Biker Poll: Motorways- what speed will you filter?

[goodlife]

Biker poll:

We all filter between 2nd/3rd lanes on the motorway when the 4-wheelers are stationary. We also do it when they are moving.

After seeing an SP-1 this AM filtering at 90mph+ when the traffic was doing 75ish, it made me think...

Do you have a personal cut off speed above which you will no longer filter and get back in lane? Also, how much faster than the cars do you go?

40mph for me. Below it will filter but no more than 10mph faster than the cars. Cars above 40mph and will hop back in lane.

>>> Edited by goodlife on Thursday 21st August 11:41

[monkeyjunky]

Depends on definition of filter. I'll use the bike lane to pass cars with a car speed of up to 70. However, when they get to over 40 I won't go between 2 cars (similtaneous pass of lanes 2 and 3), but will pass a car in either the 2nd or 3rd lanes. Thus its more a case of overtaking on the inside (all be it same lane) than a real filter.

[goodlife]

Interesting. I personally considered it more dangerous to overtake/undertake than filter (pass two cars next to each other in lanes 2&3).

It's down to percentages. If tin-box driver in lane 3 has a car beside him in lane 2, he's unlikely to try to change lanes. If he has a gap in lane 2 next to him, he's likely to swerve into it without indicating (because they all do!).

It depends a lot on traffic volume though.

[Stig]

Dan, won't filter beyond the speed limit. As you say, it's safer to filter than over/undertake as there's nowhere for them to go. I always make sure they know I'm there though and most will move over to give me room.

Btw - whoever I had a little burn with last night, from Burchett's Green into Henley on the Aprilia Tuono - nice wheelies mate

PS. Got the GTO-3R yet?

[rsvnigel]

goodlife said:

Interesting. I personally considered it more dangerous to overtake/undertake than filter (pass two cars next to each other in lanes 2&3). It's down to percentages. If tin-box driver in lane 3 has a car beside him in lane 2, he's unlikely to try to change lanes. If he has a gap in lane 2 next to him, he's likely to swerve into it without indicating (because they all do!).

That's the same as my thoughts on it, when micra 'a' is doing 65.0mph and micra 'b' is overtaking him at 65.5mph then I feel safer nipping though the gap, when you know exactly where each numpty is and what they're going to do.

I normally stop filtering once the traffic hits 70mph btw.

[A J]

Coming back from Dorset one Sunday evening i was filtering as i do. I didnt think i was traveling too fast, my attention was on the cars around me. As i looked it my speedo i realised i was doing 85/ 90 mph the cars around me were bumper to bumper, and must have been doing 75/ 80 mph .

When you think about it reaction times at that speed are very slow, if some numpty drifts wide and punts you off you basicly have no chance.

I'd like to say i dont filter over 50 mph, as i think thats reasonable to avoid traffic, but in reality its proberly around the speed limit. I think the loud exhaust wakes them up just before i steam past!

[monkeyjunky]

I can see where your comming from with prefering to hit the gap between two cars rather than undertake but having been squeezed at 70 (banging fist on the roof did the trick in the end) I like to leave somewhere for me to go.

That said if theres a definate move from the car in front to create space then I will take the opportunity.

[goodlife]

Stig said:

Dan, won't filter beyond the speed limit. As you say, it's safer to filter than over/undertake as there's nowhere for them to go. I always make sure they know I'm there though and most will move over to give me room. Btw - whoever I had a little burn with last night, from Burchett's Green into Henley on the Aprilia Tuono - nice wheelies mate PS. Got the GTO-3R yet?

Picked up an R1 at the weekend Chris. Top bike. We should go for a trundle soon. Was thinking of blasting over to Avebury (sp?) sometime next week, up for it?

The Noble is due in around 3 weeks or so. lotusnobles just posted that he'd taken delivery of R20 and R21 yesterday. Mines R27, so at 4-a-week it should be here very soon.

