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Posted by greenbarn
- December 21, 2013, 08:01:50 AMQuote from: John Hopkins on December 21, 2013, 07:19:46 AMThat seems like a more reasonable practice than I'm familiar with on this side of the pond, now that you explain it like that. It would help that the car drivers are keen on this and expecting you to pass them. Thanks, John, for explaining that.Lane splitting is legal and an accepted part of British driving, we call it filtering, the thinking goes like this, a car driver is stopped in traffic or slowed to about 20 mph, he sees a bike behind him and moves over to make room for him to pass, He doesn't lose his place in the traffic so he will still get where he is going at the same time and it allows the traffic flow to speed up slightly..we are allowed to overtake slower traffic, including police cars, at a reasonable speed, this is generally accepted as up to 15mph faster than the slower traffic but not exceeding the current speed limit, we are allowed to cross broken lines but not continuous lines..Car drivers are not allowed to swerve in front of us or block us or open doors but they are not obliged to move over.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I was once stuck in traffic (in a cage) in Columbus OH (pop 1,000,000 including "surrounding areas"). We were in stop and go traffic on the interstate, about 4 lanes wide. Saw 2 crotch rockets come flying up through traffic splitting lanes. They were going at least 60-70 mph. Both young male riders, both had young girls on the back. I don't think there was a helmet among the 4 of them, short sleeve shirts on all of them, and the girls both were wearing shorts. Now, THAT'S just plain dumb.
Posted by John Hopkins
- December 21, 2013, 07:23:27 AMBack to the handlebars, I just took a tape measure to my bike, the bars are 33" from tip to tip but the levers are 38" from tip to tip and the mirrors are 34" from tip to tip.
John.
Posted by John Hopkins
- December 21, 2013, 07:19:46 AMLane splitting is legal and an accepted part of British driving, we call it filtering, the thinking goes like this, a car driver is stopped in traffic or slowed to about 20 mph, he sees a bike behind him and moves over to make room for him to pass, He doesn't lose his place in the traffic so he will still get where he is going at the same time and it allows the traffic flow to speed up slightly..we are allowed to overtake slower traffic, including police cars, at a reasonable speed, this is generally accepted as up to 15mph faster than the slower traffic but not exceeding the current speed limit, we are allowed to cross broken lines but not continuous lines..Car drivers are not allowed to swerve in front of us or block us or open doors but they are not obliged to move over.
John.
Posted by Troll
- December 18, 2013, 13:00:50 PMThere is a reason lane splitting is illegal in most parts of the world, and a really stupid thing to do in all. Why put your blind trust and your life in a person or persons you have never seen before, with the belief they will not do something either stupid or malicious?
Posted by greenbarn
- December 18, 2013, 12:41:54 PMI never thought that looked like a good idea. I've seen too many people swerve over to see what was ahead, or even open their car door and get out to check something in the trunk!
Posted by 49Reo
- December 18, 2013, 11:42:01 AMQuote from: John Hopkins on December 18, 2013, 08:08:33 AMThere is one clear advantage to wide handlebars and that is when lane splitting (filtering) on the highway if the bars fit through the gap the rest of the bike will follow, however if you hear a clunk clunk sound as you overtake slower cars that is your bar ends hitting wing mirrors...
Please don't ask me how I know..
John.
When my older brother lived in Los Angeles he used to split lanes on his Yamaha Seca; had quite a few close calls.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- December 18, 2013, 10:37:25 AM 
better to hear the clunk clunk sound then the bike coming to a very suddun stop and the human body continues to move forward at any rate of speed.......
Posted by John Hopkins
- December 18, 2013, 08:08:33 AMThere is one clear advantage to wide handlebars and that is when lane splitting (filtering) on the highway if the bars fit through the gap the rest of the bike will follow, however if you hear a clunk clunk sound as you overtake slower cars that is your bar ends hitting wing mirrors...
Please don't ask me how I know..
John.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- December 17, 2013, 17:46:21 PM Sorry Troll but you are too quiet sometimes so need to shake the tree every so often to make sure you are around.....
Lurch any time no big rush snow up to my a.....so no rush
Posted by Lurch
- December 17, 2013, 17:33:57 PMQuote from: CDNRatMan on December 17, 2013, 10:32:20 AMI'll try on the w'end. Kinda flat-stick this week trying to get shit finished before Christmas.Lurch any chance of a picture of this set up and then just with the stock bars held or laid on top to see the difference between the bars......yes a visual person is me......before Troll say's it......
Posted by Lurch
- December 17, 2013, 17:33:23 PMQuote from: pcarrell on December 17, 2013, 06:45:47 AMA bit closer, significantly wider and lower.Looks nice.....what's the difference in hand positioning? Further out? More pullback? Raised height?
I find it helps keep my shoulders relaxed.
It makes for a very 'old school' seating position. However I thought it might end up making me even more of a wind sock on the bike, but thankfully it hasnt panned out that way.
Posted by Troll
- December 17, 2013, 14:18:47 PMYou guys keep dragging me into things...you are a bad influence! He is pretty visual, however!
Posted by CDNRatMan
- December 17, 2013, 10:32:20 AMLurch any chance of a picture of this set up and then just with the stock bars held or laid on top to see the difference between the bars......yes a visual person is me......before Troll say's it......
Posted by pcarrell
- December 17, 2013, 06:45:47 AMLooks nice.....what's the difference in hand positioning? Further out? More pullback? Raised height?
Posted by Lurch
- December 17, 2013, 02:14:04 AMQuote from: Cotton Mouth on December 16, 2013, 22:31:17 PMYup - took it to work today.Looks good. Have you taken her for a spin with the new bars?
Certainly helps keep the shoulders relaxed. The extra leverage on the bars it interesting however. But all in all, I do like them.