Discussion
Well, I'd heard it was dodgy, but I'm getting terrified by how my bike is behaving over some overbanding! Coming from Lochearnhead towards Crianlarich there's a lovely bit of road heading up the pass and when I went up it in the dry last week I passed some large sportsbikes going really canny in the opposite direction just as I left Lochearnhead: I soon found out why!
The road was covered in patches and none of the overbanding seemed to have been burnt off. My rear tyre was wiggling about everytime I went over a bit, even though I was taking it easy and the road was dry.
Worse was to come today, whilst I went for a blast down the (damp) south west coast: just outside Stranraer I turned into a shallow left just before a medium right and noticed a lot of standing water on the entry to the right hander, so I gave the brakes a bit of a pull and scrubbed the speed down to 40mph from about 70, turned the bike in nice and smoothly on a constant throttle and just passed the apex, well away from the standing water, the back of the bike stepped right out!
I had my right foot prodding the floor keeping me up before I even really realised what was happening (a purely reflex action) and I was so shocked I actually turned around to have a look to see what the hell had happened. Sure enough, just right of centre of the lane, just past the apex was a small patch, about 2 foot long and just under a foot wide.
What terrifies me is I was taking it really easy on that corner: if it hadn't been for the standing water I would have been doing more like 60 round it and I'm pretty sure I would have been off. Bearing in mind I've only had my license and my 2nd hand bike a fortnight, is this normal, or is my Dunlop D207 rear tyre dodgy or, well, what?
The road was covered in patches and none of the overbanding seemed to have been burnt off. My rear tyre was wiggling about everytime I went over a bit, even though I was taking it easy and the road was dry.
Worse was to come today, whilst I went for a blast down the (damp) south west coast: just outside Stranraer I turned into a shallow left just before a medium right and noticed a lot of standing water on the entry to the right hander, so I gave the brakes a bit of a pull and scrubbed the speed down to 40mph from about 70, turned the bike in nice and smoothly on a constant throttle and just passed the apex, well away from the standing water, the back of the bike stepped right out!
I had my right foot prodding the floor keeping me up before I even really realised what was happening (a purely reflex action) and I was so shocked I actually turned around to have a look to see what the hell had happened. Sure enough, just right of centre of the lane, just past the apex was a small patch, about 2 foot long and just under a foot wide.
What terrifies me is I was taking it really easy on that corner: if it hadn't been for the standing water I would have been doing more like 60 round it and I'm pretty sure I would have been off. Bearing in mind I've only had my license and my 2nd hand bike a fortnight, is this normal, or is my Dunlop D207 rear tyre dodgy or, well, what?
Overbanding is a big problem. 
It offers much less grip than proper tarmac and it is extremely slippery when wet but…
Is your rear tyre worn? If it is worn has it acquired a ‘square’ profile? If it is worn and especially if it has a squared off profile, then the reactions to the overbanding will be much worse. Also, check your tyre pressures are correct.
There are rules and regulations regarding overbanding, including the maximum width of a band. I’m not sure what the rules are (does anyone else know?) but I think that any band should be no more than about 12cm wide. If the example you came across is larger than the rules allow it may be worth dropping the local authority a letter.
While I know it is extremely hard to do, you should always try to keep your feet on the pegs, even in the event of the rear stepping out. You are not going to help avoid an accident by dabbing a foot at 40mph! You are more likely to get yourself thrown off. Right handers are especially bad as the foot you would put down is covers the rear brake, which you are very likely to need assuming you catch the slide and then want to slow down.
Ride safe and enjoy
It offers much less grip than proper tarmac and it is extremely slippery when wet but… Is your rear tyre worn? If it is worn has it acquired a ‘square’ profile? If it is worn and especially if it has a squared off profile, then the reactions to the overbanding will be much worse. Also, check your tyre pressures are correct.
There are rules and regulations regarding overbanding, including the maximum width of a band. I’m not sure what the rules are (does anyone else know?) but I think that any band should be no more than about 12cm wide. If the example you came across is larger than the rules allow it may be worth dropping the local authority a letter.
While I know it is extremely hard to do, you should always try to keep your feet on the pegs, even in the event of the rear stepping out. You are not going to help avoid an accident by dabbing a foot at 40mph! You are more likely to get yourself thrown off. Right handers are especially bad as the foot you would put down is covers the rear brake, which you are very likely to need assuming you catch the slide and then want to slow down.
Ride safe and enjoy
black-k1 said:
Overbanding is a big problem. It offers much less grip than proper tarmac and it is extremely slippery when wet but…
Is your rear tyre worn? If it is worn has it acquired a ‘square’ profile? If it is worn and especially if it has a squared off profile, then the reactions to the overbanding will be much worse. Also, check your tyre pressures are correct.
It offers much less grip than proper tarmac and it is extremely slippery when wet but… Is your rear tyre worn? If it is worn has it acquired a ‘square’ profile? If it is worn and especially if it has a squared off profile, then the reactions to the overbanding will be much worse. Also, check your tyre pressures are correct.
Yes totally agreed, a squared off rear makes the bike really react to overbanding road paint markings etc. London has some of the worst standards of road surface going and I'm just coming into winter with my rear tyre squaring off nicely. I'm esp not loving riding at the moment with leaves stuck to some of the road surfaces, I think leaves on the ground are worse than riding in mid-winter round town.
black-k1 said:
There are rules and regulations regarding overbanding, including the maximum width of a band. I’m not sure what the rules are (does anyone else know?) but I think that any band should be no more than about 12cm wide. If the example you came across is larger than the rules allow it may be worth dropping the local authority a letter.
Assuming it's reinstatement of a trench in the road (rather than a surface repair, which may not be covered), there's a code of practice called the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways. 
Clause 6.5.2.5 covers overbanding, and states that it should be a maximum of 3mm thick and 40mm wide. I'm not sure whether the Specification is binding and enforceable, but it's worth having a word with you local council highways office if you've got a contractor round your way consistently taking the p
ss with reinstatements. 
Andrew D said:
Clause 6.5.2.5 covers overbanding, and states that it should be a maximum of 3mm thick and 40mm wide. I'm not sure whether the Specification is binding and enforceable, but it's worth having a word with you local council highways office if you've got a contractor round your way consistently taking the pss with reinstatements.
ss with reinstatements.Many thanks for that AndrewD – very useful stuff. I do know of a motorcyclist who successfully reclaimed damages from a council following an off as the overbanding was almost double the recommended width and was positioned right on the ‘line’ through a bend. (That’s how I knew there were guidelines/rules).
Thanks for the advice guys. The rear tyre is actually not too bad, probably about half worn and certainly not squared off in any significant manner. I'm going to check the pressures in the morning but I'm wondering if my back tyre is a bit "off" as it's definately way worse than the front and I suspect it might be the original four year old tyre.
Definately check the rear, i didn't think mine had squared too badly and there looked to be plenty of tread, even though it was quite near the wear markers... however just before i got a new tyre it was trying to spit me off all over the place. In the recent rain I had two occasions where the tyre span up under moderate acceleration. (taking it easy too because of the conditions - came as a bit of a suprise)
Just got a new tyre on and its like a different bike!!
It must look quite impressive to the cagers though when you crack on out of a corner (or even on a straight) and the back breaks loose and you catch it in a nice slide. is it wrong to enjoy it, even while filling your pants???
Just got a new tyre on and its like a different bike!!
It must look quite impressive to the cagers though when you crack on out of a corner (or even on a straight) and the back breaks loose and you catch it in a nice slide. is it wrong to enjoy it, even while filling your pants???
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