Went Down - Tar Snakes
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 8
After seeing this thread, I stopped in a parking lot and pressed my finger into a tar snake. I was surprised how soft and pliable it was. Even if your bike has great traction, the substrate is shifting, so you're still gonna get that squirrelly feeling.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 8
Tar snakes are a pain in the *** to ride over.
When the front washed out, were you leaned over, and if you were, was it by a lot?
Maybe a month and a half ago, I was on a road in NJ on a 90 degree day, and heading through a corner at 35-40, there was a tar snake right on my line. I leaned over some more to keep the front tire from hitting it, but the rear tire still made contact with the snake. I was leaned over and felt the rear sliding out. I didn't panic or anything, but it certainly was not an ideal feeling. I went home and ordered an armored mesh jacket as a result since I decided that I no longer felt comfortable with the t-shirt approach any longer.
There was another road I used to take where the road had a couple of miles worth of tar snakes all over the road. Fortunately they finally repaved the road recently so all of that is gone. But I hated riding down that road because the bike would be moving all over the place.
Hope you heal up quick and get back out there soon.[/QUOTE]
I had just begun to lean and the instant I began pressing on the right hand grip to counter steer to corner, the bike went down. Just immediate.
When the front washed out, were you leaned over, and if you were, was it by a lot?
Maybe a month and a half ago, I was on a road in NJ on a 90 degree day, and heading through a corner at 35-40, there was a tar snake right on my line. I leaned over some more to keep the front tire from hitting it, but the rear tire still made contact with the snake. I was leaned over and felt the rear sliding out. I didn't panic or anything, but it certainly was not an ideal feeling. I went home and ordered an armored mesh jacket as a result since I decided that I no longer felt comfortable with the t-shirt approach any longer.
There was another road I used to take where the road had a couple of miles worth of tar snakes all over the road. Fortunately they finally repaved the road recently so all of that is gone. But I hated riding down that road because the bike would be moving all over the place.
Hope you heal up quick and get back out there soon.[/QUOTE]
I had just begun to lean and the instant I began pressing on the right hand grip to counter steer to corner, the bike went down. Just immediate.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 58
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, AZ
Great, now I'm paranoid about tar snakes. Just took a 300 mile trip and spent the whole time dodging tar snakes. Let me tell you, it's impossible. That garbage is everywhere. Wasn't even looking ahead down the road, just right in front of me for fear I would hit a tar snake and go down at 70 mph. I know it's illogical but I get goofy like that.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 406
From: Hurdle Mills NC
I havent read all the responses. But yes. These ARE dangerous. Next time take the time to stop and really look at them. Get off the bike ... you will find that these things actually move when then are hot. The kids and I accidentally found this out while messing around out in the street.
I really think that we all need to contact State county and city officials and let them know what dangers these repairs are causing. I am guessing that they dont know.
I really think that we all need to contact State county and city officials and let them know what dangers these repairs are causing. I am guessing that they dont know.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 8
I did contact city of farmington hills about this but they don't seem to give a sh*t. They don't recognize that tar is not safe to use on road surfaces. Can others chime in that may have gone down? We could bring this to a lawyer perhaps...
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
You need to do 2 things.
1) Get decent tires on your bike.
2) Take the advanced riders course
If you aren't under power going into and through a corner you are giving up traction.
The time to slow down is before the corner and then accelerate through it.
As I said before I don't even notice the tar snakes anymore and I find it real hard to believe that your roads get hotter than ones in Texas.
I was going through 20 mph corners today at 50 mph and didn't even get a wiggle out of the tar snakes.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,870
Likes: 17,966
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Originally Posted by texashillcountry
To be honest if you called me with the same complaint I wouldn't give a **** either.
You need to do 2 things.
1) Get decent tires on your bike.
2) Take the advanced riders course
If you aren't under power going into and through a corner you are giving up traction.
The time to slow down is before the corner and then accelerate through it.
As I said before I don't even notice the tar snakes anymore and I find it real hard to believe that your roads get hotter than ones in Texas.
I was going through 20 mph corners today at 50 mph and didn't even get a wiggle out of the tar snakes.
You need to do 2 things.
1) Get decent tires on your bike.
2) Take the advanced riders course
If you aren't under power going into and through a corner you are giving up traction.
The time to slow down is before the corner and then accelerate through it.
As I said before I don't even notice the tar snakes anymore and I find it real hard to believe that your roads get hotter than ones in Texas.
I was going through 20 mph corners today at 50 mph and didn't even get a wiggle out of the tar snakes.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 972
Likes: 634
From: Ohio
To be honest if you called me with the same complaint I wouldn't give a **** either.
You need to do 2 things.
1) Get decent tires on your bike.
2) Take the advanced riders course.
TexasHill,
What kind of tires do you have that are un affected by tar snakes? I can be going in a straight line and feel the bike squirrel around while going over them. I have OEM with around 4000 miles on them.
You need to do 2 things.
1) Get decent tires on your bike.
2) Take the advanced riders course.
TexasHill,
What kind of tires do you have that are un affected by tar snakes? I can be going in a straight line and feel the bike squirrel around while going over them. I have OEM with around 4000 miles on them.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
To be honest if you called me with the same complaint I wouldn't give a **** either.
You need to do 2 things.
1) Get decent tires on your bike.
2) Take the advanced riders course.
TexasHill,
What kind of tires do you have that are un affected by tar snakes? I can be going in a straight line and feel the bike squirrel around while going over them. I have OEM with around 4000 miles on them.
You need to do 2 things.
1) Get decent tires on your bike.
2) Take the advanced riders course.
TexasHill,
What kind of tires do you have that are un affected by tar snakes? I can be going in a straight line and feel the bike squirrel around while going over them. I have OEM with around 4000 miles on them.
Tar snakes and road paint have no affect on them at all.
I won't ride a bike with Harley Dunlops on them ever again!!
Those damn things will kill you!!!
I hear the Michelin Commander II's are also good tires.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 406
From: Hurdle Mills NC
Well I ride all over NC VA TN GA SC ... was in VA and mountains of nc today. Ive had snake problems on brand new tires and old tires on all my bikes.
You hit those at the right angle at any speed and your going for a ride ! There are all kinds of bikes in my group WIngs, FJRs, Silverwings, Hayabusas, Harleys, Vmax, Gsxr .. just to mention a few ... EVERYONE has problems at one time or another at crusing speeds and parking lot speeds. Types fo tires and wear are exponential.
In my world, It makes sense to pay attention when your riding over snakes at ANY speed.
My 2 cents
You hit those at the right angle at any speed and your going for a ride ! There are all kinds of bikes in my group WIngs, FJRs, Silverwings, Hayabusas, Harleys, Vmax, Gsxr .. just to mention a few ... EVERYONE has problems at one time or another at crusing speeds and parking lot speeds. Types fo tires and wear are exponential.
In my world, It makes sense to pay attention when your riding over snakes at ANY speed.
My 2 cents