In California can motorcycles drive in the middle of lanes and in the carpool lane?

Answer 1

Simple answer, Carpool lane yes ( and you don't have to be riding 2 up)

Lane splitting, Yes,BUT! no more than 20 mph beyond traffic flow and if you are being crazy you can be cited for reckless or for unsafe lane change.
I have split lanes for 30 years and never been cited for it.

Answer 2

The middle of the lane is not illegal, but it's also not the safest place to be considering the possibility of spilled oil there.

Can they use carpool lanes? Sometimes.

Carpool Lanes And Onramps
A carpool lane is a special freeway lane only for buses and/or carpools. You may use a carpool lane or onramp if your vehicle carries the minimum number of people required for the carpool lane or you drive a low-emission vehicle displaying a special DMV-issued decal. Motorcycle riders may use designated carpool lanes, unless otherwise posted.

Signs at the onramp or along the freeway tell you the minimum number of people required for the carpool and the hours the carpool requirement applies. The pavement in this lane is marked with a diamond symbol (◊) and the words "Carpool Lane." These lanes are also known as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Do not cross over double parallel solid lines to enter or exit any carpool lane except at designated entry or exit places.

Vehicles towing trailers are typically not allowed to use carpool lanes because they must drive more slowly and are usually restricted to the right-hand lane.

Answer 3

Here is the exact law for driving with a motorcycle in the carpool lane:
Carpool Lanes
21655.5. (b) The Department of Transportation and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions, shall place and maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, signs and other official traffic control devices to designate the exclusive or preferential lanes, to advise motorists of the applicable vehicle occupancy levels, and, except where ramp metering and bypass lanes are regulated with the activation of traffic signals, to advise motorists of the hours of high-occupancy vehicle usage. No person shall drive a vehicle upon those lanes except in conformity with the instructions imparted by the official traffic control devices. A motorcycle may be operated upon those exclusive or preferential use lanes unless specifically prohibited by a traffic control device.
(z) Traffic control devices include, but are not limited to, ladders, mattresses, and rolls of carpeting.

So the answer is YES they can go in the carpool lane.

Also here is the link for the entire 2007 California motorcycle hand book provided by the DMV.
Every law is in this book.
Hope this helps.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl655/dl665mcycle.pdf

Answer 4

Yes, you can. For car pool lane, you need to carry somebody else behind.

Answer 5

Yes (though it's not recommended), and yes.

Answer 6

it's not illegal