to avoid the middle of the lane at intersections. vehicles sit at a sign or light and leak, so it's real easy to lose traction in the center of the lane. | ||
| Kilroy |
I would think that it is dependent on the situation. Pick the zone that gives you the most protection (cushion), most visibility to others, best conditions on the road surface. I don't think any instructor will tell you to pick one particular part of a lane as a rule, there are too many variables. | ||
| Paw |
I am an ex-instructor and Kilroy said it perfectly. No biggie but the last year i was an instructor they changed our title to Rider Coach...They thought instructor was to intimidating to the student. But generaly when I ride, I try to stay out of the center lane that is where all the craps settles from the car tires not to mention the oil droppings at intersections...Most of my riding is in the left lane...Personaly I feel you have a better escape routes to the left or the right if someone begins to cross the yellow line or if someone or somethig enters from the right...I stay in the left lane when traveling in areas that are known for dear...better chance to react to them. (Message edited by paw on March 19, 2009) | ||
| Dhalen32 |
Skully: In a BRC class we talk about three lane positions: left, right and center. Pkforbes87 and Kilroy have essentially told you what we would say to students in a typical class. In my own riding I have to say that I spend the majority of my time in the left most lane position closest to the center line and then move away from that to avoid windblast from oncoming trucks. I then modify this "default lane position" as other situations develop in front of me. You basically need to modify your lane position according to the situation in which you find yourself. For instance, too far right when approaching an intersection may indicate to other vehicles that you will be turning right. This may cause them to pull out in front of you. Too far left might make them think you will be turning left and do something you would prefer they not do. There is really no set answer to your question so focus on keeping space between yourself and surrounding/intersecting traffic while being conscious of what you may be communicating to other road users by hanging way left or way right in the lane. Stopping in the center portion of a lane at an intersection in low traction conditions may place you in a puddle of oil, antifreeze, A/C condensate, etc. Good luck and be ready to use any and all lane positions to avoid getting punted off of the road. Dave | ||
| Babired |
Hey Skully, there are 3 portions in a lane You use them each for hazards, stationary, vehicle, or other. They are not set, as you ride you have to manuver for you best sight, space cushion, and for other hazards to see you. As you get into more advanced schools you will learn more on how to use the 3 portions of the lane. Like Stayin Safe Motorcycle school teaches the Home lane is near the center lines, I call it the Left potion of the lane, then as you approach a blind hill you want to position yourself in the center of your lane so you can escape to either side of the lane for an unseen hazard, and then the right portion, next to the shoulder, Stayin Safe teaches this is a "present yourself" portion of the lane for a line of oncomming traffic, this way the drivers behind the lead car can see you and you have space cushion. I could keep going with line and concentration on curves, right now I am studying to become a Total Control Instructor and go study under Lee Parks next month. Note that every MSF instructor has a different way of explaining it and I'm sure you will get more input from this so as you get the advise take the stuff you can use for each of us and use it, could be one bit of information from me and a whole lot from another. K (Message edited by babired on March 19, 2009) | ||
| Jlnance |
Skully - The MSF answer is generally that you want to be in the third closest to the yellow line. That gives you the best visibility, which is also why that's the side of the car the driver sits on. As you can see from what others have posted, there are exceptions to this rule. The MSF BRC class doesn't really cover many exceptions to the rules, it's not designed for people with enough experience to know when to apply them. It gives you a very good set of rules that work most of the time. | ||
| Court |
Good stuff. . . . I made my "maiden" outing for 2009 last night after doing some work on the bike. I think I may write about it later but for now suffice to say I think (and I'm not denying that age plays into it) that it's an excellent idea to do some pre-season tune up measures. I made and recorded no less than 10 stupid mistakes in the course of 45 minutes last night and within 5 blocks of my house. Nothing big, just the types of things that remind me skills need to be kept sharp. Where's Don Gomo on this? It'd be cool to see him and Kathy doing safety commentary. | ||
| Teeps |
