Confident motorcycle riding on any surface
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- Many viewers ask me how to ride a motorcycle on grooved roads & grated bridges. This week we will discuss grooved or ridged roads in construction areas and grated bridges. I will provide 3 mistakes that riders make on uneven road surfaces and how to correct them.
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What works for me in loose road surfaces (gravel, sand, etc), grates, or grooved pavement; is to slide back in the seat, loosen my grip, look far down the road, and trust the gyroscopic effects of the rotating tires/wheels.
I was on a senic ride around Coeur d'Alene Lake & got got caught in a 5 mile loose gravel road detour (due to road construction) riding 2up on my Valkyrie. These principles applied there as well. Thanks for all your great informational videos. Because of things I've learned from you, I handled it well. My wife commented on my skill as we found pavement again, & I smiled & thought of you. Got my MC Rider sticker on the back of my sissy bar pad, lol. Definitely need to promote Live Premieres. Get that algorithm going!
The ride around Lake Coeur d’ Alene is beautiful. I have lived in the area for 20 years and recently switched to an adventure bike. I ride in the forest, gravel isn’t an issue once you get used to it. Less traffic and less distracted drivers too.
Ride safe 🤘🏻😎
@@noidreculse8906 I'm happy to have a fellow MC Rider follower in my area. I've been in this area for 20 some years as well, but only got back in the saddle 4 yrs ago. If you ever see me on my Black Valkyrie with an MC Rider sticker on the back, be sure to say Howdy...
Vikining Plumber did you enjoy you trip up in Coeur d'Alene. My cousin lives there she's married to Burt Rutan.
I remember crossing the Mackinac bridge in northern Michigan. It was under construction and the only path was on the grated surface. It was my first time on this kind of surface, so I did pretty much all the things you said not to do. But with maybe a quarter mile to go and with my wife on the back of our 1983 Yamaha venture royale, there was only one thing to do, exactly what you are telling us. Loosen my grip, no brakes, and looking ahead. It worked, and this listen has stayed with me ever since.
I have riding since I was 15 and am now 75. All the things you teach are spot on, and many are learned the hard way, by experience, but for those newer riders, your teaching is so important.
Thanks for what you are doing, and God bless you.
I just picked up an 83 venture non royale last year. I love it! 30k miles 2 owner. Paid 1500$ for it. I’m 2200 into it after some repairs.
@@connorjones1485 they really are a great bike. IMHO they are what Gold Wings wanted to be.
I had a similar experience but with my 79 KZ750, I could only ride the grating and there was a strong cross wind. I did a Lake Michigan circle tour on the KZ750 in two days, I think I spent the majority of time standing from Chicago to Sheboygan, My posterior was extremely sore when I got home.🥴
Same. I was crossing that bridge going north in July 2019. Just what I needed towards the end of a 500 mile day. A butt-clenching ride for sure.
The loose grip is absolutely correct. When that wobble transitions to the rear end, you are in the death wobble, and the save is to lean forward while keeping that grip loose and EVERYTHING consistent. That causes the backend to get back in sync. You go where you look, so eyes up is another correct answer from MCrider. Excellent video.
About time someone talked-about this. Excellent advice Kev. Thanks a million. Was my achillis heel till now doing grooved surfaces.
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One thing Kevin did not mention is that if you have enough visibility in front of you that you can choose a lane position to avoid the deepest parts of grooves in the pavement, and that will also help limit the amount of feedback you will receive through the handlebars.
