Curve + pothole?

[gbadude]

Hey guys I just started riding, and I'm trying to take things easy at first. With only 1k mile under my belt, you can imagine I still have a lot to learn. One thing that I've always wondered is what happens if you're leaning in a curve, and you go over a pothole or some kind of dip like that? I assume you're tires would ride over it just as if you were going over it straight, but I'd really prefer not to find that out the hard way.

 

[CaptCrash]

Dude! That's easy! Since you came in with a reasonable entry speed you were able to adjust your line to miss the pothole. OR in best scenario you saw the pothole before you entered the turn and adjusted accordingly.

All gloating/smarminess aside, your suspension will eat up inperfections in the road surface. IF you're talking about a 3 or 4 inch deep hole then avoiding it would be preferable.

 

[gbadude]

Dude! That's easy! Since you came in with a reasonable entry speed you were able to adjust your line to miss the pothole. OR in best scenario you saw the pothole before you entered the turn and adjusted accordingly.

All gloating/smarminess aside, your suspension will eat up inperfections in the road surface. IF you're talking about a 3 or 4 inch deep hole then avoiding it would be preferable.

I've always seen the potholes before entering the turn or were able to adjust my line and miss it. But riding in Berkeley/Oakland area, there's always random pot holes and things popping up and could be easy to miss. Thanks for the clarification though!

 

[z32zzr]

let your suspension sort it out, in SANE street speed modern bike is more than capable to handle anything you throw at it, in faster track speed well the track is smooth anyway!

 

[crazybob]

The best way to come out on top of the road's little surprises is to make sure you're riding with the best posture. First off, keep your toes on the foot pegs - riding flatfooted means that a bump can unseat you and your control of the bike. Staying on your toes lets your legs act as a secondary suspension system for your body. Second, make a good, strong connection with your lower body - squeeze the tank with your legs so that you could even take your hands off the handlebars if you wanted. On our ninjas I've found that the 'default seat position' puts your knees where the body is narrowest and makes it hard to squeeze because your legs are already so close together, so I like to 'choke up' on the bike and scoot forward to get a better connection. You'll find that it helps to have a little more between your legs (and the ladies love it, too arty). Finally, keep a mantra in your head that goes, 'light on the bars, light on the bars,' - imagine floating your hands around the grips and only give steering inputs by pushing with one hand (try to avoid pulling).

Shazam! The next time you hit a bump or pothole leaned over in a corner, you'll still feel the bike 'shudder' or handlebars shake slightly, but since you're not resting on them you won't give them any further-destabilizing input. You'll feel the bike move under you, but your head and torso should just glide along like nothing happened. This technique, of course, works great in straight lines too - just try riding 4th street between Gilman & Virginia to test it out!

Enjoy the smoothness!

~

By the way, are you the guy I've seen around town on the blue '06 with black helmet & sweatshirt?

 

[DataDan]

I got an early lesson in potholes at my first CLASS session at Sears Point many years ago. Riding bitch on Reg Pridmore's K100RS, we went straight into a nasty depression at the apex of the Carousel that had been dug by cars over the years (the track has obviously improved since then). The bike soaked up the bump very nicely and didn't seem to wander even an inch from Rego's intended line. So the short answer is don't take any action that could lead to a crash--like braking or running off the road--because your motorcycle should be able to deal with a pothole without any fuss.

But, other factors equal, it's preferable not to hit the pothole in the first place. By maintaining speed that gives you an ample sight distance to the road ahead, you're almost always going to be able to avoid the pothole with good line choice.

 

[Starshooter10]

at normal speeds you have nothing to worry about.

the shocks will eat it up or you can change your line to avoid it...


tackling bigger potholes comes with experiance. though even the most seasoned riders will avoid them when possible.

and remember big ones very be avoided as they can damage your rims

 

[Jlee808]

It caught me the first time, a little scary but then I realized the best thing to do is not to panic and just ride it out. After that, it hasn't been much of a problem anymore. Still, I tried to avoid it whenever possible.

 

[flying_hun]

Look where you want to go. When you spot the pothole mid-turn, look for the line that allows you to miss it. If you stare at the pothole after you spot it, you will hit it.

 

[louemc]

Look where you want to go. When you spot the pothole mid-turn, look for the line that allows you to miss it. If you stare at the pothole after you spot it, you will hit it.

That's it Don't hit the freakin road flaw. Not all road flaws are equal, in shape/size/direction.

If you can't look at the road surface, as well as the general area, and be going at a speed that allows for changing your line, as flaws come into view, then it's just a matter of time till a nasty one bites You.

This stuff is easier to learn, riding dirt, trail riding, but...MSF and/or BRC schools should prepair anyone for this most basic stuff.

A very high percentage of road flaw/hazards, aren't a real big deal, but... Unless You can avoid them, by changing your line, your turning it into a crap shoot, hitting them, no matter what they are. That's a game of Russian Roulette, gambling on what comes up.

 

[Lovedoc]

Using your front brake in this situation is likely to end in tears. Rear brake too most likely.

 

[jraice]

At newbie speeds the best thing to do is look through the turn, try and miss it, but if you dont its not the end of the world.

The only big thing to try and miss (ESPECIALLY IF ITS WET) in a turn is a drain plug or anything else metal, or painted for that matter.

Small potholes shouldnt effect much, even if your dragging knee, if you maintain throttle, stay loose on the bars and look through the turn you'll probably go through it just fine.