SOLID BIKES

[1NorthRyder]

Well I just returned from a 3700 mile trip, it was great although the weather was somewhat uncooperative. I was driving through Montreal during rush hour so there was little space between vehicles. I saw the massive pot hole to late at about 20mph. The top was the circumference of a large barrel and it was deep. It appeared to me to be about 10-12 inches deep but I didn’t get a good look. My riding partner was behind and over to the side and he figures it was more like 16” deep. I hit it dead centre and hard. I kept the bike up although I don’t know how and when I came out the othe side my handlebars had moved as I was now looking at the sky in my mirrors and the truck lid had been knocked open and would no longer latch. I pulled over right away sure that I had bent a rim or the forks. I adjusted the handlebars and the latch on the trunk but everything else looked ok. I was still a solid 12 hours ride from home and the bike rode and felt fine so I guess I’m lucky these are tuff bikes.

[DGS65]

I have put less the 300 miles on mine so far and managed to hit two large pot holes that were gut busters but the bike was no worse for wear!  Very solid bike my back is another story

[..]

Well I just returned from a 3700 mile trip, it was great although the weather was somewhat uncooperative. I was driving through Montreal during rush hour so there was little space between vehicles. I saw the massive pot hole to late at about 20mph. The top was the circumference of a large barrel and it was deep. It appeared to me to be about 10-12 inches deep but I didn’t get a good look. My riding partner was behind and over to the side and he figures it was more like 16” deep. I hit it dead centre and hard. I kept the bike up although I don’t know how and when I came out the othe side my handlebars had moved as I was now looking at the sky in my mirrors and the truck lid had been knocked open and would no longer latch. I pulled over right away sure that I had bent a rim or the forks. I adjusted the handlebars and the latch on the trunk but everything else looked ok. I was still a solid 12 hours ride from home and the bike rode and felt fine so I guess I’m lucky these are tuff bikes.

Were you riding in the center of the lane? If you had been riding in the left or right 1/3 would you have missed it?

Nag nag nag. This is one reason why it's so important to leave space between you and the vehicle in front.

I know, I know, someone will fill the space So be it grasshopper. However many times it happens. 

[Cracker Jack]

Well I just returned from a 3700 mile trip, it was great although the weather was somewhat uncooperative. I was driving through Montreal during rush hour so there was little space between vehicles. I saw the massive pot hole to late at about 20mph. The top was the circumference of a large barrel and it was deep. It appeared to me to be about 10-12 inches deep but I didn’t get a good look. My riding partner was behind and over to the side and he figures it was more like 16” deep. I hit it dead centre and hard. I kept the bike up although I don’t know how and when I came out the othe side my handlebars had moved as I was now looking at the sky in my mirrors and the truck lid had been knocked open and would no longer latch. I pulled over right away sure that I had bent a rim or the forks. I adjusted the handlebars and the latch on the trunk but everything else looked ok. I was still a solid 12 hours ride from home and the bike rode and felt fine so I guess I’m lucky these are tuff bikes.

Were you riding in the center of the lane? If you had been riding in the left or right 1/3 would you have missed it?

Nag nag nag. This is one reason why it's so important to leave space between you and the vehicle in front.

I know, I know, someone will fill the space So be it grasshopper. However many times it happens. 

Not suggesting you should ride in the center of the lane, however I do a lot since most potholes are in the traffic tracks which takes the bulk of traffic abuse. Most times the best part of the road is the center of the lane. I don't do it when the road is wet or near red lights/stop signs where cars slow/stop and drop most fluids. There's probably a better chance of picking up flat causing debris in the center of the lane.

[northernvalk]

Well I just returned from a 3700 mile trip, it was great although the weather was somewhat uncooperative. I was driving through Montreal during rush hour so there was little space between vehicles. I saw the massive pot hole to late at about 20mph. The top was the circumference of a large barrel and it was deep. It appeared to me to be about 10-12 inches deep but I didn’t get a good look. My riding partner was behind and over to the side and he figures it was more like 16” deep. I hit it dead centre and hard. I kept the bike up although I don’t know how and when I came out the othe side my handlebars had moved as I was now looking at the sky in my mirrors and the truck lid had been knocked open and would no longer latch. I pulled over right away sure that I had bent a rim or the forks. I adjusted the handlebars and the latch on the trunk but everything else looked ok. I was still a solid 12 hours ride from home and the bike rode and felt fine so I guess I’m lucky these are tuff bikes.

