Curing Ophidiophobia

[FiveG]

Don't recall this being covered elsewhere.

Does anyone have any techniques/suggestions (other than "avoid them") on handling tar snakes on the Feejer? I had a great ride on Sunday except when I'd come across a nest of tar snakes; at which point my otherwise solid handling dragon would suddenly shimmy and shake around a bit, and then stabilize once we got away. (I'm using PR2s, for what it's worth.) I've read Haugh's writings on this -- he basically says reduce speed and lean angle -- but are there any other secrets from the Feejer World on this? Do any suspension settings help? Or is it just, basically, "suck it up, don't panic, and ride through the lair of demons created in the Evil Labs of the Dep't of Highways."

 

[Warchild]

The latter.

 

[Geezer]

The latter.

Same here. Try to avoid them if possible, but when I can't I ride through as well as I can and try to ignore the slippy slidey feeling.

 

[fjrchooser]

When we were kids we used to pull them up on a hot day, see who could get the biggest tar ball. Seeing as I've been off the job for 50 some years you'll just have to slow up a bit.

 

[Bungie]

I'm gonna have to stop and snap a pic of Hwy 144 just north of here. You'd have to be an expert trials rider to get through them without touching and they go on for miles.

 

[HaulinAshe]

PR2s particularly dislike tar snakes, much more than some other brand tires.

Snakes are slippery. You just have to plan ahead for them.

Also, you can't get traction on a squirrel either. I've tried it most every way possible. Just sayin'...

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

PR2s here, too. Loosen your death grip on the bars, and just ride through them. Most are harmless. That said, there are a couple of really fun curves on roads around here that have tar snakes that run concentric with the curve radius. THOSE can be irritating, and can increase pressure on the exit valve, but if you relax your body and grip, and remember to breathe, you'll get through just fine. Modern motorcycle tires are amazing, if you let them do their job.

Ditto on squirrel traction (both tires). Worse on the squirrel than the rider, though.

 

[FiveG]

Also, you can't get traction on a squirrel either. I've tried it most every way possible. Just sayin'...

So don't we need a Squished Squirrel Club icon?

 

[dcarver]

Run knobbie tires. They stick real good in snakes. Squirrels too.

 

[lnewlf]

Ran over the mother of all tar snakes in Vt. the other day-about 2 feet wide and 12 feet long in a gentle curve. Yeah I rode thru it but was badly out of shape by the time I got off it-dmn near ate the Armco.. It was in the 90 's and the stuff was just like oil.

 

[rue56]

Relax, straighten up, pay attention, loosen grip on handle bar, and drive on thru looking ahead and not down at the tar strips. works for me.

 

[FiveG]

'course this may be the excuse for me to go She Who Must Be Obeyed and say, "Dear, I really need a dual sport to go with my Feejer so I can ride when the tar snakes are slippery. If you really loved me and cared about my safety, you'd agree."

Nah, probably not.

 

[Patriot]

just like wet paint stripes, railroad crossings (streetcars here in middle of street are fun), and bridge grates, be mentally prepared and don't do anything abrupt if the front tire loses traction for a moment, skids, and then chirps itself back to a friction state

it used to unnerve me, but now I just go along for the ride...all that is much more promenant with wet conditions

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Also, you can't get traction on a squirrel either. I've tried it most every way possible. Just sayin'...

So don't we need a Squished Squirrel Club icon?

 

[LDRydr]

"Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends."

 

[rushes]

No cure that I know of...

I usually hold my breath, and tighten my ass muscle.....

It's worked so far....

 

[Bounce]

alternately? write your representatives.

use phrases like "platicised crack sealant" and "inappropriate use" and "applications that violate manufacturer's published guidelines".

FHWA spent quite some time distributing advisory information to ALL state DOTs that spelled out how and when plasticised crack sealant was appropriate for repairing roads. This was back in the 90's and states should be held liable for creating unsafe driving conditions.

As an example of the documents I saw (and the faxed confirmation of reciepts) it spelled out limiting its use on cracks that run parallel to the direction of travel, not overspraying (iirc no more than 2" past the edges of the crack), and not more than x% of any one area (large area repairs using PCS were flat out inappropriate according to the manufacturer).

States that continue to mis-use PCS are doing so with the assumption that the cost in legal bills will be outweighed by the savings seen over proper repairs.

 

[dcarver]

'course this may be the excuse for me to go She Who Must Be Obeyed and say, "Dear, I really need a dual sport to go with my Feejer so I can ride when the tar snakes are slippery. If you really loved me and cared about my safety, you'd agree."
Nah, probably not.

Never know unless you try! Use this thread for proof positive. Good luck.

 

[FiveG]

'course this may be the excuse for me to go She Who Must Be Obeyed and say, "Dear, I really need a dual sport to go with my Feejer so I can ride when the tar snakes are slippery. If you really loved me and cared about my safety, you'd agree."
Nah, probably not.

Never know unless you try! Use this thread for proof positive. Good luck.

Don't do this to me -- there's a '97 F650GS for sale nearby in really nice condition.