Commuting Sucks!

[JeffOlson]

It took me one hour to travel 20 miles this morning. That means I averaged 20 miles per hour. Some stretches were faster (80+ miles per hours). That means some stretches were slower (much slower). Surprisingly, I do not live in Southern California.

Feathering a clutch and riding at slower than a walking pace is no fun, not even on my Norge (especially not on my Norge?). Fortunately, my Norge has a heavy flywheel (or whatever bits it has inside it), so it will crawl forward with absolutely no throttle as I ever so barely let out the clutch lever.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Thanks for letting me vent.

Glad I could help

[not-fishing]

The silver lining is you need a Convert to Commute!

http://spokane.craigslist.org/mcy/5525458622.html

Or that other Eye-talian bike the Aprilia Mana



http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/5506636435.html

[Groover]

You're not alone if that makes you feel a little better. ~25 Minutes for 8 miles. Add a little bit of snow or rain when driving, make that ~35-45min and sometimes more. I think I also need a Convert, just because 

[pehayes]

It took me one hour to travel 20 miles this morning. That means I averaged 20 miles per hour. Some stretches were faster (80+ miles per hours). That means some stretches were slower (much slower). Surprisingly, I do not live in Southern California.

If you did live in California you could safely lane filter and be there in half the time with less wear on the moto and less stress on you.  When will the other states wake up?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[Adan]

I tried lane splitting when riding through Oregon.  Drivers there are not cool about it, and you have to worry because in Oregon about half the population is packing heat.

[Chuck in Indiana]

If you did live in California you could safely lane filter and be there in half the time with less wear on the moto and less stress on you.  When will the other states wake up?

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

Absolutely. I haven't had the first problem with lane splitting in Ca. I *detest* driving a car out there, though.

[normzone]

... in Oregon about half the population is packing heat.

One should assume that about half the population is packing heat no matter where you are.

[JeffOlson]

If I could just add some lights to my white Norge, I might get away with lane splitting here in angry-driver-land--at least until the police stopped me...

Say! For more than a decade, I have worked closely with our local police, municipal court judge, and prosecutor. I wonder if I could be deputized? I'd love to issue some traffic citations! They wouldn't even have to pay me!

[vstevens]

Yeah, lane splitting/sharing works pretty well here in San Diego.  So long as you are at reasonable speeds relative to traffic, many cars actually pull left to give you more room- don't usually need it- but heading south on the 805 at 4pm, fast lane crawling at maybe 15mph, many drivers leave enough room for it to look like another lane through the rows of stop n go cars.  Certainly not everyone is accommodating but I've yet to experience outright hostility from drivers. 

When lane sharing/splitting, I tend to flash/flick my highbeams to alert drivers- helps somewhat

[John A]

IN Minnesota it's illegal to flash high beams to alert drivers you are coming by. I need 7-37 gears to slow me down. Yesterday on the sidecar I was rolling along at 105 when no traffic was around. I was hoping for no deer and an understanding law enforcement person. Sure ran good and no handling anomalies except on bumpy bridge decks. I need to adjust spring rates

[JeffOlson]

Lane-splitting and/or flashing your brights at someone in Oregon is an invitation to road rage and attempted vehicular assault. (Yes, Oregon, the land of sensitive Prius drivers, beards, and craft beer!) I need to be careful here, keep my head down, and try not to piss off any cagers... Either that or become a deputized LEO!

[Rotten Ralph]

That commute sounds like a good place for an electric bike (Just slap some Guzzi decals on it ).

[O]

If possible, find a longer, less travelled route.  You'll miss out on the traffic, and get a longer ride in.  Win win!

[oldbike54]

Lane-splitting and/or flashing your brights at someone in Oregon is an invitation to road rage and attempted vehicular assault. (Yes, Oregon, the land of sensitive Prius drivers, beards, and craft beer!) I need to be careful here, keep my head down, and try not to piss off any cagers... Either that or become a deputized LEO!

 Must be all of the rain 

 Dusty

[Adan]

That commute sounds like a good place for an electric bike (Just slap some Guzzi decals on it ).

I've been doing it on my Brammo for 4 years, it's the best thing since sliced bread.  Electric bikes are not much of a thrill but, within their range, they'll get you from point A to point B through heavy traffic better than anything yet invented by man.

[JeffOlson]

I've been doing it on my Brammo for 4 years, it's the best thing since sliced bread.  Electric bikes are not much of a thrill but, within their range, they'll get you from point A to point B through heavy traffic better than anything yet invented by man.

