freaking drain grates

[lilfroger]

Oh this one stretch of road I always scoot down the inside lane.  The outside lane has 3 things I don't like

a) a gouge dug in it that makes on heck of a groove the bike refuses not to follow
b) 4 big tar patches; one is right at the apex of a bend
c) a rain grate that is about 3/4 of an inch below the road service and it's one of the big ones so the entire tire fits in it.

Well this morning I couldn't get over silly cages.  I had gotten past the groove in the road ok and was working past the tar snakes.  I knew the grate was coming up and right as I was cresting the hump in the road and was about to get a clear line of sight on the upcoming road service.  Some bozo w/ HID lights came over the crest....no way I could find the grate I was 1/2 blind.

Dang if I didn't nail it square on.  There is very very very little suspension in the rear on my Sporty and it felt more like my tail end hit the concrete than my seat. 

It's gonna be a long day. 

Ok just needed to vent I feel better now

[mayfair]

Yeah, it's tuff sometimes. Whenever I get blinded by oncomming lights, I just stare at and follow the either white or yellow line painted on the side of the road until they pass. 

[Parts/Service]

On my bike I ran a 120 watt high beam aimed just at eye level of most cars.  It did wonders to get cars to dim their lights or alter their path.

[CumminsCrazed]

hows your hiney feel tonight Jo

[lilfroger]

Yeah, it's tuff sometimes. Whenever I get blinded by oncomming lights, I just stare at and follow the either white or yellow line painted on the side of the road until they pass. 

that's how I got into the drain...it's right on the fog line.

Oh well just another feather to add to my helmet.

[mayfair]

LOL ... you don't ride ON the line, you just follow it with your eye.

[lilfroger]

yeah but where the eyes go the forks follow....hence why you have to look through the corner not at it

[mayfair]

yeah but where the eyes go the forks follow....hence why you have to look through the corner not at it

Is that why I got my ass beat by my ladyfriend at her prom?

[Mitch]

I ride with the brights on all the time. Black bike, I wanna be seen.

[kenz]

Grates and slots can be fun. There are gaps, I guess they look like fingers on Mackinaw bridge that move in and out to allow expansion of the bridge. When I last crossed and hit them on my softail, the tire dropped about 6". Heck of a jolt, blew out one fork seal. Plus this all happens 175 feet above the water. I don't' ride with the brights on, but do run 2" drag pipes. Loud pipes save lives!

[mayfair]

Loud pipes save lives!

Absolutely agree 1000% !!

[lilfroger]

I almost always have my brights on also...my itty bitty single bulb doesn't do much w/o it.

I almost felt bad the other day sitting at a light at 6:30 am when some gal in the car in front of me put her hand over her rear-view mirror.

Then I almost fell off my scoot laughing cause instead of flipping the switch on her mirror and changing the angle she sat there at the 6 minute red light with both hands over her mirror. 

[mayfair]

LOL ... I've seen that before as well. I have my headlights both on my scoot as well as my Ram pointing at drivers side mirror height. When I come up behind someone, they KNOW I'm there !!

[Tom Courtright]

i dont have one of those fancy flipaswitch mirrors, if i get a bike behind me with the brights on, i just move the mirror until its no longer an issue, i just make sure to use the sides more,
unless its a car, then i reflect the light right back at them, usually they hit the lows lol

[Cumminalong]

Go ahead........make.......my.......day......