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No way to miss - so which tire to hit it with?
- Thread starter LALoner
- Start date
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
If it's a young 'gator and lying parallel to your direction of travel, and no way to go around, then that's your best option. If it's a 6 ft plus gator, you're in deep doo doo if you can't go around it! You're going to hit it with at least two tires. Better make sure you're caught up on your prayers! 
ray:
ray:
BLUEKNIGHT911
Sadly Passed Oct 2024 - RIP
If it's a young 'gator and lying parallel to your direction of travel, and no way to go around, then that's your best option. If it's a 6 ft plus gator, you're in deep doo doo if you can't go around it! You're going to hit it with at least two tires. Better make sure you're caught up on your prayers!
6 ft gator .... IMHO Test the Maximum braking power of your Spyder.... DO NOT HIT IT - PERIOD ..... Mike :thumbup:
I am a new rider so I would also like to know. Was told in the Spyder course to hit it with one of the front tires not the back tire. Like a pot hole in the road - Brake, hold on tighter, and use front tire to ride over the object. You will not have the control with the rear tire that you can maintain with the front tire. What do seasoned riders say?
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Bfromla
Well-known member
Hold tight yes avoiding death(white knuckle) grip maintain ability to control. Nanny’s (VSS) there to help. Rear tire hits is like kick from mule. Sweet spots to aim for between tires under foot peg-floorboards. SENSIBLY avoid EXCESSIVE speeds:lecturef_smilie::roflblack:opcorn:**do believe municipalities have a pothole #to help regulate some of speeding issues.
opcorn:**do believe municipalities have a pothole #to help regulate some of speeding issues.
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IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
It just dawned on me the OP was probably referring to "road gators", i.e., tire remnants. Since he is in Louisiana and since there are lots of 'gators, the reptile variety, down there that is what came to mind first. But, my comment is just as valid with regard to road gators as well as the reptile variety.
Gwolf
Well-known member
If it is laying flat on the road, you might be able to ride over it without any damage. The bad ones are the ones that come jumping from lane to lane and twisting in mid air, as they come out from under the 18 wheeler 200 feet ahead of you. Never can tell where they will come to a stop. I have hit them with other bikes. Never had much damage and never lost control. It is just that you have to patch the big bite that you ass takes out of the seat as the things bounce along coming after you. Hit grown possoms and large armadillos without much more than a little bump, It would take something really big to make you lose control. Not real worried about recaps, but deer or cows on the road could do you in.
I am assuming the OP is asking about the rubber alligators, (big truck tire caps that shed on the highways).
I am assuming the OP is asking about the rubber alligators, (big truck tire caps that shed on the highways).
There's really no advice that can cover EVERY possible scenario of this sorta thing, so you always need to do what you think is best at the time, given the particular circumstances facing you in this particular scenario...
But as a 'General Rule of Thumb', your best bet is to ALWAYS scan the road as far ahead of you as you can, not just up to the back of the car in front, and then plan your path as you scan back to the front of the Spyder, do a quick scan of the mirrors & instruments, controls, etc; and then repeat the scan from as far ahead as you can see! You should ALWAYS try to Look at WHERE you want to go, and NOT fixate on whatever you want to avoid! If you practice looking out waaay ahead and scanning back like that, things like these tire 'gators, pot-holes, or any other hazard or obstacle will be waaaay less of an 'emergency reaction required' surprise. Watch for things like cars ahead swerving, or the sudden flash of brake lights, anything that gives you a clue that there's something ahead that means you might need to take evasive action and start planning what you can do. If you've got the room and there's no oncoming or surrounding traffic that'd make it dangerous, AVOIDING IT is always going to be your best bet!
Sure, if you're that close and you're going to hit it, STOMP on the brakes as hard as you can first, THEN GET OFF THEM BEFORE YOU HIT, just to wash off as much speed as you can and so hit it as slowly as you can; and you get off the brakes before you hit so they aren't all locked up when you smack into it, cos adding a chock to already locked up brakes is sorta like hitting a concrete wall! :banghead: But only do that IF there's nothing following closely (you just checked your mirrors in that last scan, didn't you?! ) You'll be amazed at how quickly these things stop if you really STOMP on the brakes - braking at its maximum with good tires and brakes in good condition, your Spyder will stop MUCH quicker than anything else you've ever driven/ridden, there's a reason the RT Ltd's have a 'Drop Away' Foot Plate! In fact, you really should find a safe place to practice this 'full-on braking' thing occasionally, if not at least once sometime during the early part of each ride. You have one of the best braking systems available; a relatively lightweight vehicle with more contact patch & bigger/better brakes than just about anything else of its size & weight; and one of the most stable bikes available out there, so learn how to use all of that to your advantage properly! :lecturef_smilie:
But if it's too close to completely avoid safely, even after all your scanning and planning ahead and said braking; then don't fixate on IT, look at WHERE YOU WANT TO GO and try to steer so that, in ship-driving terms, you 'Comb the Torpedo's Track'; or in other words, steer to run along the length of it rather than hitting it square on with your Spyder's widest track/part exposed. Basically, you need to attempt to turn your wide front wheel track either towards or away from the tire 'gator's widest section in order to attempt to go over it at the narrowest angle that you can. Even if it's lying right across the lane at 90° to your direction of travel, you should still try to hit it with one front wheel first, at a bit of an angle rather than fully square on; and if it's at enough of an angle and it's at all possible for you to swerve safely enough to do so, turn to let it pass thru the gap between one front wheel and the rear wheel, then do that!