Sometimes I commute on my Vespa. It is perfect for congested, bumper-to-bumper Oregon traffic. It still has an infernal combustion engine, with the noise and character that I prefer, and the automatic transmission is perfect for crawling (pub crawling? ).

[charlie b]

I am lucky.  I can set my own hours so I get to work before it gets crazy.  30miles in 35min.  One stoplight, one stop sign.

[Arizona Wayne]

Sometimes I commute on my Vespa. It is perfect for congested, bumper-to-bumper Oregon traffic. It still has an infernal combustion engine, with the noise and character that I prefer, and the automatic transmission is perfect for crawling (pub crawling? ).

Do it on a MP3 and you will have better weather protection too than your Vespa has.

Scooters are better than Convert.s for stop & go because unlike a Convert. the belt drive disengages the motor @ idle whereas on the Convert. the tranny/motor is always engaged when running(like car automatic).  For that reason I've rear ended a car bumper in front of me because the Convert. was on oil on the road and even tho I hit the brakes the bike kept sliding forward into the car.  After we fell over, I figured out what happened.   

[markw]

As I am in England and,like the rest of Europe , we can "lane split"(we don't call it that-just normal progress ) I would probably suffer a stress induced heart attack if I had to wait in the line of traffic...
Why do some states allow it and others do not ? I see that there are comments about other drivers carrying guns-would you really run the risk of getting shot ? I can see that without some thought it might appear that being overtaken by someone means that you are waiting in line that much longer but the reality is quite the opposite,so , is it an educational thing that just needs explaining properly ?
I understand there is reluctance from some riders themselves to do this ,is this due to the perceived threat from other road users reaction or would you just not be confidant being in close proximity to traffic at different speeds ?

[Xlratr]

As I am in England and,like the rest of Europe , we can "lane split"(we don't call it that-just normal progress)..

Not sure that's actually true. In Germany it is *tolerated* and few motorcyclists are penalised for it. But strictly speaking it's forbidden. I think it's the same in the UK.

[markw]

OK I should have said it is accepted practice and that there are some behaviour rules to comply with - but the sheer act of lane splitting is seen as a privilege and not an act of defiance or queue jumping and would not attract any unwarranted road rage...According to The Highway Code there is nothing suggesting it is a forbidden manoeuvre...

[pete roper]

Any big block, especially an 8V CARC bike will be a pig of a commuter.

Convert will struggle keeping up with modern traffic in the acceleration stakes. Mana is a superb commuter but don't expect long belt or clutch life in that scanario.

Pete

[John Ulrich]

I need 7-37 gears to slow me down. Yesterday on the sidecar I was rolling along at 105 when no traffic was around.

ONLY 105 with "chair"!   You seriously need to check your tune up.     

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Suzuki burgman, Yamaha Majesty, Honda silver wing, the larger of the Italian scooters, and a host of others don't have that problem at all and are plenty capable of highway speeds that will get you arrested in any state, even Texas.

[Arizona Wayne]

  Suzuki burgman, Yamaha Majesty, Honda silver wing, the larger of the Italian scooters, and a host of others don't have that problem at all and are plenty capable of highway speeds that will get you arrested in any state, even Texas.

My 400 MP3 will do 90 mph, Aprilia 460 GT scooter will do 95 mph, other maxi scooters will do more mph.  If you don't think they are capable of freeway speeds you are mis-informed.   They are all water/cooled, OHC,  4 valve, and EFI.   

[Tom]

I got a Convert after commuting on an Ambassador and on my Recon with suicide clutch.  The suicide clutch is "fun" on a commute ride. :-(

[RANDM]

Here in Victoria in Aust. we're trialing legalised filtering
when it becomes a parking lot, lane splitting to us is
cutting through moving traffic and is still illegal.

Prior to the change you'd get the occasional dickhead
who'd close you off - since the change I've only had
people moving to open the way when they know your
coming. I live in a Tourist area though - it might be
different for a commuting to work in city traffic situation.

Anyway, for me it's been a great change so far.

Maurie.

[kingoffleece]

I think I'd take my car if that was a normal commute.  That would drive me nuts also.
Is it always that way?

[JeffOlson]

I think I'd take my car if that was a normal commute.  That would drive me nuts also.
Is it always that way?

Fortunately, it is not always like that. If it were, I'd save the Norge and either ride my Vespa, drive my auto tranny car, or stay home. As it is, I go to work late and leave early to try to beat the gridlock, which is getting worse and worse as the Portland area population grows with no new roads.