Construction zone - Grooved pavement

daisha · May 22nd, 2013, 08:47 AM

So they decided to start construction right outside my work and dug up the pavement for about a mile. It now has those lovely alternating-direction grooves for about a mile. The first day they did it, there were no signs - just a large bump and WHAM grooved pavement. I was counting my lucky stars that I hit that on four wheels and not two.
Now they have signs up (even threw up a motorcycles use caution sign), but it's been a week and there's no progress on the construction! Any advice on riding on these roads? I have been taking a detour around it when I do ride the bike into work, but its really starting to become a pain...
This is more or less what it looks like:

sLick415 · May 22nd, 2013, 09:14 AM

Ouch. Thatll certainly eat up the tires... Just the usual advice. Light on the arms and on the cheeks.

lgk · May 22nd, 2013, 03:18 PM

keep light on the bars, and be smooth on the throttle.

sharp movements and stiff arms will make things worse, since the contact patch of your tires is minimal, and the traction of riding on the tips of those checkering varies as you roll over them.

alex.s · May 22nd, 2013, 03:28 PM

dont be scared of an out of shape bike. wobbling back and forth is intimidating but as long as you dont force anything it will remain just a wobble.

just yesterday i was doing about 90 on the freeway and my rear tire popped. felt just like riding on this type of pavement. pretty scary but its controllable. going slower helps. higher tire pressure also helps.

Jono · May 22nd, 2013, 04:01 PM

Like others have said. Be light on the bars and don't try to control the wobble. Just let the bike wobble back and forth. It's not too scary. You get used to it pretty quickly.

I remember the first time I rode over that grooved pavement. I was on the interstate doing about 75mph and saw the warning signs. I was like crap. I can't turn back now. So I had a light grip on the bars and let the bike do what it wanted. I survived just fine. Just take it easy.

I'd say it's very similar to riding on gravel but a bit less sketchy.

allanoue · May 22nd, 2013, 04:37 PM

Definitely scared the crap out of me until I was able to understand I am still under control and the bike will go where I want it to go despite the wobble. What helped me to get it in my brain was to do a little weave in my lane every now and again.

csmith12 · May 22nd, 2013, 04:44 PM

Relax, have fun with it. This is one of those times where, doing nothing is the answer. Although with construction, there tends to be more debris, so stay frosty.

alex.s · May 22nd, 2013, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allanoue

do a little weave in my lane every now and again.

this is actually surprisingly helpful whenever your wheels are having trouble going the same direction.

Motofool · May 22nd, 2013, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisha

........Any advice on riding on these roads?..........[/IMG]

Do not change lanes if they have different finish.

Your front tire will have problems climbing onto the step between both and could result in a fall.

rojoracing53 · May 22nd, 2013, 05:44 PM

This is the road equivalent to riding a dirt bike in the sand. Be smooth and light on the bars and just let the bike walk a bit back and forth underneath you. If you try and control the bike from moving at all you will find yourself fighting a losing battle.

try not to make it a big deal of riding over this because confidence it your friend when allowing a bike to have a little leeway.

Panda · May 22nd, 2013, 07:06 PM

Wheelie over it.

Your problem = solved.

Aurodox · May 22nd, 2013, 09:06 PM

Being a californian, tackling this type of terrain is an everyday occurance on the freeway. At speed, it's just like riding on normal pavement. At least that's my experience...

adouglas · May 23rd, 2013, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panda

Wheelie over it.

Your problem = solved.

Wheelie shmeelie.

Panda · May 23rd, 2013, 06:23 AM

I love that show. The 10 year anniversary is this year.

ChaoSS · May 23rd, 2013, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurodox

Being a californian, tackling this type of terrain is an everyday occurance on the freeway. At speed, it's just like riding on normal pavement. At least that's my experience...

That's what I was going to say, this kind of pavement is no issue. The thing that can be a problem is the transitions, if you aren't paying attention you can have problems, and any debris on the road from the construction, cones that have fallen into a lane, etc, but the road itself, no issue.

