How to handle my motorcycle tramlining on the road

How do I manage these lines, more-over what is the purpose of these lines?

BHPian katsumoto recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have acquired a pre-worshipped Thunderbird twin spark 500, 2016 model recently and back to highway after a long time (Last 5 years I have been using only car for highways). The bike is in good shape, 21k done when I bought 4 months back and now it is 25K. Now that I have started using the bike for solo highway rides, I am facing few issues in my riding (a lot to unlearn and re-learn). Below is one of the issue. See the pics below.

These are vertical lines (It is like the road authorities knowingly mowed the road like lawn, Just exactly opposite of rumble strips but very closer lines) normally seen on the bridges sometimes, my erstwhile Getz tyres used to make noises when we cross them and I have visibly sensed getting less road grip while crossing them.

With the Thunderbird twin spark, it becomes extremely difficult for the first time to control the bike, I wasn't able to move the tyres. If I go along the lines, If I have used break or clutch I am sure I would have kissed an accident. Next time when I saw the road like this, I lowered the gears and when suddenly rpm goes to around 3500 - 4500 (around 70-80 km/h) or when I hug the tank with my legs I kind of re-gain the control but not fully. May be I have to learn. May be tyres are not good (It is stock tyre at front and tubeless at the back driven around 10k km also the previous owner changed to alloy wheels ). I can see people crossing these lines without much fuss, but still they do cling to the tank hard in-order to do so. Doesn't seem to be a tyre issue, because mine has visible tread lines even now. Also, no wetness in the road due to rain or anything.

What am I doing wrong? How do I manage these lines, more-over what is the purpose of these lines?

Also, I made up my mind to change both the tyres to tubeless like Michelin Street or something, any suggestions?

Here's what BHPian nitkel had to say on the matter:

Those lines are a result of the top layer of the road being removed for resurfacing. Even in a car one can feel the car tramlining on such roads, and it is indeed really tricky for 2 wheelers to handle them safely. It has nothing to do with your tyre condition. So, the only solution is to slow down well below 50 km/h if you're on a bike, to negotiate these 'under construction' roads. One thing which helps is to keep a loose grip on the handle bar on these roads.

Here's what BHPian abhishek46 had to say on the matter:

These lines are created by machines which remove by force, the top layer of the road, so that it can be re-surfaced.

It does not pose much of a problem for Cars.

But for bikes which have straight grooves on their front tyres, this surface can cause major issues with handling/steering ability, as the groove on the tyre can 'lock' with the groove on the road surface.

Here's what BHPian deepfreak15 had to say on the matter:

It's called Tramlining, From how a tram follows the groves on the road. However, in this case it's an unwanted outcome of the tyres trying to follow a grove(s). I'd love to hear what the motorcycling experts have to say about how to counter this, but so far this is how I get by.

As unnerving as it may be,

• No sudden movements (acceleration/deceleration etc.)
• Maintain a constant speed (I've always felt momentum is my friend)
• No forced direction changes
• Try not to load the front tyre
• Look as far and straight ahead ( the moment you look down at the groves you are asking for trouble)

A motorcycle in motion by default wants to stay upright and track straight so my opinion is, let it do what it has to do and just give gentle inputs. But I agree, no matter how many times I cross a patch like that it's very unnerving.

PS: Congrats on your new bike.

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