The Surface We Ride On

[MG-242]

Something I've been thinking about a lot more recently is the surface we ride on. And to narrow it down a little further, I'd like to start a discussion about fluids on the road surface. As we all know, the surface we ride on is very critical and hugely impacts risk. I've been noticing a lot more oil streaks (the cager who thinks, did I tighten the filter on the last oil change?), water, diesel, gas, and who knows what else. These can be very slippery especially when at a lean. An old friend who is no longer with us who started his own track day school used to say that it only takes a spot of slippery stuff the size of a dime to put you down. Of course, he was referring to track riding when you are really pushing the traction limits. But none the less, something to think about.

Part of this discussion is to pull from some of the more experienced riders out there, some of their techniques for dealing with this issue.

I'll start - with my 40+ years of riding, 25+ years of racing, and 20+ years of instructing, here are some of my observations, techniques, etc. Part of your aggressive searching as you ride needs to be looking well ahead and observing the surface. Looking for changes in texture, color, etc. so that you can avoid the fluids to begin with. When I see fluids on the surface, I gently slow by easing off the throttle and if unavoidable, pass over them as straight up as possible using no brakes and neutral to no throttle. The key is to be smoooooth. Another thing I do is crack my shield open so that I can smell the fluid. As we know some fluids are more slippery than others. This comes from an experience many years ago when I was coming off an exit ramp at dusk. The first give away was the smell of diesel. By the time it registered what was on the surface (I was 2-up, fully loaded), we swapped both ends like a dog wagging its tail . Luckily, out of pure luck and maybe a small amount of skill, I was able to keep it up. My other experience a few years ago was on the track. The race started in the rain, then dried. As I came into the tightest turn on the track, someone had dipped their knee into a puddle on the inside splashing water on to the track at the apex. I came in, eyes up looking through the turn to the exit, didn't see the water until the very last second, and low-sided resulting in a shattered ankle. Now, I always take a quick glance down at the surface - always - street or track.

I hope this helps some of our newer riders. And please, some of our more experienced folks, give us your tips!

 

[Coopdman]

Well put. The only thing I can add is to limit aggressive riding to areas that are very familiar. Fresh fluids can be hard to see, even at a slow speeds. Personally, I'm not aggressive but when I want to test a curve, I ride it slow first then come back a little faster until I'm happy with my heartbeat :thumbup:

 

[rider1a]

Something I've been thinking about a lot more recently is the surface we ride on. And to narrow it down a little further, I'd like to start a discussion about fluids on the road surface. And please, some of our more experienced folks, give us your tips!

Some notes from the road of life....

1. Watch our for the middle lane that is much darker than the rest of the concrete. This indicates oil, and heavy deposits. I try to avoid this middle lane when going in a curve or braking, especially when raining, since it will only magnify the Teflon feel of the road surface.

2. Polished roads, those that are really shiny, are even more vulnerable to oil spots since the oils do not get absorbed by it making it even more slippery.

3. Toll-road booths tend to have a lot since drivers stop and pay their fee so the extra time they are stopped means even more oil dripping on the surface.

4. Watch out the first 15-20 minutes after it starts to rain. As you know being an MSF person, the roads are the slickest.

5. If you have to brake suddenly on an oily surface (since we don't have ABS), is to use mainly the back brake, the front perhaps if the situation warrants it, but very lightly.

6. Try to keep the tires outside of the wear indicator zone and the recommended tire pressure to minimize the effects of hydroplaning.
BTW, buy the Road Pilots 2 for great wet weather traction!

 

[RJ2112]

Having started out riding in the dirt (and mud) in the 1970's......

All of the above. Riding in the wet is equivelent to driving in the snow and ice for a car. Gentle inputs, no sudden changes to power, direction or braking.

HOWEVER........ a spinning back tire is not a death sentance. If you are in the slippery stuff, powering out of it is an option. Not wild excess; but don't be afraid of some wheel spin. The bike will go where you are looking, regardless of how well the tires are hooked up. The natural tendancy to chop off the power is more upsetting to the bike/traction interface than maintaining a nearly constant throttle setting.

 

[mcteague]

3. Toll-road booths tend to have a lot since drivers stop and pay their fee so the extra time they are stopped means even more oil dripping on the surface.

Very true. While leaving a toll booth this Summer I was paying more attention to the traffic around me and not the surface. Using EZPass, I slowed to 10mph and started to accelerate, not hard, after passing through. My back tire went way left and then right as I tried to adjust. I stayed up somehow, which still amazes me. It was a major fishtail.

Now, I hug the left side of the toll road and really notice how black the center is. When I checked the underside of my fender, after the ride, I found a lot of old oil.

Tim

 

[MG-242]

Great advice, RJ2112, on not chopping the throttle. That's a good recipe to launch you to the moon! Steady, neutral or slightly increasing, depending on the situation is what works.

 

[RJ2112]

Highsides don't just happen on the track...... Was it Spencer (Mamola, Rainey?)who figured out that spinning the back HARDER would increase front wheel traction by reducing the loading on it in a corner....... resulting in controlled two wheel drifts on pavement?

Not that i've had the stones, or the situation to experiment with that -- the pictures were amazing enough for me, LOL.

 

[psnbye]

I've discovered that when there is a slight dip or bump in the road there is a accumulation of old oil drops there also that a rider should look out for.
Rail road tracks always give me the willies too. On one of my first times on a street bike years ago, I panicked while going over some tracks and tipped over because I was going too slow and swerving or some dumb thing:spank:. The nice man behind me helped me up and didnt even laugh too hard.

 

[RJ2112]

Speaking of places to watch your traction....... anywhere near a gas station pump has a higher probability of having some oily residue around. Gasoline under your boot will remove all traction for footing in a heartbeat.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

When it comes to lane postions, as motorcyclist, we have the luxury of utilizing 3 lanes in one lane. Left, middle and right. I tend to favor the left or right, because it offers the best traction. Oil, grease, and debris tend to build up in the center portion of the lane so I generally avoid riding down the middle part of the lane.

When it comes to the left or right, I favor the left because I'll be visible to the driver when he looks in either mirrors, the side or rear view mirror. Plus, you have greater visiblity looking farther ahead for posibble hazards rather than only focusing what's between you and the vehicle thats ahead of you.

Most importantly, your ability to swerve around the vehicle in front of you becomes much easier in the event that your stopping distance is not what it should be.

As mentioned earlier by the OP, always be aware of the surface condition because there is no such thing as ideal surface conditions except for the track. Or at least that's what the track strides for.

 

[razteo]

the surface I ride on is often interrupted by this:

 

[tom5796]

Massachusetts loves the tar snakes.

 

[Norbert]

Here's a good tidbit:

the outside wheel track is usually the cleanest through a dirty corner since a car weights its outside tires most, scrubbing more dirt off the pavement in the process, so aim for that line.

The Pace - Nick Ienatsch - Motorcyclist magazine

 

[SANGER_A2]

Another thing to think about is what the water is lying on. In the wet I try to totally avoid painted areas such as lines etc and metal drain covers. They are like ice when wet! If I have no choice to go over them - no lean angle, no braking or speeding up is safest.

 

[MG-242]

The big turning arrows fall into this category also. Some areas are using a plastic laminent.

I've heard the tar snakes aren't supposed to be any wider than 4 in. Maybe that's a local thing, but they do seem to go pretty crazy with them. Yep, stupidly slippery!!