Tips for gravel riding needed

[soundbeltfarm]

i went on a ride awhile ago and we rode a fair section of gravel road.
it was awesome to ride but i want any tips for riding it faster.
i had my mate on a quad on my arse the whole way and i couldn't shake him off .
is it just because he got four wheels on the ground or what.
do you lean forward and let the back all hang out?
i was trying to lean as far forawrd as possible to try and weight the front and the rear would slide out a bit.
do i just need more gravel riding so i get a better feel for having the arse slide out quite far while still being in control.
cheers

[Steam]

I am really freaked out to ride on gravel after I fell off and broke myself, wrote off the bike. I am interested in riding tips for gravel too.

[Nagash]

Bugger that this is for off road bikes. On my little cruiser with road tires I usually just roll to a slow and go along at like 30 but you're talking about going faster!

Good on yah mate and will be interested to see the hints.

[Buddy L]

I see on alot of trail rides with gravel sections people over shooting the corners.
Maybe weighting the out side peg as you turn.
hanging the back out, might not be the fastest way along the road.
Smooth flowing, taking the corners more like a racing car eg wider and cut in at the apex, instead of sliding it or backing it in.

[RiderInBlack]

Motu is the one ya want ta talk ta.

Jantar could help too.

[Quicker_with_age]

Hey Karl in opinion a good quad and rider will always have the uper hand on that kind of terrain.
Your kind of on the knifes edge when your riding at speed on gravel in my opinion, like buddy said cut the apex to make the corners less sharp. Dont fall on gravel its nasty!!!

[cowpoos]

Your judgement and throttle control are what ya need...

Riding gravel roads isn't all that hard...you just ned to workout where the grip is...its in the tyre marks left by 4 wheel vehicles...do all your braking in a straight line..you don't need to back it in [infact I recomend ya dont...nothing smooth about that till you can absaloutly master it..even then its still marginal as far as room for error is concerned]...so brake in a straigh line...just before your tipping in to a turn...you on the throttle..no matter how little...you on it some...not holding...on it!! aim for your mid corner [apex if you want] point to be on a tyre track...rolling on the throttle the whole time...powering harder when your on a swept bit of gravel road or tyre track...so as your lifting the bike up I lean forward a little bit...lifting the bike up a bit before me...as your back tyre hits heavy gravel between tyre tracks etc..I hold throttle...just for a tad...as soon as the front is on a tyre track again...roll it back on...all your actions should be positive and be relaxed...don't dominate or force your bike to move/change direction...your guiding it...with multiple corners you really need to be efficient with the space you have to get in the best position for the following corners...this does not nesseccarily mean using the whole road or lane..

Main thing to remember...roll the throttle on as soon as you turn...and hold it if you have too...never off it!! [well there are exceptions...but so few and far between to worry about]...trust your judgement... look down the road...reley on your periferal vision alot...

[cowpoos]

Hey Karl in opinion a good quad and rider will always have the uper hand on that kind of terrain.

I'll happily disagree...no disrespect!! but...I spent years riding both quads and dirt bikes...and I believe that a dirtbike is faster by a margin on gravel.

exceptions are ofcourse super super super modified specilist pikes peak type quads...but genrally...not the case.

[Motu]

You've got the bike,so that part is sorted.Maybe soften the suspension from MX settings,you need to keep the wheels on the ground over corrugations and stuff.Just go smooth,use all the road (in safety!) slow in,fast out.Stay loose,don't fight it.....but stay on top of it and keep control.You are right to keep forward,you can sit back for hook up on straights.Don't lean the bike too much in corners,keep the bike vertical and slide using body English - like surfing.Everyone has their own tricks...it appears I use far more rear brake than anyone else,my rear disc smokes and goes blue.I guess I have some rear wheel control thing going on as I'm playing with the rear brake all the time....don't ask me to explain as I don't know,I just do it.

The quad has a huge advantage on gravel over a bike (4 wheels are always faster than 2) as they can be sideways all the time.But a bike is very fast on gravel they just don't look it....they are in the top 10 in the Race to the Sky.I raced my XR200 in a rally sprint and did the same time as a 2 litre Escort rally car.

And the number one Golden Rule for gravel roads - There is ALWAYS a car or big truck coming around the next corner!! Who cares how fast you were if you end up on a hay rake towed by a John Deer.

[Jantar]

I agree with all of Motu's comments, and would only add a couple of minor points.

Keep your weight on your foot pegs, not your bum. That doesn't mean you have to ride standing up, but your legs should be your main support, not your seat. Let the bike move around, and just go with it, don't fight it.

