OMFG, major pucker incident

[FJR-Voltron]

I just want to share with you guys what happened to me yesterday..

I was coming off the I95 at Durango exit yesterday, on my way back home from a ride, and had a really close call with an oil-slick. As I came off the exit and merged right to go down Durango (it's merging lane, with no Yield sign), I hit an oil slick right at the apex of the merge doing about 30 mph. I never actually saw any oil, but before I knew it my bike was surfing on this oil slick for about 30 feet. The bike felt like it was going to fall out from underneath me and the only way to save it was to try and counter the fall. It's similar to the feeling when you are trying to balance a long stick under your hand, and you need to keep correcting to keep it from falling. I'm not exactly sure how I didn't wreck, but I just continued to 'ride' through it.

I'm not sure where the slick came from, but I'm betting that a large vehicle must have come to a complete stop at this merge lane and allowed it to begin pooling in an area.

The scariest part is that I sometimes take this turn at higher speeds, but for whatever reason (spidey senses?) I decided to take it easy this time.

Lesson Learned: Most accidents happen close to your house. This is mainly due to the fact that you are on auto-pilot as soon as you are in familiar territory. Don't ever go into auto-pilot. Always treat a familiar road like it's a new road.

 

[Cdogman]

Yikes,, Oil Bad

Glad you escaped a getoff

Good reminder about close to home complacency!!

 

[COLDCUT]

It was probably diesel fuel. It's practicaly invisible when lying on asphalt. I rode out a similar situation not long ago myself. Definitely a wake up call and a good reminder to pay attention to surface appraisal.

 

[MCML]

Happy to hear that you were able to keep the bike upright and thanks for the reminder to always pay attention out there.

 

[Patriot]

So glad you are OK...

note to sef: always pay attention to everything and watch out

ride appropriate clicks conservative at all times

anticipate

 

[Groo]

I was on the return leg of a trip, coming back from Arkansas with 2 other bikes, both of which were 2 up. We got to an exit ramp somewhere in East Texas when I noticed the STRONG smell of oil, and noticed the entire ramp was slick. I was able to maneuver all the way to the right curb and avoid it and get just enough brake to grab and slow me down on the downslope before the approaching intersection... but I was riding solo.

The guy in the lead didn't grasp the situation as quickly, and was carrying a passenger, and went for the brakes and finally got it stopped... in the middle of the intersection. :blink: Luckily, no traffic was coming at that exact moment.

The guy behind me saw me dance to the side, and did likewise, although he got some oil on his tires, and only barely stopped before running through me and into the intersection as well.

As near as we could tell, somebody had a serious engine failure on the ramp, and dumped a crankcase full of 10W40 all the way down the ramp.

 

[mcatrophy]

...The bike felt like it was going to fall out from underneath me and the only way to save it was to try and counter the fall. It's similar to the feeling when you are trying to balance a long stick under your hand, and you need to keep correcting to keep it from falling. I'm not exactly sure how I didn't wreck, but I just continued to 'ride' through it....

whatever reason (spidey senses?) I decided to take it easy this time.

...

Most accidents happen close to your house. This is mainly due to the fact that you are on auto-pilot as soon as you are in familiar territory. Don't ever go into auto-pilot. Always treat a familiar road like it's a new road.

Congrats for (1) listening to that inner voice, it's saved me more than once, (2) for not crashing, there are too many in that club, and (3) the good advice reminder.

If it was diesel, you might have smelled it before reaching it (as Groo did with "his" oil), but that does depend on which way the wind is blowing. Not uncommon on some of our roads.

We also get brake fluid at junctions, naturally close to the wheel track, so you have a choice of gravel and debris by the curb, brake fluid in the wheel tracks, oil in the centre of the lane, idiots cutting the corner near the outside of your lane. Limits the choice of "safe" road position somewhat :huh: .

 

[playgtar]

Glad you were able to keep it upright!

 

[FJR-Voltron]

Thanks to everyone for all of the kind words.

 

[AVGeek]

Hey Voltron, were you at 95 south exiting to Durango south?

 

[Intech]

Also have to watch out for resurfacing. Last year in August my brother had a major pucker incident after we got off the dragon. They were resurfacing on 28. He was in the lead on his R1200. It was my "spidy" sense that told me to slow down. We came to a curve (rh) and he disappeared around it. As I approached the curve here comes this car right on the center line. I get around the curve and see my brother in what was an obviously stressed posture off the edge of the road and coming back on gingerly. We went about another 1/4 mile to a spot where the road was straight. He was stopped and I came up and hit the brakes and slid right by him. Not fast, but it was still unsettling. Wow! were those roads slick. That slide kind of answered my question as to what the hell he was doing. The damn car came around the corner over the line and he turned a little deeper while braking. The bike said no and went straight until he let of the brakes. He didn't get any purchase until he was off the edge of the road. He did a hell of a job saving it and was lucky he was able to avoid clipping the car. As any of you that have ridden in the area know, there isn't much "edge" of the road. just a small shoulder and steep drop off. I still shudder to think what would have happened if he had gone over.

Glad to hear that you made it through ok. good "food for thought" too! NEVER drop your guard.

 

[FJR-Voltron]

Hey Voltron, were you at 95 south exiting to Durango south?

Yes, good catch... It was I95 south (I always get 93 and 95 mixed up) to Durango south...

 

[AVGeek]

Hey Voltron, were you at 95 south exiting to Durango south?

Yes, good catch... It was I95 south (I always get 93 and 95 mixed up) to Durango south...

No worries, I was a bit confused by your first post as well. Thankfully, I'm usually heading the other way on Durango. Most likely, I'd say it was diesel as well, since they have a bunch of construction taking place in that area these days.

 

[Texan]

Wow, you must've been to church earlier in the day, right? Somebody had your back on that one. Good save.

 

[spalkin]

Great story and great advice!