- This topic has 2 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 9 months ago by ranette.
Bumpy curves
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July 13, 2009 at 3:23 am #3141zeppelinfromledParticipant
I’ve found that I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with most things on a motorcycle. Obviously with only 1500 miles under my belt I still have quite a bit to learn, but there isn’t much that I usually encounter on the road that makes me nervous (a car pulling out or something like that would do it). But there’s one thing that I encounter a fair amount that still makes me nervous. When I’m going around a curve and the pavement is bumpy with a pot hole or poorly fixed road work or something like that, I don’t like it at all. I decrease my speed and just kind of deal with it, but I’m worried that one day I’ll hit a pot hole that I didn’t see in a curve and wipe out.
Do you guys have any experience with this? Did you do something to overcome this worry, or are you just careful?
July 13, 2009 at 4:47 am #20554MunchParticipantI experience it every morning on the way to work. I have an exit ramp that’s a bridge too and the people who paved it had a less then stellar moment in keeping everything level. At first I was always worried that the front tire would catch some air and kick out… then I slowly managed to push my speed up over time and learned to relax my hands and arms. The front will have a floating feeling but it never leaves the pavement. As long as you don’t just go limp the front will float with the imperfections and keep you rolling. I now easily keep pace and change lanes even when I must. Just relax and get used to the float. And keep your eyes open for the pot holes so you can avoid them.
July 13, 2009 at 12:30 pm #20555ranetteParticipantOne thing I got very used to up here was bumpy curves. In general the roads here are very twisty-obviously a good thing-but the harsh winters and freeze thaw cycles tend not to be kind to the road surfaces. Personally, if possible, I will always avoid the rough spots at the expense of taking an imperfect line through the turn. However if you don’t have time to alter your line or if the entire width of the lane is a mess just roll with it. Try to scrub off a little extra speed before you hit the rough spot and as Munch said, relax, and once you’re on it roll on the throttle a little just as you would on smooth pavement. If your speed is reasonable and you’re not dealing with serious gravel or an edge trap it shouldn’t do much but shake you up a bit.
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