Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Riding Technique Grooved Pavement - advice on dealing with it?

OK, I am out getting some practice on my new TBA. I have a great time out around Mt. Rainier and heading towards Yakima, WA. On the way back, I decided I needed some practice on highways and took I-90 (westbound) back across the mountains and into the Seattle area. I am zipping along 60-70 mph (depending upon my comfort level). Then, I get the warning signs about grooved pavement ahead and Motorcyclists take extreme caution, etc... Then I hit the grooved pavement. That was the most terrifying moment I've had on the bike . The grooves just grabbed the front wheel and I dropped down to 40 mph, wishing I had blinkers to warn people behind me. This went on for about 2 miles (??). Cars were flying up behind me and there I am doing 40 and trying to not feel like I am going down.

How do you more experienced bikers deal with it? Should I have just kept my speed up and assume I would not be wrenched over? Fortunately, it's a repaving job so the state might have it resurfaced in a year or three. Until then I'm going to just avoid I-90 westbound.

I'm assuming that metal grate bridges are the same? I think we have a few around here that I need to identify before trying to go over them.

Advice anyone? Thanks very much.
Steve

Don't look down. Look to the horizon and ride it out.

It sounds like the coarse grooving done in preparation for repaving and not your typical "rain grooves" found on most concrete highways.

Best bet, avoid it.

If that's not possible, then just ride it out as has been described.

One other thing, don't fight it. No death grip on the handlebars, just maintain control and be aware. Not a good idea to slow down and risk getting rear ended, so maintain speed.

My stock Bridgestones were awful on grooved pavement. Are they still using those crappy tires on the '07's? If so, the solution is new tires. The Metzler ME880's I put on my bike are radially grooved which eliminates "hunting" on grooved pavement. I remember riding with a group of my HD buddies on I-81 in PA, going about 80 mph. We hit some grooved pavement and it was truly frightening.

Here's the grooves on the Metzler. If your grooves follow the wheel, you go trouble.

Tires of the old "ribbed" style will follow grooves. Tires with diagonal tread patterns are much better.

If you angle across the grooves from one side of the lane to the other, it will eliminate most of the wiggle. If it's a couple of miles long like you said, you'll have to go from one side to the other and back again until you're out of the bad zone.

Your instinct to slow down was definately on the money,BTW.

2007 TBA's do have tubeless Metzlers (Lasertec?)as stock tires. What bothered me the most was the way the bike "shifted" as the grooves grabbed the tire. I didn't know if I was going to wobble and go down, so I figured that a laydown at 40 mph would hurt much less than at 65 mph.
Yep, I kept my head up (thanks MSF course!!) and tried not to grab the handlebars too tightly, but it was a very hairy few minutes for this here biker newbie. I was glad I was in the far right lane and did not have to try and change lanes...yikes!!!

Thanks for the input so far.

Well here on LI the road construction is always ongoing. I have grown use to the construction grooves. I just keep pace and let the bike go with the flow. Never had any problems. The construction grooves are much worse than the rain grooves or bridge grates.

greetings from kent also!!I rode n tues to Lake Easton and encountered those grooves for about 1/2 mile.I also slowed down to 40-45 and rode it out..this gives you some area of speed up if necessary with lots of power if in trouble.Coming back thurs pm I encountered the same 2+ miles of groove that you rode thru.I again used the same tecnique..not everyone will agree that slowing down is acceptable but I always ride in my comfort zone..the signs do say use extreme caution...not maintain and pray!!

Here's a pic of the Metzler Lasertec front tire used on 2007 TBA (pic is from another website). Sorry, it's a little small.



Steve

You deal with rain grooves in much the same way as a gusty crosswind, relax and let the frame geometry deal with it. Grated bridges are a bit worse, especially ones like that between Beaver Falls and New Brighton PA. That one crosses the Beaver river at an angle, but the grate is square to the river bank so your bike tends to wander over into the oncoming traffic.

I encountered grooved surfaces on I-25 and on I-90 on my recent Sturgis trip. Very disconcerting. That induced front end wobble does make ya nervous. I found it seemed to improve a bit with higher speeds and trying to just relax. Seems the Northern tier states have more of this.

I would hate to have to ride 500 miles a day all on this surface.

I saw no signs warning of this in either Colorado, Wyoming or South Dakota.

I agree-ride the pace you are comfortable with. Grooves are like tar snakes where they dribble tar on the cracks in the road. When those get hot they can get real slick. I think the people doing this work should have to ride motorcycles across it!

Unfortunately they will never listen to the needs of bikers when it comes to road surfacing.

I did find that running right at 75 miles an hour seemed better than slowing down as the speed lightens the front end just enought to seemingly reduce the wobbling effect a bit.

There were legions of Harleys running at 85 mils an hour on the stretch of I-90 at night during the rally.....

For me the 880 metzlers work better on ribbed roads than the lazer tec's. But generally if you just relax and ride as normal you'll find they really don't bother you all that much. Usuall, but not always the center of the road has a little less groove to it. But as other's have said, relax and just let it flow. When you find youself caught in traffic knocking out 70 plus mph with nowhere to hide you'll learn....