On the way to the Yukon there is the Liard river bridge, the grate is approx 4 inches wide ...I crossed it with my Kaw Concours with quite wide tires , not too bad, hang loose and A okay---but a few years later I am on My Suzuki Vstrom with much narrower tires...holding onto the handlebar was a Nightmare,,but I made it ..maybe one of the most scary rides of my life...safe riding to you all
Glen Head
I've been riding long enough to remember that this used to be a bigger deal than it is now. Radial ply tires wobble a little less than the old bias ply did. They were pretty scary. Now, I hardly notice it.
here on the seacoast of New Hampshire and Maine we have the steel bridges EVERYWHERE usually as the center of a Draw bridge for ships to pass, the newer bridges that have gone to a cement lift section but we still have steel over to the various coastal islands, when i was younger i did everything you said, tensed up slowed down and dreaded the crossing, but i was always a Harley dealer employee and manager and i took some classes and when harley switched to Michelin tires on a couple of models Michelin sent dealers a video on the tires and they included what happens to a tire with steel bridges and grooved pavement and ever since i ride over it like its just a noisy section of the regular road, i make no changes and the bike floats over it pretty fast No Worries
I tell my bike where I want to go - not how to do it's job. Never had a problem with loose gravel or bridge gratings. Actually, when there's a ridge of gravel down the center, it's usually the softest place to ride. Thanks for the video.
I-95 and I-64 through Richmond VA was mostly grooved concrete for decades. I think most of it has been removed and redone with asphalt over the last 20 years, thank goodness. I also found that ditching my vintage straight-rib tires and buying modern sport tires like the Bridgestone Battleaxe greatly improved handling over steel bridges and grooved pavement.
I have ridden on those surfaces many times. You are exactly right! The same tips work when on a dirt road with soft sand on top. I live down a road like that and those tips work there too.
An excellent "refresher" for us older riders who haven't had this experience in a while. Absolutely INVALUABLE for the new riders among our "family." Thanks for these videos. There's no telling how many lives you've saved since you started doing these videos, but I can assure you, brother, you have definitely saved this chrome beard from a little pain for sure. Thanks and God bless you, brother.
Have learned to keep upper body relaxed, but still take a bite outta the seat on a grate bridge. Keep up the good work
Appreciate this video! Austin has a tollway (130) with grooves, and it's always unnerved me riding on it especially since the speed limit is 85.
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I recently stumbled across your channel Kevin, I have been riding off and on for about 50 years now and recently purchased a bike, I consider myself a decent rider,but it has been 8 or 9 years since I have been on one.
I have been taking it easy getting my skills brushed up on and really appreciate your videos, they make me think about things I pretty much took for granted and you offer some tips I never considered, Thanks again for your efforts in helping riders of all levels.
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Don't forget to "flap your arms" on approach to those grooved and "stranger" surfaces! It's a good way to remind yourself, "relax"... or "piano hands"... Great video, Kevin!!!
Might I suggest just taking the motorcycle "parking lot practice" out to a gravel parking lot, preferably a lot with plenty of dips and puddles, some mounds, and loose patches...? It's a GREAT way, even with a street bike, to get used to the bike wandering a little under you and STILL BEING UNDER CONTROL. You gotta start out with loose tolerances (plenty of "slop" allowed) because it's just not how the MSF designs their drills, BUT IT IS do-able. It's worth the time to "fart around with your bike" and it teaches us just a little of that "reckless commitment" that can help with these kinds of things on the road.
You might even really surprise yourself at just how much control you can have on a street bike, WITH street tires and not a drop of asphalt in sight! {Once you get used to it, of course...} ;o)
The one thing that kills me on grated bridges is when the car in front of me slows down to like 5 mph, now I’m dealing with the road surface while also having to maintain stability at slow speeds.
Keep an open mind about what's neccesary to keep you safe. It is possible for a particular maneuver or action to be illegal or dangerous even if it is not illegal, and simultaneously be the best thing to remove yourself from harm's way.
If a vehicle is actually slowing to 5 MPH, on any road, they are likely to be a hindrance to ALL the traffic, thus increasing the chances of you getting caught up in a crash even if you do everything 'right'. In that scenario, just like in many others, I would be looking for a way to separate myself from traffic. On a bridge, that may likely mean going around the slow vehicle even if there is only one lane.
