Riding on gravel roads

[Hijak]

So the long weekend is calling and the good weather seems to be sticking around for a bit so we can all get on two wheels.

My brothers going up to Tawharanui camping for the weekend and i was going to join him but ride my Hornet up there (as long as it's back from the garage in time)....

Problem: The last few k's to Tawharanui are all on an unsealed road, quite stoney, very dusty and a piece of piss and quite fun to drive in a car, but i'm sure on two wheels is very different.

Does anyone have any tips for riding on gravel roads or should it just be avoided if you don't have semi off road tyres etc.

Cheers

Jake

[firefighter]

a real important one.........since your going to be miles from anywhere......slooowww dowwwwnnnn, because if anything happens then it's going to take a long time for someone to reach you, and even longer if it takes a while for the next car to pass if you can't call for help yourself, other than that I ride in the "bro lines" or tracks made by cars.

[mstriumph]

good luck with it

gravel scares the daylights out of me ......... :(

[xwhatsit]

should it just be avoided if you don't have semi off road tyres etc.

Certainly not! I thoroughly enjoy riding on gravel with my road bike. It's a right laugh -- you get to do things you can't do on tarmac with a 250, like powersliding and wheelspinning for protracted lengths of time and all kinds of fun things.

Biggest thing is to relax. The bike will move quite a bit underneath you -- the handlebars will waggle back and forth. Just let it, these small movements will occur but the bike (on the whole) keeps moving in the direction you pointed it in. Don't have a death grip on the handlebars.

Keep in a `rut'. Preferably the left-most wheeltrack, as lunatic 4WDs will come tearing round corners and you won't be able to get out of their way in a hurry.

Be smooth when cornering. Slow down well before the corner (it takes you a long while to stop), then keep the bike accelerating through the corner. It seems that as long as keep the power on, the front wheel is unlikely to lose traction. If the rear wheel kicks out, then hang it out and enjoy it :devil2:

You can brake surprisingly well with the front brake. The weight transfer gives a lot of grip. Took me ages to learn to trust it. Just do it in a straight line.

Standing up on the pegs (should be easy with a Hornet, they've got normal pegs and quite high bars) can help on occasion. Experiment.

Have fun! I've seen a Hornet 250 do nasty shingle before, did quite nicely :) Relax and enjoy yourself.

[tri boy]

Take your time.
Relax.
Brake early, and in the wheel tracks. (actually, try and ride in the tracks as much as you can while learning).
Slow in, faster out of corners.
Grip the bars lightly.
Eyes up n looking for ruts, potholes etc.
Enjoy.;)

[jrandom]

What xwhatsit and triboy said.

Riding in gravel's great fun, even on a GSX1400.

Number one rule - stay steady on the gas. If you're putting power down and pointing the front wheel where you want to go, it's very unlikely that you'll fall off.

You just have to find a way of mentally switching to seeing your motorcycle as a giant mountainbike that you don't have to pedal.

:niceone:

[Rosie]

Slow down, and look where you want to go.

As well as everything else that has been said here:

On straights - put your weight back as far as you can, and hold onto the bars gently. The front wheel will wiggle around, but you'll keep going straight.

On corners - slide your weight right forward and hold onto the bars more firmly. Look where you want to go, and try and hold the bars moderately steady (they will still wiggle, but you want to stop the front from tucking in). The faster you go, the more weight you need over the front wheel to retain traction while you are turning.

[sweetp]

I am so with you on the not liking gravel thing. But had to do it on a ride a little while ago and the others gave me this little mantra - back brake only and if in doubt wheelie it out!

Relax and look forward to the arrival at the destination.

Have fun and ride safe

[homer]

once you get the feel for it ,its wicked fun .
i want another traill bike , a 600 650 i think ,
maybe a 400 dr even .
something to throw around the corners and that donuts easy .
a real fun bike .
question to anyone ?
will a 600 650 pull about 170 km 180 km
i want one that will

[mowgli]

Keep your eyes up. Don't get caught out staring at the road only a few meters beyond your front.

[ital916]

I learnt all those lessons the hard way when we rode through the gravel roads from hell on the way back from cape reinga. It's all true, look where you wanna go, the bike will move fuckloads, go with the flow and don't do what I did and slow down too much, cos then it all goes to poo.

[Subike]

shingle + 1100cc = fun
rear brake... more of,
roostertails, cages dont follow close...but watch out for your mate behind you
pot holes....dont try and swerve to avoid them, the result is worse than the bump.
tyres dont really matter what they are, as long as they not flat.
corrogations? stand on pegs and let the bike float

But most of all relax, if you fight the bike, it will bite...nasty

[Owl]

Keep left!!!