The Bridgestones that came on my 03 BA would move a lot in grooves. The Venoms are MUCH better.

Those grooves are nasty....they are aslo on both sides of 405 up near Kirkland. I think 405 south has the carpool lane almost done.

Karen and I were riding to Leavenworth and on hwy2 we encountred a few miles of grooves across all lanes. They were nice enough to leave a nice ridge in the middle of one of the lanes for some extra excitement

I ususlaly slow doen a bit cause you know if you hit grooves at teh end there is more than likely going to be a bump! I also tell myself over and over...no death grip...relax adn feel the bike.

Zmilin,
Thanks for the intel. I was planning on riding up to Leavenworth (never been there). Guess I'll stay down around Mt. Rainier.
Yep, I remember there was a report about a biker going down on I-405. And part of the reason is some people suspect the grooves.
I did find a good detour y'day around the metal grate 1st Ave Bridge (Seattle) on 99....yay!!!

Grooved highways can be interesting but if you really want to try something, Go over a steel grated bridge with enduro or knobby tires. You will think your bike is coming apart it shakes so bad. If that doesn't get your attention not much else will.

Try the steel grating with a set of 18/40 mickey thompson's on a truck with 12 inches of lift. Back in my monster truck days of my youth. I had a set of these spooned on and headed home. I hit the steel grateing on a high rise bridge and thought for sure I was going over the side. Those were the days.

I used to HATE grooved pavement when I first stared riding. Now my technique is just to ignore it.

Grooved payment I can live with. WHat I really hate is when it just starts drizzling and I'm not at a place where I can pull over. Or hitting a patch of diesel.

keep in mind this was a few weeks ago...I just checked WSDOT and it looks there there is new blacktop down in some areas. Take it for whats its worth...I make no promises.

Hey...did you buy your bike from I90?

Hey Zmilin,
Getting OT but...
Yep, I got her at I90. I went to Lynnwood Cycle Barn also. Salesman there told me he had an 06 Speedmaster, great bike, yadda-yadda-yadda. When I asked if we could fire up the America (so I could hear the stock pipes), he wheeled her outside, then proceeded to look for the ignition up by the handlebars!! That was a strike against them. I also told them I would be working on a big project overseas and would want to make the deal by e-mail (I was hoping to have the bike ready to ride when I returned so I could get some practice before a long ride), "no problem" said my salesman (who seemed to forget where the key goes on his 06 SM...lol). When I tried to e-mail them, they never replied. Finally, I got a response from someone there and they said that they don't deal over the internet.

Meanwhile, I90 Motorsports had been real good to me. They answered my questions (even the dumb ones), took their time with me, no sales pressure and....they worked with me while I was on the other side of the world. They busted their butts to get the bike ready for me ASAP.

Does WSDOT post that info on their website? That would be a god link to have and check once in a while.
Thanks
Steve

Just an update...405 southbound is nice and paved...gotta love new blacktop (untill teh spikes eat it up later this winter).
405 NB still graded but I hit it today at about 60mph and it definatley felt better than slowing way down. Then I forgot about the work up around Everett...that was fun in traffic :|

WSDOT has a ton of info...yes its posted but tis posted in their terms so it doesnt say anything about graded roads etc...but its better than nothing.

I askled about I90 cause a few days after I bought mine and Karens bike we went in and they were telling me they just sold the Blue and Whire I was drooling over....then about a month or so later they sold a black Speedy and another Blue White to a couple.

I wish they had an active RAT chapter.

The best way to ride on steel deck bridges and grooved pavement is to start in the middle and angle to the edge, if it is really long, angle back to the center, repeat if neccessary. Try it, it works!!!

The city of Austin has a crew who drives around and finds a good, solid unblemished spot of pavement ina heavy traffic area and then digs it up or something equally noxious. Sometime over the last couple of days, they grooved a pretty sharp curve which I discovered today. I don't usually get upset at grooved payment anymore BUT today on my original Bridgestones, that curve raised the pucker factor for about 20 seconds. The darn tires are at 7500 and wearing like iron and I haven't budgeted for new tires-was going for the Progressive's first. Those tires are really, really bad on wet roads. I may have to reconsider.

LMAO....sorry...."pucker factor of 20"...thats funny!

Ignore the grooves and be on the lookout for uneven pavement (maybe they have already poured asphalt on one of the lanes)...the uneven pavement will get 'ya...the grooves just make you shake (might even make some funny noises if you're lucky)

For the uninitiated, what's a grated bridge? The only decent image I could find was:



Is that it? Looks like it could be h311 in the wet.



The best way to cross it? I'd imagine starting over near the armco and then heading in the direction of the camera. Yes/no?

We have a long bridge like this over the Missouri river. Best thing I learned is to loosen up and let it sway a little. It won't go far, and is better than trying to ride a perfect line.

There is a bridge like that between Beaver Falls and New Brighton PA, only it crosses the river at an angle with the grating square to the riverbanks. Of course, the grating is angled to lead you into the oncoming lane. Guess it's better than leading you over the side.
Best thing to do is relax and only suggest to the bike where you want it to go. If traffic permits, try to time it so you cross alone. On the plus side, snow usually falls on through the grating and, even when coated with ice, it gives you some traction.