Uneven Pavement On A Chopper - Scary
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Vehicles -> subcategory Trucks-SUVS.
Uneven Pavement on a Chopper - A Scary Experience!
Summary
The other day, while I was out riding my chopper, I encountered a road paving project. It was on a 4-lane road where half of my side was newly paved while the other half was being prepped. The left lane was paved, creating a 1-2 inch ridge of asphalt between the lanes. Naturally, I was riding in the right, lower lane.
The Challenge
The real issue arose when traffic required everyone to merge from the right to the left lane. With speeds around 40 mph, navigating this uneven surface was already daunting on a regular motorcycle, but on a chopper with a wide rear tire, it was truly nerve-wracking. As I approached the transition, I slowed down as much as possible amidst the bumper-to-bumper traffic. I gripped the handlebars tightly, waiting for an opening to make the sharp transition across the ridge.
Lessons Learned
I managed to cross over, but those few seconds felt incredibly unstable. It reminded me of the driver’s education advice: if your tire goes off the road, slow down and only return when it’s safe. This advice applies even in a car, let alone on a bike.
This was the closest I've come to “going down” on a bike in over 20 years, so I’m jotting this down for future reference. Here’s what to remember when crossing a ridge running parallel to your path:
1. Slow Down: Reduce your speed as much as possible (I didn’t do this well enough).
2. Ensure a Safety Margin: Wait for a big gap in traffic.
3. Grip Firmly: Hold the handlebars tightly.
4. Cross at a Sharp Angle: Don’t gradually ease onto the ridge.
My biggest mistake was not slowing down enough. Next time, I'll be sure to reduce speed significantly and approach the ridge at a better angle.
Ride safe!
Ron
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