Ultimate Winter Tyre Test

**sAsLEX** · 22nd June 2005, 14:07

well in the terrible weather this morning I headed off to uni in the dark ( well semi dark of just after seven) I noticed that when turning my bike as I do every morning on the lawn that the wet and cold must of effected my tyre grip levels, as she spun up a fair bit and left a mess! Even the front wouldnt hold me on the slight incline as I backed it down the grass and through the gate.

Never mind the wind, wet grass is what is dangerous on days like these!!!

**bugjuice** · 22nd June 2005, 14:10

yeah, right.. you just like rackin it up!!!

cos of the shadow in the second thumb pic, I thought you had a few goes

**White trash** · 22nd June 2005, 14:37

Originally Posted by bugjuice

yeah, right.. you just like rackin it up!!!

cos of the shadow in the second thumb pic, I thought you had a few goes

Rarkin' is the correct term.

**bugjuice** · 22nd June 2005, 14:43

Originally Posted by Oh 'Mighty one

Rarkin' is the correct term.

sincere apologies Oh Mighty one...

**Gremlin** · 22nd June 2005, 17:41

yep, I'm learning that when its really really wet, some roads can be extremely slippery. Beach road yesterday (was turning right into anzac) was very slippery.

Hmm, tight nasty corner I think I'll drop from 3rd to 2nd, and do the usual engine brake. Nope, I was in 2nd, and as you can guess its a drop into first. Next thing I know I'm hearing this dragging sound and the bike isn't handling as usual.

Imagine my surprise when I realised I had locked the back, so I took it nice and easy through the corner, but feeling happy I wasn't panicking, as I straightened up I promptly let the back out a little

Bit of a wake up though. Two wheels in the wet and you have to be careful. All tar is not just tar. Nor the same...

**Ixion** · 22nd June 2005, 17:56

Yeh, yesterday morning in the wet wet my ABS actually did its thing under battle conditions for the first time.

Cruised up to a traffic light, no-one else waiting, doing about 55 in my usual "right wheel track" possy, applied brakes , started to slow down as normal, then all of a sudden there's this really weird sensation, I'm just gliding along, braking moderately hard for the wet , but not slowing down at all. Or hardly at all . WTF WTF WTF.

Apply more brake. Apply LOTS more brake! Apply full emergency brake !!!

Makes no difference.

The Whale just glides serenely on, slowing VERY gradually. Then I realised what was happening , let the brakes right off and moved to the far left edge of the lane and braked - all normal.

Edged over a bit , and tried extending a cautious foot. Which promptly shot out from under me, and I nearly dropped the bike at a standstill. 'Twas as slippery as the ducks arse after it swallowed the bottlefull of castor oil.

No rainbows or any sign of why. Just very very very slippery. Reckon without ABS I'd have locked something up for sure. Hopefully only the rear.

I'd had the ABS cut in before but only when i deliberately provoked it at low speed , then it made loud clonking sounds. This was quite silent. Uncanny until I realised why it was doing it.

Maybe kept me upright though. Think I like ABS.

**DingDong** · 22nd June 2005, 20:07

road tyres are for the road...

?

**NinjaBoy** · 22nd June 2005, 20:44

Actually this morning it was the wind that made it especially tricky... wet roads I can make allowances for but when you add wind and slow rush hour speeds its a bit more challenging. Almost caught off guard waiting at the traffic lights when a gust comes thru.

**Bonez** · 23rd June 2005, 07:37

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

well in the terrible weather this morning I headed off to uni in the dark ( well semi dark of just after seven) I noticed that when turning my bike as I do every morning on the lawn that the wet and cold must of effected my tyre grip levels, as she spun up a fair bit and left a mess! Even the front wouldnt hold me on the slight incline as I backed it down the grass and through the gate.

Never mind the wind, wet grass is what is dangerous on days like these!!!

Looks like the marks made in the back yard by the cb550 when the twins use to "borrow" it while I was at work a few years back. They could never figure out how I knew about it 6 or so years after the event..............

**Coldkiwi** · 23rd June 2005, 12:33

Originally Posted by wayne kohi

road tyres are for the road...

?

go to the head of the class!

I've lost the front end of my bikes in the past just parking them off my parents driveway due to wet leaves on slope evn at about 5kmhr.

The lesson is thus: Be extremely careful of any form of damp foliage on hard surfaces.... or get knobblies

**Mr Skid** · 23rd June 2005, 13:51

Originally Posted by Coldkiwi

I've lost the front end of my bikes in the past just parking them off my parents driveway due to wet leaves on slope evn at about 5kmhr.

The lesson is thus: Be extremely careful of any form of damp foliage on hard surfaces.... or get knobblies

Road tires on loose/slippery stuff can be a bit unpredictable at slow speeds.
I've tried to throw the RRR sideways on gravel at a brisk walking pace and the back has keep traction, pushing the front.
Funny when you've got the bars turned and the bike is still going straight ahead.

**Ixion** · 23rd June 2005, 14:11

Originally Posted by Mr Skid

Road tires on loose/slippery stuff can be a bit unpredictable at slow speeds.
I've tried to throw the RRR sideways on gravel at a brisk walking pace and the back has keep traction, pushing the front.
Funny when you've got the bars turned and the bike is still going straight ahead.

You were just going too slow

**MSTRS:Me** · 23rd June 2005, 14:35

Originally Posted by NinjaBoy

Actually this morning it was the wind that made it especially tricky... wet roads I can make allowances for but when you add wind and slow rush hour speeds its a bit more challenging. Almost caught off guard waiting at the traffic lights when a gust comes thru.

Oxymoron