Tunnels?

Jeff10236 · 06-03-2010, 11:14 AM

So, I'm getting more and more new experiences on my motorcycle, and I'm starting to think ahead a year to when I want to start touring the country on my motorcycle. I may do a trial trip this year. So, I'm thinking about different conditions I may hit.

I've taken several runs now on decent sized bridges, and while I can't say I like riding on a large bridge, I don't mind them anymore (though I haven't yet hit a large, several mile, suspension bridge).

I'm thinking the next thing to tackle are tunnels. It may not always be possible to avoid them, at least not without a sizable detour (and in an area where you don't know the alternate routes, that means you may not be able to avoid them). In a car I used to love them, when I was a kid. Driving in them is no big deal, and I doubt the drive will be on a motorcycle either. However, I always close up all the windows and my sunroof. Being so enclosed, the air in there can't be healthy.

So, how are they on a motorcycle? Do you come out feeling like you just smoked 2 cartons of cigarettes? Through ventilation and fans do they keep the air in there relatively fresh (as fresh as they can) and it isn't too bad?

Whenever possible, if riding in or near a major city at rush hour I'll take a bridge if there is one as an alternative. I really don't want to be stuck in one in a traffic jam breathing in all those pollutants. But, when traffic is moving, should I still avoid them, or are they OK?

benny hedges · 06-03-2010, 12:01 PM

tunnels are great - you get to hear your zorsts, and so does everyone else!

if you don't like tunnels, just choose a route to avoid them.
can't say ive ever noticed bad air in a tunnel, but never been stuck in a jam underground...

murphyshuman · 06-03-2010, 12:14 PM

I don't mind tunnels at all, never really noticed bad air, but then I don't live in a large metro area. The only issue I have is my smoked shield, I have to raise it up in the tunnel, but at least I can do that, it's more difficult with sunglasses.

porange · 06-03-2010, 12:20 PM

I'm confused Jeff.. You should be finding the routes with the MOST tunnels!! There's something very satisfying about giving it the beans in a tunnel and having the engine sound echo and amplify all around you

I go through a small downtown tunnel every day on my way to work, never had a bad tunnel experience.

cardinal · 06-03-2010, 01:21 PM

I get the "heebie Jeebies" going through the tunnel into Yosemite. The workers dubbed it "Whiskey Tunnel" because it's 4/5 of a mile long.

Never had to deal with Bad Air in it. Traffic is always moving at 35 mph or better.

MeadowHobbit · 06-03-2010, 01:26 PM

The first time I went through a tunnel, I didn't
think it was anything special until about half
way through. I was startled by some blood
curdling sound I couldn't identify.

It turns out that teenage girls like to scream
in a tunnel to hear the echoes. The ones in
the pickup truck behind me had really
shrill voices.

WintrSol · 06-03-2010, 03:23 PM

There's a tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway, south of Asheville, which has a nice curve in the middle. Sounds great to light them up in there!

ccRider246 · 06-03-2010, 03:56 PM

Those of you who have ridden tunnels (I haven't yet on a bike), have you ever noticed any significant amount of effloresence of the concrete. As concrete ages it effloreces leaving a fine powder on the surface. In a tunnel that drifts to the road surface. That could make curves in tunnels dangerous. Has anyone experienced this? Also, because concrete never really stops giving off moisture, I would think the road surfaces may tend to be damp in tunnels. Maybe ventilation handles this well enough.

Haglaz · 06-03-2010, 04:04 PM

Tunnels are great for the echoing VROOM! I've ridden through a few so far. Nothing really long yet though. Hopefully I'll take a trip up to Grand Junction or Glenwood Springs soon, and go through the Eisenhower tunnel. Really looking forward to that!

I've never noticed bad air in my car going through longer tunnels, and I usually leave my window down (again, for the VROOM!).

murphyshuman · 06-03-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WintrSol

There's a tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway, south of Asheville, which has a nice curve in the middle. Sounds great to light them up in there!

