Riding Tip #367,548: Ground up asphalt

[halosfan06]

Slow down on freshly ground asphalt at a road resurfacing job!

When asphalt is resurfaced, an asphalt grinder cuts away the top inch of existing pavement so that fresh asphalt can go down in its place. The grinder puts grooves in the pavement that will carry your scoot WHEREVER the pavement grooves go. If it goes to the left, your tires go to the left. If it goes to the right, you go to the right. I hit the grooves going about 45 and almost dumped the bike. My MSF instructor told me that if the bike ever wobbles, don't brake, just let off the gas and don't fight the handlebars, just hold them loosely and let them wobble a bit while you slow down. It worked, although, it was hugely disconcerting as my bike wobbled back and forth at its own pleasure for nearly 2 miles.

For other new scooterists (like me), remember that and expect it when you ride across it someday. Maybe some more veteran riders can give some other good tips though. Just wanted to share...follow the coast guard motto..."So that others may live."

Safe Riding

[scootingranny]

I drove over some groved pavement the other day. In a cage, you know it gives you better traction in rain. On a scoot, it's like "Holy batman!" I saw it and slowed down, loosened grip somewhat on handle bars and got off that danged street as soon as I could.

As for riding tip #367,548...

[harrywr2]

It's probably a good idea for a newbie scooterist to spend some time on a poorly maintained gravel road with full safety gear. It's a good way to 'get to know' how your bike wants to handle on bad surfaces. Natural tendency is to over control the bike rather then let it 'go with the flow' so to speak.

[earlwb]

That asphalt scraper machine is wicked. It leaves jillions of little tiny asphalt balls behind and those are like trying to ride on top of slick ice. I guarantee that you will drop your bike and loose a lot of skin if you aren't wearing your motorcycle gear.
The grooves effect on your handling is greatly affected by the tires you have on your bike. Tires with a sport bike type of tread pattern (almost slicks) aren't affected nearly as much as tires with grooves running parallel in the rolling direction.
Yeah the grooves make it feel like you have a flat tire, very scary feeling. I suggest slowing down and take it really easy and slow through the area. I have ridden on the shoulders of a freeway on some trips in the past where they had rain grooves on the pavement, and I had on the old style grooved treaded tires.