Riding on grooved or milled pavement?

[meowguy_imp]

So I had my first experience on grooved (milled) pavement and I absolutely did not like it. I found I could maybe handle 35 or 40 mph, but anything more was just too uncomfortable. Then later that day it started raining and I followed a Harley (from my truck) that was clocking 50 mph on wet grooved pavement.

So what's the deal. Am I chicken or was the Harley pilot crazy?

[Houtman_imp]

When I buy new tires I always look at the tread carefully , thinking how would they do on grooved pavements and bridges.
I have had some Metzeler tires in the past on my CBX and they were terrible on those surfaces, especially when new.
I can not recall the name but they still sell them .

[Todd_K_imp]

Even better is before they resurface it and spray it down with oil and sand .

When I can't avoid them I treat those roads like bridge decking. Try to stay loose and let the bike weave as it [/align]wants to vs white knuckling and fighting the grooves.

[Houtman_imp]

The Metzeler tires I mentioned before was the Lazertec REAR, the front was great but not the rear on grooved payments.
If you look at the tread you can see how they would "wriggle" when new.

[INTP_imp]

I have the Pilot Road 3s, and they ride pretty well on milled roadways.

[Gumby 1100_imp]

I just did a quarter mile stretch at 50mph, but would not want to do much more. I actually found that the Battlax Radials on my 2014 CB handled it better than some previous heavier bikes would have.

Several years ago I was travelling on a 400 series highway near Toronto at about 65 mph when it suddenly changed to grooved asphalt in preparation for resurfacing. I was on my VTX1800 at the time and was forced to keep pace with traffic. After about 5 miles of that, I found the first exit to a secondary road where I could relax and my butt could unclench

The worse surface I have found so far was the open steel grate on a lift bridge near the harbor in Hamilton, Ontario...and of course, the grooves ran longitudinally to catch your tires. I pretty much had to slow down to a crawl in order to keep my 1700 Road Star upright and on track.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I do notice my CB is a little bit more "wiggly" on grooved pavement than my other bike, a Honda NT700V or my previous bike, a BMW 12200RT. My CB wears the Dunlops while the NT has the Bridgestones. Looking at them, they seem to have very similar tread patterns. Maybe the CB's squirm is solely due to a slightly narrower tire?

[Gingersdaddy_imp]

When on our trip on 40 west in Asheville, NC I hit that grooved/ground pavement at 70 plus with the wife and over night gear on the CB. It was a little crazy, but I tried not to fight it and let the bike move around like it wanted to. It was mainly just the front that wanted to dance around, but she would hold a line. after a few miles I kinda got use to it.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I think that's the main thing, relax and don't fight it. It may be unnerving, but in the end, I think the bike and you will be OK. It'll wiggle, but you should be fine.

[Deanohh_imp]

It can help if you move gradually back and forth in he lane, crossing the grooves at a slight angle.[/align]