I remember my worst experience on a grooved road had to do with bad wheel bearings. I had used a power washer on my bike and I must have pushed all the wheel bearing grease out and not realizing that I just kept riding a dry bearing until I scared the sh** out of myself at around 90 or so. Luckily I handled it and made it to the shop at the time. Now they have sealed bearings but you can still do the same thing.
I have a local very narrow metal grooved bridge where the speed limit is 15. Bike is floating all over the place. I try to relax and go with it.
I have a Road King now so it’s not a big deal but my first bike was a klr which moved around on this stuff. Also I was new to riding.
There was a bridge with metal grating on a back road I used to ride. What I did was to to ride over the bridge back and forth so I got used to it. I knew it was only 50 yards and so it wasn’t so intimidating. I did the same with gravel. If you practice something in a controlled environment it makes it no big deal when you encounter these things any other time.
Yes Thanks!! I have been down some nice roads and then they turn to gravel. Sometimes fresh. I used this strategy. I just relaxed and the bike kept going forward. I didn't care if someone was behind me and trying to push me.
Very good video and reminder. As a paramotorist your advice is very similar to flying a paramotor. When landing or flying low it’s very important to look ahead 20-30 yards or the direction you want to turn, just like a motorcycle.
Always a good chat here. Many thanks for talking about a rarely discussed topic.
Great advice I've been riding many years and I still caught myself wanting to look down when this happens content appreciated
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Great video and thanks for the helpful information
Thanks Kevin!
Great advice. Thanks!
This video was great. I was guilty of all 3 problems for years until I learned the proper things to do. I was very guilty of looking down instead of looking where I wanted to go. I always made wide turns because of looking down. Graded bridges used to make me pucker. LOOK UP EVERYONE !! As he said in the video, RELAX. Again, GREAT VIDEO !!
Good video, I liked your advice to tighten your knees on the tank, as allowing myself to stiffen there somehow makes it easier for me to keep my shoulders and arms relaxed. Makes me feel much better!
Excellent observation and advice, I can testify to that as the two Triumph Tiger's 800 and 900 street versions that I have owned, are very sensitive to banding and repair groves, it seems from what blogs have to say on these models' tramlining tendency, is due to the tyre diameter and size. I must say, I have had several Honda bikes, and they seem to be much less affected on the same roads that make the Triumphs wiggle. Cheers, Gordon
Excellent advice...once again. Thank you.
Great advice Kevin. Thanks!
There is a stretch of I 465 that starts at mm 31 in Indianapolis, all 3 lanes are groved for 9 miles. It was a little scary when I saw these and wondered how long...but I did maintain my speed limit and looking forward as you explained I did however tense up it felt like I road 50 miles my fingers were numb for being tense...I'll apply this new behavior upu spoke of now whenever I come across this again
Great tips! Thanks Kevin
Great video. Thanks.
The tire will find a way.
Use the force Luke.
Thanks for the tips 👍
Happened to me recently. 2 up on the motorway and the road blacktop had been stripped back so the surface was like concrete diamonds and I did as you said. Maintained a loose grip with maintenance throttle. It didn't feel good but the bike sailed through it.
I was just crossing bridge in Kimberling City, MO last week. The sign said 30mph but, I entered at 50mph in fifth gear. Hoooolly fudge!!! Cross winds were insane. I was scared it would blow me off the bridge or throw me onto incoming vehicles. Just stayed loose and slowly shifted to third and even second, dragging accross the bridge. Never been so grateful my Super Tenere had 600lbs. And did same each time no matter winds. Once crossed, I went back to 100 ;-)
Gravel is more my concern even when going straight. A lot of the parking lots I went to in Texas and Arizona, are gravel
The sharp rock chips left behind on a grooved road will lodge in the tire sipes and cause a tire to go flat. I'll pull over and inspect the tires soon after riding on a grooved road surface. Chip and seal parking lots and roads can cause tire damage too. Always interesting and informative, thanks.
Whaaat? What world are you from?