hyea:
If you have no choice but to hit it and it's too big to hit with ONLY one front wheel &/or avoid along its length with both front wheels, then hang on with your knees, tell your pillion to hang on if you've got the time, and hit it with one front wheel first, then the other, and finally the rear. Sure, it'll probably buck like buggery, but the Nanny is designed to minimise the steering hazards this'll entail, she'll try to keep you going in the direction you've got the handlebars pointing, and you'll most likely be able to maintain steering all the time. If you hit it square on with both front wheels, it's more likely to kick the 'gator up under the bike and wipe expensive things under there right off your bike; you're more likely to get both front wheels airborne and so lose all steering for a moment or three; it's going to buck even harder than hitting it one wheel at a time; and when the rear tire hits it too, it's gonna buck even harder again! :banghead:
The Nanny will work very hard to try and keep things stable and under control even if you apply some sudden and fairly aggressive steering input; just like she'll work hard keep everything under control and maintain your steering if you brake massively; or even if you get one front wheel in the air a little. The Nanny on these Spyders is one of the better systems out there, even if you think she might intervene a little too early sometimes; but I can tell you from hard earned experience that she really does work pretty well in emergency situations when you start dialing in sudden and aggressive steering & braking inputs! But you hafta help by scanning well ahead and planning what you're going to do/how you're going to avoid in a way that minimises the Nanny's need to intervene. :thumbup:
But as a 'General Rule of Thumb', your best bet is to ALWAYS scan the road as far ahead of you as you can, not just up to the back of the car in front, and then plan your path as you scan back to the front of the Spyder, do a quick scan of the mirrors & instruments, controls, etc; and then repeat the scan from as far ahead as you can see! You should ALWAYS try to Look at WHERE you want to go, and NOT fixate on whatever you want to avoid! If you practice looking out waaay ahead and scanning back like that, things like these tire 'gators, pot-holes, or any other hazard or obstacle will be waaaay less of an 'emergency reaction required' surprise. Watch for things like cars ahead swerving, or the sudden flash of brake lights, anything that gives you a clue that there's something ahead that means you might need to take evasive action and start planning what you can do. If you've got the room and there's no oncoming or surrounding traffic that'd make it dangerous, AVOIDING IT is always going to be your best bet!
Sure, if you're that close and you're going to hit it, STOMP on the brakes as hard as you can first, THEN GET OFF THEM BEFORE YOU HIT, just to wash off as much speed as you can and so hit it as slowly as you can; and you get off the brakes before you hit so they aren't all locked up when you smack into it, cos adding a chock to already locked up brakes is sorta like hitting a concrete wall! :banghead: But only do that IF there's nothing following closely (you just checked your mirrors in that last scan, didn't you?!
) You'll be amazed at how quickly these things stop if you really STOMP on the brakes - braking at its maximum with good tires and brakes in good condition, your Spyder will stop MUCH quicker than anything else you've ever driven/ridden, there's a reason the RT Ltd's have a 'Drop Away' Foot Plate! In fact, you really should find a safe place to practice this 'full-on braking' thing occasionally, if not at least once sometime during the early part of each ride. You have one of the best braking systems available; a relatively lightweight vehicle with more contact patch & bigger/better brakes than just about anything else of its size & weight; and one of the most stable bikes available out there, so learn how to use all of that to your advantage properly! :lecturef_smilie:But if it's too close to completely avoid safely, even after all your scanning and planning ahead and said braking; then don't fixate on IT, look at WHERE YOU WANT TO GO and try to steer so that, in ship-driving terms, you 'Comb the Torpedo's Track'; or in other words, steer to run along the length of it rather than hitting it square on with your Spyder's widest track/part exposed. Basically, you need to attempt to turn your wide front wheel track either towards or away from the tire 'gator's widest section in order to attempt to go over it at the narrowest angle that you can. Even if it's lying right across the lane at 90° to your direction of travel, you should still try to hit it with one front wheel first, at a bit of an angle rather than fully square on; and if it's at enough of an angle and it's at all possible for you to swerve safely enough to do so, turn to let it pass thru the gap between one front wheel and the rear wheel, then do that!
