Oil all over the road in wet conditions...

[JoeDougieDoug...]

Hey all.

After coming off again yesterday, it made me think - In wet conditions on tarmac roads where all the road oil rises to the surface, how the hell are you meant to get to your destination without arriving on your face?

I was on a fairly sharp corner this morning and I nearly lost it again because the front wheel hit a splodge of oil on the road...

Before you say it - I do NEED to ride my bike every day, I live 8 miles from my current job and public transport around here is a pisstake (both in punctuality and cost).

Anyone else feel slightly off-put whilst riding to and from work with loads of oil on the road?


____________________
CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[nowhere.elysium]

Nope, you just get used to it, really.

If you fancy a properly hardcore training regimen, try riding around Beckton, in East London. As both neil. and A5tra_G will attest, it's slippery as hell around here, and the added subsidence lumps in the road make it properly entertaining.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[J.M.]

When I was up in Yorkshire it had been raining all day, but me and the pillion still decided to go out on the bike to go around the dales, considering we wouldn't have another opportunity to do so.

The country lanes had a terrible surface, were soaked (and it was still raining) and I could just see the dreaded rainbow running across the entire road. Add a pillion to it as well. Turning around wasn't really an option because we had nowhere to go back to, so I just pressed on... it lasted for miles...

Surprisingly though, I actually didn't even notice any loss of traction what-so-ever. I still made sure to stay extra cautious for the entire journey though... and took a massive sigh of relief when I came back to tarmac

Just make sure that you keep it smooth and slow and try to keep the bike as upright as possible. If slipping is a possibility, try and stay away from the front brake as well.
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[robbieguy2003]

I know you can look like a nobber, and some people say 'it's not for the road, you don't need to', but hang off the bike a bit on corners.

This will keep the bike more upright, giving you a bigger contact patch, put less lateral load on the bike, because it's more upright and when you get used to it, it'll end up putting the Centre of Gravity at the right point, which will help as well.

Also apply a little acceleration going around the corner, slow in quicker out is certainly worth thinking about.

I do use the front in the wet, but you have to be cautious of it. Progressive use, let the weight of the front transfer steadily, and then don't take the piss in how much stopping power you're asking for, and it'll be fine.

Also, don't be afraid or worried to go slower than the speed limit, if those are the conditions then those are the conditions, the cars behind can wait.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but this is pretty much my stock reply for wet/oily/slippy riding.
____________________
Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[grant965]

I almost had a first off due to oil in the wet.
Was riding home tired from work and I guess I put too much on the rear and it just kicked out sideways. It must have kicked out by at least a foot and I was sliding like that for about 20ms, looking ahead cars had stopped for the traffic lights, managed to get it to slide back in inches from the car bumper in front. Was weird, shit shit myself I felt really calm and had chance to think things through, was really weird.
____________________
Ex bikes: 05 Suzuki En 125, '98 Yamaha Thundercat, '08 Honda cbr125, '05 Kawasaki z750, '03 Triumph Daytona 600, '91 Kawasaki ex250, '03 Hyosung Comet 125
Current Bike: '02 Suzuki TL1000R

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[L4Isoside]

[Kingstondavo]

Have you thought it might be tyres? Was loads of grease/oil/diesel everywhere yesterday and the day before and I didn't even have the slightest slip - so I'd go for one of two conclusions:

1.) you need to slow down/be more gentle with the throttle
or
2.) its the tyres

Not saying your at fault, but if you are on a 125 with skinny tyres, the contact patch will be small enough to throw you off before regaining grip - might be worth investing in some pilot sportys or something?
____________________
Current Ride - 2010 Hornet 600

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[Muscle Bike Rider]

[Kingstondavo]

[Ichy]

Sometimes it looks far worse than it really is. Just add a small drop of oil to a large puddle and watch it spread.
____________________
https://www.metacafe.com/watch/1972097/how_to_behave_on_a_forum/

[dan_flash]

Oil/Diesel on the road is my least favourite thing about two wheels. I can't even begin to explain... Urgh, christ...

Out of interest - anything we can do about it? Seen it tossed around BCF a few times about contacting councils etc, is that effective?
____________________
Yamaha XJ600S, Volvo v40.

[Mikey3]

Roundabouts are irritatingly dreadful, really pisses me off how car drivers can be so ignorant to the danger they can cause, just another example of people completely blind to any hint of the wider picture. I generally tiptoe round roundabouts in the wet, i've nothing to prove and i'm the one paying for any damage .... however, in the dry.....

I've had a couple of front end slides turning into my road, only just caught both of them, but only cause the front regained grip, not by any action of mine.

IMO it should be 3 points if your vehicle is seen to be dripping oil, (unless it is already, not sure) as it can be extremely dangerous in certain circumstances.

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Pol Anorl]

I get it a lot you just get used to it to be honest.
____________________
GOOD GAME BODYGUARD: https://i.imgur.com/8WePGgf.jpg
20:30:37 Pyro.: I don't sort of like men, I take every advantage to choke on dick.
Jewlio Iglesias: You live in Liverpool - Chances are, the front door has already been kicked off the hinges

[Teflon-Mike]

[Pol Anorl]

[flumpy7]

When people talk about having an off 'again' i generally think that the problem is the rider (or worn tyres) not the surface.......we live in the UK not siberia. I had a couple of faceplants in my early days of biking but it was deffo down to me not being careful enough e.g thinking i could tip the bike right over at high speed in the pouring rain or braking on a bend whilst riding over a wet drain cover. A few of these and you soon learn to ride with a bit more sense
____________________
2012 Sinnis apache

[JoeDougieDoug...]

[iooi]

[J.M.]

[Dazbo666]

[Flatbadger]

Thanks for a useful thread, I tried to keep that concise list in my head Dazbo666, just before I went out earlier. No rain, but the roads were nice and wet. And it was dark.

I felt a bit scared before I went out, but riding like an old woman saw me through

[Llama-Farmer]

Noticed a lot today, usually its drops every few metres, but in one area today it was a constant stream about 1-foot wide and went on for maybe a mile or so, right in the middle of the lane, so forcing you to either ride in the gutter or up against the white line.

Avoided the rainbow like the plague, but having said that, when I did have to cross it, there was no loss of grip, and even "tested" it with my foot when stopped and it was just as grippy as the wet tarmac on the rest of the road.

Still, whichever vehicle left that on the road should have to fork out to get it cleaned up. In my experience from what I've seen, it'll be a bus. Fookin hate bus drivers, theres a few exceptions but most of them do what they feel like as and when they feel like doing it, and sod anyone else on the road.