Boneheaded move with lane splitting with Ducati Saddlebags...

10286 Views 52 Replies 22 Participants Last post by Ed K, Dec 30, 2017

The_Real_Iz

Discussion Starter · Aug 29, 2017

Hi Gang,

I've been riding for years in Northern California where lane splitting is allowed. I am not used to riding with saddlebags and underestimated the width of my bike. My left factory Ducati saddlebag tapped the rear of a car. The locking mechanism broke and the bag fell to the road. Thankfully, I was going slow and traffic was at a standstill. I picked up the bag and replaced it on the mount. It barely held while I frantically searched for twine to help hold the bag to its mount.

Brand new $2K+ set up and I blow it!

Givi makes the bag and it looks like I should be able to replace the entire plastic unit that attaches the bag to the frame.

I have to research availability and cost. Stay tuned...

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amoslws

· #2 · Aug 29, 2017

Tell the authorities the cars in California are too wide.

ck_939

· #3 · Aug 29, 2017

The_Real_Iz said:
Hi Gang,

I've been riding for years in Northern California where lane splitting is allowed. I am not used to riding with saddlebags and underestimated the width of my bike. My left factory Ducati saddlebag tapped the rear of a car. The locking mechanism broke and the bag fell to the road. Thankfully, I was going slow and traffic was at a standstill. I picked up the bag and replaced it on the mount. It barely held while I frantically searched for twine to help hold the bag to its mount.

Brand new $2K+ set up and I blow it!

Givi makes the bag and it looks like I should be able to replace the entire plastic unit that attaches the bag to the frame.

I have to research availability and cost. Stay tuned...

let's link up, i'm in NorCal too!

.ck

1uglybastard

· #4 · Aug 29, 2017

was the driver pissed off?

Ducatty

· #5 · Aug 29, 2017

It's a more common occurrence than you think. Can't recall where I read it, but someone with side bags tried to fit through the gap between those metal car barrier poles and misjudged how far the bags stuck out.

At least you got the bag back.

The_Real_Iz

Discussion Starter · #6 · Aug 29, 2017

LOL! Yes, this car was definitely too wide!

Driver wasn't upset. No damage to the car because the overpriced saddlebags are soft.

Reactions: 1

se7en

· #7 · Aug 29, 2017

Oh man, that SUCKS. Ya know, I've always thought that even if I lived in Cali, I wouldn't lane split. I think that just nuts, man. :surprise:

klev

· #8 · Aug 29, 2017

se7en said:
Oh man, that SUCKS. Ya know, I've always thought that even if I lived in Cali, I wouldn't lane split. I think that just nuts, man. :surprise:

Yeah, I used to say that too...'I will always stay in my lane, no filtering' :wink2:

Reactions: 1

Ventura17SS

· #9 · Aug 29, 2017

se7en said:
Oh man, that SUCKS. Ya know, I've always thought that even if I lived in Cali, I wouldn't lane split. I think that just nuts, man. :surprise:

I cannot vouch for lane splitters in LA, where even driving a car is a suicide mission IMHO, but my daily commute home on the 101 through Santa Barbara is typically a 10 mile run between the cages crawling along at 5 to 10 mph. I keep it about 20 mph faster than the traffic flow and you'd be surprised at how many people are actually on the lookout for bikes and slide over to provide a very wide pathway. You get pretty good at anticipating the action in front of you. Occasionally I'll pull into the center of the lane to allow a youngster on a Rice Rocket to blast through at 50 mph, plus. Those guys...they are truly nuts. Young, with no sense of mortality. I've never seen one of them go down, however.

Reactions: 1

DucColin

· #10 · Aug 29, 2017

Ventura17SS said:
I cannot vouch for lane splitters in LA, where even driving a car is a suicide mission IMHO, but my daily commute home on the 101 through Santa Barbara is typically a 10 mile run between the cages crawling along at 5 to 10 mph. I keep it about 20 mph faster than the traffic flow and you'd be surprised at how many people are actually on the lookout for bikes and slide over to provide a very wide pathway. You get pretty good at anticipating the action in front of you. Occasionally I'll pull into the center of the lane to allow a youngster on a Rice Rocket to blast through at 50 mph, plus. Those guys...they are truly nuts. Young, with no sense of mortality. I've never seen one of them go down, however.

I do pretty much to same letting to quicker bikes through. I normally have about 10 miles of very slow traffic on the M25 or what some call London's orbital car park. The SS is great for filtering being a slim bike (without the bags).