[GreenV8S]

Non-biker but I try to keep an eye out for bikers and help them past by moving obviously sideways out of their way. Often get a little 'thank you' wave as they go past which is nice. Normally expect to see closing speeds of 10-15 mph. The other day I was caught by surprise as a biker came out of lane 1, through my blind spot and passed me between lanes 2 and 3 with a closing speed of about 60 mph. He carried on through the traffic at high speed, weaving so hard that he looked like he was about to put his knee down. At those speeds, very few people if any would have had any idea he was there, until he went past them. I was quite relieved to see him pulled over on the hard shoulder behind a patrol car a couple of miles later on. I usually feel a bit sorry for people who get pulled over (I know it's only a question of time before it happens to me) but I reckon that cop probably saved this biker's life.

[goodlife]

Did he have a beaten up old bike with 'Courier' written on the back of his jacket?

Crazy sh1t if he's a normal bloke with wife & kids, but completely normal if you are a dispatch rider.

[toad_oftoadhall]

I will only start to filter when traffic slows to

[goodlife]

toad_oftoadhall said:

I will only start to filter when traffic slows to

to what? to less than 5mph? to bark at the moon?

[Steve_T]

You mean the section just before the limit drops 40, with the scamera on the left shortly afterwards? Tend to hang back a little there until the four wheelers sort themselves out.

Steve.

[Stig]

goodlife said:

Stig said: Dan, won't filter beyond the speed limit. As you say, it's safer to filter than over/undertake as there's nowhere for them to go. I always make sure they know I'm there though and most will move over to give me room. Btw - whoever I had a little burn with last night, from Burchett's Green into Henley on the Aprilia Tuono - nice wheelies mate PS. Got the GTO-3R yet? Picked up an R1 at the weekend Chris. Top bike. We should go for a trundle soon. Was thinking of blasting over to Avebury (sp?) sometime next week, up for it? The Noble is due in around 3 weeks or so. lotusnobles just posted that he'd taken delivery of R20 and R21 yesterday. Mines R27, so at 4-a-week it should be here very soon.

Nice one mate. Top bike they are too. Is it the 'new' shape? Mines a lowly 2001 model Am racing at Silverstone this weekend, but may be about the week after?

[Yoda954]

Luckily I don't have to commute on M'ways, but use plenty of 2 & 3 lane A roads, usually 40-50 mph limited. I won't filter unless traffic is doing less that say 30 in a 40 etc... & will do no more than about 10-15mph more than their speed depending on how much it is. One eye in their wing mirrors & the other on the driver hoping to anticipate their intentions......often enough you just know when a certain type is going to do summut silly.
I've seen too many sudden lane changes over the years to not bear this (and other factors) in mind !
I'll move over where possible for faster riders & try to acknowledge drivers that see me & pull out of my way.
As I use the car much more nowadays in the winter or if it's pi**ing down (poof ), it's quite easy to forget how 'in-visible' we are despite lights blazing & loud pipes (windows up & radio on will drown that out from a shortish distance). As a result road positioning to make oneself visible to even the observant biker-friendly driver is just sooooo important, and much of this is speed related

Yoda (often cautious........but HEY - it's my ass!) 954

[eliminator]

Will filter up to 70 on m'way, but running into London each morning I drop into traffic around the speed limit or +10mph

[iguana]

131 mph coz thats all it will do flat out(*)


Ok serious answer now which is pretty much the same as others i.e. approx 10 mph more than the cars up to 50-70 ish although often im just not in the mood & will only filter if traffic speed is dead slow esp in the wet.

Passing on the inside however, if there is lots of room, i.e. coz inside lane is free for miles & there is a hard shoulder to duck onto if I need it in a numpty pull over emergency- I consider pretty much as fast a speed as posible to be fine


(*)as proved by the speed traps at Bruntingthorpe (131 on laser was showing just shy of 150 on the clock, what a swizz )

[hertsbiker]

What an embarrassing thread! I have done some horrendous things in the past. 150mph undertakes, and 120mph filters? oh my gawd. How am I still alive if speed kills?

[A J]

hertsbiker said:

150mph undertakes, and 120mph filters?

Hmmmmmm........

[s2ooz]

I have two moves, when speed is below 20 (jams) I filter at 25-30, but when traffic is at 40-50, I wont filter, theres too much swerbing going on to be safe, then again at 70,Im happy at 80-90, quick blips, get thrugh the danger zone asap..