I now hate (and fear) steel plates!

[Dave77459]

I rode to work today and when it started sprinkling, I decided to ride home with my wife who works an hour later but only 10 minutes away. Unfortunately, a job-related emergency came up and I had to take the bike.

 

I came upon a road under construction and stopped at a signal just upstream of the construction. I was halfway across the intersection when I saw the entire road in my direction of travel was covered in wet steel plates for a distance of maybe 50'. I slowed and crept across the plates. The third was buckled (sagging) and also was at a bend in the road.

 

Maybe I was going too slow, but the bike went down on that buckled steel plate. It was like slow motion. The wheels just slid out to the left. I think I stopped it from crashing down with my right leg, but I can't hold the weight of the RSTD once it gets past the tipping point. I hit the kill switch and hopped off.

 

It laid on its side for 15 seconds as I looked at the effing construction guys who just stared while I asked for help. I was blocking the road (one lane) and the light was going to turn green. That's a shooting offense in Houston, so just tried to pick it up. I did! I didn't do anything special, just lifted the right handlebar and the sissy bar. In 10 seconds of effort, it was on two wheels. I hopped on and puttered off with only one horn honked (as I started moving!).

 

I stopped a few blocks away in a quiet neighborhood and looked it over while my adrenaline burned off. As far as I can tell, the only damage is the right highway bar is pushed back enough to keep the floorboard from sitting flat, plus the reflector on the saddle bag guard is scuffed almost imperceptibly. It looks as if the bike rolled onto the two highway bars and just laid there sup[ported by them.

 

Driving home, the roads were already dry so I could get it up to 75 or so. There isn't much change in how she drives, if any. What I feel is likely paranoia because she is still nimble and responsive.

 

So my question: is there anything particular I should do or look for following a near non-event? Beside change the right highway bar--I can't take having the floorboard at an angle.

[flb_78]

If the bike only went over onto the crash bars, then I wouldn't worry too much about anything. Just replace the highway bar and be happy that's all that happened.

 

Steel parts in the roadway suck. Manhole cover are really bad when wet.

[Snaggletooth]

There is one intersection on my way to work that drives me nuts. Four lanes divided by islands from each way and the road I'm on is a slight uphill grade. There are 9 manhole covers in a 50 foot section between both the lanes on my side of the road starting from the section where you stop and then all the way across the intersection.

 

I look like a drunken sailor trying to get through that intersection on my bike when it wet out. I've hit them straight on enough times wet and had the bike side step on me that I try to avoid them completely by weaving through them. Not bad in light traffic but I do tend to tie things up a bit when I get stuck at the light and have to get started again.

 

Even when I drive my car, a 3,700 lb Lincoln, the drive tires break loose going over the damn things.

 

Of course the heavy truck traffic keeps them well oiled also.

[kj4v]

I can tell you that a railroad track will do the same thing. Also if you take your foot and push on that crash bar it will bend right back with little effort, and don't ask how I know that either.

Edited December 4, 2008 by kj4v

[Carbon_One]

[quote=kj4v

Also if you take your foor and push on that crash bar it will bend right back with little effort, and don't ask how I know that either.

 

That is why I added a crash support bar to my Venture as well as stiffening it for footrests. There's a post I put on here about what I did.

Larry

[Yammer Dan]

Crash bar should bend back.

[Dave77459]

Also if you take your foor and push on that crash bar it will bend right back with little effort, and don't ask how I know that either.

 

Thanks good to hear. If I can get the floorboard to lay flat, the wife need never know about this. ;-)

[RedRider]

While I have never really dropped mine, I found it will bend back with a rubber mallet.

 

RR

[ibents]

That is why I added a crash support bar to my Venture as well as stiffening it for footrests. There's a post I put on here about what I did.

Larry

 

 

I have also added the crash bar support works really well.

This is the thread.

 

Ian

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6069

[mountainhorsega]

Check the lower fairings - It probably cracked where the button holds them together or popped the button out. - Mine has been that way for quite a while now and it doesn't seem to hurt anything - no noise or rattles or anything so I haven't gotten to worried about it. Beware wet gravel with mud under it while trying to make a tight turn and hitting the front brakes - Oops :sign **** happens:

[Pilot]

Dave wet steel plates have a friction coefficient of zip…. Not your fault!

[CrazyHorse]

Those things are scary in the wet and 50' of them is downright dangerous . Especially on a Hwy any slight change in direction of handlebars or speed on those plates and you can go down so fast nothin you can do.. Tar snakes on the road make me nervous in the wet or hot summer darn near almost got taken out by some the bigger ones here in Illinois.

[BoomerCPO]

I do whatever I have to do to avoid steel plates on the road. If need be it is safer to walk the bike across them.....and I have done just that while using my 4-way Flashers.....Traffic be damned.

[CMIKE]

It happend to me...I dropped mine on my concrete drive way and bent the left crash bar going about 5 MPH...I am really not sure why they call it a crash bar...it does nothing but bend when it goes down. It did keep all the paint intac.

I am still trying to figure out what happend. I had been watching Ride like a PRo DVD and practicing every chance I got. I came in to the drive way where I usually take a big turn to make it easy to back the bike into the shop. I usually go around to the right. That day I went around to the left. It was like lightening stuck and I was on the ground. One difference. When I went to the left I go across the inclide to the carport. I went down on that incline. Maybe I touched the front brake. (habit) The bike as down on the inclide, top side down. I was so freeked out about it going down. I do not even remember if I had trouble getting it up. It popped right up. I was sick...

Mine bent back and pushed the floor board up so bad that I could not put my foot on it.

I pushed it forward with my foot to get the floorboard back into position. I was determined, so I cranked the bike back up went back to the road and came back in again making the big turn and backing the bike into the shop.

The bars pushed the lower fairing out and snapped off a plastic stud that snaps to hold it in place on the bottom. I found some super duper plastic glue and glued all that back together. Also it messed up the lower black inner peice of the lower. I ordered a new one but have not put it on yet. (was gonna do it yesterday but rode all afternoon) I got mine on a jack and took it all apart. I took a tape measure and straightend the bars compairing it to the other side. It also moved the bag bars back but none of the paint was damaged.

I orderd the parts to do the RSV CRASH BAR BRACES from this site. http://www.venturers.org/Tech_Library/index.php?action=article&cat_id=002004&id=373

to prevent this from happening again. I installed it last week. All is back like it is supposed to be minus the lower inner fairing peice and you could never tell it happend unless you run you hands under the crash bar and feel that rough spot where it hit the concrete while still moving.

 

Now...screw that Ride like a Pro DVD...I stop and walk it around to back it into the shop. That's all I need for that to happen with my wife on the back. If she got hurt on this bike...I would absolutely loose a riding partner and I would never forgive myself.

[ibents]

It happend to me...I dropped mine on my concrete drive way and Maybe I touched the front brake. (habit) The bike as down on the inclide, top side down. I was so freeked out about it going down. I do not even remember if I had

 

 

Been there done that, lay off the front brake you'll go down every time.

 

Ian

[Dave77459]

Maybe it isn't everyone's intent, but I really feel comforted that I am not alone in slip-sliding my tires. Thanks for your "been there/done that" posts.