Don't know why they do this but the highway department here uses raised lane reflectors that are positively dangerous to our bike tires. After a few semis run over them the plastic cracks and exposes sharp edges. I see these guys a lot on highway on ramps. If you hit 'em at high speed doing a lane change they take chunks of rubber out of our soft sport tires and leave nasty cuts. This tire has only 1500 miles on it and these cuts and chunks of missing rubber extend all the way around this tire.

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/22/2009 @ 3:13 PM *

That's just great.....Something else to avoid for us bikers. Lost a rim last year, large pothole.
What we should be doing is to look ahead for traffic, potential problems like women talking on the cell phone and not paying attention, let along looking for road hazards right in front of us all the time.

It's a dangerous world out there for us, be careful.

Interesting you should bring this up, I believe I ran over one those today in a construction zone - those little sheet metal bases that are embedded in the asphalt. I was going slow but the sensation of running over it didn't feel too healthy. Thanks. Have to take a look at my tires.

on the upside, these markers DO probably keep cagers from swerving while on a cell/ doing their make up. the sound and vibration grooves are still far better in my opinion though

^^The ones doing their make up might like that.

Big K, I tried to look up some Texas Flash, but we have this style and I am bumping my gums off these. They are like; place index finger over both smackers, start bouncing you finger up and down on your lips = "I Hit these reflectors but do not try tag the paint."

I'm hitting these sometimes and we [Puddles&Eye], come home safe and think of how many of these are on the road. I hardly see one take out a windshield or a tire. Especially mine. I think if I drank enough milk, stayed on those bumps for about a half hour, I think I could piss butter for ya.

* Last updated by: Hub on 7/23/2009 @ 10:38 AM *

I stopped during lunch and took a close look at a couple of these things and they're stuck down to the concrete with what looks like grey epoxy and the corners are smooth...initially. After a couple thousand semis roll over them the edge pops up and starts cracking or they get shattered....sharp as glass then. Hub are these going to cause a blowout at speed, they're all over my rear tire? This is prolly the worst one, almost an inch long. Looks like I need to start pushin harder in the turns and get tat curb feeler knocked down, looks like someone shootin the finger! LOL!

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/23/2009 @ 12:16 PM *

I wouldnt think that these would cause a blow out. Now if you get many more of them it may make the tire a lot more unstable. But with what you have shown I think your okay. Be careful out there, glad they dont have that chit where I live.

I think they could easily cause a blow out on a badly worn tire, a new tire should have enough rubber to insulate you. That sucks Kruz, thoes are some nasty gouges, the raised markers are to make it easier to see the lines (helps a LOT if its raining heavy during the night with no street lights)

Kruzay'z: Hub are these going to cause a blowout at speed, they're all over my rear tire?

YOUR NOT SUPPOSE TO RUN THEM OVER

YOU AVOID THEM AS PRACTICE FOR TARGET FIXATION ..golly b me

Nightmare wrote:

I think they could easily cause a blow out on a badly worn tire, a new tire should have enough rubber to insulate you.

I had never handled an unmounted motorcycle tire before. When I recently did, it shocked the sh-t out of me how thin it was from the inside surface to the bottom of the tread depth. It was only about an eighth inch or slightly more on the stock tires. I always hear the inner layers are very tough but they sure aren't very thick.

lol @ bad

If you can see frayed cord through the gash, THEN you can toss the tire. Two layers of cords and you'll see a bulge.

* Last updated by: dattaway on 7/27/2009 @ 1:59 PM *

Bad has a good point!
Closer examination shows the damage on the extreme radius of the tire. Now since these markers are generally on blind curves with double yellow center lines, that would mean that you're taking corners at high speed, leaned way over, with wheels on or across the center line, probably unable to see oncoming vehicles. I like to ride aggressively but that is one game of chicken I wouldn't play!!

Yep, I try to avoid them like a bad disease, specially in the corners.

Sharkey wrote:

Now since these markers are generally on blind curves with double yellow center lines, that would mean that you're taking corners at high speed, leaned way over, with wheels on or across the center line, probably unable to see oncoming vehicles.

So it might seem, but not necessarily. The one I ran over was located in the oncoming lanes which I had to make a 90 degree turn to cross in order to get on the freway on-ramp. Those things are everywhere around constuction sights. Where they most commonly have the tube knocked off of them is where there is traffic making sharp turns. Where traffic could possibly go fast, they usually have those orange plastic barrels, if I recall. At least that's what they seem to do here.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/28/2009 @ 9:15 AM *

fess up, Kruz- were you the one who knocked those poles down in the first place?

^^If another couple days go by, I am going to start to worry. Seriously.

i talk to kruz .. at an airshow be back tuesday ..

Hello all, just got back from a two week tour of duty in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We flew into Milwaukee and I was hoping to look up Rook while there but had no contact info. Beautiful country up there, cool and great roads...Harleys everywhere!

Kruz

Bad has a good point!
Closer examination shows the damage on the extreme radius of the tire. Now since these markers are generally on blind curves with double yellow center lines, that would mean that you're taking corners at high speed, leaned way over, with wheels on or across the center line, probably unable to see oncoming vehicles. I like to ride aggressively but that is one game of chicken I wouldn't play!!

You got it pretty much nailed sharkey except the markers are between lanes on one of these guys. Keeps folks from falling asleep and taking the big plunge I guess.

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/5/2009 @ 1:37 PM *