Back tyre briefly lost grip on straight road

**zmlam** · 25th April 2014, 18:23

Hi all,

Just wanted to get some ideas of what happened, as it gave me quite a scare..

Was driving back in a rainy night a few weeks ago, driving at 100km/hr, straight road (or perhaps a very slight bend), and all of a sudden I feel the back tyre just loose control and it slides to the left and right a few times (maybe by few inches each way). All happened within a second (which felt like a long time), and fortunately I probably didn't have to react to it, and it all came right by itself while I steered straight ahead.

There is a possibility I could have ridden over something I didn't see, could I have hit some oil slick or something similar - possible?

Bike serviced a few months ago, both tyres are also brand new during time of service.

Thanks in advance!

**russd7** · 25th April 2014, 18:41

have had this happen on a few occasions in wet conditions when riding over tar bleed, worst one was while passing a stock truck and a car appeared in the distance so i gave the throttle a bit more of a twist

, most times in one day was while riding along the desert road in torrential rain. Not really to much to worry about as long as you don't panic.

**jellywrestler** · 25th April 2014, 19:02

Originally Posted by zmlam

Hi all,

Just wanted to get some ideas of what happened, as it gave me quite a scare..

Was driving back in a rainy night a few weeks ago, driving at 100km/hr,

1st of all, your ride a motorcycle, if your description of how you control it is driving then you need to learn a lot. did you think about going and have a look to see what it was, and then checking to see whether there were any warning signs you may not have picked up that may help you in the future? if it's deisle then the road often has a rainbow effect and you can smell it...

**russd7** · 25th April 2014, 19:16

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

1st of all, your ride a motorcycle, if your description of how you control it is driving then you need to learn a lot..

actually a lot of people refer to operating a motorcycle as driving, a discussion that has been done to death and not really very helpfull to a noob asking for advice, the second part of your statement was what could be considered helpfull

**FJRider** · 25th April 2014, 19:17

It happens all the time with my FJ ... from 6500 rpm up past 9500 rpm ... usually in second ... and sometimes in third gear ...

**AllanB** · 25th April 2014, 19:20

What condition is your rear tyre in? No trying to squeeze the last few hundred kms out of it are you?

**Ocean1** · 25th April 2014, 19:23

Originally Posted by zmlam

could I have hit some oil slick or something similar - possible?

May be other contributing factors, the bike, the tyre, but most likely the primary cause would be oil. There's a lot of it out there where it shouldn't orta be.

**oneofsix** · 25th April 2014, 19:28

Like what jelly said, go back and have a look. It is possible that in the dry you wont see it but still a look better than guessing with the help of people who don't know the road or even remember the OP correctly.

Russd7's suggestion of tar bleed would be a good starter as it is hard to spot on a rainy night, deseasil will probably have been washed away.

**Ribit** · 25th April 2014, 19:34

If i had to guess it would be tar bleed. Ive had the same effect while riding in the wet due to tar bleed.

**G4L4XY** · 25th April 2014, 19:36

Originally Posted by zmlam

Bike serviced a few months ago, both tyres are also brand new during time of service.

Originally Posted by AllanB

What condition is your rear tyre in? No trying to squeeze the last few hundred kms out of it are you?

Highly unlikely.

Possible tar bleed. You weren't riding/driving on the center line? Possible urine leakage, not sure how slippery that is though

**zmlam** · 25th April 2014, 19:45

Awesome - thanks for the responses.

Didn't think to stop to turn back actually - at the time I didn't know at all what happened, I thought perhaps this is what a flat tyre may have felt like. First time its happened to me from over the 3+ years of riding, though I don't have much night riding experience.

Tyres - only have put in about 1000kms in from brand new, so certainly didn't think it was lack of tyre thread.

Thanks again! Always much to learn!

**skippa1** · 25th April 2014, 19:48

Tar bleed, happens at the same spot just up the road from me every time it rains.

**zmlam** · 25th April 2014, 19:50

Originally Posted by G4L4XY

Highly unlikely.

Possible tar bleed. You weren't riding/driving on the center line? Possible urine leakage, not sure how slippery that is though

Ha! Am certain I wasn't riding on the center line - I'm putting it down to some slippery surface for now, and not some malfunction in the bike and/or parts..

**jellywrestler** · 25th April 2014, 20:17

Originally Posted by russd7

actually a lot of people refer to operating a motorcycle as driving,

maybe maybe not, it may be semantics but it also maybe indicative of their attitude towards their new vechile, and they may not be aware. I'd rather point it out then there's a chance the penny may drop and improve their concept. It wasn't an insult etc in my eyes.