I know that tunnel, love it! Problem right now is that the parkway both north and south of town is closed from rockslides and winter deadfalls.

WintrSol · 06-03-2010, 07:45 PM

Most of the tunnels I've ridden in aren't lighted well enough to see the walls, if at all. Plenty have had a damp road surface, though; no different than riding after a rain.

Too bad about the Parkway, that section is the best, IMO.

Jeff10236 · 06-04-2010, 12:19 AM

I guess I'll give the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (1.4 miles) or Ft. McHenry Tunnel (1.5 miles) a try soon then. Maybe I'll to through in my car with the sunroof, windows, or both, open and see how bad the exhaust fumes are so I can prepare myself for what to expect first.

Weebel · 06-04-2010, 01:58 AM

Everyone I know rev's up there bike in tunnels LOL a lot of us do it with our cars to. Theres just something stupidly awsome about hearing your exhaust echo like that.

porange · 06-04-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff10236

I guess I'll give the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (1.4 miles) or Ft. McHenry Tunnel (1.5 miles) a try soon then. Maybe I'll to through in my car with the sunroof, windows, or both, open and see how bad the exhaust fumes are so I can prepare myself for what to expect first.

I wouldn't worry so much there, Jeff. Go crazy and just give it a run through on your bike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weebel

Everyone I know rev's up there bike in tunnels LOL a lot of us do it with our cars to. Theres just something stupidly awsome about hearing your exhaust echo like that.

Badlands-4-2 · 06-04-2010, 09:47 AM

Ok, now I have to add this to my must do list. There is not one tunnel in all of ND (no mountains) so I will have to go in search of them this summer!

benny hedges · 06-04-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weebel

Theres just something stupidly awsome about hearing your exhaust echo like that.

killswitch backfires sound amazing in tunnels too - try it!

Prodigy · 06-04-2010, 11:03 AM

Like everyone said you get a feel of pride hearing your bike in tunnels... grant I haven't hear MY bike because i'm in miami, but when I visit my friends in Italy I get to ride his bike and in tunnels is a lot of fun... nothing scary about them, actually they might give you a break on cross winds that sometimes are just brutal...

06-03-2010, 11:14 AM	#1
Jeff10236 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Odenton, Maryland Posts: 736	Tunnels? So, I'm getting more and more new experiences on my motorcycle, and I'm starting to think ahead a year to when I want to start touring the country on my motorcycle. I may do a trial trip this year. So, I'm thinking about different conditions I may hit. I've taken several runs now on decent sized bridges, and while I can't say I like riding on a large bridge, I don't mind them anymore (though I haven't yet hit a large, several mile, suspension bridge). I'm thinking the next thing to tackle are tunnels. It may not always be possible to avoid them, at least not without a sizable detour (and in an area where you don't know the alternate routes, that means you may not be able to avoid them). In a car I used to love them, when I was a kid. Driving in them is no big deal, and I doubt the drive will be on a motorcycle either. However, I always close up all the windows and my sunroof. Being so enclosed, the air in there can't be healthy. So, how are they on a motorcycle? Do you come out feeling like you just smoked 2 cartons of cigarettes? Through ventilation and fans do they keep the air in there relatively fresh (as fresh as they can) and it isn't too bad? Whenever possible, if riding in or near a major city at rush hour I'll take a bridge if there is one as an alternative. I really don't want to be stuck in one in a traffic jam breathing in all those pollutants. But, when traffic is moving, should I still avoid them, or are they OK?

06-03-2010, 01:21 PM	#5
cardinal Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Central Ca. Posts: 558	I get the "heebie Jeebies" going through the tunnel into Yosemite. The workers dubbed it "Whiskey Tunnel" because it's 4/5 of a mile long. Never had to deal with Bad Air in it. Traffic is always moving at 35 mph or better. Last edited by cardinal; 06-03-2010 at 01:23 PM..

