Ass surfing on the freeway!

[nzcanadian]

Hi just like to say I managed to lose control and drop my bike on the freeway on the morning commute. Wet road, was changing lanes carelessly, front tyre hit those annoying "cat's eye" bumps, skidded out from under me. No serious pain for me though (except my pride - lots of traffic about). Small holes in wrist of glove and ass of jeans! I'm glad the driver behind me was paying attention or it could have been a lot worse. Picked up the bike and rode the rest of the way in.

Anyone else have problems with those cat's eye bumps? On the GN, I'm always a bit nervous crossing them in the rain - can anyone vouch for upgrading the front tyre?

[xwhatsit]

Wow, really? I didn't know you could catch those cat's eyes like that. I had a slight moment where the tyre briefly planed over the top of one, but that was hosing down and with strong winds, and I was changing lanes in a gentle corner too.

Bad luck, man! Next time I'll try and zig between them.

[Mekk]

Sorry to hear about your crash. I've always been wary of those things since a near tankslapper occured on the Harbour Bridge due to one of 'em. This was on my old GSXR250 though, so maybe it's the width of the little wheels or something.

[Zapf]

Please 1st thing you do.. Replace both the front and rear tire with something good. Those factory front tires on those GN's look scary.

Myself personally, haven't had problems after hitting cat eyes. Just don't try and turn / change direction while you are on them. If you try and change your momentum while on or crossing the group of cat eyes then you may have a moment.

[discotex]

Anyone else have problems with those cat's eye bumps? On the GN, I'm always a bit nervous crossing them in the rain - can anyone vouch for upgrading the front tyre?

Hell yeah. The cats eyes are super slick in the wet. Best to avoid them if you can - even in the dry. One of the first things I learned about riding on the motorway was to aim for between them when changing lanes. If you're having trouble getting the gap I found aiming for the last one in the line helps.

[ajturbo]

we have freeways in NZ?????

[SlashWylde]

Those cats eyes hurt like a bastard when you clip one with your peg going round a corner too - it kicks up the peg into your foot.

Other things to watch out for in the wet, are painted lines on the tar seal and bare patches of tar - both very slippery.

[Usarka]

Please 1st thing you do.. Replace both the front and rear tire with something good. Those factory front tires on those GN's look scary.


What he said. those factory gn tires are crap in the wet.

[McJim]

Welcome to New Zealand - It's called an Arse over here - Ass is a beast of burden - like a donkey.

Sorry to hear about that. I commute in most weather on a Ducati along the motorway and although the tyres can skip as they slide over the cat's eyes normal traction tends to be resumed quick enough.

I've never ridden a GN250 but I've heard the stock tyres are rubbish. Get some good rubber - not just for the cats eyes!

[Mom]

Hi just like to say I managed to lose control and drop my bike on the freeway on the morning commute. Wet road, was changing lanes carelessly, front tyre hit those annoying "cat's eye" bumps, skidded out from under me. No serious pain for me though (except my pride - lots of traffic about). Small holes in wrist of glove and ass of jeans! I'm glad the driver behind me was paying attention or it could have been a lot worse. Picked up the bike and rode the rest of the way in.

Anyone else have problems with those cat's eye bumps? On the GN, I'm always a bit nervous crossing them in the rain - can anyone vouch for upgrading the front tyre?

If you still have the standard rubber, (and I use that term loosely) on your GN change it! The plastic crap that these bikes are supplied with are leathal in the wet, and cats eyes become yet another hazard to be aware of.

[Jantar]

- It's called an Arse over here - Ass is a beast of burden - like a donkey.!

Ah, that's clearer. I thought he was calling the GN a donkey for the way it handledin the wet.

[McJim]

Ah, that's clearer. I thought he was calling the GN a donkey for the way it handledin the wet.

Well I figured if I headed the whole thing off at the pass Mr Hitcher wouldn't give the poor Canadian an ear bashing.

I had visions of a donkey on a wake board though.:rofl:

[Grub]

Anyone else have problems with those cat's eye bumps?

Hi and welcome to KB. We'll have you converted from Canuk to Kiwi in no time at all.

Yup, those cat's eyes are baaad news, especially since they're always somewhere near white lines and lines are badder than the cats eyes. Yep those chinese nylon tyres are garbage but I think it's too easy to blame them totally because launching over a cats eye is going to challenge any bike if it's in the wrong mode at the time.

[mbazza]

Sorry to hear the cats eyes/paws have got you.
Welcome to KB & NZ.
I reckon those cats eyes have arms (paws) which catch us as the front wheel pops over them. Almost as bad as the multi coats of paint on the words, GIVE WAY in the midde of the lane. Best avoid braking in the wet over those letters.

Cheers - :calm:

[Nasty]

Welcome aboard ... also glad to meet another newbie ...

I hate the cateyes .. was much worse when I was riding the FXR150 .. so I think tire width does help .. but it does not stop them being slippery ... there are some bits of good advice in this thread .. so heres hoping it don't happen again :yes:

[Zuki Bandit]

Glad to hear your ok mate, and bless those cage drivers who actually pay attention ay!!!

[irishlad]

Changing the stock nylon GN tyres makes a huge difference. I got a $140 front back in feb. That reduced my stopping distance to a car length @40-50kmh. I actually feel safe in wet conditions.
I upgraded the back for $130 last week. No I can go round corners without havin to loose to much speed. Old stock rear tyre has a huge shoulder. Feels much better when both tyres match.Dont feel the back kick out while the front keeps pulling. Take it easy for 200k to scrubb tyres in.
Be safe :rockon:

[MaxCannon]

When I first got my GN I could not believe how crap the grip in the wet was. My only real heart stop moment was locking up the front at about 30kph when a car pulled across my lane.

I had a set of Pirelli city demons fitted and the difference is amazing. I am 100% certain that If I rode the bike like I do now on stock tyres then I'd fall off everytime it rained.

On the Pirelli's it's a whole new bike.
Not super cheap at just under $300 for the pair but certainly cheaper (and less painful) than sliding along the road on my backside.