The Gentle Art of Filtering

I take no responsibility for you or your actions an neither does Motorsickle.com and by reading this sentence you accept that fact - enjoy



The UK Bike test has such a thing as 'making progress', this element of the test includes 'filtering' Filtering is largely based on the principle that on two wheels there should be little to hamper your progress through traffic. Indeed, traffic that is not moving presents the rider with an opportunity to by‑pass other road users provided the road markings permit. Right that's the official line!

The reality is that 'filtering' allows bikers to ride like fuck anywhere with impunity because all road users know that filtering is legal. Happy days? Not quite. Road users resent the fact that the great unwashed can keep moving on hot sunny days and get to the beach before they can! Poor road users hate us because we unzip our jackets and we have natural air conditioning, rich road users hate us because they have to sit for hours on their soft‑top sports cars stationary in miles and miles of queues. It never ceases to amuse me when a tosser in a car makes an attempt to nudge his car into the path of filtering bikers. It usually goes like this:

1. Car nudges out a tad
2. First biker swerves expecting a collision
3. Second biker jumps on brakes while simultaneously extending left arm and finger
4. Third biker howls a string of obscenities at the top of his lungs at the driver
5. This continues until…
6. Last biker stops next to car and stares at driver till driver unloads in his jockeys.

Wet conditions aren't much better and this is where you get 'helpful' drivers. Those car users that swerve out of your path like you are the giant boulder from Indiana Jones. They are so erratic that they cause every car within a 5 car radius to panic / swerve / brake (delete as appropriate). So is there ever a simple and safe time to filter? No, there isn't. There are, however, ground rules.

You will often see a fast moving plastic projectile hurtling down a public highway banking left to right and swerving in and out of lanes, back and forth, back and forth until the bike reaches its destination. This isn't true of all because you will also see many a tourer or custom rider stuck in a motorway jam… scared witless that their luggage will clip wing mirrors. I think it's probably fairer to say that their fair weather pillions will go absolutely epileptic if they dared to filter!!!

Rules of thumb

1. Don't pack your bike wider than the widest point of the bike. This is usually the handlebars but, occasionally will be your knees if on a chop or a custom. In doing this the only real difference to your ride is the weight.
2. Distribute the weight. You have forks use them! Don't be afraid to lash a tent to the front end.( I used to strap a tent to the handlebars on my XJ600)
3. Don't throw the bike so far over that you can't recover it. This is vital, you should be able to subtly shift your weight to get the bike through gaps. If you have the throw the bike about you need practice!
4. Blind spots can be your friend. Drivers panic when they notice a bike in their mirror, if you are assessing the route ahead then a blind spot can give you a couple of seconds before you take off. Do not take this to mean that you should always use blind spots. It is dangerous and could be your undoing.
5. Map the path between cars as far ahead as possible. All traffic ebbs and flows, learn to read the signs and the gaps. Will the car in the middle accelerate meaning the guy next to him in the fast lane will dive into the gap he leaves thinking that it's a faster lane? You have to process this at high speed while looking at all the cars in you immediate and peripheral view, while balancing on raised white lines.
6. If you are not sure - don't. Unless you are 100% certain then don't risk it. A tumble while filtering is going to hurt big time. The chances are that if you hit the deck between fast moving vehicles you are not going to get up.

Town filtering is infinitely more dangerous than motorway filtering. Drivers are agitated trying to get through the lights, nipping into that parking space. Diving out of that junction, trying to see granny, getting to River Island for the seasonal sale… rah rah rah. Fact is town drivers always have to be somewhere fast. Fast erratic driving does not include looking in mirrors. Loud pipes will not help as I found out when a brand new Jag took me out on my brand new Harley! Fucker!

Town filtering the do's and don'ts.

1. Dispatch riders have been doing this a very long time, if they made the gap that you hadn't noticed it will close before you get there.
2. Do watch your mirrors at a glance.
3. Do not look in your mirrors when in a tight line of traffic. What is behind you is not important.
4. Do Not take the inside track unless you absolutely have to. Drivers have a habit of cutting sharp left handers when they feel the pinch, if you are there you'll get caught.
5. Do use your bikes torque to dive into gaps and do not be afraid to bully other road users. ( I frequently push out at Junctions - No‑one wants to knock a biker off).
6. Accept there is an etiquette and eye to eye contact with a driver can get you favours.
7. Frequent road users will help you, trucks and taxis will help - provided you acknowledge them.
8. Watch the courier vans they are looking for addresses and not bikers!
9. If you have to do the red light grand prix be respectful to nervous riders. We have all been there once.

All in all it's down to your skill as a rider and practise. Always be aware of your surroundings and never over commit! These are my opinions and techniques take what works for you and ditch the rest. If you find yourself tensing so hard when passing that your arsehole ends up in your throat, then it's fair to say you are out of your depth and should give it a miss!