it slipped out on a curve

[gpolakow]

The other day I was riding in town going around a curve 90 degree left curve in the road. I was in 3rd gear and the asphalt was clear. I lay the bike over as I have done many times before and half way into the turn much to my surprise I feel the back tire suddenly begin to slide out from under me as if I had hit an oil slick. No squeal or screech, just the uncomfortable feeling of the bike suddenly beginning to slip away from me like I hit a spot of butter. Before I knew what I was doing my left foot came off the peg to catch the bike before I lost it (I'll NEVER wear anything but boots again while riding). I get the bike stabilized and go on my way feeling quite shaken. Later I put the LT on the center stand and took a good look at the back tire. Nothing. Everything looked fine. It was a hot day, so maybe the asphalt there had oozed some slippery stuff up, I don't know. Anyone else ever have this experience? :rolleyes:

[meese]

Yep. It's rare, but can happen. A small spot of oil, antifreeze, tar snake, etc. can ruin your day. Glad you caught the bike, and that the spot was small enough that you regained traction before things got too far out of hand. And be glad it was the rear tire that reacted, and not the front. Much more difficult to recover that way.

[gpolakow]

Yep. It's rare, but can happen. A small spot of oil, antifreeze, tar snake, etc. can ruin your day. Glad you caught the bike, and that the spot was small enough that you regained traction before things got too far out of hand. And be glad it was the rear tire that reacted, and not the front. Much more difficult to recover that way.

Yes, I can see that having the front tire do this could be a lot more problemmatic. It sounds like you've experienced this kind of thing before. It sure brings back some caution in your whole perspective on cornering.

[rlv]

The other day I was riding in town going around a curve 90 degree left curve in the road. I was in 3rd gear and the asphalt was clear. I lay the bike over as I have done many times before and half way into the turn much to my surprise I feel the back tire suddenly begin to slide out from under me as if I had hit an oil slick. No squeal or screech, just the uncomfortable feeling of the bike suddenly beginning to slip away from me like I hit a spot of butter. Before I knew what I was doing my left foot came off the peg to catch the bike before I lost it (I'll NEVER wear anything but boots again while riding). I get the bike stabilized and go on my way feeling quite shaken. Later I put the LT on the center stand and took a good look at the back tire. Nothing. Everything looked fine. It was a hot day, so maybe the asphalt there had oozed some slippery stuff up, I don't know. Anyone else ever have this experience? :rolleyes:

bet that your running the 880's

[BillyOmaha]

In addition to what others have said, I would go back to that corner and find out what you passed over that caused the slip. I expect, and hope, that it is something visible like a tar snake, or some sand that thinned out and is only in the gaps of asphalt where its hard to see.

I have found that there are very few sudden changes in adhesion without a visible change in the surface. Recognizing the potential of the change surface and being able to adjust quickly is the real trick :)

.

[grifscoots]

Turn into it and lay on the throttle, chopping the throttle could get you a possible high side.

[hallzee]

The other day I was riding in town going around a curve 90 degree left curve in the road. I was in 3rd gear and the asphalt was clear. I lay the bike over as I have done many times before and half way into the turn much to my surprise I feel the back tire suddenly begin to slide out from under me as if I had hit an oil slick. No squeal or screech, just the uncomfortable feeling of the bike suddenly beginning to slip away from me like I hit a spot of butter. Before I knew what I was doing my left foot came off the peg to catch the bike before I lost it (I'll NEVER wear anything but boots again while riding). I get the bike stabilized and go on my way feeling quite shaken. Later I put the LT on the center stand and took a good look at the back tire. Nothing. Everything looked fine. It was a hot day, so maybe the asphalt there had oozed some slippery stuff up, I don't know. Anyone else ever have this experience? :rolleyes:

Greg, what kind of tires are you running?

[sanjaun2]

The same thing happened to me today but I know exactly why it happened. I was burning up some tight twisties and I thought I was in 3rd and went to downshift going into a turn. Problem was I was in 2nd. So I was sideways in 1st. applied some throttle just like Grif said and I was on my way. It was actually fun to do but It breaks my rule #2. Don't loose traction.

[meese]

What's rule #1? Don't hit anything? And #3 must be don't let anything hit you? :)

[KMC1]

LOL! What's rule #1?? Hhahah gees...
I had a bad night one night on my GS1100. I was riding around town heading over to a friends house on campus when it started to rain lightly. It had been raining for about 5 mins or so when I got to campus, just enough so the road was completely wet, but not a soaking rain. As I started to turn into the campus road, the bike just popped right out from under me and slide off into the curb, I was sprawled in the middle of the opposing lane wondering what in the world just happened. I got up and run over to the bike to get it up off the curb (it hit pretty solidly) and found that the timing cover was worn through and engine oil was emptying out of it. That's when I noticed what happened... someone had blown a coolant line or a radiator and had just driven out of the campus and out into the road, the light rain had obscured the coolant, but had not washed it away. That was the quickest wipeout I have ever had, and there was NO warning. So anyway, my lesson from that is to be extra cautious around campuses everywhere since they are full of impoverished college kids driving POS cars that are on their last legs.
In the dry as you've described, I was wondering, were your tires cold? Did you just start riding, or had been just sitting in traffic / going slowly for a while before you made that turn? Cold tires will do precisely what you described.

[gpolakow]

Greg, what kind of tires are you running?

the rear is a bridgestone that was on the bike when I bought it. Seems to be in very good condition. The fron is a new Micheliin I put on recently.

[gpolakow]

However, I may have added some throttle mid-turn. I will do that sometimes when the turn is comfortable just for the extra speed and cornering. I can't remember if I did that or not.
Whoever said to go back to the curve and inspect it closely, good idea. But probably won't get to do it soon. I'm outa town for a week now.

[sanjaun2]

What's rule #1? Don't hit anything? And #3 must be don't let anything hit you? :)
Ken, Excellent guesses, But maybe after that rear ender I had maybe I should make that rule #2.

Greg,
The marathons seem to have a reputation of skipping out on you especially in the rain. Thats why a lot of people here avoid them. Myself included.

[brianbeemer]

We were coming to a rotary a while back, dry day but overcast, nothing special and lots of traffic. The road looked smooth - just like black asphalt - until the front wheel went into the curve and started slipping away! Fortunately we were only doing about 2-3 mph joining the traffic and the skid was only about 2' or so before grip returned, but enough to scare me and make her on the back go rigid.

Problem was it'd been dry for weeks on end and a thin layer of rubber had built up at the braking point just before the stop-line. Later that day it rained buckets - and that rotary must have been like an ice rink!

[shadowofshoe]

Any possibility of tar f____ snakes that were super heated in that turn???

I think they should be banned!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Mike

[messenger13]

bet that your running the 880's

Greg, what kind of tires are you running?

the rear is a bridgestone that was on the bike when I bought it. Seems to be in very good condition.I guess that ruins the "Must be Metzelers" theory. So it seems that a Bridgestone slipped on a curve. Unheard of. :rolleyes:

Folks, it's not the brand of tire. It happens. I'm guessing a tar snake, or a spot of antifreeze. A 2" drop can make bad things happen.

[jers99lt]

I hit a fairly tight curve, posted at 40mph (I typically do +10 as it's just a cautionary speed) this weekend that had a maze of tar snakes and no way to miss plenty of them. It wasn't that warm out, yet, maybe about 75F, but the rear wheel felt like I'd lost the axel. Pretty unnerving feeling. I'm running Metz880 with 2000 miles on them.

Jer