Indiana Roads. The pitfalls. Things I've learned and know.

[solo1]

Asphalt roads changing to gravel......... absolutely no warning.  Like wise, unmarked construction doing the same.

Rotomilled roads. Not difficult to ride but produces edgetraps which are deadly. 

Southern Indiana roads.  Curvy, unlike northern Indiana roads but the berms are gravel, Cagers go off the road in curves, bring the gravel back onto the roads. Blind curves are accidents waiting to happen.

Plastic lane change and intersection markers of any kind. Avoid, especially when wet.

Off and On ramps, interstate. Debris, bolts, metal, oil, etc. are thrown to outside. Be careful when late apexing.

Off camber curves, especially ramps. Will reduce cornering clearance immediately.  The same for decreasing radius.

The usual caution after a badly needed rain. White 'suds' on the road  warning of decreased traction.

Forest Rats.  Ride slower, especially past corn fields, woods, and during hunting season.  When in doubt, STOP.  Where there's one, there's more. 

I recently was faced, without warning, heavy gravel,  The asphalt was gone.  I rode through about 3/8 mile of the stuff, maintaining 40 mph with the front end weaving. I have little experience riding in those conditions but it worked for me.  Any suggestions for us on roaders with street bikes would be appreciated here. I think that I was lucky in the fact that the Vstrom had a 19 inch front wheel and narrow tire and with more weight on the rear wheel.  I sure as heck couldn't stand on the pegs with my knees as they are.

My 02.

wayne

[VALKIFIED]

A little more forward preasure on the bars. Then use weight distribution and peg loading and a steady throttle to get through the loose stuff. I've encountered a bit of gravel this summer on the I/S and it got me thru it. Still a serious pucker factor tho

[Jess from VA]

Keep a firm grip on the bars and don't let them be forced to turn on rocks.  Go easy and just let the bike wobble.  Turn around carefully and get the heck out of there.

[rainman]

JUST ONE DAY LAST WEEK SOME FRIENDS AND ME WERE OUT RIDING AROUND ON SOME OF THE COUNTRY ROADS AND I WAS IN FRONT CLIPPING LONG ABOUT 50 WHEN I TOP THE HILL THERE WAS NO MORE ROAD NOTHING BUT GRAVEL AND MEAN THE REAL LOSE STUFF NO TRACKS JUST GRAVEL NOW THAT WAS A SERIOUS PUCKER FACTOR  . I DID GET SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED AROUND AND GOT OUT OF THERE.

[fudgie]

I hate the construction where the other lane is 3" taller then the one your in. We just go to the outside of our lane and do a hard/fast turn into it. Smooth as silk even with the CT. Not sure if its wrong or right but works for us.
Grooved construction roads and gravel are no problems since the CT.

I hate the little humps in the road that seem like 50' apart. Bout knock my teeth out.

[solo1]

I called the local INDOT about motorcycle warning signs.  He said "yeah, we need them"  Nothing was done tho.

In fact two more roads today in NE Indiana have new chip and seal, loose and fresh.  No signs of any kind!

Going to Inzane there was a motorcycle warning sign on I69 near Marshall  Michigan.  Never any in Indiana though, ever!

Yeah Fudgie, i don't like those heat raised bumps either although the 'Strom eats them up much better than the Valk did. Longer suspension.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Indiana does have some interesting road hazards. You mentioned most of them. One of my favorite alternate roads to ride home from work suddenly had large, loose gravel dumped on it for a couple of miles last summer. It's still there this year. It's a great road with the East/West lanes going around a large tree growing between them in one section. One day when I crested a hill East of the tree I was immediately into a thin layer of large rock on top of the pavement. Not chip and seal, just patched the road by pouring large round gravel on top of the pavement. WTH Indiana?

If the bike is already dirty I still ride home that way sometimes. I keep it around 40 - 45 and let the front end wander a little if it wants too just as I did riding dirt bikes in sand many years ago. Heading up to my deer camp there is a badly off camber turn where the gravel road has been oiled till it was hard then covered with large round gravel. I wouldn't want to have to stop on that corner, even on a dirt bike.

A couple of our other interesting hazards are mulberry trees overhanging corners and spilled corn during the harvest season. Crushed mulberry's are slick, you have to watch for the discolored road where they are crushed into it.

And, of course, my favorite way to break a leg, crushed acorns in a corner. Ha!

[..]

Big fat tires on a Valkyrie sneer at gravel roads. Just keep a sensible speed, no grip of death on the bars and NO FRONT BRAKE. I REPEAT NO FRONT BRAKE.

Gentle input to all controls and enjoy.

If gravel was a problem no one would ever ride their Harley, Valkyrie, Wing or other cruisers to the Arctic Circle.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Big fat tires on a Valkyrie sneer at gravel roads. Just keep a sensible speed, no grip of death on the bars and NO FRONT BRAKE. I REPEAT NO FRONT BRAKE.

Gentle input to all controls and enjoy.

If gravel was a problem no one would ever ride their Harley, Valkyrie, Wing or other cruisers to the Arctic Circle.

Agree. And, car tires rock on rock roads. 

[Walküre]

I hate the construction where the other lane is 3" taller then the one your in. We just go to the outside of our lane and do a hard/fast turn into it. Smooth as silk even with the CT. Not sure if its wrong or right but works for us.

EXACTLY how I do it, also! Works for me, too! Can't think of any OTHER way to deal with it...

R