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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 38
| This topic caught my eye on other web sites. I've seen 'em on roads, but being cautious, as something to be avoided, I've been able to drive around them and on those occasions where it's unavoidable, I didn't slip or slide (ok, maybe a little shimmy).
But if I unexpectedly hit one and I sense a loss of control, what actions do I take? I'm thinking that the absolutely wrong thing to do is apply brakes.
Vince.
Edited by vbbuilt 2009-06-24 2:23 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | Simple answer... Don't Panic, Don't over-react. Let the bike (any bike) do what the bike does best. This is generally the "all purpose" advise. Just like scraped pavement (like when they are going to repave), the bike will tend to continue on its course.. a little wobble, but unless you do anything sudden, it should maintain. If the bike actually starts to do something bad, like slide not just wobble... take appropriate action, but don't second guess what the bike will do... If you need to slow down, slow down, but don't nail the brakes.. just slow down... If you're in a bad situation, don't make it worse by panicing and you'll likely just ride on through... Also, keeping a clean pair of underwear to change into at the next stop can come in handy. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I would say also the best thing to do if you haven't already is take a Basic Riders Course or an Advanced/Experienced riders course if you've got few years on two wheels or done the other.
But do not panic as Miles points out. Also, you MUST advice any passenger that they stay with you and don't panic either, no matter what! I'll do minor avoidance manuevers with the wife unit just to see what she'll do, then advise her what to do if she gets spoofed: hang on to me. Actually, she's gotten very good about those kind of things and she actually trusts me. I'm talking about things like going around man-hole covers or squirrel's sleeping in the middle of the road. Why do those critters like doing that so much?
But anyway, every ride should begin with a mental prep for hazards that might be encountered. Tar Snakes are just one of the many... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 17
| Tar snakes......thats funny....i have always seen them but never though of a name for it...lol I had an incident a while ago. I rolled up on "tar snakes" while going around a corner as i was accelerating. the front tire rolled right over them but the torque on the rear made the bike slide. it was a scary few seconds but I didnt panic. I rolled off of the throttle and the bike practically picked itself up. My advice to youwould be that if you seem them comming, coast over them and you should be fine. If they sneak up on you, the key phrase in this topic is "don't panic". Roll off the throttle and hopefully you will get by it with the rubber side down. |
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Tourer
Posts: 460
Centennial, CO | IF you are even in Sturgis, you will find these ALL over the place. I hate riding on them, but you actually get quite used to the fact that your bike, while it feels horrible, is not going to go anywhere.
Ride the bike as if you hit a very small patch of loose dirt and let the bike do what it will. I have never had it slip to the point that I felt out of control. OK...first time, 5th time I felt this way. But eventually, I got used to it and had no more issues riding the bike over them.
Good luck! |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | Now that that's solved.... does anyone want to talk about Road Gators?? I've had the misfortune of being a couple lengths behind trucks as they gave birth to them... Talk about needing to use those extra shorts I packed!!! I'm not sure which was more stressful, dodging the gators on the road, or the rare and deadly newborn flying gators. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | Road Gators are easily delt with as the come flying up ..... DUCK!!!!!!!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | sometimes lot lizards are hard to avoid, but the best way is to crank on the throttle. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Wichita, Kansas | A high percentage of truck tires are retreads, which will come apart and shed Road Gators. Watch for them on the roadside - they are not that uncommon. I saw a documentary piece years ago where they measured the speed of a retread sling and then rigged up a way to pitch it at an old car at that speed. It nearly severed the door pillar. Ever since then I don't follow trucks or creep by them, riding or in the cage. Several pounds of rubber at over 100 feet per second (~65 MPH) is an awful lot of energy. |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | I have also seen a gator lock up the rear wheel when kicked up by the front tire. It was not pretty, bike was totaled and riders were rashed up bad. As far as the tar snakes. It can be fun if you time them right and go full throttle when the rear tire hits it. You can make the tire smoke at speed. ET |
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Cruiser
Posts: 114
Southeast, AZ United States | How about...Hold on Tight and Make an Ugly Face!!!  |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | Tar snakes can be fun; my experience is just a brief slip and it's over.
Now thermoplastic pavement markings in the rain is another matter, particularly the longitudinal arrows. They are big enough and slick enough to make you think twice. Personally, I would rather not slide AT ALL in the rain. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | On some weekend you should find a large parking lot in an industrial area that has some tar snakes and do some practice/playing/getting used to them. Do it this way where the conditions favor you...no traffic, no ditch, etc.. You don't want to be in the "discovery mode" on tar snakes while you are clipping around a tight blind corner with all kinds of other possible hazards in your enviroment.
Really....tar snakes usually don't do much more than give you a second or maybe two seconds of the "oh hell" feeling. Gonna take a perfectly positioned snake at some corner that may possibly present a small chance of actually causing a true loss of control. But if you've got some practice/experience in dealing with them this "chance" is gonna be greatly minimized. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | sheesh lotzafun that comment on the perfectly positioned sssssnake on a turn makes me want to sell out before I get mine.
But personally, contending with any road snake is a piece of cake against a teenager txtng on a cellphone. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 247
| geez guys. i never even heard of a tar snake but i am on a long ride now and everytime the bike shimmies i get antsy. too much knowledge may be a bad thing. i did some nice skating on some new pavement too. |
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New user
Posts: 1
| The recent hot weather in OH has caused a tar snake population explosion, keep an eye out. Cruising through the deleware water gap once a big rig cut loose two wheels with three feet of axel attached. Not something you want ot drive up on. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Extreme Southern, AZ United States | We have them here all over the place. I don't know the issue as they simply make the bike sing. Kinda neat, but never caused an issue on control. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 177
| WOW!!!! Ride, Ride,Ride.... |
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Tourer
Posts: 329
scotts valley, California | I've got enough control issues without tarsnakes! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I rode down some stretches of road full of tar snakes. However, them tar heel tar snakes didn't seem to give me any problems on this 90+ day. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 114
Southeast, AZ United States | Vsion - 2009-06-24 7:16 PM
How about...Hold on Tight and Make an Ugly Face!!!
Like you do when you ride a bull!!! |
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Tar Snakes - What's the best way handle them?