What exactly is the protocol for a big pot hole say on the highway, that you are coming up on, but cannot avoid, or say a car is in front of you and you don't see the pot hole in time to avoid it.
If you absolutely cannot get around it, slow down as much as you can before hitting it. Dont mash the break IN the hole. Do not swerve. Hit is straight on as slow as you can get down to. Stand up off of the seat so the bike does not buck you off of it/wreck your back.
If you are 100% sure you are going to hit it, I raise my butt off the seat just a small amount. That let's your knees/legs flex to save you from a brutal hit.
As far as bike controls, I would hold whatever throttle you have constant, and not hit the brake. Any sudden change to brakes/throttle would make it worse.
To put a part two on Jay's input. After hitting a hole like that be sure to check tires and wheels for damage. My last bike had the edge of both front and back wheels bent. The almost new front tire had sidewall damage due to being smashed between the rim and the edge of a pothole or curb. There can be fork damage also. Ride safe!
Dont follow so close so you can see such road hazards well in advance and properly go around them. If the pot hole is the size of the whole road, turn around
Dont follow so close so you can see such road hazards well in advance and properly go around them. If the pot hole is the size of the whole road, turn around
I guess my question is also partially curiosity. I don't tailgate and haven't really had any problem with large potholes, but riding around with my wife yesterday I got to thinking about it and got worried. What if there was a situation where there was an unavoidable pothole that was deep enough to take a large majority of the front wheel in and send us flying, what is my best bet in this scenario?
I guess my question is also partially curiosity. I don't tailgate and haven't really had any problem with large potholes, but riding around with my wife yesterday I got to thinking about it and got worried. What if there was a situation where there was an unavoidable pothole that was deep enough to take a large majority of the front wheel in and send us flying, what is my best bet in this scenario?
Hang on and pray. Hopefully you slide if you come off the bike as it will at least let you slow down some if you end up hitting something. NJ, PA, NY are always voted the worst roads in the US.
Ive learned from experience out here on the SoCal freeways, picking yourself up off the seat, holding yourself back and then slightly accelerating (after slowing down) to take as much weight off the front tire as possible works best for me atleast. because whats going to throw you off is falling into the hole, if you can minimize the front motion then your better off.
Hang on and pray. Hopefully you slide if you come off the bike as it will at least let you slow down some if you end up hitting something. NJ, PA, NY are always voted the worst roads in the US.
