Stay back from eitghteen wheeler

vuldrifter · 05-08-2008

I was riding on the Interstate last week. I was behind an eighteen wheeler. All of sudden I heard a big poping sound and notice one of the Semi's tire had blown out. Big chunks of rubber was flying all over, I was lucky none of those hit me at 70 miles per hour. It pays not to ride beside, or too close behind a Semi.

cmptrmn.1 · 05-08-2008

Never stay behind a semi for that reason alone. Those things can take your head off. (saw that on CSI). Very dangerous riding behind them.

Seadog1967 · 05-08-2008

I think people that hug behind an 18 wheeler kinda have a death wish. I've had more than one tire go once and it wasn't a pretty sight. Good thing is was early in the a.m. and hardly any cars around.

Redbeard · 05-08-2008

I have 42 tires on the rig I drive. It happens all to often. When I ride I get around a semi as fast as I can. I need my head.

mrblanche · 05-11-2008

Those pieces of rubber can weigh 30 lbs. That's why we call them "road alligators." They can take a mighty big bite out of you, even if they are just lying quietly on the road.

I taught every trainee I've ever had to pull over immediately when they blew a tire and go back to pull that gator out of the road.

cjp91068 · 05-11-2008

I was on the highway a few hours ago cruising around. I was in the right lane to take an exit to turn around when i saw an 18-wheeler lock up its rear tires while slowing down to go under a small underpass/tunnel in the lane ahead of me and to my left. Lots of smoke from the rear tires. I bet the driver behind him had to find a restroom to change their underwear real quick.

aftermath4788 · 05-11-2008

42 tires on one truck? wow, thats a lot of tires for one truck. May I ask what do you drive and why so many tires?

freightshaker · 05-11-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbeard

I have 42 tires on the rig I drive. It happens all to often. When I ride I get around a semi as fast as I can. I need my head.

That's 11 axles, not too common. Them oversize loads usually require & escort and don't always travel too fast. Or could be hauling triples with single axle congear (dollies).
Well at least some of of fellow drivers of large cars are a tad curious.

Wildh2oskier · 05-11-2008

Not to mention the design of them makes all the sand from the roadside. Its like riding in a sandblaster

Ruh Roh · 05-19-2008

http://www.bikemenu.com/art/comics/006.jpg

Jadefoxx215 · 05-19-2008

Heck im a noob and could have told ya that! Road alligators are a beast!

tricker · 05-19-2008

i generally get around them as fast as possible.. besides the wind coming off of them, i can't see around them or anything.

bibi28 · 05-19-2008

I remember when I just started riding, I was coming to the main downtown Interstate intersection on my ZX6R and all of sudden I saw very small chunks of whatever it looked like to me (chuncks of rubber remided me on small tiny kreatchers that are quickly jumping all over the road) and then all of sudden I saw 2 huge black aligators sverving and rolling all over the road right in my lane. I was lucky that day that I just passed inbetween them. At that time I just started riding and @ 75 MPH I wasn't feeling stable and confortable to manouver. Guys keep your head behind that windshiled if possible.

topolover · 05-20-2008

Some years back I was almost nailed by a semi in front of me. Opposite direction, back tire came off. I was in my pick-up, and the tire bounced over my PU.

900classic · 05-20-2008

scary! I'm glad you're safe!

topolover · 05-20-2008

900, you're in Utah? Interesting. This happened south of Price on UT-10 just south of the Wellington cut-off. Man, that was back in '95.

HellBent · 05-21-2008

While the danger of a semi losing a tire is very real it pales in comparison to the amount of road debris that we kick up. I can count on one hand the number of tires that I had explode in a 29 year carreer. The same cannot be said of the number of objects that I have safely passed over only to watch my windblast hurl them into the face of following vehicles. An object as harmless looking as a plastic bag can be a real danger to a following rider. I have witnessed a motorcyclist veer into oncoming traffic to avoid a plastic bag floating at eye level.

The bag had been laying in my lane and when I passed over it, the windstream lifted it to float in the air, the rider was tailgating and simply saw an object coming at his face at 70 mph, veered left, missed the bag, but failed to see the car that he struck head on.

BenWoj42 · 06-02-2008

topolover · 06-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenWoj42

Details?

CTRider · 06-02-2008

^^That's been around for a while. In a nutshell, that's what happens when you come upon a truck at 100+ and fail to slow down in time.

05-08-2008	#1 (permalink)
vuldrifter Still On The Kickstand BTK Beginner Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 45	Stay back from eitghteen wheeler I was riding on the Interstate last week. I was behind an eighteen wheeler. All of sudden I heard a big poping sound and notice one of the Semi's tire had blown out. Big chunks of rubber was flying all over, I was lucky none of those hit me at 70 miles per hour. It pays not to ride beside, or too close behind a Semi.

05-08-2008	#2 (permalink)
cmptrmn.1 MaNaMaNa DoDoDoDoDo Forum Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Longview, Wa Posts: 3,056	Never stay behind a semi for that reason alone. Those things can take your head off. (saw that on CSI). Very dangerous riding behind them. __________________ John 2007 Vulcan 900 1983 Xj650 66 Fairlane GTA Conv.