Were you riding in the center of the lane? If you had been riding in the left or right 1/3 would you have missed it?

Nag nag nag. This is one reason why it's so important to leave space between you and the vehicle in front.

I know, I know, someone will fill the space So be it grasshopper. However many times it happens. 

Brit....here in Canada, 90%+ of pot hole are in the tire tracks....that's how they get so big, one tire at a time!!!!

[..]

Well I just returned from a 3700 mile trip, it was great although the weather was somewhat uncooperative. I was driving through Montreal during rush hour so there was little space between vehicles. I saw the massive pot hole to late at about 20mph. The top was the circumference of a large barrel and it was deep. It appeared to me to be about 10-12 inches deep but I didn’t get a good look. My riding partner was behind and over to the side and he figures it was more like 16” deep. I hit it dead centre and hard. I kept the bike up although I don’t know how and when I came out the othe side my handlebars had moved as I was now looking at the sky in my mirrors and the truck lid had been knocked open and would no longer latch. I pulled over right away sure that I had bent a rim or the forks. I adjusted the handlebars and the latch on the trunk but everything else looked ok. I was still a solid 12 hours ride from home and the bike rode and felt fine so I guess I’m lucky these are tuff bikes.

Were you riding in the center of the lane? If you had been riding in the left or right 1/3 would you have missed it?

Nag nag nag. This is one reason why it's so important to leave space between you and the vehicle in front.

I know, I know, someone will fill the space So be it grasshopper. However many times it happens. 

Brit....here in Canada, 90%+ of pot hole are in the tire tracks....that's how they get so big, one tire at a time!!!!

 

[98valk]

big hit like that sometimes will notch the steering head bearings. I been riding with notched bearings for 30k miles. so yes they are tough solid bikes. I hit a 4x4 laying across the lane and many potholes while commuting to work for yrs.  4x4- was traveling closer to the suv in front than I usually due. so didn't have time to react and dance around it.

[Hooter]

I won't ride side by side either. If I want to move I don't want anyone next to me. I won't ride in the center of a lane or stop in one. That's where all the crap is. Oil, antifreeze, transmission oil etc. For some reason that's where vehicles kick all the nuts, bolts, wire and nails.

Here in town if an unattended pot hole damages a vehicle the city pays repairs. They are lazy here. They would rather fix a vehicle than a hole.

I'm glad you are good as well as your buddy. Could have been a different outcome. These bikes are built like a dump truck.

[Bighead]

Hooter some say the ride like a log truck too ???

[cookiedough]

these spring potholes are dangerous.  Please report them to your local municipality since some can swallow a raccoon or bigger.  I travel one road under construction often and you would think the 10-12 inch potholes all over zig zagging around them would be fixed by now since construction crews are all over there the past 6+ months taking their sweet _ss time fixing the roads.  Either they are blind or they do not care if a motorcycle wipes out.

[semo97]

I would look at the neck where it welds to the frame and tree.  Look for bubbled, cracked shipped paint and cracked weld or frame. That is the spot that takes all the jolts.

[Hooter]

One more plus for being built like a dump truck. I hit a very large raccoon ( I think it was suicide) last night at about 60. Made a bloody mess out of "Snot". But as far as hard to handle doing so, never happened. I've hit woodchucks but this raccoon was worse to hit. Valkyrie 1, critter 0.

[1NorthRyder]

I looked the bike over very carefully but can find no damage so this is a good thing. I still have trouble believing there was no damage or that I was able to keep the bike upright. I've hit a lot of pot holes in my life but this one was definitely the biggest. I'll be pulling the bike apart this winter and will likely replace the bearings while I've got the wheel off.