Is the classic sport-touring motorcycle doomed to extinction?

I'm wondering if passing a line of stationary traffic is the same as filtering between lines of slow moving traffic.

In the UK, filtering - with care - is perfectly legal although there is an unwritten common sense limit if traffic is free flowing.

But we have solid white lines in the centre of the road to indicate whether or not overtaking is allowed. One line for the side you are travelling, one line for the oncoming traffic.
If it is solid on your side, then no part of your vehicle may cross it - unless the vehicle you are passing is stationary. It doesn't say 'parked'.
So passing vehicles - if it is safe to do so and you can see far enough ahead, and the vehicle is not moving - you can cross the solid white line to get past.
If your are passing a stationary vehicle on the wrong side of the white line and the vehicle starts moving - you are breaking the law.

So I was wondering if there is such a provision in the USA. (ie Stationary, as opposed to slow moving).

There's a good reason why it might be allowed - having to sit there with no air cooling (you or the engine), breathing in the exhaust fumes of the car in front, body overheating.......
 
jfheath said:
I'm wondering if passing a line of stationary traffic is the same as filtering between lines of slow moving traffic.

In the UK, filtering - with care - is perfectly legal although there is an unwritten common sense limit if traffic is free flowing.

But we have solid white lines in the centre of the road to indicate whether or not overtaking is allowed. One line for the side you are travelling, one line for the oncoming traffic.
If it is solid on your side, then no part of your vehicle may cross it - unless the vehicle you are passing is stationary. It doesn't say 'parked'.
So passing vehicles - if it is safe to do so and you can see far enough ahead, and the vehicle is not moving - you can cross the solid white line to get past.
If your are passing a stationary vehicle on the wrong side of the white line and the vehicle starts moving - you are breaking the law.

So I was wondering if there is such a provision in the USA. (ie Stationary, as opposed to slow moving).

There's a good reason why it might be allowed - having to sit there with no air cooling (you or the engine), breathing in the exhaust fumes of the car in front, body overheating.......
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The US is 50 individual states each with their own traffic laws. In the state I live in there is no filtering or lane sharing/splitting allowed. Some states allow filtering with certain provisions, but not lane sharing/splitting.
 
ST1100Y said:
The first is the definition of 'filtering', the second situation would be 'lane splitting'...
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Aha. I had not spotted that distinction. We officially have filtering as recognised behaviour for motorcycles (in the Highway Code). It doesn't distinguish between moving and stationary - except when crossing a solid white line is involved.
 
Sadlsor said:
I've done a handful of IBA rides, no brag here... but some on the Blackbird, some on the ST1300... stock seats on both. I don't find them "that" bad.
And I really do understand that we're all different, and no two butts are the same. And many of us are not 20-something.
But the more I see all these posts of engine heat and crummy saddles, the more this term keeps popping in my mind... I don't judge folks' rides, helmets, gear, or speed or any of that. Insulting people is childish and really pointless.
Still, ...that word in my head.
Oh, you wanna know what it is?
Candyass.
Easy there, fellas! No disrespect intended!
For one thing, I know i hate riding in the cold.
I'm a wuss when it gets below 40F.
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I must be a CANDY ASS:roflmao-2x: I find the stock seat on the ST 1300 to be in a word: CRUEL! (no offence taken)
 
jfheath said:
We officially have filtering as recognised behaviour for motorcycles (in the Highway Code). It doesn't distinguish between moving and stationary
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Seems every nation has its own definition...

Germany: everything is verboten... attempts will be strafed* by the Passat Estate trying to run you off the road (* interestingly they attempt do that also when abroad... :cautious:)

Austria: filtering OK, as long as no white-lines are crossed, but proceed with care as there is always some A.H. lingering...
Frustrated, shrew-faced secretaries with the cell glued to their ear scream out their window, open the door... Talahons swerving their pimped Beemer/Audi/Merc side to side...
But their not very bright, easy tricked by i.g. 'lingering' on their left taillight, so once their cooped up in the queue, you dart by on their, now fully open right side... :tongue:

Lane-splitting neither legal nor fully advisable as the majority of them drivers just don't pay attention... as above will some actively try to block or swerve right into you... watch out for EVs! :cautious:
A few drivers however do open a path for you though, probably riders themself or at least tolerant; so when safe I use the gap provided and wave a 'thanks'...

