We all know about the hazards of oil on the roads when it gets wet out. And I do think about it every time I ride in the rain. But when it is dry, the thought never enters my mind. That changed yesterday. I was returning home from a trip, on the interstate and decided to get a fill up and take a break. At the end of the exit ramp where everyone stops at the stop sign, a car must have been dropping oil in a big way. And as cars kept exiting and stopping at the stop sign, the cars kept spreading the oil as they drove through it; leaving an oil slick about 15 feet long by 4 feet wide. Here I come, down the ramp to come to a stop. When my tires hit that slick, I was down instantly. It happened so fast I don’t remember falling. All I remember is breaking for the end of the ramp and then the sound of the bike grinding on the cement as I slid to a stop on my ***. As soon as my tires hit that slick, I lost all traction…it was like ice. The rear tire came out from under me and the bike slid on its side about 10 feet on its “Crash Bars”. Amazingly no damage; not a scratch on the bike anywhere except for the grind marks on the lower side of the front and rear crash bars (RKC). Bewildered as to what just happened, I ran my hand across the cement and my fingers were black with oil. I think the car that dropped the oil, did so within the previous 20 minutes, because the cement was still wet with oil. Then I though to my self, why didn’t I see that. Well this exit was a very busy exit (outlet mall & fast foods) with lots of traffic, cars, semi’s and as I stood back and looked, the slick just blended in with all of the scars heavy traffic inflicts on pavement at a busy exit on an interstate. Thinking back, it may have been a good thing I went down; if I stayed up, I would have slid through the stop into traffic. So, be careful out there everyone. Don’t take a nice sunny 70 degree day for granted.

 

Good advice and good story.... Glad you handled it well.

 

my thoughts as well.
thanks for posting

 

Yeah im really paranoid about stuff like that. Or coolant spills from traffic accidents or overheating cars. That stuff is super slippery.

 

Good post. Have to be mindful of all conditions, especially at intersections.

 

What's a 70 degree day?

 

Glad you or the bike didn't get too banged up. That is why we have the crash guards.

 

Glad you and the bike are ok. The oil must have been new. If it was dirty or spilled some days ago it would have been black. Your right, it must have just happened.

 

Glad you are okay and no damage to your King. That's always a plus. Dangers everywhere. That's why I like to stay on either side of my lane. The middle makes me nervous where all the car engines are. Obviously, with it spread out as much as you said it was, I'd be screwed anyway.

 

It probably wasn't a factor in this case, but this is a good reason not to wear polarized sun glasses when riding, as they eliminate the shiny glare off of slick spots on the road surface, making them less likely to be noticed.