Sitting in traffic

B

buzzn94

New member
When I have to commute during rush hour traffic, The bike can sit for a couple of minutes, then move and not get out of first or second gear. I then could sit again for a couple of mopre minutes. My question is this. How much of this can a bike take? I have an 06 S83. It does have a radiator, but a vey small one. For the most part, it is air cooled. I donot want to over heat to cause damage to the bike. I may just leave the bike at home when I have to commute in rush hour traffic.

Jim
 
Rush hour traffic jam suck! That's why I love my flex hours. I start at 7AM and finish usually at 3PM. No Rush hour traffic for me!

Is there a temp gauge on the S83? Does the radiator have a small fan?
 
That's an oil cooler, technically, and they don't have fans. Jim, you might look into a dipstick thermometer. I paid $50 for mine a few years back and it allows me to monitor the relative engine temp so I can let it cool down if necessary. To answer your question, it takes a hot day and a long delay to get dangerous, but I'd still shut the engine down if you're sitting still for any period. If you're moving at all you have little to worry about.
 
A cheap alternative is to buy one of those electric fans ands run it to a relay system or a switch you can turn on and off. But Rowdy is right. Unless it is a really hot day and you are just idling for long periods than you should be ok.
 
Thjanks guys. I knew I could count on you guys. Rowdy, I will look into the dip stick thermometer. What a great idea.

Jim
 
The S83/ Intruder 1400 is just fine idling all day in traffic on a hot day. My GF moved here from Texas, where ruch hour metro-plex traffic in 105-degree heat was the daily routine. We are both in Atlanta now, and have been stuck in traffic for litterally hours at a time, and she has never had a problem.
Put the bike in neutral when you can though, rather than holding the clutch in, as the only hot weather/ stuck in traffic issue is that the clutch fluid will overheat. To avoid this change the fluid every year.
 
I dont now what your laws are there, but here in sunny california we dont sit in rush hour traffic. we cut the lanes and dont usually get stuck sitting in line. It can be a little scarey from time to time, but it sure beats sitting in line like all the people in their cars.
 
The traffic that I sit in is on busy streets, not highways. Once I get on the highway, I can ride in the hov, heaviy occupied vehicle, lane. It's just a couple of miles to get to the highway.

Jim
 
Good thread. I'm in the Texas heat and rush hour five-days-a-week. Get stuck sitting in traffic at a few traffic lights going and coming to work. Right now, it's around 100 degrees during the 5pm ride home. I kinda worried about the strain on the bike too.

No lane splitting options for me. Texans do NOT take kindly to that stuff.
 
Highly likely you will get the RoadRage patrol after you here in Georgia. Totally against the law here and the fellow motorists will hunt you down and squish you for doing it here.
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles during periods of traffic congestion.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 545.060, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (a) An operator on a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic:
(1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane, except as provided by Subsection (e); and
(2) may not move from the lane unless that movement can
be made safely.
(e) The operator of a motorcycle may operate the motorcycle for a safe distance between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction during periods of traffic congestion if the operator:
(1) is at least 21 years old;
(2) has successfully completed a motorcycle operator
training and safety course under Chapter 662;
(3) is covered by a health insurance plan providing
the operator with at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of an accident while operating a motorcycle; and
(4) operates the motorcycle:
(A) at a speed not more than five miles per hour over the speed of the other traffic;
(B) in traffic that is moving at a speed of 20 miles per hour or less; and
(C) in a location other than a school crossing zone or other than a location where the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.

http://motorcyclebloggers.com/2005/12/15/texas-lane-splitting/
 
Might want to rethink that according a later post on the same blogger board I added below. Plus looking through Texas laws there, 545.060 doesn't exist.



A while back I wrote about the State of Texas passing a law allowing for lane-splitting. It appears that there was a helluva lot of misinformation spread around regarding this. Texas did NOT pass the Bill previous cited into Law. The best I can do to show that this is true in English (as opposed to the legal crap that no one can understand), is to post some test from the Cycle World Forum

The original explanation (heh-referring to the same Bill I cited) in the CW “UPS & DOWNS”:

“UP: To the state of Texas, for recognizing motorcycles as an aid to relieving traffic congestion. A bill passed by the legislature makes legal the practice of lanesplitting, or as it is defined in the bill, “(operation) of the motorcycle for a safe distance between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction during periods of traffic congestion.” Not only does this naturally benefit motorcycle riders, it also benefits overall traffic flow. Hopefully, more states will follow suit.”

The soon to be retraction:

Yes, it will be a DOWN to us! Lane-splitting is NOT legal in Texas. The bill didn’t make it. We have since been in touch with AMA regarding this, and, as David says, will correct it in an upcoming issue. Apologies for the mistake.

Thanks for the heads up from some of those who commented on the original article stating its inaccuracy.
 
So dragbar you are saying this bill >>>79R517 JRJ-D

By: Griggs H.B. No. 1522



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operation and movement of motorcycles during
periods of traffic congestion.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 545.060, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(a) An operator on a roadway divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for traffic:
(1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within
a single lane, except as provided by Subsection (e); and
(2) may not move from the lane unless that movement can
be made safely.
(e) The operator of a motorcycle may operate the motorcycle
for a safe distance between lanes of traffic moving in the same
direction during periods of traffic congestion if the operator:
(1) is at least 21 years old;
(2) has successfully completed a motorcycle operator
training and safety course under Chapter 662;
(3) is covered by a health insurance plan providing
the operator with at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries
incurred as a result of an accident while operating a motorcycle;
and
(4) operates the motorcycle:
(A) at a speed not more than five miles per hour
over the speed of the other traffic;
(B) in traffic that is moving at a speed of 20
miles per hour or less; and
(C) in a location other than a school crossing
zone or other than a location where the posted speed limit is 20
miles per hour or less.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
>>> did not pass!!!
 
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