I was coming on to an off-ramp from a freeway in So. Cal where a big white arrow was painted right in the middle of this nice 180 degree curve. I kinda freaked when I saw it and slowed down in a not so professional manner. Anyway, I know these things get very silppery when wet but what about when they are dry? Sometimes some seem thicker than others like some kind of thick coating and others just seem like a heavy paint. It's kinda hard to avoid them. Should I not worry to much unless I'm really laying it over?

Thanks for any tips!

Wow...seriously?

Paint is slick on bikes! Even when dry!  Try to avoid if you can!  If you're not really leaning it over it's not that bad.

I hate paint all together. I also hate that black tar they use to fill in long cracks. When you get on an old road that's 50% covered in those things, and you can feel your tires shifting all over the place I usually start to panic a little.

When I discovered those I figured, "It's tar its sticky right?" Next thing I know I'm leaned over in a sweeper and I feel the rear start dancing around.

yeah, I hate paint as well. That's the only reason why I've dumped my previous bike.

I've only got 300 miles or so of street riding under my belt (adding more everyday now), and I've learned a couple things. Stay off the paint, pay attention to the color and texture of whatever you're riding on, and those "Loose Gravel" signs are for YOU.

When I first got my GS a buddy that used to be a Yamaha sales man told me:
"Stay Square and Stay Off The Paint!"
Slick stuff also may include: Thick "Smooth Looking" Tar; Metal Grates (Storm/Floods drains, Man hole covers, etc); Cattle Guards (About 10 metal 'rails' that run perpendicular through the road to keep cattle on their side of the 'fence.'); Loose Gravel; Sand in the road; Dirt in the road; Leaves in the road; Water in the road (Rain); Snow/Ice in the road (duh); Oily Patches in Lane Position 2 (center of the lane, especially at busy intersections); I'm sure there is more.. This is just stuff I can think of that occur down here in Southern AZ.  Yeah, I know.. snow? It does happen.. especially up on the mountain.  

A quick word on road debris...  at All intersections there is a Zone (I call it the Debris Zone) where gravel collects cause cars don't drive on it. Small triangular shaped zones. Take such corners late and you are in the debris zone. Whoopsy, there goes the back tire.

Keep an eye out for them. All intersections have them. Only the size of the zone and the amount of debris in them varies.

Michael

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7jm3t_katt-william-motorcycle_fun
NWS

skip to 3:30. whole thing is very funny though

^ He's the funniest comic EVER.

I've seen that before and I laugh all the way through it still.

Ok, based on the comments I'll stay away from paint. Kinda new to road riding so I just learned something!

Thanks!

Yeah, never, ever ride on wet paint.















It gets all over the bike.