05-08-2008	#3 (permalink)
Seadog1967 Wannabe Poser BTK Expert Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Western Ma. Posts: 1,939	I think people that hug behind an 18 wheeler kinda have a death wish. I've had more than one tire go once and it wasn't a pretty sight. Good thing is was early in the a.m. and hardly any cars around. __________________ Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 1968 USS America CVA-66 http://www.newenglanddigitalphotography.com

05-08-2008	#4 (permalink)
Redbeard Forum Supporter Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Davisburg Mi. Posts: 1,776	I have 42 tires on the rig I drive. It happens all to often. When I ride I get around a semi as fast as I can. I need my head. __________________ Redbeard 2006 1600 classic Patriot Guard Rider #5776 Life ain't easy when your Fat and Greasy

05-11-2008	#6 (permalink)
cjp91068 Wants better weather! BTK Expert Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boston area Posts: 810	I was on the highway a few hours ago cruising around. I was in the right lane to take an exit to turn around when i saw an 18-wheeler lock up its rear tires while slowing down to go under a small underpass/tunnel in the lane ahead of me and to my left. Lots of smoke from the rear tires. I bet the driver behind him had to find a restroom to change their underwear real quick. __________________ Chris former 2008 Ninja 250R owner :-( If I give you a cookie, will you go away?

05-11-2008	#5 (permalink)
mrblanche Wants better weather! BTK Expert Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cedar Hill, TX Posts: 964	Those pieces of rubber can weigh 30 lbs. That's why we call them "road alligators." They can take a mighty big bite out of you, even if they are just lying quietly on the road. I taught every trainee I've ever had to pull over immediately when they blew a tire and go back to pull that gator out of the road.

05-11-2008	#7 (permalink)
aftermath4788 zx-11/250r BTK Expert Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,197	42 tires on one truck? wow, thats a lot of tires for one truck. May I ask what do you drive and why so many tires?

05-11-2008	#9 (permalink)
Wildh2oskier Resident Junk Expert BTK Beginner Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Alabama Posts: 84	Not to mention the design of them makes all the sand from the roadside. Its like riding in a sandblaster

05-19-2008	#10 (permalink)
Ruh Roh Hey yall BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 555	http://www.bikemenu.com/art/comics/006.jpg __________________ Procrastinate now, Dont put it off ! Just remember, if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

05-19-2008	#11 (permalink)
Jadefoxx215 Endangered specie BTK Beginner Join Date: May 2008 Location: Where the blocks stay hot... Posts: 101	Heck im a noob and could have told ya that! Road alligators are a beast!

05-19-2008	#12 (permalink)
tricker lab monkey BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rochester, minnesota Posts: 737	i generally get around them as fast as possible.. besides the wind coming off of them, i can't see around them or anything.

05-19-2008	#13 (permalink)
bibi28 Luv the GreeeeN BTK Beginner Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 61	I remember when I just started riding, I was coming to the main downtown Interstate intersection on my ZX6R and all of sudden I saw very small chunks of whatever it looked like to me (chuncks of rubber remided me on small tiny kreatchers that are quickly jumping all over the road) and then all of sudden I saw 2 huge black aligators sverving and rolling all over the road right in my lane. I was lucky that day that I just passed inbetween them. At that time I just started riding and @ 75 MPH I wasn't feeling stable and confortable to manouver. Guys keep your head behind that windshiled if possible. Last edited by bibi28 : 05-19-2008 at 03:11 PM.

05-20-2008	#14 (permalink)
topolover Boycotting winter.... BTK Expert Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 343	Some years back I was almost nailed by a semi in front of me. Opposite direction, back tire came off. I was in my pick-up, and the tire bounced over my PU.

05-20-2008	#15 (permalink)
900classic Riding daily BTK Expert Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 3,189	scary! I'm glad you're safe! __________________ Jared VN 900classic VROC #26705 http://photobucket.com/900classic

05-20-2008	#16 (permalink)
topolover Boycotting winter.... BTK Expert Join Date: May 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 343	900, you're in Utah? Interesting. This happened south of Price on UT-10 just south of the Wellington cut-off. Man, that was back in '95.

05-21-2008	#17 (permalink)
HellBent Uncle Bob's Love Child BTK Intermediate Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fredericktown, Mo Posts: 261	While the danger of a semi losing a tire is very real it pales in comparison to the amount of road debris that we kick up. I can count on one hand the number of tires that I had explode in a 29 year carreer. The same cannot be said of the number of objects that I have safely passed over only to watch my windblast hurl them into the face of following vehicles. An object as harmless looking as a plastic bag can be a real danger to a following rider. I have witnessed a motorcyclist veer into oncoming traffic to avoid a plastic bag floating at eye level. The bag had been laying in my lane and when I passed over it, the windstream lifted it to float in the air, the rider was tailgating and simply saw an object coming at his face at 70 mph, veered left, missed the bag, but failed to see the car that he struck head on.

06-02-2008	#18 (permalink)
BenWoj42 Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 11

06-02-2008	#20 (permalink)
CTRider TV Guru BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 8,349	^^That's been around for a while. In a nutshell, that's what happens when you come upon a truck at 100+ and fail to slow down in time. __________________ 1983 Honda CB550 About Me Answers to your Gadget Questions Gadget Forum

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