Davidtav Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 This is probably just me. But I have a strong dislike for speed cushions. So not the old sleeping policeman type that go fully across the lane. But the things that are about 4 foot square with sloping sides on all edges. No problem if I’m in the car. But I once caught the sloping edge when on my bike and nearly got thrown off. I was doing about 20mph. Since then I’ve been so careful to either miss them completely. Or go over the centre. They seem to have a lot of them here in Yorkshire. The ones locally aren’t marked very well if at all. It isn’t so bad during daylight. But at night quite problematic. It just seems to me that whoever thought these were a good idea had no thought whatsoever for motorcyclists. .… never heard of anyone else complaining about them though. So probably it is just me lol. Rant over 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 Not just you David, we have some in two villages either side of us, no markings, just black, you cannot see them and very problematic for motorcycles, nearly came off the other day, as you said straight down the middle seems only way,no problem in car, but unsettling even at slow speeds on bike. People who haven't been through since they changed it even doing 30mph have difficulties due to the fact you can't see them, maybe just a club of two we'll see!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideWithStyles Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 (edited) they are partially about in lancashire too. same here, nasty fing things! i dont even aim for the middle of them just because they're not even laying level or flat but then add in them breaking down is even worse so its a lottery if you can get it right. so its either skim the kerb and hedges or skim the cars on the right to get round them. only good for chavs in lowered cars back in the day but most have upgraded to the hamilton so no chance of them being effective on suvs Edited May 20 by RideWithStyles 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Davey Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 I think their design is to allow emergency vehicles through without bouncing the vehicles. No excuse for not marking them though. Write to the local council saying how dangerous they are when not visible, they can't/shouldn't ignore danger, they'll want to cover their backsides. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Westerly Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 To be honest I prefer them to the full width type. We have a lot round here and I pass them either side without issues. If I go over them I'm only doing 20 or 30 mph depending on the limit and I've not had any wobbles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxie49 Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 We have a good few of those things here now, and I agree with what you say, seem to be mainly on the estates. As Simon said, they were designed with input from the Emergency services, mainly the Ambulance service, so they could drive over them without bouncing patients about. They should be marked though, I sometimes wonder if local councils want to cause accidents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davidtav Posted May 20 Author Share Posted May 20 1 hour ago, S-Westerly said: To be honest I prefer them to the full width type. We have a lot round here and I pass them either side without issues. If I go over them I'm only doing 20 or 30 mph depending on the limit and I've not had any wobbles. Yeah. The thing is the ones locally are just black tarmac. No markings. Maybe there were markings once. But worn off now. No issues really in daylight. But troublesome in the dark. … I do just think that designers of road furniture don’t really consider motorcycles 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickly Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 Thing is with going round the sides / middle is that it’s where all the crud settles eg nails, screws, glass & sludge. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Westerly Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 The sides can be rough but not too bad as most 4 plus wheelers straddle the humps. Also they are sort of marked and visible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mississippi Bullfrog Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 I prefer them to the full width ones. At least on a bike you can usually slip through one of the gaps either side. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggie Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 5 hours ago, Simon Davey said: I think their design is to allow emergency vehicles through without bouncing the vehicles. I never even thought/realised that! Makes sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Davey Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 1 hour ago, Tiggie said: I never even thought/realised that! Makes sense. Can you tell my missus that I made sense. 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender Posted May 20 Share Posted May 20 Emergency vehicles and busses and anything else wide enough, to go either side of them, I prefer them to full width, never had an issue. Always watching for a car coming to my side trying to straddle it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick the wanderer Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 I wondered what the hell is a speed cushion? Never heard that before. Speed bumps, ahh.. Yeah everyone straddles them around here, it's a game to see who gets there first to control the straddle. They put them on the rat runs to slow the traffic down (In theory) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfrowne Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 I once went out for a ride with my uncle and his pals, I was hanging at the very back of the group. We were leaving a village and the front of the pack saw the magic "no speed limit" sign and gunned it, then the rest of the pack tried to keep up. The guy in front of me on some huge Kawasaki tourer thing did not see the sleeping pillow and flew right over it, panniers and everything, what a lump. It handled it well at a definitely not 20/30mph speed. Later at the social club watching the GP he never did mention it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideWithStyles Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 probably hoping not to bring it up so nobody would take the piss of being blind, busting his balls, shat his pants at hitting it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peepae Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 When I see them I don't mind them but if I can't see them and I'm suddenly getting flinged up - they're not pleasant 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 One of the two villages (2 different councils) has today before all the rain, painted the speed bumps, someone's listening though hope its waterproof, just got to master going over them now, too busy a road to go down the side, this bump has a jutting out lip at the top, that's what unsettled me, any tips from those who are experts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfrowne Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 6 hours ago, RideWithStyles said: probably hoping not to bring it up so nobody would take the piss of being blind, busting his balls, shat his pants at hitting it... Heh heh. Yes I may have mentioned it when the conversation started to get a bit quiet. Cruel really. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfrowne Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Angela Collen said: One of the two villages (2 different councils) has today before all the rain, painted the speed bumps, someone's listening though hope its waterproof, just got to master going over them now, too busy a road to go down the side, this bump has a jutting out lip at the top, that's what unsettled me, any tips from those who are experts? Stand up and hope the rear seat is firmly attached or at least tethered on. I did wonder if the tether on the nc30 was worth it for the amount of times I had to undo the bolt to take the fairing off. It was worth it for that one time I wanted to test the new suspension and it pinged right off. Edit: you don't have to fully Charlie Boreman Stand Up, just ride it like a jockey hovering over the seat like taking a bicycle off a curb. Edited May 21 by smallfrowne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 Thanks for taking the time to reply smallfrowne, sounds like a good plan, will try on my ride out Friday evening, my seat is good and solid, should make the bump easier to deal with as the body should cope better with the jolt, appreciate your experience 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideWithStyles Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 might be a good idea to check the suspension is set up correctly and able to cope with the possibility..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Collen Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 Thank you RideWithStyles, will do, as always, your advice is spot on, appreciate it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideWithStyles Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 47 minutes ago, Angela Collen said: Thank you RideWithStyles, will do, as always, your advice is spot on, appreciate it Thanks! not always on both counts . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V650 Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Have them here in Ireland too Usually go round to the right if no oncoming traffic or to the left if there is traffic Rarely if ever go straight over them 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.