"Smooth" is the over riding secret. Ease off early for corners rather than harsh braking and go around them under steady but increasing throttle. Power on harder when you can see that your exit is clear.

[johnnyflash]

Motu put it well, everyone has their own style of riding in gravel/dirt and it depends on the bike you are on at the time. cruisers and heavy road bikes handle different to dirt bikes just because of weight distribution, size & style of tyres etc and how well you can compensate the weight distribution with your body.. these things have to be learnt through much practice. But as was pointed out by cowpoos scan the track, look for best hardpack / tyretracks, even throttle control, most of all DONT PANIC when the bike dances, use throttle and your weight if possible, keep a reasonable speed in deep gravel.. speed will increase as you learn to read the conditions, as with most motorcycling its practice practice practice, keep within your capability, dont over extend. (needless to say Im refering to a road bike gravel riding, rather than a full on MX bike which is a different cup of tea altogether :-)

[Ktmboy]

If you go into a corner too hot or it squares off on you then the best thing is to grap a handful of throttle and slide the back out. This then points you in the right direction (quads ride lower and just love being roosted).

I alway find Quads right up my date on road sections as well. If he gives ya shit then point him at a couple of tight trails and see who comes out first then.

[Danger]

Not much to add other than on just about all trail rides that have gravel roads I always come across Mum and Dad and the kids spread all across the rode even through the corners. Makes me cringe to think whats gonna happen one day when that pig hunter with the dogs on the back of the ute come around the corner from the other direction. There are other users out there, don't expect the road to be clear so stick to the left and Mum and Dad please enforce this. It makes it safer for us guys passing on the right too instead of having to weave in and out to get past.

Other than sticking to your side of the road I always find that I have more control and get around the corners quicker and with more confidence standing and weighting the outside pegs and easeing of the brakes (not dumping them) and rolling the throttle on then sitting towards the back to get traction. 10% tire slippage is maximum forward momentum so you don't want your tire snaking up the road. Not an expert on gravel by any means but thats what works for me.

[Motu]

I'm definitely an advocate of get on the gas early,and like to maximise my sideways action....BUT.On gravel roads you don't get on the gas until you see the exit! OK,so that makes you slower than all the others....but you might live longer.

[Quicker_with_age]

I'll happily disagree...no disrespect!! but...I spent years riding both quads and dirt bikes...and I believe that a dirtbike is faster by a margin on gravel.

Hmmm Depends what skill levels we are talking but I still feel that an average rider not a pro would be faster on four wheels than two, Hell I feel I could go faster on a quad myself even though I ride 2.

[sels1]

Shift the emphisis more to the back brake than the front while you are gaining experience. Its one of those things you do by feel...you will develop a style over time

[marks]

the type of bike that you are on can have a huge impact on how easy it all is.

My WR450 feels 'nervous' or 'skatey' on gravel and needs to be ridden aggressively to 'hook up' where as my DT230 feels so planted at the front and very stable regardless of what the back end is doing. My XT660X was like a plow on gravel - getting the fat 17" front to bite was hard work.

A low center of gravity and forward weight bias like the DT makes it easy to go fast.

Interestingly - I just took the DT down the Molesworth (200k of gravel) and when I filled a 5 liter can of gas that was in one of the panniers the handling went to shit (it would wobble alarmingly on corners). Once the petrol was dumped into the tank it all came good again - go figure?

[Motu]

The reason the DT230 is so light on the front is because it's a 2 stroke.When you throttle off on a 4 stroke it loads the front end,making it feel heavy and plow,that's why you have to get on the gas early to regain control and lighten the front.A 2 stroke is like pulling in the clutch for corners,the front stays light and goes where you point it.The DT230 also wheel spins very easily,this takes the load off the front wheel too.One of the best gravel road bikes I've ever had.

[soundbeltfarm]

Thanks for all the input.
i will be going out to the same road next weekend for two days so will put into practice all the tips here and see what happens .
will let you know.
Thanks again

[homer]

I can only assume your talking sornering with upper speed in mind so im guessing that your going round most corners at about 60 km up to 100km .
if this is the case i really dont know what you want to know cause your obviously doing something right

i would let the back hang out to much as you really can only do what the bike will let you
and you ll know when the bike wont do .

as for shingle going straight well faster the better
just let the bike go where it wants dont try to control it to much

[soundbeltfarm]

not to sure how fast i would be going but i dont think it would be near 100kph.
actually it would be really good to know how fast some corners are being taken at.
i think alot of it is i feel limited as i dont take chances on the corners until you can see clear rd ahead.
and i dont intend on taking them.

[homer]

I think your doing the right things on the shingle just need to get more certain of it over time riding on shingle

[crazefox]

Ride hard of you will crash