Interstate and semis'
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,542
Likes: 161
From: Booming metropolis
Personally I think this "riding around trucks" thing is blown way out of proportion. I see them as any other vehicle on the road and ride accordingly.
Sure a big truck will create a bit of turbulence but as long as you are aware of what's happening it's really no big deal.
And as for the tire blowouts, sure it can happen, but how many times have you been next to a truck in harms way at the moment of a blowout. I've been driving/riding for 40+ years and that answer for me is never.
It comes down to this... Can a big truck cause an issue? Yes. But the chances of something happening at the exact moment to f you up is miniscule.
I'd say my biggest issue is when they're kicking up or dropping dirt/stones and I'm hearing all that **** hit my bike.
Bottom line - be aware, but don't worry about it!
Sure a big truck will create a bit of turbulence but as long as you are aware of what's happening it's really no big deal.
And as for the tire blowouts, sure it can happen, but how many times have you been next to a truck in harms way at the moment of a blowout. I've been driving/riding for 40+ years and that answer for me is never.
It comes down to this... Can a big truck cause an issue? Yes. But the chances of something happening at the exact moment to f you up is miniscule.
I'd say my biggest issue is when they're kicking up or dropping dirt/stones and I'm hearing all that **** hit my bike.
Bottom line - be aware, but don't worry about it!
Last edited by hog95023; Oct 4, 2012 at 10:26 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 341
Likes: 61
From: Tn
JJ
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 7
From: Minnesota
I treat passing a truck on a multilane highway almost the same as if I was passing a tuck on a two lane road — meaning that I don’t start passing until I know I can get by quickly, spending as little time as possible in back of or next to those big nasty tires.
I am less concerned with turbulence than I am with one of those tires letting loose and throwing a Road Gator my way.
I am less concerned with turbulence than I am with one of those tires letting loose and throwing a Road Gator my way.
Last edited by Potato_Potato; Oct 5, 2012 at 06:20 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 882
From: SOON TO BE A SAFE AMERICA
Whoa! The chances of that tire blowing is less a retread than a new tire. Today's retreads (probably the last 10-15 yrs) are as good if not better then new tires if a quality shop does the work. Keep in mind any tire will reverse the vulcanizing process when it is overheated (almost always a result of an outside influence aka, nail)
But retread or new tire, a tire blowing up on a 18 wheeler for both the driver and nearby motorcycle or car, truck, etc. is a nasty event.
Ride Safe,
YELLOWBIRD
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 350
From: Holly Springs, North Carolina
I don't mind the interstate. Sometimes I prefer it, but my buddies hate it. I usually take the back road just to get away from the most congested areas of the big slab, then get on it and go. I speed up or slow down to find a "hole" in the traffic. In heavy traffic, I prefer the far left lane and set the pace myself, not as much merging traffic. But like others here, I'm very cautious around the big rigs, all trucks hauling something and the landscaper trailers etc. I hate 45mph & stop lights. LOL!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, SC
I do a lot of interstate travel. I never follow a truck too close and when I can, I zoom past. I never ride beside them. Just this year I have been passing a truck when they have had a blowout. Luckily it was a tire behind me. I had one blowout in front of me but I was far enough back to miss all the debris. I have even had a car go by me a week ago and it had a blowout but on the opposite side. Sometimes I think they all are out to get me!!!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,946
Likes: 32
From: Colorado Springs, CO
What causes alot of blowouts is when one of the two tires on one side is underinflated. It will heat up and fail. Had this happen alot in Iraq. I'm a truck Driver in the Air Force. Seems like it's always the inside dual.
~Joe
~Joe
Last edited by traveler; Oct 5, 2012 at 02:48 PM.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,422
Likes: 2
From: Las Cruces, NM
I don't like playing "Leap Frog" with any vehicle in a cage or on the bike. These idiots that feel that they have to control you speed or what ever their reasoning just pisses me off.
This has nothing to do with semis, but I thought I would share anyway!
I was going to Albq in my pickup one time and every time I went to pass a mustang, he would speed up and leave me behind. This cat and mouse game went on for 50 - 60 miles. I finally did manage to get past the azzhat while he was getting his ticket to the policeman's ball.
There is justice in this world after all (sometimes)!
This has nothing to do with semis, but I thought I would share anyway!
I was going to Albq in my pickup one time and every time I went to pass a mustang, he would speed up and leave me behind. This cat and mouse game went on for 50 - 60 miles. I finally did manage to get past the azzhat while he was getting his ticket to the policeman's ball.
There is justice in this world after all (sometimes)!
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque
Best advice for passing a big rig... well, it's a "dance"; what I mean is as you come up from behind you'll be hit by a wind blast as you pull out into the left lane. This blast will push you further out to the left; then as you get even with the trailor, there's a low pressure that wants to pull you back in under the trailor; lastly, as get about even with the driver's door, there's another blast of wind pushing you back out to the left again. So the dance invloves pulling out an anticipating the blast to the left (so lean back into it), then stratin back up to avoid the low pressure near the trailor, and finnally lean back in for the last blast. Oh, and like everyone has said, do it quick. Don't spend any more time than you absolutely have to next to a big rig.