hyea:If you have no choice but to hit it and it's too big to hit with ONLY one front wheel &/or avoid along its length with both front wheels, then hang on with your knees, tell your pillion to hang on if you've got the time, and hit it with one front wheel first, then the other, and finally the rear. Sure, it'll probably buck like buggery, but the Nanny is designed to minimise the steering hazards this'll entail, she'll try to keep you going in the direction you've got the handlebars pointing, and you'll most likely be able to maintain steering all the time. If you hit it square on with both front wheels, it's more likely to kick the 'gator up under the bike and wipe expensive things under there right off your bike; you're more likely to get both front wheels airborne and so lose all steering for a moment or three; it's going to buck even harder than hitting it one wheel at a time; and when the rear tire hits it too, it's gonna buck even harder again! :banghead:
The Nanny will work very hard to try and keep things stable and under control even if you apply some sudden and fairly aggressive steering input; just like she'll work hard keep everything under control and maintain your steering if you brake massively; or even if you get one front wheel in the air a little. The Nanny on these Spyders is one of the better systems out there, even if you think she might intervene a little too early sometimes; but I can tell you from hard earned experience that she really does work pretty well in emergency situations when you start dialing in sudden and aggressive steering & braking inputs! But you hafta help by scanning well ahead and planning what you're going to do/how you're going to avoid in a way that minimises the Nanny's need to intervene. :thumbup:
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BLUEKNIGHT911
Sadly Passed Oct 2024 - RIP
I have well over 100,000 mi. on three different Spyders ..... and IF I have to hit an object or hole I will do everthing I can to hit it ONLY with my back wheel..... WHY ???? .... the REAR wheel does nothing to affect steering or direction of your Spyder. .... the FRONT wheels do .... Also if a suspension part is going to be damaged by hitting something the rear is least likely to be effected ..... Mike :thumbup:
Dam, sounds like you and Peter have been on 2/3 wheel for a while. I agree, if it's small enough I put it under my right or left foot. If it's bigger and I can't avoid it, the rear wheel gets it.
Little Blue
SpyderLovers Ambassador
Hit the Brakes First. Then try to drive though the object with minimal damage. No tires are very happy with the contact. This is something that everyone needs to think about beforehand.
LALoner
Member
I thank everyone for the response . My thought was that hitting a free moving object with only the rear wheel would minimize damage the the bike since the object would be clear of the bike after the hit . There is very little protection on the underside of a Spyder and I fear the damage potential with a front wheel hit .
I have Primitive guards under my car and have hit objects [ not intentionally ] with the front wheel. The noise heard when said object hits the underside of the car tells me that without the protection , damage would result .
I have Primitive guards under my car and have hit objects [ not intentionally ] with the front wheel. The noise heard when said object hits the underside of the car tells me that without the protection , damage would result .
Isopedella
Well-known member
Fixed for ya. When not if.
+25 on looking ahead identifying an obstacle, debris on the road, other crap drivers.
Extend your following distance to give you 1/2 a chance.
FWIW I look to the 10 Second Rule locally while riding bikes and towing a trailer/boat with a car.
Thats 10 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you.
Not sure if is possible where you ride, but where you can get off the ass of the bloke in front of you.
I'm sure it has saved my ass on many occasions.
If you're 1 second behind, ya got no chance. Look ahead and plan!
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Bfromla
Well-known member
& sure number of us have seen enormous utility trailer or otherwise with fender damages: either from tire failure & or same road gators wrapping up between tandem tires. Situations suck; try be aware & don’t freak. (Can remember more & chance to avoid IF happens again)**LoUiSiAna is more of WHEN not IF**.
opcorn:COME on down enjoy some Drunks & CRAWFISH:cheers::bbq:
bigbadbrucie
New member
10 seconds is a nice thought....I try to use the 3 second rule with either my Spyder or my car and with either I wind up with vehicles cutting in on the 3 second vehicles. I sometimes think that I’m going backwards.
Isopedella
Well-known member
Yup normal is 3 seconds.
When its crappy and stuff extended all round.
From what I have seen on videos posted most seem thrown the 3 second rule out the window.
No wonder people are not seen when turning and stuff from time to time.
No ah yeah I can see it. The indicator is flashing...,
Came from a hidden position right up the date of the vehicle they are following.
Something for some to think about I guess.
Not always the case of course.
Less congestion down here I guess. Rural New Zealand.
I live in a city with a river with about 40,000 people.
Has 3 bridges and we have a rush 10 minutes in the morning.
Sometimes it takes me a whopping 2 or 3 minutes to get over the bridge.
Thats as bad as it gets.
Couldn't enjoy living in a city where its rush hours and stopped for quite some time waiting. It would do my head in.
When its crappy and stuff extended all round.
From what I have seen on videos posted most seem thrown the 3 second rule out the window.
No wonder people are not seen when turning and stuff from time to time.
No ah yeah I can see it. The indicator is flashing...,
Came from a hidden position right up the date of the vehicle they are following.
Something for some to think about I guess.
Not always the case of course.
Less congestion down here I guess. Rural New Zealand.
I live in a city with a river with about 40,000 people.
Has 3 bridges and we have a rush 10 minutes in the morning.
Sometimes it takes me a whopping 2 or 3 minutes to get over the bridge.
Thats as bad as it gets.
Couldn't enjoy living in a city where its rush hours and stopped for quite some time waiting. It would do my head in.
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