tar snakes

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Jun 18, 2013 | 09:53 AM

#51

KCFLHRC

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 8,039

Likes: 1,305

From: Jayhawk Country

They will definitely make your Butt pucker up. I will never get used to that feeling of your bike sliding out from underneath you.

Jun 18, 2013 | 10:12 AM

#52

elecwiz1

Tourer

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 366

Likes: 1

From: Western NY

Roads in western NY are covered in tar snakes. You just get used to the slip. I don't mind so much when moving but, sometimes they load up around the intersection. Not only is that stuff slick in various conditions for footing but, when it gets mid 80's and above, you get it all over your footboards/pegs. Another one to look out for here is that reflective powder they throw down when painting intersections/stripes/crosswalks/hash lines, etc.

Jun 18, 2013 | 10:17 PM

#53

grizglide

6th Gear

Joined: May 2013

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

From: Montana

That reflective powder is actually glass beads. About the tar snakes, they might be better than the bone jarring bumps that would develop if those cracks were not sealed and all the moisture got under the pavement.

Jun 23, 2013 | 04:50 PM

#54

ranran4

Cruiser

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 141

Likes: 0

From: Martinsville, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by skratch

well, there you go. course, using your front brake in a turn is never (well, very seldom) recommended anyway.

I was always taught to use BOTH brakes at the same time? Is this not good?

God I hate those things, and the chip and seal too. Same techniques for both?

Jun 23, 2013 | 06:56 PM

#55

birdmandave

Cruiser

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 237

Likes: 1

From: FL

Never encounterd tar snakes. First time I stopped on the white stripe in front of railroad crossing after it rained and could not believe how slick it was. Had not foot traction.

Jun 23, 2013 | 07:17 PM

#56

Punjabi Rider

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 3,808

Likes: 285

From: Green Country Oklahoma

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_Dogg80

Everytime I hit them it gets real squirrely. That being said, I have never heard of anyone ever going down because of them.

I was thrown against the concrete center divider but it wasn't my day gain the control back, but wife was on her bike following me thought hell just broke loose and prepared for the worst.Scraped off a hole thru engine and saddle bag guards and hwy peg mount was almost totally shaved off luckily no paint damage but more luckily me surviving without any injury just scared.

Jun 23, 2013 | 08:04 PM

#57

_Daswine_

Road Master

Joined: Nov 2012

Posts: 1,179

Likes: 4

From: On the rails

YUP, this crap sucks. I was making a turn into Zion Admin offices to take a leak, as I am making the left, the front tire hit a pile of it and the front tire slid a bit, luckily i was able to get my foot down before the bike did!!!!!

Jun 23, 2013 | 08:24 PM

#58

basselope

Road Captain

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 500

Likes: 2

From: Springfield Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranran4

I was always taught to use BOTH brakes at the same time? Is this not good?

God I hate those things, and the chip and seal too. Same techniques for both?

Applying brakes in a turn upsets the suspension and balance of the machine, and since much of your traction is already being used to hold the bike on the road, you have much less traction available for braking. Tires can break lose much easier in a turn. Both brakes is the best technique under normal riding conditions. Braking in a turn is considered poor technique, but the truth is, sometimes you just can't avoid it. If you encounter a hazard during a turn, you are "supposed" to right the bike then apply the brakes as you come to a stop in a straight line in the conveniently located runoff area. Sometimes, however, some idiot decides to put a 1,000ft drop where the run off area is supposed to be.
Just my opinion here, and certainly not what you would be taught in a professional course, but if you are riding like you have some sense and don't panic, gently applying the brakes to keep you from going off the road seems like a pretty good idea to me.
Riding in a straight line, applying the front brake on a surface like sand or tar can put you down real quick if you aren't practiced at how to react.

Last edited by basselope; Jun 23, 2013 at 08:28 PM.

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Jun 23, 2013 | 08:25 PM

#59

jfarrar30

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 462

Likes: 1

From: n.e. ohio

We got plenty of them here too! Don't bother me during the day when I can see and avoid or prepare for them but on a warm night going around corners they will get ya off gaurd