@@badbrad1564 I live in a world where a very small piece of limestone chert from a newly milled road bed got lodged in a sipe on my rear michelin road 6 tire. It caused a very slow leak that required adding 5 pounds of air to the tire every week.
Would y’all like to see Kevin start a “pre video” live chat? I enjoyed it this morning and vote yes!
In my area of South Georgia we don’t have many of these types of surfaces, but we have PLENTY of tar snakes everywhere. My main obstacle is navigating the MILE of sandy dirt road from my driveway to the first patch of asphalt. However that’s given me over 13 years now of friction zone and rear brake practice 🏍💨
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On these types of surfaces I tend to drop 5-10 MPH, by throttle, before I get to it and then, depending on traffic flow, slow about 5 MPH over a minute until I match the traffic. Slowing that slowly keeps the front tire from 'digging in' and allows me to have the warm fuzzies. 😁 Good video and good info. Take care!
My first motorized two wheeler was scooter. Crossing the grated bridge in town wasn't too big a deal. I replaced the scooter with a trail bike that had trials type tires on it. Crossing that bridge for the first time on that bike was a real eye opener to say the least. Never bothered me after that, just relaxed and motored on.
Great information! Here in my area, Wilmington, NC, there are many of those steel grated bridges that cause the pucker factor to go up when driving a car across. You can't fight it, you just have to stay relaxed and roll with it. Also, just completed the MSF BRC, I highly recommend every new motorcyclist to take that course, it could save you life! It will let you know where you stand in properly controlling a motorcycle in many scenarios, and will take your knowledge factor to another level! It's a great tool to have in your upstairs toolbox. Thanks MCrider for your time and knowledge!!
Just like those dastardly tar snakes (especially here in Ohio) I have used to practice the wiggle. Now it is just normal when I ride to let the bike do its job and get me through it. This is all in practice for when I am "12 hours out of Mackinaw City." The bridge over the straits is about five miles long and grated for quite a bit of the way. I do have some other bridges that i will be practicing on before i make the ride to those northern plains.
Thank you
I live in Virginia on the coast and there is at least 5 bridges here and I learned how to go across the bridge easily, it felt not normal to tighten up so I don't do it. I have been riding for over 30 years.
Tire choices also have a lot to do with the problem. When I bought my FJR1300 in 2014, it had BT-023s on it. "Not bad" tires, but they really didn't like uneven pavement. At the time, they were expanding and redoing I-35E and there was a *lot* of uneven pavement. I replaced them with T30s. That changed the whole character of the bike.
Great advice nice video
Try riding in Melbourne Australia with tram tracks. Tram tracks have bought down even the best riders especially in the wet!!!
Imagine going down on a grated bridge... Almost as interesting as the motorcycle friendly catch cables in the median on the freeway.
If you have to commute daily over a section of heavy rain groves, carrying a little extra air pressure in the front tire will stiffen the tire and make that part of the commute less tiresome. No pun intended. I got this tip from a California Moto Officer during a military base safety course years ago...
Another great video. Just relax ,. Have you done a video on un even pavement, like one lane repaved ,. Always freaks me out
Well said... Nice job N THANKS
Did it on the old Sunshine Skyway in FL on a Norton with a pillion in the rain. Felt the slippage but kept alight grip on the bars and kept steering it towards upright. Worked but scared the h out of me.
-Matt’s dad
Good advice; it’s the same riding in high winds, or over baby heads (large rocks); the harder it gets, the more gently I grip.
Great video, I originally thought there was something wrong with my tire. No I'm just ridding 40+ miles on my daily commute.
Uneven pavement/asphalt during construction is the worse. I once stayed on a freeway for 5 extra miles because I didn't want to cross out of my lane to catch my exit. The edge on the pavement was 2 or 3 inches high... I thought I'd go down if I tried merge over it.
I had that the other day
Huge ledge to merge into , I ended up slowing down a little and hitting it at a more extreme angle
MC Rider, please please please go through the 'hassle ' of putting on the lower gear (pants). I really mean this comment with most sincerity and respect.
