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legalr
Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 163 Location: Wallingford, Vermont
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 4:01 pm Post subject: Hydroplaning ~ Is it a problem with HP rigs? |
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Do HP rigs with their wide low profile auto tires have a tendency to hydroplane?
Early this winter when we had about three inches of new snow I took my HP rig out on my lawn to see how it would react. I thought I would have some fun. Well, I was completely surprised that even on flat ground it literally wouldn't get out of its own way in the 3" of snow. My rear tire would just spin and spin. I couldn't drive it worth a damn and my tires are in excellent condition with only a few thousand miles on them. I was alone and had one hell of a time getting it back into my barn although I was in a relatively flat area. So I'm wondering how will my rig react in a heavy rain--a downpour? Will it hydroplane and be unsafe to ride? [I know that cars can hydroplane under certain conditions because last summer I had a relatively new car with very good tires hydroplane on a newly asphalted highway in central Vermont during a very heavy downpour. Try turning right sometime on a tight highway when your vehicle hydroplanes straight ahead and it will make your hair stand up straight, at least mine did.]
Should I add some air to my tires [26# presently] if driving in the rain as the following hydroplaning article suggests, or just get off the road until the rain lets up?
Quote: | If you know that you are going to be riding in the rain you might consider adding 3 to 5 psi of pressure in your tires. Note, I am not suggesting that you inflate them in excess of the maximum pressure specified on the tire sidewalls.
The reasoning behind this suggestion is simple:
Increasing the tire pressure makes its contact patch smaller. In other words, it increases the weight per square inch of the contact patch so that it takes more 'uplift' by water to cause hydroplaning.
Just as increasing pressure makes the contact patch smaller, it also tends to spread out the tread grooves which, in turn, makes it easier to slough water away from the contact patch.
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What say you? _________________ Larry Miller
Wallingford, Vermont
BMW K1200RS/EZS RX-5
BMW R1150R/EZS Summit
2004 BMW K1200GT |
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docmike
Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 630 Location: Eastern NC
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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Ever since I started riding this sidecar I've heard other sidcarists (usually ones who don't own an HPS) saying you had better park your HPS when it rains. So far my experience has been that its probably more stable than my pick up, with an empty bed, in the rain.
I've never changed the air pressure to ride in the rain.
Just as in any other driving, use some common sense.
All disclaimers apply, your results may vary. _________________ Mike Currin
93 BMW K1100RS / EML Speed 2000
89 Honda GB 500 (6,700 miles, all original except tires)
67 Triumph 650 chopper
92 Suzuki GS500 (eldest son) |
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Tub Maxson
Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Cincinnati, OH
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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I also have driven my R1150RT/EZS in some very heavy rain. I had not steering or control difficulties.
Tub _________________ Tub Maxson
Cincinnati, OH
I took the road less traveled.
Now where the Hell am I?
2005 Kawasaki Concours
2004 BMW HPS K1200GT/EZS Chair
'66 BMW R27/Steib LS200
'56 NSU Special Max |
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zentime
Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 837 Location: Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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docmike wrote: | Ever since I started riding this sidecar I've heard other sidcarists (usually ones who don't own an HPS) saying you had better park your HPS when it rains. So far my experience has been that its probably more stable than my pick up, with an empty bed, in the rain.
I've never changed the air pressure to ride in the rain.
Just as in any other driving, use some common sense.
All disclaimers apply, your results may vary. |
ditto
zen _________________ CBR1100XX/EZS
1973 MotoGuzzi V7sport
will August ever come............ |
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bmcsheehy
Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Posts: 991 Location: Massachusetts USA
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: Hydroplaning ~ Is it a problem with HP rigs? |
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legalr wrote: | ...it will make your hair stand up straight, at least mine did.
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I don't have to worry about this.
Also, I haven't ridden mine in the rain yet, or the snow.
_________________ Bill
High Performance Sidecaring... ...There is nothing "HACKED" about it.
2006 ZX-14 / HANNIGAN HP.
2011 Concourse / California Friendship III.
2016 Suzuki Bandit 1250s
1936 Ford Fordoor Humpback
www.Yankee-Engineering.com |
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legalr
Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 163 Location: Wallingford, Vermont
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:55 pm Post subject: Hydroplaning ~ Is it a problem with HP rigs? |
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Quote: | Also, I haven't ridden mine in the ... snow. |
According to the responses to date, riding in the rain does not seem to be a problem, but I haven't seen any posts about riding in the snow yet. _________________ Larry Miller
Wallingford, Vermont
BMW K1200RS/EZS RX-5
BMW R1150R/EZS Summit
2004 BMW K1200GT |
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Ralph
Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 603 Location: Lexington, Ky
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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Mine worked on the wet roads at the gap but if there is any water standing you better tighten up. I will say this the new tires helped this a lot. _________________ "So Soon Old & So Late Smart" |
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legalr
Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 163 Location: Wallingford, Vermont
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2005 10:35 pm Post subject: Hydroplaning ~ Is it a problem with HP rigs? |
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Thanks for the comments, Ralph. This forum is really a great thing! It's good to have a place to share information that is germane to HP sidecars. _________________ Larry Miller
Wallingford, Vermont
BMW K1200RS/EZS RX-5
BMW R1150R/EZS Summit
2004 BMW K1200GT |
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Paul
Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 182 Location: Utah
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject: Pressure |
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The suggestion to increase tire pressure is presumably for solo motorcycles - which have round profile tires. Changing pressue on a round profile tire will change the size and shape of the contact patch. But, on a HPS with wide, flat radial car tires, it's pointless.
Interestingly enough, the recommendation for road bicycles is the complete opposite - many people REDUCE their pressure a small amount (from maybe 120 psi down to 110 psi). But on a bicycle hydroplaning is rarely an issue; it's done for increased traction.
I would say that yes, hydroplaning a HPS is a definate possibility. A 3000 pound car will hydroplane; we're taking the same tire and putting 1/3 the weight on it. Hydroplaning a solo motorcycle is virtually impossible - I've hit a section of highway over a foot deep at miles per hour, and all I did was get very wet. I've also run laps at Laguna Seca in the rain, and you can basically go just as fast as you can in the dry, as long as you're smooth.
I think the best thing to do is to get as sticky a tire as you can, and to just back off a notch in the rain. |
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legalr
Joined: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 163 Location: Wallingford, Vermont
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | I think the best thing to do is to get as sticky a tire as you can, and to just back off a notch in the rain. |
Thanks for the comments and suggestion, Paul. Much appreciated. _________________ Larry Miller
Wallingford, Vermont
BMW K1200RS/EZS RX-5
BMW R1150R/EZS Summit
2004 BMW K1200GT |
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