Safe to ride gravel?

[Wasp]

I'm going camping with some mates on boxing day and im wondering if i should take the bike.

The place is White Rock (out back of martinborough) about an hours drive from Petone in a car.

The problem is that the last bit is on a private gravel road through a farm. Im wondering if its worth taking the bike and if it is how to handle the gravel because i have never ridden anything more than a re-sealed road before.

bike is a honda vtz 250 and i can check to see what the tires are if that helps.
ive had my license since the start of october and been riding almost everyday since about mid october.

cheers

[cowboyz]

just dont do stupid things on the gravel and you will be fine. Watch your speed, brake carefully and slowly. Try to keep away from the deep gravel that moves under you.

Your concentration levels will be higher but the bike wont fall over on its own. Just watch what you are doing and all will be fine.

It is all experience. If you don't do it then by the end of the holidays you still wouldnt have experienced riding on gravel.

[froggyfrenchman]

Cowboyz summed it up perfectly. But if you dont feel ready, dont push yourself.

[sels1]

Yeah, give it a go. Just take it easy and be careful with your braking. Start slowly and speed up when you have got the feel for it. Try and stick to the hard stuff in the wheel ruts and avoid the thick loose stuff in the middle. It will be a good learning experience.

[Brett]

As these other blokes have stated, you will be sweet. Just go easy.

[Sniper]

Ride careful mate. I wouldn't reccomend it, but its been a while since I was on gravel

[Grumpy]

Easy does it and you'll be fine. Just stay away from the front brake as much as possible.

[Lord Alster]

Easy does it and you'll be fine. Just stay away from the front brake as much as possible.

You hit the nail on the head my friend, leave the front brake alone as much as possible or your front wheel will disappear from under you.

[beyond]

Been in gravel heaps. All the guys are correct.
The front brake is a last resort. Always use the rear brake as it stabilises you in the loose stuff. If you don't know the road, do not ride fast. If you can't ride speedway style, hanging it out, do not speed around corners.

ALWAYS stay where the least gravel is especially in corners.

Gravel is quite okay and once you are used to it, not a problem if you take care.

If you should get into the heavy stuff for any reason, do not panic brake or try to twist the bars. You'll drop it so quick you won't know what happened.
Gently persuade the bike back into the clear gravel lines and use the rear brake lightly if need be.

If the above does not work, then you were going too fast for the road.

[flash]

ever riden a dirt bike?, i would be more scared how dirty its going to get ;)

[oldrider]

I am reluctant to try to give advice about how to ride but here are a few thoughts I will share with you.
Do not be intimidated by gravel or you will have to push your bike through every roadworks you ever come across.
I use my front brake almost all the time and use the engine and gear box to control the rear wheel.
Sometimes you will feel that the wheel marks in the gravel etc act a bit like riding on railway lines and you may momentarily lose your confidence.
When that happens change down and shake the handle bars a bit and work the throttle to get your bike tracking again until you regain your confidence.
When in doubt power out. If you are timid your going to lose some skin.
Once you gain confident control over your front wheel you will soon have your back one swinging out all over the place under power and loving it.
Your tyres are better slightly under inflated rather than over inflated but be carefull with that aspect. Have you got a pump.
Your biggest threat will come from oncoming traffic and stock. Learn to anticipate how stock behave and how to avoid them.
I have been out to White Rock myself but not for many many years. Have a good time. Cheers John.

[flash]

dont be worried dude, it will take alot to fall off, "just do it" i promise you wont fall off

[avgas]

any brake is a last resort - the engine should slow you down.
But use the back brake as a emergency brake if you have to, and a small amount of front.
Go for a ride on the grass/gravel etc beforehand to test yourself

[Dadpole]

I know White Rock well, so here goes.
It takes about 1 hour (approx 70 km) from Featherston. It is a fairly bad road from Tutumuri to the rock (approx 20 km). Single lane most of the way, and a lot of blind corners. You should be OK on your road bike as long as you resist the temptation to nail it on the straight bits and watch out for other traffic.
The public road goes to the beach, but the road that goes around the coast to Ngawi crosses private land and the gate is locked. No way around the gate i'm afraid. Walking access to the DOC hut and surfing spot is OK. About a 3 km walk.
The only camping is on the beachfront reserve at White Rock itself. The problem there is that a northwesterly wind turns it into a wind tunnel. I saw a caravan turned over there once.
All of White Rock bay is very exposed to wind. Anything over a 20 knot wind in the marine forcast means I will not go anywhere near the place. I had a 10 ft inflatable boat blown out to sea (was 50 metres from the water at the time) and watched it going end over end to the horizon.

Moral of the story:
Very exposed place.

[Wasp]

Hah dadpole, sorry but i forgot to say i'd already been there a few times. i sort of know the road but have never driven it myself.

As for that gate onto the private land thats locked.... We know the guy who owns it and lives there, through my mates parents. We are allowed in and allowed to stay and hunt there.

As for motivation not to fall off: my mate's parent's friend did just that a few years back. No bike now and a scarry looking face.

The main reason I want to take the bike is for the ride over there. If only i could drop the bike in somewhere...

Im still undecided though.
Pros:
- Good ride
- Learn to ride better
- Have fun
- Actually using the bike to travel instead of just riding around.

Cons:
- Dangerous
- Dirty Bike
- Too far away if the bike has problems

What about stuff like the fuel tank? Empty? Full? (I could fill a can and put it in a car/truck)
What would be the ideal tire pressure? (Currently on 36 Front and 42 Rear)

I won't be carrying any gear either because it will be in the cars/trucks because the my mates parents and their mates are comming too.

