Slippery when wet…
Oct 27th, 2009 by Leo
A popular YT clip for bikers and non-bikers alike. I like to call it a moment in schadenfreude…
It’s rain and wet leaves season over here in NY. Or maybe it’s just been a long day. If you’ve ever been in a fall on a slippery surface, you know how quickly it can happen, and how bewildering it can be… But in 20/20 hindsight, there are always ways to either avoid the crash or avoid the circumstances that led to the crash. So here are a few slippery road tips for the Fall riding season.
Tip #1 – Slow down. Duh. Obviously this guy on the video was a good enough rider and familiar enough with this bridge that he pushed his speed a bit. But in hindsight it was a bit too fast for the weather. He would have been fine (probably) if he were going just 5 mph slower.
Tip#2 – Keep it straight. A motorcycle is remarkably stable when it is in motion going straight. Don’t try to turn on slippery surfaces like manhole covers and steel plates. Turn only on clean looking asphalt. A good part of road riding is being able to judge road surface and traction…
Tip #3 – Keep it vertical (as much as you can). Even in a turn, a motorcycle in motion is remarkably stable as long as there isn’t too much lean angle. If the front or both wheels slide a bit, the lean angle increases but actually maintains the line you turned into.
Tip #4 – Keep loose on the bars. It’s natural as the road get slippery to tense up – but that’s the last thing you want to do. In a turn, front wheel slides, rear wheel slides, are both self correcting but only as long as you let the bars do what it wants to do (rather than fighting it). If the rear wheel slides to the right, the bars will automatically compensate by turning right, but only as long as you’re not fighting it. A death grip on the bars will turn a rear wheel slide into a crash.
Tip #5 – Gas it to neutral. Neutral is the best gear to be in when going straight over a slippery patch or ice or snow… But rather than pulling the clutch lever, it’s better to crack the throttle open just a little bit to keep the engine from pulling back. You can use the rear wheel and throttle to gauge the available traction… similar to what people do coming to a stop with the rear brake.
Got any other slippery road tips? Share the wealth, post them in the comments!
Related posts:
Some clips of professionals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SIVUO9A4a8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCHvqs4C9xE&feature=related