My CB hates tar snakes ...and gravel

[LongRanger_imp]

Around here you tend to encounter them only on curvy stretches, never on straight stretches. I think it's intentional. They make for a very effective speed deterrent, especially in areas favored by motorcyclists.

[CA200_imp]

Up here we have a lot of roads with blind corners because of hills etc. so I really watch for gavel in the corners. I think the large milk haulers going way to fast on the corners push it up.

[SportsterDoc]

I posted this in early February, re the south end of Death Valley:

Lots of tar snakes on highway 178 near Jubilee Pass. Not good for aggressive cornering in hot weather.

Be interesting to see how the new scrambler tires handle the tar snakes, but that probably won't be until October.

[rickcb]

On Sunday Jennifer and I were on one of our favorite roads and I saw fresh, narrow tar snakes. The first corner is marked 35 mph and we normally take it at 50 mph. I felt the rear of my CB1100 dance a bit as we approached the corner and thankfully we slowed down to about 35 and I went through the corner OK. But Jennifer wasn't so lucky. I had the terrible view in my mirror of her going off the road on her CBR500R. She said she slipped sideways about a foot before getting some traction and did some braking, but then ended up off the road (upright, not crashed). There was no shoulder, but thankfully there wasn't a big ditch or drop-off, just grass. Later in the ride we encountered another road that is really tricky also just covered with fresh tar snakes. For about 5 miles we irritated the locals queued up behind us because I was riding 45 mph or slower in the corners until we got off that mess. I'm going to think about it for a few more days, but may put the new bikes up for sale. Seeing Wifeums off the road was pretty traumatic.

[Nortoon_imp]

My favourite roads are in cottage country. They are hilly, curvy, somewhat narrow with soft (gravel and sand) shoulders. In the spring they can be treacherous because they may have been sanded during the winter.

Boat trailers can also pick up gravel or sand from the shoulders on tight turns. As can crossroad traffic from gravel or sandy roads, especially large trucks. I have one of these marked on my maps because it is a 90 degree corner with a gravel side road. It always has gravel on it, so even first gear it can be an adventure.

[SportsterDoc]

On Sunday Jennifer and I were on one of our favorite roads and I saw fresh, narrow tar snakes. The first corner is marked 35 mph and we normally take it at 50 mph. I felt the rear of my CB1100 dance a bit as we approached the corner and thankfully we slowed down to about 35 and I went through the corner OK. But Jennifer wasn't so lucky. I had the terrible view in my mirror of her going off the road on her CBR500R. She said she slipped sideways about a foot before getting some traction and did some braking, but then ended up off the road (upright, not crashed). There was no shoulder, but thankfully there wasn't a big ditch or drop-off, just grass. Later in the ride we encountered another road that is really tricky also just covered with fresh tar snakes. For about 5 miles we irritated the locals queued up behind us because I was riding 45 mph or slower in the corners until we got off that mess. I'm going to think about it for a few more days, but may put the new bikes up for sale. Seeing Wifeums off the road was pretty traumatic.

Jennifer handled the situation well, so it was a non-injury learning experience. How does she feel about continuing to ride?

Circa the winter of 1974, near Mt. Pinos at ~6,000 feet elevation, I watched my wife standup a 1972 175cc CT3 enduro on end and slide off the back, but hang onto the handle bars. It did not go over backwards, due to a small tail rack. She brought it to a stop to avoid hitting our 2 year old eldest daughter, playing in the snow, nearby. For a 5' 6", probably a ~120 pound (not sure about that, as she was expecting our #2 daughter) , 23 year old, I thought she did well, although the bike was only about 230# wet. She continued to ride, mainly in the Mojave Desert and never had another mishap.

