Joy of not being limited by gravel

[MD]

Firstly the title implies that gravel stops road based bikes. Rubbish we have all done silly dirt roads on road bikes with super sticky [sealed] tyres. Any way what I mean is having the right tool for the job improves the experience. For me today was an awesome experience of not having that nagging feeling of ruining good quality $$$$ road tyres or the worry of wrecking $$$$$ plastic on a supersport. Covid is not all bad. GET OUT AND SEE WHAT'S ON YOUR DOORSTEP!.

This little KTM 390 single is unbelievably fast on seal, wearing it out to the edge of the sidewall, and a breeze on gravel. A day out, exhausted, cracking into the wine to celebrate. Life is good.

Frustrated that friends with adventure bikes aren't making the effort to get out and use them as intended. From Kapiti the Wairarapa has been the common destination. Today I went north, flicked over the Piahiatua track and out towards Pongoroa. Now I've done Masterton to Pongo to Akitio beach many times and Makura Gorge on road bikes but today I could enjoy taking side roads off seal. Waihi Falls- Shit a brick what a beautiful spot and the farm back roads were so much fun to get there.

Akitio-Pongoroa Coast road southward was a stunner. Disappointedly it was more sealed that I expected.
Oh yeah if you look closely at the southward view along the Coast road that is [I think] Castle Point sticking up like an erection where the land touches the sea.

Sadly only met one motorcyclist all day at Pongo. he had ridden down from Hawkes Bay for a day ride- good man! On a 1000 V2 Suzuki adventure thingly magingy.

When most of the world is slipping further into Covid misery we can get out and live normal lives. I will drink to that. oh, I am.

[Bonez]

I've NEVER used these sticky tires you speak of.

458kms today on the XF650.

[MD]

I've NEVER used these sticky tires you speak of.

458kms today on the XF650.

Well done for getting out and riding all day. Share some pics. Good road, bad road?. All that R&D money spent on building bikes was not for them to sit in a garage gathering dust.

[Bonez]

Well done for getting out and riding all day. Share some pics. Good road, bad road?. All that R&D money spent on building bikes was not for them to sit in a garage gathering dust.Only pics I took were of Mums new headstone. All good sealed back country roads. Did 80kms on road I've never ridden on before. Small patch of gravel on Burma Rd. About 100kms of night riding.

[MD]

Bugger night riding. Bike lights are useless in daylight and even worse at night. Or maybe it's my aging eyesight. Nah, they were useless when I had hair.

[eldog]

Bugger night riding. Bike lights are useless in daylight and even worse at night. Or maybe it's my aging eyesight. Nah, they were useless when I had hair.

Bike lights generally are crap at night.

And far too many cars with driver side lights which have failed

[Bonez]

Riding at night is a piece of piss now I'm not using my glasses. Use to get double reflections when I did wear them.

Led lenses are available as well as accessory led lamps. Or you can put an led bulb in and just swap it out at WoF time.

You see cars have things called headlights and tail lights and they are very visible at night.

Just saying....

[Racing Dave]

Bike lights generally are crap at night.



...but can be made good...

[Gremlin]

Took a long weekend last weekend, Thurs to Tues. Went all down the west coast of the NI Raglan to Awakino, inland a bit through Kiwi Rd, slogged the rain on Friday to Wellington. Sunday was Martinborough and north up through Puketoi etc, Minginui and Waikaremoana on Monday, then Motu to wrap it up on Tuesday before the hike back to Auckland. Good times!

[Bonez]

Just adjusted the led driveng lights on the XF650 to a better position. I tested them last night with the headlight disabled.
The difference is quite clear. The left led has been adjusted while the right led is in the position both were last night.

[Laava]

That Kiwi rd is a nice little adventure! But the Motu gets a bit scary when you meet the empty logging trucks charging up it!

[BMWST?]

Took a long weekend last weekend, Thurs to Tues. Went all down the west coast of the NI Raglan to Awakino, inland a bit through Kiwi Rd, slogged the rain on Friday to Wellington. Sunday was Martinborough and north up through Puketoi etc, Minginui and Waikaremoana on Monday, then Motu to wrap it up on Tuesday before the hike back to Auckland. Good times!



nice we did this one weekend after dropping daughter at auckalnd airport,went the same route.At one point i think the gps reckoned the road didnt go through(heading south after bridal veil falls) but it did.some awesome views along there

[Bonez]

Somewhere in the Wirerapper.....