Because I ride bicycles too, I tend to favor the right side of the lane, if I'm alone on the road. If traffic is present, I tend to move about the lane in an attempt at maintaining a cushion between myself and the cars near by. I think a motorcyclist is most invisible to drivers when they maintain a steady state on the road. Whether it's holding a constant speed or lane position. Then there's the age old strategy: "when in doubt, gas it!" | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I think you have your answer.... so.... If you stay on the race line you don't need to worry about it..... LOL. | ||
| Etennuly |
I think you have your answer.... so.... If you stay on the race line you don't need to worry about it..... LOL. Yes you do! They gots white pickups wif blue flashie lights!  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
That race official was pissed! LOL..... but he let us go! | ||
| Jaimec |
Skully: The answer is "It depends." Choose your lane position to give you adequate time and space to react to your surroundings. There is no one lane position that can account for everything and anything that can happen on the road. Anyone who says different is blowing smoke. | ||
| Thumper74 |
For pre-season reconditioning, I recommend that EVERYONE go out and re-read "Totol Control". Also read "25 Years of Buell" so you'll appreciate your ride all that much more. | ||
| Paw |
Choose your lane position to give you adequate time and space to react to your surroundings. There is no one lane position that can account for everything and anything that can happen on the road. Anyone who says different is blowing smoke. This is true...However the left lane is the lane a motorcycle by percentage is more visible to motorist...Most accidents are because a car pulls out in front of a motorcycle...So if your in the left lane approaching an intersection with left turn opposing traffic the driver can see you better and you can give eye contact easier. This was show in a MSF video when I was teaching back in 2002 don't know if it has changed but that is what I remember...And being in the left lane when approaching a car on the right wanting to come out in the road will let the motorist see you further down the road it might not be to much more, but that is all you need for someone to see you. But in the end it all boils down to where you feel more comfortable...It would be a huge mistake to ride in the lane you feel uncomfortable that could get you in big trouble. | ||
| Babired |
court said: I made and recorded no less than 10 stupid mistakes in the course of 45 minutes last night and within 5 blocks of my house. Yesterday morning I rode in the fog on a road well known for having diesel fuel spills, I had to make a left turn onto a ramp to get on 95, the left turn light is flashing red. I almost got hit crossing because I was distracted by the fog and knowing I wouldn't see diesel fuel on the road surface. I blew the red flashing light watching the car ahead of me cross the intersection. Then realized as I was crossing I was in the path of an oncoming car. I was UP THERE on the ladder of Risk unintentionally. I thank God I made it across! It was close! My 12 new students will hear this story tonight. K | ||
| Indybuell |
Its this simple. Be where you can SEE and where you can be SEEN. | ||
| Iamike |
I am not an MSF instructor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once... Rider magazine wrote about a study on this (quite a few years ago). What they found was that in most cases the left tire track gave the best visibility to oncoming traffic. If you are in the right track you can get lost in roadside distractions. But if there is a line of vehicles approaching and there is a possibility that one may want to pass, the right tire track gave a little better visibility. On another note I had an 'Oh shit!' moment this morning on the way to work. It was still dark and I was looking down to check the beams on my fog lights. When I looked up a deer had just run in front of my bike about 20' away. Needles to say I paid a lot better attention after that. Remember, be careful out there! | ||
| Skully |
Riding mostly in the left side of the lane is what I learned 160,000 miles ago and it has served me well. I have a friend who insists on riding in the right side of the lane no matter what the situation and I'm concerned that motorists won't see him until it's too late. Thanks for the opinions. Keith | ||
| Iamike |
Skully- Is he afraid to use the front brake too? Just curious. | ||
| Skully |
LOL No, he convinced himself to use the front mostly and the rear sparingly. | ||
| Babired |
Skully whatever works for your friend, he probably has his own set of strategies he works with. I have a friend who is an excellent leader on group rides but likes to lead the group from the right portion of the lane. Then he crams himself in behind the vehicle in front with a vehicle to his right while leading the group from the right portion of the lane. What I did was start taking pictures of him riding in situations like that then having safety talks when he was ready to have them. He is a really good rider and I would feel he has crash avoidance skills warm in his muscle memory. K |
