loosing it on the silver wet bits

[aff-man]

what only 8 inches

Same thing happened to me on the m1's going in a straight line when the bike's rear end starting swinging side to side really badly (30-50cm). Fecked my back trying to get it going straight again really don't know how i didn't fall off. This was in the rain as well.

Sometimes there is just shit on the road that you don't see. Only thing to do is have some good tyres and experience, a few prayers to the biker gods and away you go.

[2_SL0]

There is a certain piece of road out where I live that is covered in those tar strips. Its always "interesting" to ride along in the wet. I dont think you can do anything about it. Avoid it where possible.

[Brett]

Yeah i s'pose its one of those things you encounter. I hate rain

[surfchick]

I just got back from a ride, started pissing down, changed gear little too late as i was going into a corner and whamo whole back started fishing. I somehow managed to accelerate out of it. Guess it just pays to look ahead whats on the road and where its taking you?

the thing i didn't like was loosing the back right beside the stream of oncoming traffic-it really is an oh shit is this worth it moment as you hope like mad you can stay on... i still frieked tho as if she's like it on the straight, how bad is it to find those bald bits on a corner. i practically crawled home in the upright position...;(

[Ixion]

A rear wheel playing footsie is very alarming and frightening, especially to newer riders. But, in my experience, it's actually less dangerous than it feels. I've never heard of anyone actually coming off due to the rear wandering UNLESS they hit the brakes. In general, so long as you keep the front under control the rear will eventually sort itself out. Same witht he rear locking up under braking. Just keep the gas on and concetrate on keeping the front pointed right. IMHO

[DMNTD:Me]

Yep I trashed my last TL on a strip like that-slight curve,drizzling but since found out my tyre pressure was too hard for the conditions :spudgrr: My lack of experience I reckon
Wasn't much I could do but best to avoid if poss and don't button off like I did :spudgrr:
-Lesson learnt-

[Big Dave]

Just keep the gas on and concetrate on keeping the front pointed right. IMHO

Concur - worst possible thing to do is grab the picks or even engage engine breaking.

I had some huge slides on Hwy 3.
All you can really do is be eternally vigilant for the shit. Avoid it as HERE LURKS DEATH stuff. And relax if you find yourself sliding accross it.
The bike will have a wiggle when it finds traction again and you can controll that - but until then roll with it.

It's possibli the worst thing about NZ roads for mine. gets you when you can see the least and can strike completely without warning.

[surfchick]

oh it good to read those strories so it not just me...
i found my brain having a bit of a mare- cause staying off the bald bits in the rain sometimes puts you in the middle section of the road with all the grease pooops-but i've since decided i prefer the grease poooops to the bald bits

[aff-man]

oh it good to read those strories so it not just me...
i found my brain having a bit of a mare- cause staying off the bald bits in the rain sometimes puts you in the middle section of the road with all the grease pooops-but i've since decided i prefer the grease poooops to the bald bits

depends on your tyres that. A good set of tyres will hold even on those balt bits unless you are going for it. Unfortunatley no quality of tyre can save you from the grease poops. I would choose the baldy's over the greasies . But yeh just be carefull and take it easy in the rain. you soon learn to live with it...


p.s. rolling burnouts in the wet / sliding it round decent corners is fun

[XP@]

oh it good to read those strories so it not just me...
i found my brain having a bit of a mare- cause staying off the bald bits in the rain sometimes puts you in the middle section of the road with all the grease pooops-but i've since decided i prefer the grease poooops to the bald bits

You are a surfer, I am not, but when you change direction on a surf board, what happens?
does it slide out? if so is it a concern?
do you just look in the direction you want to go and adjust your weight?

[Big Dave]

depends on your tyres that. A good set of tyres will hold even on those balt bits unless you are going for it.

i disagree with that. you only need to be marginaly cranked over on some of it and it's curtains - when it's wet or when it's hot and melted. stay off it - regardless of rubber.

[SuperDave]

Same thing just happened to me on the way home down my rural road. They patch stuff with that crap black tar and if your rear hits one length wise at any speed in the wet it slips to the left with the road camber until it comes off it and regains grip. The problem only comes when the 'patch' goes right to the edge of the road, then its hello stone filled gutter!

[Zapf]

i disagree with that. you only need to be marginaly cranked over on some of it and it's curtains - when it's wet or when it's hot and melted. stay off it - regardless of rubber.

time for some metal studded tires?

[Zapf]

what make and model tires have u got surfchick? And have they got cracks in the rubber?

[Big Dave]

time for some metal studded tires?

You know I'm not the 'carping aussie' - but really, they should make the roads more like back home.
The surface is laid as 'hotmix' in aus - rather than metal poured on top of the tar like here.
Aus roads are far more reliably surfaced throughout.