May 22nd, 2013, 08:47 AM	#1
daisha ninjette.org member Name: Daisha Location: Redlands, CA Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 06 Ninja 250, 14 FZ-09 Posts: 80	Construction zone - Grooved pavement So they decided to start construction right outside my work and dug up the pavement for about a mile. It now has those lovely alternating-direction grooves for about a mile. The first day they did it, there were no signs - just a large bump and WHAM grooved pavement. I was counting my lucky stars that I hit that on four wheels and not two. Now they have signs up (even threw up a motorcycles use caution sign), but it's been a week and there's no progress on the construction! Any advice on riding on these roads? I have been taking a detour around it when I do ride the bike into work, but its really starting to become a pain... This is more or less what it looks like:

May 22nd, 2013, 03:18 PM	#3
lgk ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Norfolk, VA Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.	keep light on the bars, and be smooth on the throttle. sharp movements and stiff arms will make things worse, since the contact patch of your tires is minimal, and the traction of riding on the tips of those checkering varies as you roll over them. __________________________________________________ Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700

May 22nd, 2013, 03:28 PM	#4
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	dont be scared of an out of shape bike. wobbling back and forth is intimidating but as long as you dont force anything it will remain just a wobble. just yesterday i was doing about 90 on the freeway and my rear tire popped. felt just like riding on this type of pavement. pretty scary but its controllable. going slower helps. higher tire pressure also helps. __________________________________________________

May 22nd, 2013, 04:44 PM	#7
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Relax, have fun with it. This is one of those times where, doing nothing is the answer. Although with construction, there tends to be more debris, so stay frosty. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
tips for new pavement?	OCMagnum	Riding Skills	4	May 9th, 2013 08:55 PM
Bad Pavement	250rr	Riding Skills	9	May 14th, 2012 08:53 AM
[hell for leather] - Honda Crosstourer: boldly going where pavement has gone before	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	November 7th, 2011 05:50 PM
Bit the pavement	athimmel	!%@*#$%!)@#&!%@ I crashed!	35	June 8th, 2011 10:21 AM
Grooved Pavement	TheSquee	Riding Skills	16	July 15th, 2010 09:25 PM

May 22nd, 2013, 09:14 AM	#2
sLick415 ninjette.org guru Name: Danny Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: 263	Ouch. Thatll certainly eat up the tires... Just the usual advice. Light on the arms and on the cheeks.

May 22nd, 2013, 04:01 PM	#5
Jono ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jono Location: Memphis, TN Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Triumph Street Triple, 2009 KLX250SF, 2003 Suzuki SV650S (Sold), 2006 Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Like others have said. Be light on the bars and don't try to control the wobble. Just let the bike wobble back and forth. It's not too scary. You get used to it pretty quickly. I remember the first time I rode over that grooved pavement. I was on the interstate doing about 75mph and saw the warning signs. I was like crap. I can't turn back now. So I had a light grip on the bars and let the bike do what it wanted. I survived just fine. Just take it easy. I'd say it's very similar to riding on gravel but a bit less sketchy.

May 22nd, 2013, 04:37 PM	#6
allanoue ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Al Location: York, Pa Join Date: Dec 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300..............2008 Ninja 500-sold...2009 Ninja 250-Crashed Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '14	Definitely scared the crap out of me until I was able to understand I am still under control and the bike will go where I want it to go despite the wobble. What helped me to get it in my brain was to do a little weave in my lane every now and again.

May 22nd, 2013, 05:44 PM	#10
rojoracing53 Fast-Guy wannabe Name: Jason Location: Brentwood, Ca Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja250, 2011 RM-Z250, 2004 NSR50, Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '13	This is the road equivalent to riding a dirt bike in the sand. Be smooth and light on the bars and just let the bike walk a bit back and forth underneath you. If you try and control the bike from moving at all you will find yourself fighting a losing battle. try not to make it a big deal of riding over this because confidence it your friend when allowing a bike to have a little leeway.

May 22nd, 2013, 07:06 PM	#11
Panda not an actual panda Name: dan Location: philadelphia Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250, 2009 CBR600RR (Sold) Posts: A lot.	Wheelie over it. Your problem = solved.

May 22nd, 2013, 09:06 PM	#12
Aurodox ninjette.org member Name: - Location: - Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): - Posts: 139	Being a californian, tackling this type of terrain is an everyday occurance on the freeway. At speed, it's just like riding on normal pavement. At least that's my experience...

May 23rd, 2013, 06:23 AM	#14
Panda not an actual panda Name: dan Location: philadelphia Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250, 2009 CBR600RR (Sold) Posts: A lot.	I love that show. The 10 year anniversary is this year.