[rickcb]

On Sunday Jennifer and I were on one of our favorite roads and I saw fresh, narrow tar snakes. The first corner is marked 35 mph and we normally take it at 50 mph. I felt the rear of my CB1100 dance a bit as we approached the corner and thankfully we slowed down to about 35 and I went through the corner OK. But Jennifer wasn't so lucky. I had the terrible view in my mirror of her going off the road on her CBR500R. She said she slipped sideways about a foot before getting some traction and did some braking, but then ended up off the road (upright, not crashed). There was no shoulder, but thankfully there wasn't a big ditch or drop-off, just grass. Later in the ride we encountered another road that is really tricky also just covered with fresh tar snakes. For about 5 miles we irritated the locals queued up behind us because I was riding 45 mph or slower in the corners until we got off that mess. I'm going to think about it for a few more days, but may put the new bikes up for sale. Seeing Wifeums off the road was pretty traumatic.

Jennifer handled the situation well, so it was a non-injury learning experience. How does she feel about continuing to ride?

Circa the winter of 1974, near Mt. Pinos at ~6,000 feet elevation, I watched my wife standup a 1972 175cc CT3 enduro on end and slide off the back, but hang onto the handle bars. It did not go over backwards, due to a small tail rack. She brought it to a stop to avoid hitting our 2 year old eldest daughter, playing in the snow, nearby. For a 5' 6", probably a ~120 pound (not sure about that, as she was expecting our #2 daughter) , 23 year old, I thought she did well, although the bike was only about 230# wet. She continued to ride, mainly in the Mojave Desert and never had another mishap.

Jennifer handled the situation well, so it was a non-injury learning experience. How does she feel about continuing to ride?

Circa the winter of 1974, near Mt. Pinos at ~6,000 feet elevation, I watched my wife standup a 1972 175cc CT3 enduro on end and slide off the back, but hang onto the handle bars. It did not go over backwards, due to a small tail rack. She brought it to a stop to avoid hitting our 2 year old eldest daughter, playing in the snow, nearby. For a 5' 6", probably a ~120 pound (not sure about that, as she was expecting our #2 daughter) , 23 year old, I thought she did well, although the bike was only about 230# wet. She continued to ride, mainly in the Mojave Desert and never had another mishap.
She's not worried about it. We stopped to rest about 40 miles later and I gave her some super-helpful pointers about picking your line through the snakes and staying to the inside of the corner to give yourself room to correct. But then 30 miles later we had a major butt-puckering experience for about 5 miles where I was terrified it would happen again (to either of us). She *loves* to ride and there would be major marriage-demerits if I sold our bikes. No divorce, just demerits.

[the Ferret]

I have had many oops or oh crap moments in 53 years of street riding, from sand, gravel, ice, tar snakes, speed wobbles while accelerating and decelerating, etc and I learned if you make it through the moment unscathed, forget about it and go on, because there are millions of moments of riding that are a pure joy. Just be cautious of things you KNOW will upset you/bike and continue enjoying the ride.

The absolute WORST tar snakes I have encountered have been in Indiana, I think they mix their tar with antifreeze or something lol. Stuff that gives you no traction at all.

[suhawk305]

Glad you are ok Jennifer. Rick, I had similar experiences where I slid off road, and it does get you thinking about continuing motorcycling. But I have a very short attention span and I forget that thought real fast.
Seriously, I hope you make the best decision that you both are comfortable with. On a selfish note, I hope you guys continue riding and attend future rallies, I really enjoyed spending time with you guys in Berea!

[offroadfx4_imp]

Sure glad Jennifer is ok, she is a very smooth rider, I'm glad she kept it upright.
Saying she slid a foot before she got traction was exactly what I was wondering.
Options:
1.
If you just ride the slide out and prepare for the friction to grab again would that be the best option like motocross?
2.
Try to correct for the slide, counter steer, throttle on and maybe high siding when traction does grab?
3.
Get off the throttle and hit the brakes?
I'm sure there will be no time to think, just react....but doesn't hurt to think about it ahead of time.
In the mean time I will continue to pick my lines to avoid them.
Weird, in Indiana I have even felt them slip changing lanes on the interstate going 70+!