The Most Common Road Hazards for Riders & How to Avoid Them
As riders, we all endure the finger wagging of well-meaning family and friends, warning us of the near-certain perils faced when riding a motorcycle. Sure, riding has more inherent risks than driving a car, but safe and sensible riding can significantly mitigate those risks, even on the most dangerous roads in the U.S. We love the thrill and the fun of riding as much as anyone, but we also want to make it home again in one piece.
Cycle Trader is sharing these common road hazards riders face, and ways to help avoid them.
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Slick Surfaces
For most bikes, the place where the rubber actually meets the road is a tiny bit of real estate. With only two small contact patches, it’s pretty amazing how much friction can be generated from a good set of tires. This of course varies based on many factors from tire pressure and construction to tire condition.
The other side of the equation is what those contact patches come in contact with. Fresh, dry pavement offers all sorts of friction, but a rider should be prepared for slippery road hazards. The middle of the lane can become a swamp of oily fluids dropped from vehicles, and when mixed with a bit of rain, it becomes really slick. Lane placement discipline is smart not only for defensive riding, but staying in the tracks of the cars just right or left of center keeps your bike out of the slippery swamp.
Wet leaves and grass clippings can be diabolically slippery, too. Here, again, staying in the well-travelled part of the lane can help, but this is definitely a scenario where slowing down goes a long way toward maintaining control.
Temperature
When it’s below freezing, things can get really dicey for riders facing snow and ice on the road. Generally, bikes aren’t meant for winter conditions, but sometimes we can encounter winter-like situations when riding through mountainous areas, or during early morning or evening rides. Shaded areas can take longer for icy patches to melt, so exercise more caution there.
Also, in cool temperatures above freezing, our tires are harder and less grippy than they are in warmer conditions. This is especially true for sportbikes whose tires often have fewer grooves and operate best when warm.
Gravel, Dirt, and Debris
For ADV (adventure motorcycles) and dirt bike riders, kicking up dusty clouds and sliding around on loose surfaces is all part of the fun. But on the open road, when stitching a series of sweeping corners together, the discovery of gravel, grit, or sand on the pavement can result in a sudden loss of grip and a not-so-fun slide toward the ditch.
It’s always a good idea to keep your eyes up when riding, and it certainly helps a rider spot debris with enough time to react. In most cases, it’s just a matter of slowing and steering to avoid the hazard, but if it’s unavoidable, you’ll have more time to prepare for the encounter. With gravel, sand, or other low-grip surfaces, reducing lean angle, throttle, and steering inputs are often all that’s needed to get through safely.
Road debris can also be in the form of larger obstacles that have fallen on the road, like branches, rocks, or junk that’s been lost by a fellow motorist. Sometimes in those situations, the debris can’t be ridden through or over, which reinforces the importance of having enough time to react to the unexpected and ride around it.
(Dis)Repair and Construction
Road construction creates some interesting challenges, too. Watch for those construction warning signs so you’ve got time to slow down before the pavement ends or discover the bridge is out while you’re airborne. Repaving often means scraping off a top layer of asphalt and leaving a grooved base layer that can move your bike around beneath you. While unnerving, it’s not necessarily dangerous; just squeeze your knees on the tank and loosen your arms a bit to let the bike go with the flow.
For bumps and nasty potholes that can’t be avoided, rise up off the seat, standing a bit on the pegs while making sure you’ve got a firm grip on the handlebars, and you’re less likely to be bounced up and off the bike.
Riding Blind
Keep those eyes protected, ideally with a full-face helmet and visor, or, for those insistent on true bugs-in-the-teeth riding, at least wear a decent pair of impact-resistant glasses. At night, swap out the shades or tinted visor for a clear one, and don’t over-ride the throw of your headlights.
Following slow traffic sucks, but impatience can kill. Clear sight lines are crucial, and if you’re blind to what’s over a rise or around a bend, don’t pass until you’re sure it’s safe and clear. A surprise encounter with a Kenworth coming at you is seriously bad news. Set your mirrors for a view of something other than your elbows, and don’t forget that shoulder check before swapping lanes. The biggest road hazards we face are usually our fellow motorists, so it’s best to assume they can’t see you, and ride defensively.
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Ultimately the best way to survive a road hazard encounter is to avoid it in the first place. Ride within your limits and keep your eyes up! When you’re ready to roll, check out the nation’s largest selection of motorcycles for sale online with Cycle Trader.
Jeff Wilson
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