I haven't watched this video yet, but I still keep thinking about your other great (all are great!) video about 'all gear', or something like that.
Truth here, since that video, I've ridden a handful of times, and every time I put my pants on, I think about that other video of yours about gear, not putting the pants on.
Personal note here, years back, a coworker went down, was wearing jeans (which I've done tons of times, long ago when I was younger and there was no helmet law in California, I rode without that too, stupid. Just thought I would be honest and admit that). He lost a part of his rear end. Now, I don't know the conditions of how he was riding, speeding, etc.
Anyhow, thanks for everything that you do for us viewers. I know you're all about safety, because I've watched enough of your videos, even though I'm pretty new to your channel.
Maybe I should watch this video now, lol.
Brilliant!
Love from Mississippi USA
@MCRider right-on man 😁👍🇺🇸 I was trying to find this information for 4 years when starting to ride. There is a small grooved patch just before a stop light while going down hill in my home town. Any suggestions on how to handle a situation when the lights turning yellow and [quickly] turning red?
If you have a low tire, especially in front, it can exacerbate the effect of the grooved surface. Even a couple pounds can make a big difference with some tread patterns.
New rider here, i was a bit confused on the slow down bit. You said you shouldn't chop the throttle going over groved roads. The way I've been doing it is seeing the hazard, say train tracks, easing off the throttle and coasting over them. I don't think its a problem since its an ease of the throttle, and any front movement is shifted back to neutral by the time i hit the tracks
Tracks would be a little different. The comment in the video was referring to chopping the throttle while on the grooved surface.
I normally give my bike some angle going across grated surfaces, as in weaving left to right slightly...kind of like NASCAR drivers scrub their tires on track before taking off.
Thanks. Around the Chicago land area we have construction 365 days a year and when they grind a street they do t tell you. So now your dealing with a messed up road.
There is a issue I would like to ask about and that’s getting caught in the rain and feeling like the tires are going to slip out from under you. Any suggestions.
Thanks again
Happy Friday Kevin praying you had a great week have a good weekend did you make it to Daytona? Take care and be safe
Recently had to cross a steel grated temporary bridge because of construction for the first time, slowed down before I started over it, kept constant speed and kept it steady, felt like I was on ice, could feel my bike slipping , scared the 💩 outa me lol
I agree with you but cruise on southern Louisiana roads and bridges and especially when there wet. I've been riding since 74 and these graded bridges will make your butt pucker up lol
Pennsylvania is filled with grooved roads. Along with what Kevin says I found that switching tires made a noticeable difference.
What tires would you recommend
@@zackeryferguson7141 Im using Michelin Commander 3
I went through a recently flooded area that was full of quarter deep mud. Front wheel went from fully locked position to fully locked position. It was like a poltergeist had taken control of the bike I was at 25 or 30 mph but made it through that probably 35 40 yards of muck. But the handlebar slammed back and forth so violently I couldn't believe I didn't dump it.
When you put together and analyze what he said, it's just a matter of riding normally. There really is no danger when riding sensibly. You get a similar reaction when riding over patches of tar that fills in cracks on road surfaces.
What do you wear when you ride during like the winner round 50 😊degrees or below
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Last year, I think, I had to travel over a milled road. The experience was not very fun, even though I did my best to stay loose; the extra vibrations left me rattled.
A real peril in my parents and grandparents day were tram rails inset into roads (UK). My father came off a few times on his Sunbeam and he had an uncle that was killed riding a recumbent motorcycle/scooter called a Ner-a-Car after crossing a rail in the rain. Modern bikes are so much more capable! Nevertheless, it took me a long time to delegate responsibility to the bike when it wriggles over grooves or tar snakes. It is so easy yo panic.
What about cattle bars, those round bars that keep cows from getting onto the main roads. Went across them in the rain and were like hitting ice. I went down but luckily I was going very slow and no great amount of damage to my Road King or myself, just shook up a bit. It was dark and I didn’t even see them. How can I keep from this happening again?
