tar snakes
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 11
From: Mass/NH
I know what you mean!!! We have them in new england also, BUT lately, it seems they are more "snakey"...LOL. I hit some in New Hampshire a couple times lately in the same area and they are nasty...I pulled over because I thought I had a flat in the rear...In a high speed corner...Not Good! Watch out for stone dust also...I almost went down a couple years ago, just caught it, they repaired the road then coated it with grey stone dust, same color as bleached out blacktop...as least you can sea the snakey tar repairs. Ride safe.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
well, there you go. course, using your front brake in a turn is never (well, very seldom) recommended anyway.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Carlsbad, CA
I encountered some of those tar snakes recently while riding on the Million dollar hwy in Colorado. After my rear tire slid to the side a couple of times, I tried avoiding them, If I couldn't, I just tried to keep the bike very smooth through turns going over 'em.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 106
From: Colorado Front Range
Really surprised by how many "Almost went down." comments in this thread. Yeah, if in a corner and very very soft from heat, you can get a slight (2"-3"?) slip but have never had the feeling of a near crash...? Maybe I've just never encountered a really bad batch.
Here in the Rockies we deal with dirt, gravel, small/med rocks, and after a big rain in the high country (like coming out of Telluride) you can come around a corner to find 1/2" or more of mud that has washed onto the roadway...often in corners. THAT is no f*&@ing bueno. Oh, and tar snakes everywhere but usually not the extreme heat as in TX, etc.
Like a bunch of guys said, it's a big-time "remain calm/relaxed" moment. Another reason to get out on a dirt road and practicing slight/moderate rear end slides...on a rental bike (ha). I was surprised to find-out 3 of my 4 riding buddies had never felt how their bike behaves in a slight slide and learn how it feels and how to control it but I am sure that's true of many riders.
Of course, 2-wheel drifts are never fun...no matter what.
Here in the Rockies we deal with dirt, gravel, small/med rocks, and after a big rain in the high country (like coming out of Telluride) you can come around a corner to find 1/2" or more of mud that has washed onto the roadway...often in corners. THAT is no f*&@ing bueno. Oh, and tar snakes everywhere but usually not the extreme heat as in TX, etc.
Like a bunch of guys said, it's a big-time "remain calm/relaxed" moment. Another reason to get out on a dirt road and practicing slight/moderate rear end slides...on a rental bike (ha). I was surprised to find-out 3 of my 4 riding buddies had never felt how their bike behaves in a slight slide and learn how it feels and how to control it but I am sure that's true of many riders.
Of course, 2-wheel drifts are never fun...no matter what.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 39,358
Likes: 2,111
From: Central, Ca.
AZ. has the gooiest I've ridden on, pulled into a rest stop covered with fresh snakes, felt like I had a flat. Got off and stepped on one and it just oozed under the thin skin on top. They need a different compound.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: Oregon
Tar snakes
I was coming out of Yellowstone headed to Cody, Wy. over the big hump, hotter than blazes. Beautiful, but lots of tar snakes, I'm riding gingerly thru the corners, I see a bike coming up on me hard, he passes me like I'm sitting still, Goldwing, older guy, no wave, just gone. So I guess if you get used to riding thru them they are not that bad of a hazard. Hate it when a Wing passes me.