Topic: Tips for riding on gravel roads

[Ebrandon]

Hey guys! Next weekend I am going camping and wanted to ride my 650. I will be close to the TN/NC border which has some beautiful drives! The last several miles to the campsight is on a gravel road which I don't have any experience with. I remember from my MSF course that gravel is some of the worst stuff to ride on, so does anybody have any tips or suggestions?? I would really love to be able to ride the bike since it is such a beautiful drive, but it would kinda ruin my day if i wiped out on a gravel road two miles away from camp.

[Bob Wessner]

We have a few around here. Though I try to avoid them, when I do have to use them, all I can say is envision yourself riding on ball bearings or marbles, drive slow, anticipate all maneuvers and stops and use a gentle hold on the grips... nothing sudden.

[ElCheapo]

We have a few around here. Though I try to avoid them, when I do have to use them, all I can say is envision yourself riding on ball bearings or marbles, drive slow, anticipate all maneuvers and stops and use a gentle hold on the grips... nothing sudden.

I second that...

We do also have some around here. If I MUST take them I ride them very slow like 10-15mph (get a feel for your speed), which is about all the faster want to crash at on a gravel road. I generally keep my hate for these roads guarded and beware of them. While they can be done, you MUST do them with caution on street tires. It can be done, as I have done it more times than I like. During this I remind myself that I love riding my bike so much that I am willing to ride on this gravel road.......... Ignore the temptation to rev her up in frustration, It will only get worse..

If the gravel is real loose I ride Motard style and just about drag my feet. If the gravel slides easily I am not afraid to let my feet hang to get things done.

[3 sticks]

yeah my driveway is gravel so i know how this works. basicly what has been said so far is about it and you'll be pretty safe by following bob and elcheapo. somthing they forgot though is that if you get good enough its really easy to do doughnuts and burnouts, just make sure that you whip em out when youre around a bunch of people you really dont like!


cheers

[merc2dogs]

  That's one of my problems up here, with a sohc 750, I lived in the boonies and had a ton of gravel roads to mess with,  the best thing I've found is to get rid of the stock style front tire, I have a more modern crotch rocket type, there's not much trouble at all on gravel,
 and rides good on pavement , In know the accepted wisdom is to stick with the oem type tires, and this was swapped out because it was the only type I could get at the time, but I'll stick with the same type when it's time to replace. I used to realy HATE gravel and sandy roads, but since I've installed that tire there's no more planning routes to minimize the gravel, straightest route works great now.
 

Ken.

[6adan]

Slow, and if you see a hole or rock or anything ahead you do not want to hit DO NOT look at it directly or you will run right over it.This is from lots of dirt bike riding. Dannie

[Kevin D]

drive slow

drive slow

drive slow

Lay off the front brake, easy on the turns, and

drive slow

You will be fine. I had a buddy who once upon a time successfully rassled his '70 CB750 on a 100 mile trail ride through the Michigan woods.   Next time out he left the CB and brought a new dirt bike.  

[flyin_]

Don't worry about the gravel.  Just listen to what everyone has said.  Ride slow, relax and let the front go where it needs to.  Watch for areas with loose sand that may be deep.  Over the 4th I rode around Lake Supurior and while caping up by Copper Harbor MI we rode a few miles out on gravel in the State park.  It was rough going but fun until we found a few areas where ruts were filled with beach sand   We had to paddle through those with out feet at about 2mph.  I guess it didn't help that I had a case of been and a bundle of fire wood packed on TOP of my T-bag.  What the hell was I thinking

[Bob Wessner]

Over the 4th I rode around Lake Superior and while camping up by Copper Harbor MI

This area is one of our favorites, the wife and I get up to Lake Gogebic almost every year. Nice ride up to Copper Harbor isn't it? Fantastic in the fall. 

[Uncle Ernie]

What the heck did merc2dog say? He put a knobby on his Gixxer?

The main thing is don't white-knuckle, take it slow, and don't grab a bunch of front brake too hard/fast.  If you're at all athletic, it helps to stand on the pegs- keeps the center of gravity lower.

[nippon]

You could lower the air pressure in the tyres a liitle bit to get a better adhesion.
(only if you have to drive a longer distance on gravel)
Drive slowly and avoid hard brakings and accelerations.

nippon

[Ebrandon]

Thanks for all the help. I will have to concentrate on staying relaxed.

Not looking at what you don't want to hit is a good one. I have done some other Sports (for lack of a better word) where they called it "target fixation" and sure enough if you fixated on what you didn't want to hit, you hit it every time.

[ProTeal55]

If you want to practice , just come over to my house.
My alley is gravel 

[Rushoid]

If you want to practice , just come over to my house.
My alley is gravel 

That's one of the better pick-up lines I've heard! Does it ever work?

[ElCheapo]

If you want to practice , just come over to my house.
My alley is gravel 

That's one of the better pick-up lines I've heard! Does it ever work?

Problably not but it does beat others I have heard 

[ProTeal55]

I was trying to help a fellow rider out guys, thats all..

[Chris Schneiter]

Give your bike a really nice paint job. It's amazing how that keeps you upright!

[Rocking-M]

Just don't get tense, no creasing the seat now

Dirt roads are a bit more to handle than gravel.
I learned on the first and now ride on the second.
Here in the Blue Ridge we have a lot of gravel. Most of the time is
pretty hard packed and if you stay out of the middles you'll probably
feel the same as on a paved road. Just take it easy, if it gets a bit
squirrely ease on the throttle to a hard section then back off.
I don't mean crank on the throttle, just give it a little fuel
to pick up on your front end a bit.
Go for it, you'll do fine.
Robert

[cmorgan47]

what everybody said about drive slow, anticipate turns/stops.

also, i was reading recently about the tendency to take your feet off the pegs and glide them along the ground.  i knew this was wrong, and that you should instead "load the pegs" but it pointed out something i hadn't considered.  when you take your feet off the pegs, you tend to put more weight on the bars thereby making yourself more unstable. 

[ProTeal55]

i was reading recently about the tendency to take your feet off the pegs and glide them along the ground. i knew this was wrong, and that you should instead "load the pegs" but it pointed out something i hadn't considered. when you take your feet off the pegs, you tend to put more weight on the bars thereby making yourself more unstable.

Good point....

[Zip]

The bike itself will be a factor as to how well it, and you, handles gravel or dirt.  Generally, as far as streetbikes are concerned, lower and lighter are better.  Also, try to use your rear brake more than the front (to avoid 'plowing') and I try to use 2nd gear.  First is too jerky and actually makes control more difficult.

My .16 bit.

Zip

http://tinyurl.com/rv496

[DRam]

I've put many miles on my a CL350, CB00 and '79 CB650 on dirt and gravel roads.  Once you get used to it there is really no problem.  Loose on the bars, let it hunt if it wants and don't try to force it.  You'll quickly learn to read the road and spot loose gravel or dirt, ruts, huge rocks, etc.  Don't try for pavement speeds. Don't get agressive with the brakes, especially if there is loose gravel under you.  Don't be afraid of the road.  Slow down, relax and enjoy the ride.

[tramp]

live on gravel roads
stay on the crown of the road if you can
take it easy
i found that if you use both brakes together evenly your stopping is more controlled
easy on the gas
easy on the turns

[nickjtc]

Not looking at what you don't want to hit is a good one. I have done some other Sports (for lack of a better word) where they called it "target fixation" and sure enough if you fixated on what you didn't want to hit, you hit it every time.

One of the sad realities of life, whether you ride on or off gravel. Look where you WANT to go, and you will go there; fixate on that pothole, or the numbnuts in the truck who has just pulled out in front of you and you WILL hit it/him.