In the Philippines we can ride year-round, but the environment is harsh and unappetizing: hot, humid, bad roads, sudden downpours, dangerous drivers, ugly shanties lining the roads, dogs and chickens in the road, everyone crossing the road, uncontrolled intersections. Most roads make my bike wobble left and right. It's not about crossing a grooved surface. Many roads are concrete and are always grooved. Changing lanes means going up or down. Potholes, stretches of gravel or sand, widespread unending road construction, no line-of-sight around turns or street corners due to buildings being right on the road and vehicles parked everywhere, even in travel lanes. I told my motorcycle buddy that I want to ride where there is beautiful countryside without shanties. He said there is no such thing because they are everywhere. They block the view off the highway when you want to see out across the mountains or see the sea. I hope I can get used to all this. It is now intolerable.
I quite like riding over grooved surfaces, feeling the bike doing its thing below me.
It can take some time to make your brain understand that the bike isn't going to just fall over from some wiggles. As long as it's not violent or movement or sending you in a direction that could hurt you. I compare it to winter driving. Sometimes the car will wiggle around a little bit, if you react to it, you'll induce a worse slide.
Should one shift back slightly on the bike to lighten the front tire or just stay where you are?
This is a bit off topic, and I don't know if you will see this question. Can you do a dedicated series to training for DCT Goldwing Riding? I know most of the training applies, but as a former owner, you can speak to the unique riding experience and training of this particular motorcycle. Most of the trainers scream Friction zone every three seconds. Well. you know the issue with that. No one covers this subject. It would be awesome to see training with tight maneuvers using the DCT training. TIA.
Maintain maintenance throttle. Squeeze the tank with your knees. Let the front tire and your handle bars to flow naturally. Your tire will correct itself. If! You allow it to
Ride across the sf bay Bridge a few times ya learn bout it fast. After doin it at 125 the normal 60 mph I hardly noticed anything.
These are the exactly what you need to do if you ride on a gravel road! The bike wants to stay up. Trust it to do what it's designed to do and don't try to fight it. Ride safe, y'all!
This is another example of off road riding building skills that translate to the street.
A little break rear helps a lot
Its amazing how fast all this flies out the window when it's actually happening. The most important thing to remember is you can't fight physics! And try to remember to use physics to your advantage during (potential) emergencies....accidental wheelie on my second ride ever, or overzealous rear braking and hard countersteer n downshift like I was on a dirt track on an Ultra Classic. Both times there was that split second I wee weed a lil before I utilized the physics. My bro was like "that was so cool!", but my butthole never been tighter!
Is there a particular tread pattern that handles grooves better than most?
Put a dual sport tire on and you won't feel the grooves.
Another comparison would be riding in the sand. Like at the beach. Talk about staying loose, allowing the bike to wander, and keeping off the front brake!
hey brother sorry for asking but your pupils are awesome. mind asking if you were born like that or had some kind of injury? reminds me of Bowie. very interesting to see. thanks.
Lol!! Surprise are always a good time.
How to pick up a bike that you can't? What kind of tool you use?
Like many things on a bike, find a grooved surface and practice.
for me i notice it feels worse if the tires on the bike are in a bald and S shaped pattern on the tread area. thicker squanchier off road ish tires makes a huge difference in how those groves feel on the road for me at least.
Any thoughts on crossing a metal grated bridge when wet?
There's much I miss from the past but 1 thing I do not miss are those sewer grates with long slots parallel to traffic flow. I fell victim to that 💩 design on bicycles back then.
I just wheelie across the bridge. LOL In all honesty I wish more riders learned off-road riding first. The various terrains teaches a rider to read the road/path better and how to navigate ruts, rocks and sandy terrain etc without overriding fear. My first 20 years were all off-road riding and I’m a better rider for it.
Is it good to ride zig zag, because my father used to do that when I when I was young.