Tar Snakes

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 25, 2013 | 08:25 AM

#21

SanJuanRon

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 2,275

Likes: 149

From: High in the Colorado Rockies

Nothing like doing twistys in the mountains and hitting some fresh tar snakes on a warm afternoon. SJ Ron

Apr 25, 2013 | 08:28 AM

#22

mikelikesbikes

Banned

Joined: Mar 2012

Posts: 11,232

Likes: 16

From: Socialist Republic of the USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by btsom

I think they ruined your road. The tar snakes I have ridden over are slippery in the cool, and mushy (feel slippery) in the heat. You may be SOL until the road is re-surfaced or at least sealed.

10-4 on that. One of the roads I frequent on the way to a favorite riding area now has tar snakes. Be it cold or hot we still get the slides out of them. Me on Road King and buddy on Ultra.

Apr 25, 2013 | 08:31 AM

#23

rtmichael

Thread Starter

Advanced

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 55

Likes: 3

From: Prescott, AZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by btsom

Anybody can ride ...under ideal conditions.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a great ride. Just that at 67 I still like to drag the boards. Those snakes take the pleasure out of agressive riding. At my age I don't heal as well as I used too.

May 31, 2013 | 03:22 PM

#24

Blk Betty

Advanced

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 84

Likes: 0

From: Utah

What I want to know is ? has anyone ever gone down because of a tar Snake or is it just an uneasy feeling ?
I was riding HGW. 12 in Southern Utah memorial weekend & they had them tar snakes running NOT across the road BUT Parralell with the road ! I was leaning around a corner and hit one of them, I puckered up & slowed down the rest of the way !

May 31, 2013 | 03:34 PM

#25

kwo51

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2012

Posts: 3,046

Likes: 68

From: florida

Might be a good call to DOT to add some grit to the process.Might take a fatality to get their attention. I hate road gators also,blown apart retreads.

Last edited by kwo51; May 31, 2013 at 03:35 PM. Reason: more info

May 31, 2013 | 04:59 PM

#26

Double_J1024

Intermediate

Joined: May 2013

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

From: Kingsland GA

We have a few of those on one of my favorite country roads back in Mississippi. The stupid county supervisor who lived out that way did not like the "potholes" and ordered them sealed (they were sealed going in the direction of travel so no avoiding them). I felt like I was going to slide sideways about 20 feet after I found them, and of course it was after a good summer rain storm. I have only had that feeling 4 times in 35,000 miles, once when I hit some sand, once when the rear tire went flat at 80 mph (shudder thinking about that one), once on the tar snakes, and the last time was a week after buying the road king. The last one was an off ramp to the interstate during a BAD rain storm, sharp turn and oil. One guy bit the dust just before I got there, his bike looked rough. Slick roads SUCK!

May 31, 2013 | 05:05 PM

#27

basselope

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 500

Likes: 2

From: Springfield Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blk Betty

What I want to know is ? has anyone ever gone down because of a tar Snake or is it just an uneasy feeling ?

Some folks do go down; you can over-react, hit a snake at a really bad angle at speed, hit a big patch of curve with snakes everywhere, or just be traveling fast enough in a curve that the snake(s) scoot you over to the edge of the pavement where the marbles take over. Gently easing off the throttle and maintaining your body and handlebar position will usually get you through with little more than an increased heart rate, but sometimes its just not your day.

I'd be surprised if there weren't some youtube vids of tar snakes causing bad days.

May 31, 2013 | 05:42 PM

#28

jjnoble

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 2,727

Likes: 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtmichael

I ride route 89 south out of Prescott, AZ to Wilhoit almost every day. It is one of my favorite short rides, about 15 miles of curves, switchbacks and beautiful mountain scenery. This week the highway department started road repairs (the road is in excellent condition) putting tar over any crack the can see and a few that are invisible. Hitting those switchbacks in any aggressive manner and going across those tar lines is a puckering experience. I don't know if they will really take you down but feeling my tires sliding around in the curves causes me to back off the gas. I hope they firm up with time or they've ruined one of my favorite rides. This may be a better speed inhibitor than radar.

They have a short life span but put a Metzler 880 on the front. then put a good car tire on the back. Makes those tar snakes taste like chicken.