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Rain + Oil + Sudden Stops = bad!

2308 Views 22 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  ispeed77
I was riding around last night in north San Antonio in the rain. The wet roads really arent that bad, it is more the fact that San Antonio has terrible drainage and that every time it rains, alot of the roads flood like you wouldnt believe. For example, the moron city engineers built a major road, on a dry creek bed. Now what exactly do they think will happen to it every time it rains?

Well anyways...back to the point. I was riding around on a fairly long road that has quite a few businesses as well as very few puddles. Because it was raining I decided to swing by an Auto Zone to buy a shammy or some kind of cloth to dry off my mask which was covered in little tiny dropplets that are too small to be blown away by wind. As I am going along, I realize that I almost missed my turn, so I pull on the brakes and change into the left lane to turn. Ok, I didnt really pull on the brakes...the more accurate term would be grabbed. My rear wheel locked up due to the slick roads and I began fish tailing. This caused my to panic slightly and I just released the front and rear brake....and the clutch. (WHOOPS!) I almost was flung into oncoming traffic because my rear wheel began spinning and the bike was pointed in a different direction than I was headed!!!


Moral / Cliffnotes: When your rear tire locks up, make sure the clutch is pulled in before you let out the brake!
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Ive heard that, prior to my inclination, slamming on the front brake is better in a panic for just that reason. When you lock your back brake, and it starts to fishtail, then you release, the centrifical(sp) force of the bike trying to right itself can throw you off. Also, keep out of the center of your lane in the rain. Thats where car oilpans leak...
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