Highway Entrances + Tar Snakes + Middle Of Lane

[renntecher]

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When I am taking the on ramp I am always trying to stay away from the tar snakes / middle of the lane ( due to oil that has been collecting there )

For experienced motorcycles, how slippery are those things? Assuming that its not wet - can I be confident when taking the curve?

Thanks!

 

[mmmnaked]

They're fine. And you're probably going at 1/3rd the speed your bike and tires are capable of going through there anyway. Nothing you need to be overly cautious about.

 

[Paul1000RR]

They're fine. And you're probably going at 1/3rd the speed your bike and tires are capable of going through there anyway. Nothing you need to be overly cautious about.

I'd have to disagree. Hit the tar snake on a hot day and not expect it and the rider might panic, especially if they've never experienced it before. Doesn't matter if you can take that ramp at 100km/h and the rider is only doing 40, you panic and do something silly and you'll be eating the pavement

 

[AL3RT]

Yup, those little fukers get pretty slippery under the sun.

 

[peterm15]

I purposely hit them the first few times I was out riding. Just to see what they felt like. If you expect what its gonna feel like there is less chance for surprise.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[renntecher]

Thanks all - usually there aren't too many tar snakes on the ramps but I am just concerned about the middle of the lane.

Thats a good idea peterm15 - just don't want to be surprised during the on-ramp!

 

[peterm15]

I did what I could to get used to every surprise that came my way.

Purposely hit small pot holes on roads I know.
Purposely hit the tar snakes.
Purposely drove down roads with gravel spots (dug up roads)
Pulled over onto gravel.
Rode gravel roads
Ect Ect.

Ive basically made myself aware of what the feeling of these surprises are. That way I wont get panicked. I assume its not always the obstacles in the road that wipe you out. Its your reaction towards them.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[Ugur Dinch]

Yup, those little fukers get pretty slippery under the sun.

In my unerstanding, it's more like they get soft and lose rigidity, but not slippery. I also think they are extra sticky.

 

[suzuki2000]

I did what I could to get used to every surprise that came my way.

Purposely hit small pot holes on roads I know.
Purposely hit the tar snakes.
Purposely drove down roads with gravel spots (dug up roads)
Pulled over onto gravel.
Rode gravel roads
Ect Ect.

Ive basically made myself aware of what the feeling of these surprises are. That way I wont get panicked. I assume its not always the obstacles in the road that wipe you out. Its your reaction towards them.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

add to the list taking a ride down a stetch of highway that is waiting resurfacing, that's fun

 

[Rotten_Ronnie]

I did what I could to get used to every surprise that came my way.

Purposely hit small pot holes on roads I know.
Purposely hit the tar snakes.
Purposely drove down roads with gravel spots (dug up roads)
Pulled over onto gravel.
Rode gravel roads
Ect Ect.

Ive basically made myself aware of what the feeling of these surprises are. That way I wont get panicked. I assume its not always the obstacles in the road that wipe you out. Its your reaction towards them.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

+1 I do the same thing myself.

With the different bikes I've ridden, they all react differently to the road imperfections, and I have found that:

When in danger or in doubt a little throttle will get you out.

Take that with a grain of salt. Closing the throttle puts more weight on the front tire and exacerbates the feeling from the front end.

When on tar snakes I always add a touch of throttle to lighten up the front and add stability to the bike.

Look at the corner exit and ride it out, and on public roads try not to put everything into your lean angle, there may be a mid corner surprise up ahead.

 

[Gsus]

Thanks all - usually there aren't too many tar snakes on the ramps but I am just concerned about the middle of the lane.

Thats a good idea peterm15 - just don't want to be surprised during the on-ramp!

I wouldn't be too worried about middle of the lane. It's more of a concern where cars are stopped (red lights, heavy traffic areas) then where they are unlikely to be stopped (freeways, ramps, rural roads). Shiny and black, take another track. Keep your eyes open and ride accordingly.

 

[likebutta]

I remember hitting those things on roller blades in my youth -- not cool.

 

[twinswin]

The things with tar snakes is your bike reacts to them differently based on the tires you're using on your bike. Some brands and models of tires handle tar snakes a lot better than others. One of the first things I do after spooning on new tires I've never used before, is see how they handle tar snakes. Last thing I want to do is assume they will handle the same as the last ones. That happened to me once, and once only, as I hit pucker level 11 changing lanes on a super slab sweeper at speed. And it doesn't depend on price either. I've had some cheap butt tires that handle tar snakes superbly, and high priced ones that tracked tar snakes like lasers. So no matter how well you feel you can handle tar snakes, you'll need to re-educate yourself every time you try new tires.

 

[Roomie]

I'd have to disagree. Hit the tar snake on a hot day and not expect it and the rider might panic, especially if they've never experienced it before. Doesn't matter if you can take that ramp at 100km/h and the rider is only doing 40, you panic and do something silly and you'll be eating the pavement

This. Even in a corner, let alone an on ramp if it's hot out you'll feel them

add to the list taking a ride down a stetch of highway that is waiting resurfacing, that's fun

Like the qew last year. Hated every second of riding over that crap.

 

[MacDoc]

Like the qew last year. Hated every second of riding over that crap.

You too eh - normally I'm okay but whatever they did on the QEW at Jordon Harbor my tires did NOT like.

As to tar snakes....can be very slippy and I think it's both heat and composition.

We actually ran into some weird ones in QUebec last year on an otherwise lovely set of twists.

The snakes had sort of a whitish powerdy look on them and damn they were slippery - we slowed down and then saw a sign with a motorcycle sideways and these wiggles so clearly there was a known issue.

They used to be a problem on one of the best mountain roads in FNQ Australia 200 turns in 19 km and elevation changes...the sun would hit in the morning and want to wash the front tire out on a warm day.

All fixed this year tho

Tread carefully and +1 to those that get off the pavement and get used to odd surfaces.

 

[油井緋色]

Took a ramp hot and a tar snake was literally my line a little before the apex. I gassed out of it regardless but your tires will stick to it and cause you to freak out (wiggly). I didn't feel the rear slide out so I'd assume that on a hot day they are sticky not slippery.

...regardless, I avoid them now. Don't want to test my theory and find out it's wrong the hard way.

 

[sid_for_speed]

In my unerstanding, it's more like they get soft and lose rigidity, but not slippery. I also think they are extra sticky.

some explain this to me plz....a tar snake runs perpendicular to your direction of travel....just like railway tracks....if you are not leaning hard...does it matter if they get slippery? I thought you can take them with atleast 30 degrees of lean safely???

 

[twinswin]

some explain this to me plz....a tar snake runs perpendicular to your direction of travel....just like railway tracks....if you are not leaning hard...does it matter if they get slippery? I thought you can take them with atleast 30 degrees of lean safely???

The ones that cause handling problems run parallel with the direction you're traveling.

 

[kiwi]

The ones that cause handling problems run parallel with the direction you're traveling.

Some cane be wide and wiggle all over the road..

The ones in Quebec are bad.. I hear they use them to keep the speed down of motorcycles ;-)

 

[MacDoc]

hehe ..worked....

the sign really surprised me.

••••

..a tar snake runs perpendicular to your direction of travel..

those are not the problem ...some road surfaces have dozens snaking along and no way to avoid.

same everywhere - nother Gillies rider

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Our Main Roads division has really screwed up the bottom section of our Gillies Range with tar snakes...doesn't stop many local riders from "time-trialling" this range!

Knowing the tar is there is one thing - coming upon it unawares is bad stuff.

Even worse when the cooler temps cause fog across the range, making it damp to boot...
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