Santa Ana winds

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Have you gotten used to the freeway wiggle?

What brand of tires do you have? Do they have one (or more) main center groove that runs all the way around? I'm betting yes, as that is the most common OEM tire design. Those center grooves in the tire try to "track" the grooves in the pavement, giving the squirrley feeling.

Something to keep in mind when you need replacement tires. If you can find them, ones without that center groove might be more to your liking. Alas, without that center groove, they tend to be somewhat unstable under other conditions.......like rain.

[davtnn]

Like Ron White says "its not that the winds are blowing... it is what the wind is blowing ...."watch out for large chunks"

[alanmcorcoran]

Metzler "Perfect" ME77. And yes, there is one main center groove that runs all the way around.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Metzler "Perfect" ME77. And yes, there is one main center groove that runs all the way around.

Yep, me too. I haven't noticed that effect at all......except where the big machine has scrapped off the top layer in prep. for new asphalt. Guess the California road builders are more afraid of rain than they are elsewhere! :biggrin:

I would think that the effect would be less noticeable in the tire tracks.......where the grooves should be flattened out some ????

[Joho]

Originally Posted by alanmcorcoran

Have you gotten used to the freeway wiggle? I've only got about 30-35 freeway miles under my belt, and I am still quite unnerved by the constant shimmying of the front and back wheels - especially above 55. ...

Maybe I'm just a pussy, but I thought I'd have calmed down and relaxed a bit out there by now.

Ahh, just relax!! Keep a firm (but gentle) grip, and suck it up!

Also, it may be inclusive to my gz only, but getting over the 55mph "hump" takes a second or two. 55-60 is slow going, but from 60-70 is smooth. (as smooth as it gets with all 250cc's workin their asses off, haha)

[alanmcorcoran]

I'll give it another shot. 60-70 is not always in reach on mine, especially if there is an incline involved. To go over 60, I usually have to assume the chin on speedo position, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that with the severe shimmy yet.

I'll keep at it. One of my friends is fond of saying that you eventually get used to everything.

[mr. softie]

My Cheng Shin's wobble a tiny bit sometimes on grooved pavement. I try to just relax and let it wander a bit. The tires do have a small center groove but they are much better than the Dunlop's that were on my GZ. The metal bridge gratings freak me out sometimes with the wiggle waggle business but if I just keep a light hold and slow down a bit it wiggles less.

But back to those winds...a real pain I am sure. Especially with crap flying around. And the cages and trucks being pushed around as well, no picnic!

[Moedad]

These are mine. I think they are Metzlers.

[alanmcorcoran]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider

I would think that the effect would be less noticeable in the tire tracks.......where the grooves should be flattened out some ????

It's kind of hard to explain exactly, but there are five elements of discomfort involved:

1) First there are the grooves. These cause a fine wiggle, and I can almost ignore this after a while. It is similar to the road scraping wiggle, but these grooves are deeper. There is a little relief in the "tire tracks" but not much.

2) Second is what I call "scalloping." This is just weird and doesn't serve any purpose I am aware of, but it's as if a heavy machine came along and carved little half circular waves into the concrete about 12-18 inches on diameter. This causes a waggle of greater amplitude that combines with the fine wiggle, to give you, well, a wiggle waggle. The wiggle-waggle occurs on both wheels, independently, so there is a sort of third shimmy introduced by the two wiggle-waggles fighting each other.

3) California freeways are re-laned, re-directed, squished together and re-routed near constantly. As a result, the concrete pour of the original lanes don't match up with the actual lanes anymore and there are one to two inch "seams" running lengthwise, diagonally and otherwise, constantly, in and out of your path. When you hit one of these, it causes turbulence with the tires, the lean and the steering that you must correct for, or you will go down.

4) Fourth, the traffic is averaging at least 75 and many drivers cruise at 85. This means there can be a 20 to 30 mile difference in speed if you are only going 55. This is not a huge problem, but you need to be very vigilant about what is happening behind and to the sides of you.

5) The wind is fierce. I have no windshield. There is the 55 plus from the speed, and then there is the side drafts from cars and trucks. These also push on you and must be corrected for.

In spite of this, I still have hit the freeway - sometimes out of necessity, sometimes just to practice. But it's very nerve wracking and I don't think I'd be able to do it for long stretches.

I left out the Botts Dots. Those are fun too, especially if you are splitting lanes (legal only here in CA I understand...)

[mrlmd1]

My new Cheng Shins are like Mr. Softie's. Anyone know the reason for the reversed tread design on the front and rear tires? Is there a difference in how the front and rear sheds water?