France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, even up north in Scotland: giddy-up... a pleasure to ride there... :cool:
 
Talk about feeling like a candy a** ... on today's ride it was overcast, 62 degrees and sprinkling rain. I was wearing my HJC modular helmet, a silk balaclava, a Tourmaster Advance 3/4 length jacket, med weight deer skin gloves (and had my heated grips on 30%), a long sleeve mock turtle shirt, a sweatshirt, a pair of Tourmaster Caliber 2.0 riding pants with zip in thermal liner, and riding boots. I come up to a red light and across from me are 2 guys on (very loud) Harleys... no helmets, no jackets, no gloves, just wearing t-shirts, jeans and the one guy I could see clearly was wearing gymmers. Heck they even smiled waved when they went past. I felt like such a wuss ...
 
the Ferret said:
Talk about feeling like a candy a** ... on today's ride it was overcast, 62 degrees and sprinkling rain. I was wearing my HJC modular helmet, a silk balaclava, a Tourmaster Advance 3/4 length jacket, med weight deer skin gloves (and had my heated grips on 30%), a long sleeve mock turtle shirt, a sweatshirt, a pair of Tourmaster Caliber 2.0 riding pants with zip in thermal liner, and riding boots. I come up to a red light and across from me are 2 guys on (very loud) Harleys... no helmets, no jackets, no gloves, just wearing t-shirts, jeans and the one guy I could see clearly was wearing gymmers. Heck they even smiled waved when they went past. I felt like such a wuss ...
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I have had the same experiences. me wearing multi layers and others wearing "T" shirts. only difference was that I was going for multiple miles and hours :biggrin: and the other riders were going for 10 or 15 minutes .
 
DesmoRonin said:
Comfortable wuss... but not by choice. Hard to look like a tough guy on a Sport Tourer :roflmao:
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In the hot weather, I wear a hi viz yellow armored short and yellow airbag vest- I don’t really care if the HD riders in my area wear zero protective gear (and in general, I see them in shorts and sandals or flip flops when riding- that’s a whole world of hurt if they go down)- I may look dorky to them, but I feel a bit more safe.
 
It was January 10th, Salton City CA.
I am in full gear leaving my cousins house when his friend happened to drop in.
They saw me and made fun of my appearance, “that’s not even really riding a motorcycle.”
Then my cousin announces,
“he’s riding to Cleveland Ohio.”
All jaws dropped in silence.
 
I was riding the NC750X and stopped on the IN - OH border for gas and coffee. I had my ‘Stich gear on as I always do and a couple of guys in HD T-shirts were all but laughing at me and my “cute little bike”. I was taking solace thinking I had probably ridden more miles that morning than they would ride all year. That’s when I saw them driving away in a 10 year old Hyundai.
 
I was getting gas and ice in San Antonio late one afternoon and a passerby said “Isn’t it hot in that getup?” I replied “It is but it was rather cool when I left Florida this morning.” Mic drop. Half a bag of ice went in my Aerostich and when I was moving it was very cool. I changed the ice every 200-225 miles all across LA and TX that day.
 
DesmoRonin said:
Comfortable wuss... but not by choice. Hard to look like a tough guy on a Sport Tourer :roflmao:
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Not hard, just be dumb.
$900 Arai race-replica graphics helmet, wife- beater, cutoff shorts, Adidas running shoes (but no socks), and no gloves.
But if you have a big belly and flabby arms, and don't have the body of a slim high school track star, it just doesn't have the same effect.
 
Sadlsor said:
Not hard, just be dumb.
$900 Arai race-replica graphics helmet, wife- beater, cutoff shorts, Adidas running shoes (but no socks), and no gloves.
But if you have a big belly and flabby arms, and don't have the body of a slim high school track star, it just doesn't have the same effect.
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That's painting with a bit of a broad brush, no? My feeble attempts at humor aside, I ride a short commute 5 days a week -- I wear a helmet similar to the one you describe (I don't own a non-race helmet at the moment) -- often a higher end RPHA in Deadpool livery (long story). I also wear 25-year old racer replica Dainese textile jacket, Dainese/Ducati full back protector, road racing gloves (road/sport gloves tore from use), business casual designer jeans (sometimes riding jeans) and Adidas running shoes (with socks, lol), most of which I strip out of in the lobby of the gym before I proceed to the locker room to don a pair of sweat pants. I probably look like the old guy trying to relive his youth, or the Porsche hat-wearing dude who doesn't own a Porsche, but I don't care... I think if you are paying attention to what the fat, old guy is wearing, you probably need to be be training harder, lol. After workout, I don my gear and ride to work about a quarter mile in my workout gear and change there.

While I don't have the body of that slim high schooler, I train hard enough (to prolong my riding) that I don't have too big of a belly nor flabby arms, but that's hidden with just a minimal amount of gear anyways. I do know a couple of guys who dress more like the rider you describe, and while I don't agree with the way they dress (undress?) while riding, they do have the type of physique I admire. Why they don't choose to protect it is beyond me.
 
I'm known to toss out glib statements, without a lot of forethought.
At this point, most here know me well enough to recognize me as mostly annoying, funny on rate occasion, sometimes snarky, but I seldom intend to offend, and even more rarely do I take offense.
I'll admit I will take to be comfortable enough on this forum to let my hair down, and be myself.
And my main character flaw, if you call it that, is I'm fairly outspoken.
When I cross the line, the moderators will smack me down, but that is also rare.
Insofar as the broad brush metaphor, I'm not much of an artist, so i hope I may be forgiven when I pick up the wrong tool.
Back to the subject, I can only imagine the naked and exposed skin riders haven't had a personal, intimate encounter with the roadway yet. If / when they ever do, they'll either quit riding or put more clothes on.
 
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