[XTC]

Christ I wouldn't ride a bike on gravel if you paid me!! That stuff is just plain dangerous! Never Ever Ride On Gravel I don't want too many people getting in my way out there]

Seroiusly tho don't think too much about it just do it. Youll find that there is a ton of grip available on gravel most of the time. Just take it easy and keep left on right hand corners if they are blind. Once you get comfortable you can then start trying to steer with the rear out of corners. That's fun. I have ridden every bike i've owned on gravel roads and they can all do it. The most fun road bike I had on the gravel was my Honda VF1000R. My VFR750 was also pretty good. You can let some air out of your tyres if you need to but don't worry too much. Full tank probably the go as it sounds like it's a bit of a hike there and back so you wouldn't want to run out. Just go ahead and do it. You'll have a great time and quit worrying.

[Colapop]

Nice country out that way. I used to live down Pirinoa when I was younger - where I learned to ride my first bike Kawasaki 90 (can't remember model).
Take it easy & have fun.

[R1madness]

Gravel is fun, Dont be scared. Move back on the seat a bit and dont be shy with the throttle, keep the revs up, Travel in a gear lower than you would normally use for the speed you are going (this helps keep momentum up in the deeper stuff and momentum will save your skin). Use the brakes as normal, the people that say stay off the front brake have it all wrong. If front brakes were not meant to be used in gravel or dirt they would not come fitted to dirt bikes hahaha.
Just pace yourself and have fun. I take my R1 on gravel often enough and its fine. Its all about confidence.

[Dadpole]

Wasp: For what it is worth, take the bike. The road from Martinborough to Tutumuri is sealed, and is a great piece of road. Your bike will be good for a gravel road like the one to the rock.
You doing any fishing or surfing there?

My son and I may be out there at the same time, so I will keep an eye out for you.

[dawnrazor]

I have no problem riding on gravel ,take it easy is all. The biggest concern is that the stones can flick up and get everywhere on the bike, chip paint work or crack head lights (if your really unlucky).

Reminda me of last year driving back from pakiri up the gravel road, only to be met by a lambourgini coming down the hill. That car must have been screwed, it was only about 2 inchs off the deck. very worried looking woman driving if memory serves.

[Wasp]

Wasp: For what it is worth, take the bike. The road from Martinborough to Tutumuri is sealed, and is a great piece of road. Your bike will be good for a gravel road like the one to the rock.
You doing any fishing or surfing there?

My son and I may be out there at the same time, so I will keep an eye out for you.

going up on the 26th, want to meet somewhere and ride over?

fishing with nets, paua and craypots more than likely, will be camping just after the bridge to the right would be good to meet you somewhere there but like i said, it is private land and i dont know how welcome you would be. mabye we should meet at a certain day and time on the beach?

[Bartman10]

Yeah, like wot everyone said. Take it easy, go with the flow, don't fight it.

I assume you've got a helmet, so provided you take it easy you won't mash your face too bad if you come off at low speed.

But seriously, just relax, don't hang off and don't accelerate, decelerate or turn too quickly. Keep your arms slightly bent and elbows pointing slightly out. You might feel the bike tracking a bit, like it's caught in a rut. Don't panic and go with the flow.

The biggest serious threat is oncoming traffic; you're unlikely to seriously hurt yourself in a low speed front wheel washout (assuming you've got some semi-decent riding gear and boots). Stick to the left and keep you headlight on. If you see an approaching car in the distance, don't be afraid to stop and wait for it to pass.

[Ixion]

Proper gravel is easier than resealed road . If in doubt give it full throttle in the lowest gear you can. It'll either get you out of trouble of crash you completley.

[cowpoos]

I'm going camping with some mates on boxing day and im wondering if i should take the bike.

The place is White Rock (out back of martinborough) about an hours drive from Petone in a car.

The problem is that the last bit is on a private gravel road through a farm. Im wondering if its worth taking the bike and if it is how to handle the gravel because i have never ridden anything more than a re-sealed road before.

bike is a honda vtz 250 and i can check to see what the tires are if that helps.
ive had my license since the start of october and been riding almost everyday since about mid october.

cheers

riding on gravel is fine....every time I go for a ride I start and finnish on gravel...my driveway is 3km long lose gravel and the road is 5km long fine gravel [like most gravel roads] drive in the wheel tracks...don't go to fast [i usually tavel as 50-80kmph]...but don't what ever you do drive too slow...if you drive too slow things seem to wooble [but not to the extent you fall off...it just don't feel nice]....someone mention don't use front brakes [last resort of sumthing]...arse feck...front brakes are fine...I've done stoppies on my road before...sheeeesh!!...your bike will be fine...just do it...you'll be cautious anyway..other wise you wouldn't have asked this question...and once you've done it you be wondering what all the fuss was about...

go hard man...enjoy your ride :niceone:

[Dadpole]

going up on the 26th, want to meet somewhere and ride over?

fishing with nets, paua and craypots more than likely, will be camping just after the bridge to the right would be good to meet you somewhere there but like i said, it is private land and i dont know how welcome you would be. mabye we should meet at a certain day and time on the beach?

Won't be able to go until 27th, (house full of in-laws - bloody Xmas) but will be out 27th weather permitting. If it is a NW gale we will be staying home.
We will have a look for you. Will be in a grey 4x4 van.

Have a good time, and be extra careful when you measure the pauas etc. MAF are running beefed-up operations on the Wairarapa coast over Summer, so don't be surprised if you see them. :chase:

A couple of pics for those who have not been to White Rock. The DOC hut & the view from by the hut in the morning.