Springtime safety

adouglas · March 18th, 2015, 01:48 PM

A couple of days ago a guy on Long Island died when he hit a pothole and was thrown off his bike. Tragic.... he had a wife and one-year-old baby. I don't know about the details, gear situation or what... all I know is that it should not have happened.

This year, because of the unusually harsh winter we had up here, I've seen more potholes than I can remember. The roads are in awful shape.

Plus there's the usual sand, gravel and salt everywhere.

Everyone, as the weather warms up we all get spring fever and WANT TO RIDE.

Please, PLEASE take it slow and be extra-careful until the roads are in better shape. You may be more than ready, but the roads you ride on are not.

FWIW, at this time of year I pass the time during my commute scouting road conditions. I mentally note every new pothole and patch of gravel on my route. It really matters for the first few weeks. I've already found a few new surprises this spring.

alex.s · March 18th, 2015, 01:49 PM

or just move south

crazymadbastard · March 18th, 2015, 01:51 PM

Good post for sure, I hit plenty in my SUV and cringed. Can't imagine hitting one on the moto.
Be safe!
W

adouglas · March 18th, 2015, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

or just move south

csmith12 · March 18th, 2015, 02:31 PM

Jono · March 18th, 2015, 02:40 PM

Roads were ****** here before the harsh winter. And now there are some massive potholes that I don't see getting fixed properly any time soon. I'll just keep my eyes open and leave enough space when I'm behind cars to react properly when I see these newly formed craters.

kdogg2077 · March 20th, 2015, 09:15 AM

+1 to the idea of scouting the roads beforehand. In early spring I like to drive on my favorite roads to check their condition and then maybe take my bike on them later.

I took my bike the gas station for fresh gas and air yesterday. I had to navigate around patches of shale at nearly every turn.

I probably won't ride it much until April.

DEFY · March 20th, 2015, 09:22 AM

At some point I'm going to stop thinking they are potholes and start believing that they are actually sinkholes. The roads just s*ck a*s round here.

LittleRedNinjette · March 20th, 2015, 09:35 AM

I've been doing the scouting thing. Probably scout out my weekend roads soon.

I've already seen some pothole i think i could fall into on the bike and never be found.

CC Cowboy · March 20th, 2015, 09:42 AM

I always try to avoid the pot ho, but sometimes they are in the middle of the road.

verboten1 · March 20th, 2015, 09:59 AM

I was riding the KLR saturday and I blew past a squid in my neighborhood going about 5 MPH in the wet road full of holes. then I gunned it across a big pothole and never saw him again lol

be careful, or ride the bike for the job :P

March 18th, 2015, 01:48 PM	#1
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	Springtime safety A couple of days ago a guy on Long Island died when he hit a pothole and was thrown off his bike. Tragic.... he had a wife and one-year-old baby. I don't know about the details, gear situation or what... all I know is that it should not have happened. This year, because of the unusually harsh winter we had up here, I've seen more potholes than I can remember. The roads are in awful shape. Plus there's the usual sand, gravel and salt everywhere. Everyone, as the weather warms up we all get spring fever and WANT TO RIDE. Please, PLEASE take it slow and be extra-careful until the roads are in better shape. You may be more than ready, but the roads you ride on are not. FWIW, at this time of year I pass the time during my commute scouting road conditions. I mentally note every new pothole and patch of gravel on my route. It really matters for the first few weeks. I've already found a few new surprises this spring. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

March 18th, 2015, 01:49 PM	#2
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	or just move south __________________________________________________

March 18th, 2015, 01:51 PM	#3
crazymadbastard I'm crazy,your excuse is? Name: Winston Location: Connecticut Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250 2007 ninja Posts: A lot.	Good post for sure, I hit plenty in my SUV and cringed. Can't imagine hitting one on the moto. Be safe! W __________________________________________________ My Cafe Racer Build My intro post

March 18th, 2015, 02:31 PM	#5
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	__________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 20th, 2015, 09:15 AM	#7
kdogg2077 ninjette.org sage Name: Alex Location: Ebensburg, PA Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2015 Yamaha FZ07, Ninja 250r 2012 Limited Edition (Sold) Posts: 529	+1 to the idea of scouting the roads beforehand. In early spring I like to drive on my favorite roads to check their condition and then maybe take my bike on them later. I took my bike the gas station for fresh gas and air yesterday. I had to navigate around patches of shale at nearly every turn. I probably won't ride it much until April. __________________________________________________ "Take it easy driving. The life you might save might be mine."

March 18th, 2015, 02:40 PM	#6
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.	Roads were ****** here before the harsh winter. And now there are some massive potholes that I don't see getting fixed properly any time soon. I'll just keep my eyes open and leave enough space when I'm behind cars to react properly when I see these newly formed craters.

March 20th, 2015, 09:22 AM	#8
DEFY ᗧ•••ᗣ•ᗣᗣ•••ᗣ Name: Nick Location: NY Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R and 2014 Triumph 675R Posts: A lot.	At some point I'm going to stop thinking they are potholes and start believing that they are actually sinkholes. The roads just sck as round here.

March 20th, 2015, 09:35 AM	#9
LittleRedNinjette Certified Troublemaker Name: Teri Location: Hamilton, NJ Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250r "Pikachu", 2017 Ninja 650 "Epona" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Aug '13, Aug '14, Feb '17	I've been doing the scouting thing. Probably scout out my weekend roads soon. I've already seen some pothole i think i could fall into on the bike and never be found. __________________________________________________ Raven's Rejuvenation A bruise is a lesson... and each lesson makes us better...

March 20th, 2015, 09:42 AM	#10
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	I always try to avoid the pot ho, but sometimes they are in the middle of the road. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

March 20th, 2015, 09:59 AM	#11
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	I was riding the KLR saturday and I blew past a squid in my neighborhood going about 5 MPH in the wet road full of holes. then I gunned it across a big pothole and never saw him again lol be careful, or ride the bike for the job :P __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

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