Are you a Centerline rider or Predominately a Center of the Lane Rider?

[Ric]

The reason I am asking this question is, I see a lot of younger riders, riding the centerline, instead of using the center of the lane or left of center. It is a dangerous habit to be riding the centerline. It is not like the 1980's when their was oil in the center of the lane and you had to ride on either side, their is no oil there today. If you don't understand why it is dangerous to do it, you shouldn't be riding.

 

[smilespergallon]

I trend toward the center side of the lane, in ideal conditions using the rubber and depression laid down by heavier traffic to give me superior traction and mobility while being toward the center of the road gives oncoming traffic better visibility of me, and (usually) gives me better visibility of oncoming traffic.

And all that can change in a moment. Least we forget 'weaving' in the lane to make your singular headlight more visible to other drivers by using apparent angular changes.... A myriad of such tricks go into riding safely, and no doubt many I have not mentioned here. I recall a decade or two ago an RAF pilot published an academic article in one of the math journals concerning closing vectors and why some motorcycle accidents occur. It has to do with how an object will appear stationary when on a direct impact trajectory and that with only one headlight there is no forced perspective so the automobile driver will gladly continue right up to the point of impacting us while thinking they were doing the right thing all along.

Not so much where in the lane as how in the lane. But I get your point, youtubers make poor role models.

 

[jadorff]

left of centre usually

 

[Walkabout Tim]

Left of lane center ,centerline only to pass or be seen,right side of lane at stops or signals,for right hand escape if needed,dont like centerline look at(out for)me ,totally agree with smiles per gallon.

 

[Woodstock]

As a rule, wherever I am the most visible. But I remember the warning mantra drummed into us as beginner riders was cars lean out, bikes lean in. And it comes into my head still at key moments on a ride. Now I am overthinking it which is tempting fate.

 

[severely]

Right side of center for me. In Texas it's expected as a courtesy to faster folks and in Mexico it's SOP.

 

[Woodstock]

Really over thinking it, we should all take note where the poster is from when we read the comment. Some of us on the left and some of us on the right to begin with.

 

[Scrapyard Sorcerer]

Took a while, showing my age now, 1982 Motorcycle Road Craft, The Police Riders manual. This image shows, in general, road positioning (we ride on the proper, left hand side of the road) So, to the right of the "oil lane". The oil lane has higher micro texture in the dry (it's between the wheels of most vehicles). In the wet, micro and macro texture (the grip from the aggregate itself) come into play. Modern vehicles tend to be less oil leaky, though our roundabouts seem to often have diesel spillages from HGV's.

 

[Walkabout Tim]

Really over thinking it, we should all take note where the poster is from when we read the comment. Some of us on the left and some of us on the right to begin with.

Good point, If I had a couple pints with our friends over the pond I,d most likely get smashed runnin in the wrong lane !

 

[Centreline]

Personally I keep to the left but my nom de plume refers to the vanishing point on a long straight marked highway. Plus my initials are C L.

 

[3/4 Ton Jack]

Usually at least a little left to center to avoid whatever oil there might be and defend my lane, stay where I can see and be seen and maybe most importantly when possible drive on or near one of the tire tracks just on the logic the cars may have picked up any carpet tacks or other things that somebody dropped in the road before I get there, whereas they might wait a long time for a lucky motorcyclist if they're in a spot they wouldn't otherwise be disturbed often.

Plus one of the things I really enjoy about motorcycles is how much more they're able to reposition on the fly in traffic to get clear of snarls and quickly into more comfortable or safer spots.

 

[Bike Chap]

The reason I am asking this question is, I see a lot of younger riders, riding the centerline, instead of using the center of the lane or left of center. It is a dangerous habit to be riding the centerline. It is not like the 1980's when their was oil in the center of the lane and you had to ride on either side, their is no oil there today. If you don't understand why it is dangerous to do it, you shouldn't be riding.

I started riding in the 1980s (just) and habitually ride just off centre because of oil.
I do like to move around in the lane to make sure I’m visible though.

 

[Alan F.]

In whatever side of the lane car drivers sit in is where I'll normally be. Left tire rut in the States that is. With some variety for visibility.

 

[Bazza]

Left of white line, better visibility at left bends, move to nearside for righthanders. Simple.

 

[Bazza]

The reason I am asking this question is, I see a lot of younger riders, riding the centerline, instead of using the center of the lane or left of center. It is a dangerous habit to be riding the centerline. It is not like the 1980's when their was oil in the center of the lane and you had to ride on either side, their is no oil there today. If you don't understand why it is dangerous to do it, you shouldn't be riding.

While there may not be oil as in the good old days, there is still going to be more loose matter, both of which are not kind to 2 wheelers. Also, given that some countries experience frost and ice on their roads, the safest line to take is.........thats right, the wheel tracks made by 4 wheelers, ice gone, frost turned to water, much safer than riding on the centre of the lane.

 

[Turbofurball]

Yeah, there's a few reasons to keep to the left. One to add to the list is defensive riding, you need to dominate your spot in the road which can't be done from the middle ... also, there's no shortage of oil in the middle at traffic lights here.

 

[Ric]

Well the oil issue here in OZ, has virtually disappeared due to regulations, and having yearly registration / vehicle checks, I would say 97% of all vehicles on the road today here don't drop oil anymore. I don't think I have seen any oil on the road especially in my area here in the bush at all in the last 5 years. It is an extreme rarity if ever you see it. At least 80% of the vehicles on the road here are under 10 years of age. We are a wealthy demograph, so bomb cars are a rarity as well. I also aimed this thread at Australia and NZ riders moreso, we are in the Regional Section of this forum after all.

 

[Spoody]

I tend to search from center line to right side to find the smoothest part of the road . Heat causes the asphalt to expand and roads around here can be like a washboard so I'm constantly searching for the smooth section .

 

[Eatmore Mudd]

I'm an all over my lane and sometimes both when needed rider.
Besides always hunting the best traction surfaces, pretending to be a nutter behind (the) bars gets attention and has prevented more than few potential sticky situations
from becoming real ones. YMMV.

 

[Langers(SA)]

Aussie so ride/drive on the LHS. I tend to ride just left of the centre of the road when out in the countryside as I like to think it gives me an extra nanosecond to respond to wildlife with no sense of self preservation (pretty much all Australian native wildlife) coming out from the bushes on the left. Naturally any vehicles heading my way or intersections coming up I move to more central in my lane, heavy vehicles coming my way much further to the left. If enjoying twisty roads then centre or left of centre of my lane as I'd prefer not to head butt an oncoming vehicle on a right hand bend.