Watch for motorcycles. But if you're not going to, at least use your damn blinkers.

[Glassunion]

78. I fear it may be a bit of perception.

In group riding it is safer for the bikes to stagger their position, taking up both the right and left side of the lane. It makes them more visible.

But as for the speed, a lot of it is perception. A motorcycle is more maneuverable than a car, so we have the ability to maneuver through traffic quite easily. This can give the impression that they are speeding when in fact they may not be. If traffic slows up (I do not lane-split btw, it's illegal here), I will want a safety buffer around me. Basically I need at least 2 places to bail out to in the case that someone wishes to occupy the same space that I am in. For example, I may keep the right shoulder as on bail out opportunity and a space in the lane to my left. So, if someone starts tail-gaiting, I'll want to get away from them.

So, I'll bail out to the lane to my left and overtake the vehicle that was in front of me. Now, when overtaking I want to spend as little time as possible next to the vehicle in the right lane. They most likely did not notice me traveling behind them, and will not see me until I get in front of them. Now a bike is light, and has a higher power to weight ratio than most cars. So with very little effort, I can add 10 to 15mph in speed if need be to get around the car on the right very quickly. It is the safest way to do it. Never dawdle when over taking a vehicle. So, a gear down, and the rev's high, I get around them quickly. Now the driver in that vehicle may think that I came out of nowhere speeding like an asshole, because they did not notice me behind them before I overtook them, and now here I am, bike screaming as I pass them.

To that shit-head who split the lanes (illegal in your state) between your car and another at 90mph, have no worries. It's not a past time one will undertake for very long.