Reactions: 1

amoslws

· #11 · Aug 29, 2017

Ventura17SS said:
I cannot vouch for lane splitters in LA, where even driving a car is a suicide mission IMHO, but my daily commute home on the 101 through Santa Barbara is typically a 10 mile run between the cages crawling along at 5 to 10 mph. I keep it about 20 mph faster than the traffic flow and you'd be surprised at how many people are actually on the lookout for bikes and slide over to provide a very wide pathway. You get pretty good at anticipating the action in front of you. Occasionally I'll pull into the center of the lane to allow a youngster on a Rice Rocket to blast through at 50 mph, plus. Those guys...they are truly nuts. Young, with no sense of mortality. I've never seen one of them go down, however.

I am with you on that, behaviour is the same in my city. 20km/h more than the traffic is good enough. Some idiots don't understand that. I think I might have been one of those idiots in my youth but it hurts too much now if I fall.

DucColin

· #12 · Aug 29, 2017

amoslws said:
I am with you on that, behaviour is the same in my city. 20km/h more than the traffic is good enough. Some idiots don't understand that. I think I might have been one of those idiots in my youth but it hurts too much now if I fall.

I remember when I was about 18, on my 250 two stroke riding like an idiot. We used to have competitions who could ride through traffic jams the quickest, it wasn't unusual to filter at speeds over 60 mph with very slow or stationary traffic.
I think as you get older you get a sense of your own mortality and realise I am not going to bounce like I used to.

Reactions: 1

se7en

· #13 · Aug 29, 2017

I can cruise at 10-15 MPH over the flow of traffic...so long as there is room to slide in and out of cars. Problem is that normally it's packed and there isn't any room to move.

Plus, I avoid the Interstate like the plague!!! Back roads all the way, baby.

Ed K

· #14 · Aug 30, 2017

The_Real_Iz said:
Hi Gang,

I've been riding for years in Northern California where lane splitting is allowed. I am not used to riding with saddlebags and underestimated the width of my bike. My left factory Ducati saddlebag tapped the rear of a car. The locking mechanism broke and the bag fell to the road. Thankfully, I was going slow and traffic was at a standstill. I picked up the bag and replaced it on the mount. It barely held while I frantically searched for twine to help hold the bag to its mount.

Brand new $2K+ set up and I blow it!

Givi makes the bag and it looks like I should be able to replace the entire plastic unit that attaches the bag to the frame.

I have to research availability and cost. Stay tuned...

Sorry buddy...ugh.

Used to lane split occasionally in Cali where as you guys knows its legal. Now, I split occcasionally where it's not legal. Risky business, predicting what cagers may or may not do.

Zaphod

· #15 · Aug 30, 2017

Gotta watch out for those bags...

An oldie but still impressive.

se7en

· #16 · Aug 30, 2017

Ed K said:
Sorry buddy...ugh.

Used to lane split occasionally in Cali where as you guys knows its legal. Now, I split occcasionally where it's not legal. Risky business, predicting what cagers may or may not do.

VERY risky business! Careful man. I may pass in a non passing zone occasionally, but I wouldn't think of lane splitting, legal or otherwise.

titus.sensei

· #17 · Aug 30, 2017

Here in France i Lane split everywhere and everytime.
There is no other option if you commute with it...
So many time i almost got hit by cagers. One time when i was avoiding a car switching lane without turn signal, my handlebar catch its side mirror and broke it down, but i didn't fall.
My legs were shaky for two hours after.

But this SS is a wonder to lane split, very narrow.

amoslws

· #18 · Aug 30, 2017

Zaphod said:
An oldie but still impressive.

http://https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oveo2rwFMmA

Yeah he couldn't do much there to try and save it, but he did not even try the brakes. A bit like when an antelope has a lion hanging on its neck, the antelope merely accepts its destiny and gives up the fight to live. That guy just knew he was going down and made no attempt to avoid it. Face planting a sail boat was his destiny.

amoslws

· #19 · Aug 30, 2017

titus.sensei said:
Here in France i Lane split everywhere and everytime.
There is no other option if you commute with it...
So many time i almost got hit by cagers. One time when i was avoiding a car switching lane without turn signal, my handlebar catch its side mirror and broke it down, but i didn't fall.
My legs were shaky for two hours after.

But this SS is a wonder to lane split, very narrow.

Bikers here have a reputation for kicking mirrors off cars if they pull out in front of a bike. I don't agree with it but I know I have done a few in my younger day when travelling peak traffic to work. If they are not using the mirrors then they can be easily removed. I must add though the car drivers are a lot better than they were many years ago, my guess is a few mirrors have been broken over the years so now most drivers move aside for bikes.

se7en

· #20 · Aug 30, 2017

Lol...that is SO bad...breaking mirrors. Can't argue that I've been so mad that I've thought about it, though! 0

Reactions: 1

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