Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Bit by the Tar Snake

Coming home tonight I hit a tar snake at about 25 mph while in a right turn. The front wheel took off like I'd hit an icy spot. The bike went down of the right side and left some gouges in the street about 50 feet long. I was lucky. A few bruises, a sprained ankle and a few scrapes on the leather jacket, gloves and helmet. The bike suffered a broken driving light, bent rear turn signals, foot board bracket, muffler and mirror. Once I'd had a few minutes to shake it off I rode the bike home.


I'll put it up on the jack and check for other damage tomorrow but at first glance it doesn't appear to be worth calling the insurance company. To think, just a few minutes earlier I went over 66,666.6 miles.

I plan to jump all over the city street guy for these stinking tar snakes. I'm curious, do they not know they are dangerous or just not care? If a private company left a hazard like this on the streets they'd be sued into bankruptcy.

Wow, man. That really sucks! Although it sounds like the antichrist laid a trap for you there. BTW 8888.88 is coming up so maybe your bike will get resurrected then.

I hope you don't find anything more serious wrong with the bike.

These tar snakes sound pretty vicious. I don't think they are a problem in Oz fortunately. Why are they so slippy?

Firstly, glad to hear you're okay but very sorry to hear about your mishap. I was just talking with a friend about those today as he told me about going down under similar conditions. Sucks!

Glad you re ok. I hate those tar snakes. The look gravel, dirt, crops, and marbles aren't among my fans either.

You're in one piece that's the main thing.

Sorry to hear this. Those tar snakes can be nasty. Best wishes!

Glad you're ok, really sucks on the bike.

Sorry about your spill, Larry. I'm glad you are not seriously hurt. I hope there are no surprises when you check your bike over. What's a tar snake? Excess tar left over from road repair?

I'm glad you asked Paul.I wanted to, but didn't want to appear any more stupid than usual!

yes, they are residue from road repairs. called 'snakes' because they are a tar (or something) dribbled onto cracks which wind all over the road surface, this is usually done to asphalt road.
the snakes are most dangerous when newly poured or in very hot weather, which makes them very slippery. The random direction of the snakes allows your tires be thrown just about any direction that you do not want to go. hitting one at a high lean angle is especially exciting.

they do seem to be localized to the northern parts of the US and Canada. Or at least I haven't noticed them in the south or out west.

The black rubberish material they use to fill cracks in the roads.

We have lots of the in the Pacific Northwest. They are horrible. They're a *itch in the summer but even worse when it's cold. They hold ice longer than the asphalt does.

They use the tar to repair the cracks in the roads that occur from freezing and thawing. They've specially been generous with the tar this summer in our neighborhood. I guess it's a lot cheaper than new asphalt.

Glad you're not hurt more and hope the bike is easily repairable.

Sorry to hear of your spill, Larry, but I know you'll have your blue beauty back in shape and on the road in no time.

They know they are slippery. When I see them applying that crap, I beep to get their attention and flip them my middle opinion.

Larry, it sucks to learn you got bit, and that your ride got damaged some in the process. But I am relieved to know your still amoung us and breathing. I sure hope you ankle heals (and other various contusions/road rash) quickly.

Those tar snakes are a *itch in every way....just the mere hint of moisture on em makes them just as dangerous as during the mid day heat.

I have front pegs and brackets if you want them. my old head light is a bit bent on the bottom, the glass lense is not even cracked. but still functions and is not too noticeable. bulb is still it and it works. That is the most useable spares I have. but If you need them let me know.

Tough break, Larry. We don't seem to have those snakes around here. Hard to believe they're legal to even put down.

Heal quickly and good luck with the bike. If you can type about it lets consider it one of the good accidents.

those squiggly, smooth, shiny tar patches they put on the cracks in the road. Ultra slippery in hot weather. REALLY BAD in turns usually applied by MORON CAGERS.

ya i hate those suckers there has been a time or two when my front end went a bit north on my becasue of those bloody things, sure wake you up in a hurry. Hope you get well soon and bike back on the road.

Just saw you were a S-3 "HOOVER" pilot. Where did you fly the P-3 out of?

Tar snake says, "Don't tread on me!"

Got a lot of em here too. Glad you're ok Larry.

Glad you're OK. Sorry about your bike. Time for some more customizing.

My letter to the DOT:

On Tuesday September fourth at approximately 7:45 PM I was entering the turn lane from East bound University Ave/Hwy 163 onto North Hickory Ave in Pleasant Hill when I ran over a “repair” in the turn lane. This “repair,” colloquially known as a Tar Snake, was applied down the center of the lane along the direction of travel. The temperature at the time was about ninety degrees and the tar snake was incredibly slick.

As I slowed for the turn my front tire slid out from under my motorcycle and I was thrown to the pavement injuring my right shoulder, thigh and ankle. Thankfully I was wearing my leather motorcycle jacket, gloves and helmet, as well as very heavy jeans, or this incident may have been much more serious. My motorcycle sustained substantial damage on the right side but remained ridable.

This form of road repair is notorious as an extreme hazard to motorcycle traffic even when properly applied. I believe the most recent application through Pleasant Hill was unnecessarily heavy, thick and wide and presents an unacceptable risk to two wheeled traffic.

It is the general feeling among motorcyclists that the DOT, and other entities responsible for road maintenance and repair, are oblivious to the dangers their practices and techniques pose to motorcyclists. That, as a matter of course, the safety of those on motorcycles is never considered by these agencies. The current situation in Pleasant Hill certainly does nothing to counter that opinion.

That is an excellent write up Larry. If it were me I might be inclined to send a copy of this to my state reps, (not that it would do any good) but also to the local media, might get some attention that way. Maybe include AMA or other parties that would be interested.

Also included some photographs of the area, and a statemnet that your taxes are used as a "service" for said "repair".

Good letter. Respectful but slightly angry.

Well written! Good job.