[Guest]

Dude, I'm in San Antonio for six weeks on business so I brought my bike with me. Did some riding the past two days and it's like driving on wet eel poop!!! I was spinning every time I took off. Forget rolling in it in first gear. She just spins. Had a clear open on ramp with no one in front of me but decided not to lean into it and glad I did. I literally could not touch the throttle or the back end would come around. I'll admit kinda fun, but, kinda scary. I'd hate to try and bring the front end up, the back end may trade places with it faster than I could recover. Is it like this everywhere, all the time?

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (galaxy)

Huh ???
Where did you go riding ? Was it right after a rain shower ? I've never noticed our roads being any worse than elsewhere. BTW, if you get to go riding a bit while here, try FM 335,336,337 just west of Kerrville. Those roads are the best riding roads in Texas, no doubt.

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (galaxy)

Dude I noticed that the first time I rode out here in Louisiana. It is even worse in Mississippi where my truck seemed to slide around whether the roads were wet or dry. Maybe its the California Lead Foot in me but I think its hard to find traction.

One thing I did notice is many of the roads out by me are paved in cement rather than asphalt. Not sure if that makes a difference but I'll tell you what, when I get caught out in the rain on my Duc its a scary thing.

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (gnostic203)

They do a lot of the roads in cement slabs here because the sinking is such a problem, it's kind of like the frost heave in the Northern climates, just in reverse. When they pave roads with asphalt by the time the finish the road, the starting point is already sinking and degraded and they have to start the whole thing over again (which they never actually do here, by the way). Doing it in slabs allows them to just replace the section(s) that has sunk or gotten warped (which they never do either, by the way).

I hate riding on it. When I come home I have to make a left turn onto a fairly slick cement road that has a camber that slopes away from me. Even at slow speeds the pucker factor is high. Every time I drive my truck in the wet I have tires slipping every which way even at half throttle. Welcome to Louisiana...

 

[Guest]

I guess it could possibly be my tires...I have some Michelin Hi-Sports. I don't even know what they are classified as. Don't even think they make them anymore. I think they are ST's but not sure. Anyways, I don't have this problem at home on them though.

I have been riding in West San Antone, in the Lackland area...410/90. That one exit ramp that was slick as oil was getting on the 90 from the 410. Is there a fun way to get from Lackland area back to the west end of 10 to the Ducati dealer without taking any freeway??

 

[Guest]

san antonio is famous for having road covered with a very fine silt....no one knows where this dirt somes from, but it's everywhere...out to Bandaras, vanderpool, etc. Just be careful and watch the little rocks that get kicked up by the rider ahead...don't follow too close!

Bill
section8superbike

 

[Guest]

Some of the roads, usually secondary roads or side streets, are made of smooth stones and tar. Overtime the road surface becomes 'polished' from traffic and will be slick, slick as snot in the rain. Otherwise I've not had any problems with traction on Texas roads.

Now, this time of year there's alot of pollen in the air. Don't know what kind, but anything left outdoors develops a coating of green 'dust', which is actually pollen.
There are so many good roads in and around the Hill Country, you should have a ball! There's all the roads in and out of Leakey, Camp Wood to Rock Springs is awesome, a twisty 4-lane highway. Rock Springs to Bracketville is highly entertaining, as is 16 south out of Kerrville. Several good routes up to Llano for some BBQ at Coopers, or ride over to Mason for the original Coopers. Breakfast at the Lost Maples Cafe in Comfort is a good waypoint for the roads around Leakey.

Watch for LEO's though, keep hearing they're trying to patrol these roads better than they have in the past.

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (galaxy)

Hey as long as were talking about San Antonio does anyone have any experience with the Ducati dealership there? I passed it on the way into Louisiana and was thinking about taking a road trip out that way. If they are decent I'd like to stop in and say hi.

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (gnostic203)

As far as the San Antonio dealership goes....I have had nothing but the greatest service from them. There are a few others who had a friend that...............(never seem to come up with specifics).

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (TripleDuck)

Hey tmelesky...what are LEO's?!

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (993twin)

Law Enforcement Officer - LEO

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (TripleDuck)

Thanks Triple I think I'll poke my head in and take a look around. Been a good few months since I've been in a real Ducati dealership. I've had to resort to mostly internet shopping with guys like Section8

 

[Guest]

OK, now I know for sure I'm not crazy...I just took a road trip to Houston for the weekend and guess what??? No problems at all with the roads there.

I could grab hand fulls of throttle and she would hook up and be gone or the front end would come up, never giving me an uneasy feeling. Just in San Antonio. Back in San Antonio and any abrupt throttle imput will break the rear tire loose and she'd fishtail. Just FYI... cause I don't know what's up. Maybe the roads in San Antone don't like my tires for some reason...Hey, an excuse to get my new Pilot Powers

 

[Guest]

Re: What's up with Texas roads?? (gnostic203)

the dealer in SA is K-C INTERNATIONAL...never did service there but they also sell aprilla...benelli...moto guzzi...mv agusta and vespa....talk about a full serve italian dealer...good coffee...lots of spares and some advice on rides in the area....