Speed Bumps

[UncleMark]

:(

Hate these damn things...

I have an LT, but decided to place this thread here as other bike owners may have input.

How the hell do you travel over these things without tearing the bottom out of the bike? We got bumps in Nor Cal that almost require a climbing belt and carabiners... I am constantly bottoming out the bike and am now afraid that my center stand and all the fixin's will end up in a Mall parking lot somewhere.

When I can, I skirt the damn things. But quite a few have very little area to skirt, and in buzy parking lots, you can't cross over at an angle with the traffic being what it is.

Soliciting thoughts and/or recommendations... and my SO thanks-you too!

[messenger13]

You're obviously not bunny-hopping them, huh? :rolleyes:

With the LT's amazing 3.5" graound clearance, I don't know that there is much you can do about it. You may just need to get creative and alter your route.

[mjkuhno]

:(

Hate these damn things...

I have an LT, but decided to place this thread here as other bike owners may have input.

How the hell do you travel over these things without tearing the bottom out of the bike? We got bumps in Nor Cal that almost require a climbing belt and carabiners... I am constantly bottoming out the bike and am now afraid that my center stand and all the fixin's will end up in a Mall parking lot somewhere.

When I can, I skirt the damn things. But quite a few have very little area to skirt, and in buzy parking lots, you can't cross over at an angle with the traffic being what it is.

Soliciting thoughts and/or recommendations... and my SO thanks-you too!

I thought that was what the skid plate was for on the LT's?

I always cringed when I had to go over one and heard the clang clunk sound!

[BMWphreak]

Wilbers shocks and/or go on a diet....

[grifscoots]

Slow down and right before you hit them, pop the clutch and give her a whole handful of throttle. It lightens the front end, but may not be too pleasant for the pillion.

[motorman587]

Lose weight, just kidding, I do the same, hitting the speed bumps.

[Zotter]

They're speed bumps - hit 'em at speed. Never touch the skid plate :thumb:

[grifscoots]

They're speed bumps - hit 'em at speed. Never touch the skid plate :thumb:

Another great option, but once again, not too pleasant for the pillion.

I got air coming off of a low water crossing on one of my favorite roads (Schoenthal Rd.) everytime I rode it. One day I didn't think about Sandar the mag sitting back there. I landed just fine, her ass was about even with my helmet for a bit and when she hit her pain was doubled and transmitted to my kidneys. Dayem that woman has sharp fists. :rolleyes:

They since have "fixed" that wonderful low water crossing/jump as some dood killed himself in a Toyota there. Either that, or my wife placed some calls to the County.

[UncleMark]

I got air coming off of a low water crossing on one of my favorite roads (Schoenthal Rd.) everytime I rode it. One day I didn't think about Sandar the mag sitting back there. I landed just fine, her ass was about even with my helmet for a bit and when she hit her pain was doubled and transmitted to my kidneys. Dayem that woman has sharp fists. :rolleyes:

That's the reason I placed this thread.... The SO said, "you hit one more of those damn things and your walkin' home!"

As for all the weight stuff... I'm 250 and she's 120 (soakin' wet)... I got the dial all the way to "stiff" and I still drag the bottom plate.

As for shocks... she hasn't got 5K on the odo... Shocks???

I have this gut feeling Joe may have the answer... change the route and avoid any and all bumps... but this is CALIFORNIA... we do bumps for breakfast around the "burbs". Hell, Raffy lives in "Bump City" (sorry T.O.P.)... I'm surprised he hasn't complained... :D

[meese]

The SO said, "you hit one more of those damn things and your walkin' home!"And she's gonna take off with your LT? :eek:

You have two options. Go slower, or go faster. Seriously.

If you go slower, then the bike will roll up and over the speed bumps without compressing the shocks and hitting anything (unless it's an unusually tall/sharp bump).

If you go faster, the front wheel will jump slightly, keeping the bike more upright until the rear wheel hits, then the whole bike will stay roughly level as the rear wheel climbs over the bump. That used to work great on my old BMX bikes, and still works on the LT if you practice a bit to get the speed and timing right.

And yes, aftermarket shocks will also help, as they're so much better than the stock Showa units even right from the beginning. My wife used to say "Why does the bike scrape like that?" and I'd reply "Because we need new shocks."