n00b questions- when in a slide..

[sAsLEX]

oh and dont make sudden lane changes on the harbour bridges big metal expansion joint! that invokes some big slides

[Macktheknife]

React....... only experience will dictate the outcome. I've pulled out of slides in more recent times that would have seen me on my ass a few years ago.....
The more you get comfortable with what the bike is doing how it's doing it what causes it to do certain things etc etc the more likley your reaction to a given situation will prove to be the right one......
My 2c.... just ride heaps shit will happen but you'll be a better rider for it.

Best advice out there really, there is no substitute for experience. Ride heaps and learn lots. As for the rain thing, try to avoid it, learn to live with it, every so often you will hit something that scares the stuffing out of you, you can always pull over and wait it out, I have done that several times. Skid control takes practice, just like in a car, so get yourself a dirt bike or an old shitter and thrash the hell out of it on dirt, gravel, carparks whatever. Biggest thing is dont let things scare you to the point where you freeze rigid, thats when no amount of help will do it.

[Zed]

Here's question number two. Anyone ride when its REALLY pouring? what do you do on the motorway when there are pools everywhere? Avoid at all costs at a slower speed, or just not take the motorway?

Can't say I've ever seen pools "everywhere" on the motorway (Auck I presume), but they do occur in certain spots during very heavy downpours, so when that happens just keep your speed down and ride straight through them - divide and conquer!

Ps. Don't be afraid of the motorway.

[sAsLEX]

Can't say I've ever seen pools "everywhere" on the motorway (Auck I presume), but they do occur in certain spots during very heavy downpours, so when that happens just keep your speed down and ride straight through them - divide and conquer!

Ps. Don't be afraid of the motorway.

must say you must get out more.

The MW system is incredibly poorly designed and pretty much anythin more than very light rain sees standing water all over the motorway, one of the off ramps i take commonly has a river going across it. The whole system doesnt seem to have enough camber and when the rain gets heavier water pools all over it.

[Zed]

The whole system doesnt seem to have enough camber and when the rain gets heavier water pools all over it.

I guess our definition of 'pools' must differ, I've been riding/driving on the Ak Motorway for over 20 years and can't say it's been a huge problem except when lane flooding occurs during really heavy rainfall. Either way, slowing down and keeping the bike up straight is sound enuf advice for any noob.

[Ixion]

I agree with Mr Zed about "pools" on the motorway. I've been riding the Auckland motorways for 40 years in every weather that comes. I've never seen anything in the way of standing water that should give a competant rider any problem. Keep upright and straight and blat through it. I've never seen it more than 6 inches deep.

And I agree with Mr Motu and Mr Frosty and Mr Mr Skid. You can save a slid ewith footwork, like off road or motard stuff. But for a beginner , it is too scarey , and you will crash. Ride slower. Slowing down will not demean your manhood.

[Lou Girardin]

I usually take some of the weight on my knee slider till the front finds traction again.











I'm a riding God.




And full of shit.

[Motu]

I have some old caster wheels from a creeper on my knee sliders,this allows me to take more weight on my knee.



I'm a riding dork.



I never tell lies,it's rude.

[SlowHand]

I guess our pools do differ then. A couple inches that pull the steering on the car was what I meant. I just wondered if it would slow down the bike enough to put me off balance. As for the off roader, im trying to get some money together for a dunga that I can experiment on. I can make a video of it later if anyone wants a good laugh!

[Artifice]

i had the front of the r6 start to slide the other week. i gone into the corner too fast. It cant have slid more than a couple of inches before it took up again. man i love these tyres. the ones on the 4hundy woulda just low sided me. its a good warning to take it easy.

[John]

if you loose the front, GUN IT and tug the wheel to try lighten the front and stand it up quick - then regain your line, this works depending on speed and bike power, its successfull if your in the torque range 50% of the time, else stand it up and brake better than a lowside just run off the road.

If you loose the rear, your sweet, just keep the throttle steady and counter it like your drifting a car, not that I know but I guess you've driven a car, I never have, but yea its just like dirt riding, counter it, wait for the tire to regain some grip, NEVER let go off the throttle else your going to regain grip to quick.

best way to pratice is a closed round about brake hard mid corner, the front will start to leave you, do as above, for the rear, go out in the wet and power it on in the corner, but of course the best way is to read the corners and not get yourself into trouble in the first place.

And yes I have experienced all of the above on more than one occasion but normally at mid speeds.

[Jackrat]

if you loose the front, GUN IT and tug the wheel to try lighten the front and stand it up quick - then regain your line, this works depending on speed and bike power, its successfull if your in the torque range 50% of the time, else stand it up and brake better than a lowside just run off the road.

If you loose the rear, your sweet, just keep the throttle steady and counter it like your drifting a car, not that I know but I guess you've driven a car, I never have, but yea its just like dirt riding, counter it, wait for the tire to regain some grip, NEVER let go off the throttle else your going to regain grip to quick.

best way to pratice is a closed round about brake hard mid corner, the front will start to leave you, do as above, for the rear, go out in the wet and power it on in the corner, but of course the best way is to read the corners and not get yourself into trouble in the first place.

And yes I have experienced all of the above on more than one occasion but normally at mid speeds.

Your comments about front slides are interesting.
Food for thought.
I manage to push the front out quite regular (lots of twisty back roads an a lack of common sense)
I just keep it going an the bike does the rest,usualy all over before I have time for any real reaction anyway.
Low sided once,high sided once,hope to never repeat either.
Cheers.

[SlowHand]

Awesome guys! they are all imbedded in my memory. whether I remember it at the right time is another matter. Now if I ever enter a corner at the right speed, or above, and have an off, I will be able to look back and think ahhh, jackrat/motu/frosty etc san was right!

just gota get this entry speed thing down.

[John]

Awesome guys! they are all imbedded in my memory. whether I remember it at the right time is another matter. Now if I ever enter a corner at the right speed, or above, and have an off, I will be able to look back and think ahhh, jackrat/motu/frosty etc san was right!

just gota get this entry speed thing down.

thats the thing mate, if you get into that sort of situation, its got to be NATURAL - it will come with time, just go your own pace, learn your bike/tire limits and you will be fine, dont try keep up.

[Flyingpony]

I guess our pools do differ then. A couple inches that pull the steering on the car was what I meant. I just wondered if it would slow down the bike enough to put me off balance.

Hitting water won't slow your bike enough for you to lose balance unless you're very unlucky and the engine has stalled due to water in electrics, water in air intake or rapid contracting cooling of bore causing it to seizing the piston (never had this but definitely slowed down my retired dirt bikes).

From experience with deep water, your speed will drop to around 15km/hr and you'll end up with at least wet feet. At higher entry speeds a water wall will appear in front and crash over top of the dash/tank/seat followed by a rapid reduction in speed. And wet brakes.

My only concern is losing speed too quickly resulting in getting thrown over bars, high siding, or aqua-plaining. Water on road a night is hard to spot unless it's too late.