[MD]

That's the story, good to see folks posting up some pictures of their rides. Nice one Gremlin that's a rough looking road.

[Bonez]

Somewhere in the Manawatu.

[nzspokes]

Out Riverhead ways. And a WW2 tank trap by Hamilton.

[MD]

Somewhere in the Wirerapper.....

Nah that can't be the Wairarapa. There's not a vineyard or Cafe in sight?

[MD]

Yea ha we've booked our sailings for the Molesworth & Rainbow valley trip and going to explore as far as the roads will take us at the top of the South around Collingwood. So looking forward to this summer escape.

[Bonez]

Nah that can't be the Wairarapa. There's not a vineyard or Cafe in sight?That's the posh half. The other half has better roads and no vine yards.

Just saying...

[Danger Mouse]

I've never ridden on gravel, but intend to. I imagine that it feels a little bit floaty? any advice?

[caseye]

Wear a life jacket!
For when it stops floating!
The thing about owning a big traily, you can go pretty much anywhere you want, as long as the skill set is sharpish.
Treat gravel with respect, don't fear it, ride calmly and feel what's happening, it'll come.:banana:

[MD]

I've never ridden on gravel, but intend to. I imagine that it feels a little bit floaty? any advice?

The key difference is crashing on gravel usually hurts less.

And bugger all chance of a speeding ticket

[Gremlin]

I've never ridden on gravel, but intend to. I imagine that it feels a little bit floaty? any advice?
Step by step. The bike will move around on gravel, don't fight it, but work with it. Let it move in some bits, try to anticipate when it isn't a good time.
On narrow winding roads, expect the local traffic to not expect you, so ride with caution (and quickly get out of the way of B trains, tractors etc).

The road surface will vary from slimy mud to well worn/compacted gravel to freshly graded gravel (urgh) to meeting the grader etc. Tyre choice is more tricky than road tyres, do you go groove based or block based, do you use different tyres on front and rear for different pros and cons. Ultimately, the best 2/3 of NZ are off the sealed roads, so get out and start exploring :woohoo:

[pete376403]

Step by step. The bike will move around on gravel, don't fight it, but work with it. Let it move in some bits, try to anticipate when it isn't a good time.
On narrow winding roads, expect the local traffic to not expect you, so ride with caution (and quickly get out of the way of B trains, tractors etc).

The road surface will vary from slimy mud to well worn/compacted gravel to freshly graded gravel (urgh) to meeting the grader etc. Tyre choice is more tricky than road tyres, do you go groove based or block based, do you use different tyres on front and rear for different pros and cons. Ultimately, the best 2/3 of NZ are off the sealed roads, so get out and start exploring :woohoo:


All that plus dont hold the bars too tight - and put a bit of trust in the three gyroscopes (wheels and crankshaft) that assist in keeping the bike upright

[BMWST?]

Do your absolute best to stay in the least gravelled part of the road.If you have to cross a thicker gravel "ridge" then a slight application of the throttle seems to help the front wheel float up over it,but keep looking ahead,you dont want to be applying throttle as you approach a gravelled corner.Your stopping distances on gravel will be much longer than on the seal.Clean dry dirt how ever has a lot of grip.And keep as far left as possible approaching blind corners!

[rocketman1]

Took a long weekend last weekend, Thurs to Tues. Went all down the west coast of the NI Raglan to Awakino, inland a bit through Kiwi Rd, slogged the rain on Friday to Wellington. Sunday was Martinborough and north up through Puketoi etc, Minginui and Waikaremoana on Monday, then Motu to wrap it up on Tuesday before the hike back to Auckland. Good times!

Done this Kiwi Road last week. Talk about a road less travelled. Awesome especially the Eastern end, 1st /2nd gear stuff.
Never saw another bike / vehicle in 2 hours very remote, if you went off the edge it would be months before they found you, if ever.

[Bonez]

Done this Kiwi Road last week. Talk about a road less travelled. Awesome especially the Eastern end, 1st /2nd gear stuff.
Never saw another bike / vehicle in 2 hours very remote, if you went off the edge it would be months before they found you, if ever.Yip. Great isn't it? Yey the usual KB moaning minnies still bitch about roads being too congested with tourist and cage drivers lol.

[FJRider]

The key difference is crashing on gravel usually hurts less.

And bugger all chance of a speeding ticket

The key word is "Usually" ...

It has been done ... :innocent:

[FJRider]

I've never ridden on gravel, but intend to. I imagine that it feels a little bit floaty? any advice?

Just go do it ... <_<