06-03-2010, 03:23 PM	#7
WintrSol Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florissant, MO Posts: 2,561	There's a tunnel on the Blue Ridge Parkway, south of Asheville, which has a nice curve in the middle. Sounds great to light them up in there! __________________ '68-7? CB450 and '05 S50 Boulevard

06-03-2010, 03:56 PM	#8
ccRider246 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 430	Those of you who have ridden tunnels (I haven't yet on a bike), have you ever noticed any significant amount of effloresence of the concrete. As concrete ages it effloreces leaving a fine powder on the surface. In a tunnel that drifts to the road surface. That could make curves in tunnels dangerous. Has anyone experienced this? Also, because concrete never really stops giving off moisture, I would think the road surfaces may tend to be damp in tunnels. Maybe ventilation handles this well enough. __________________ Chris 2010 NT700V 1981 CB750F

06-03-2010, 07:45 PM	#11
WintrSol Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florissant, MO Posts: 2,561	Most of the tunnels I've ridden in aren't lighted well enough to see the walls, if at all. Plenty have had a damp road surface, though; no different than riding after a rain. Too bad about the Parkway, that section is the best, IMO. __________________ '68-7? CB450 and '05 S50 Boulevard

06-03-2010, 12:01 PM	#2
benny hedges Veryfried Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: warrington, england Posts: 1,461	tunnels are great - you get to hear your zorsts, and so does everyone else! if you don't like tunnels, just choose a route to avoid them. can't say ive ever noticed bad air in a tunnel, but never been stuck in a jam underground...

06-03-2010, 12:14 PM	#3
murphyshuman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 1,781	I don't mind tunnels at all, never really noticed bad air, but then I don't live in a large metro area. The only issue I have is my smoked shield, I have to raise it up in the tunnel, but at least I can do that, it's more difficult with sunglasses.

06-03-2010, 12:20 PM	#4
porange Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 1,651	I'm confused Jeff.. You should be finding the routes with the MOST tunnels!! There's something very satisfying about giving it the beans in a tunnel and having the engine sound echo and amplify all around you I go through a small downtown tunnel every day on my way to work, never had a bad tunnel experience.

06-03-2010, 01:26 PM	#6
MeadowHobbit Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 314	The first time I went through a tunnel, I didn't think it was anything special until about half way through. I was startled by some blood curdling sound I couldn't identify. It turns out that teenage girls like to scream in a tunnel to hear the echoes. The ones in the pickup truck behind me had really shrill voices.

06-03-2010, 04:04 PM	#9
Haglaz Nigerian Billionaire Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Internet Posts: 690	Tunnels are great for the echoing VROOM! I've ridden through a few so far. Nothing really long yet though. Hopefully I'll take a trip up to Grand Junction or Glenwood Springs soon, and go through the Eisenhower tunnel. Really looking forward to that! I've never noticed bad air in my car going through longer tunnels, and I usually leave my window down (again, for the VROOM!).

06-04-2010, 12:19 AM	#12
Jeff10236 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Odenton, Maryland Posts: 736	I guess I'll give the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (1.4 miles) or Ft. McHenry Tunnel (1.5 miles) a try soon then. Maybe I'll to through in my car with the sunroof, windows, or both, open and see how bad the exhaust fumes are so I can prepare myself for what to expect first.

06-04-2010, 01:58 AM	#13
Weebel Banned Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Minnesota (it sucks) Posts: 770	Everyone I know rev's up there bike in tunnels LOL a lot of us do it with our cars to. Theres just something stupidly awsome about hearing your exhaust echo like that.

06-04-2010, 09:47 AM	#15
Badlands-4-2 Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Badlands of North Dakota Posts: 9,655	Ok, now I have to add this to my must do list. There is not one tunnel in all of ND (no mountains) so I will have to go in search of them this summer!

06-04-2010, 11:03 AM	#17
Prodigy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Miami Posts: 610	Like everyone said you get a feel of pride hearing your bike in tunnels... grant I haven't hear MY bike because i'm in miami, but when I visit my friends in Italy I get to ride his bike and in tunnels is a lot of fun... nothing scary about them, actually they might give you a break on cross winds that sometimes are just brutal...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search