[homer]

shingle + 1100cc = fun
rear brake... more of,
roostertails, cages dont follow close...but watch out for your mate behind you
pot holes....dont try and swerve to avoid them, the result is worse than the bump.
tyres dont really matter what they are, as long as they not flat.
corrogations? stand on pegs and let the bike float

But most of all relax, if you fight the bike, it will bite...nasty

hell yeah, and just keep the throttle on
its wicked when your going slow and you want to go left and the wheels lock that direction but the rear still wants to go left as well
great stuff

[Taz]

Don't fear the gravel. You will still accomplish most of your braking using the front brake. Be smooth and treat it like a slippery wet road until you get a feel for it.

[smokeyging]

try and keep your bike in the wheelmarks made by the cars, if you end up on the loose gravel in the middle of the wheel marks be darned careful with your braking and cornering for its like being on ice or riding on ball bearings.

[xwhatsit]

try and keep your bike in the wheelmarks made by the cars, if you end up on the loose gravel in the middle of the wheel marks be darned careful with your braking and cornering for its like being on ice or riding on ball bearings.

If you want to `change lanes' as it were (no, I don't mean surprise buttsex), give it a handful of throttle. Don't back off when you're in that kind of marbelly muck -- I made that mistake of closing the throttle on a dead straight piece of road (deep gravel), Motu was behind and called it a `moment', I called it a four letter word when the bike started ploughing a furrow and I had to put my foot down.

So there's another good idea -- wear some sturdy boots :2thumbsup

[pjpnz]

Number one tip: ALWAYS look where you want to go. You want to stay in the wheel tracks, so that is where to look.

If you look at the side of the road.... that's where you will head. Look where you want to go!!!

And go slow...

Enjoy!!

[Ryan432]

The most valuble thing to me that I do when riding in gravel is to let the tryes down a bit, this improves handling 100%! Also as has been mentioned before keep the power on in the loose stuff or you lose control of where you want to go. Don't be afraid to put a foor down either a VTR can be ridden just like a dirt bike, once you get confident stand up and pin it!! My old GN used to handle the gravel like a dream. Just remember to take a foot pump to pump the tyres back up for the road or just ride slowly to a petrol station. Rember also to regrease any moving parts after water crossings. :rockon:

[helenoftroy]

once you get the feel for it ,its wicked fun .
i want another traill bike , a 600 650 i think ,
maybe a 400 dr even .
something to throw around the corners and that donuts easy .
a real fun bike .
question to anyone ?
will a 600 650 pull about 170 km 180 km
i want one that will

Geez homer!!stop drooling and get a trail bike:drool:
The Dark Side is fun:devil2:
I believe some 650's(with the appropriate sproket)can pull 170kms......:innocent:

Hijak,there was some good advice here-hope you got away over the weekend and conquered the shingle

[awayatc]

anybody mention not to follow anybody......? unless you like eating dust...:chase::chase:

[skidMark]

So the long weekend is calling and the good weather seems to be sticking around for a bit so we can all get on two wheels.

My brothers going up to Tawharanui camping for the weekend and i was going to join him but ride my Hornet up there (as long as it's back from the garage in time)....

Problem: The last few k's to Tawharanui are all on an unsealed road, quite stoney, very dusty and a piece of piss and quite fun to drive in a car, but i'm sure on two wheels is very different.

Does anyone have any tips for riding on gravel roads or should it just be avoided if you don't have semi off road tyres etc.

Cheers

Jake

Balls...


...people without them, drift in cars.

[quallman1234]

Avoid / be gentle on the front brake.

[skidMark]

Avoid / be gentle on the front brake.

What are brakes? They those thingys that slow you down, why would i want to slow down :Pokey:

[PrincessBandit]

Only times I've ever done gravel is "unexpectedly" i.e. not being aware that there was some up ahead on my journey; I've never gone riding seeking it out. The first was up a friends long driveway, which was quite bendy so I couldn't even see where their house was or how long I was going to have to stay in the gravel! No one had explained to me how to ride on it so I tried just sticking with the ruts from wheel tracks. Still managed to plough my front tyre through some of the channels; tried not to get too alarmed at the bike moving underneath me - go with the flow, and as others have said keep your eyes up! Use your peripheral vision for what's immediately in front of you and focus further ahead. While I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to find gravel to ride in (bwok bwok bwookkkkkkkkkkkkk) [really must find a chicken smilie i think] it doesn't scare me any more. Have fun!!

[Jantar]

Damn, I'm sorry I hadn't picked up on this thread earlier, but how did it go Jake?

Hopefully you would have ignored most of the advice given in this thread, and you would have had a safe and enjoyable gravel ride. Unfortunately, if you followed the advice given then you probably have some damage to sort out.

Gravel riding on a road bike is a topic that comes up quite frequently, yet it is nothing to be scared of. The main things to remember are to weight your footpegs and allow the bike to move around under you. Ride in one gear higher than you would on the seal. Slow down early for corners. Use your rear brake to balance the bike (a bit like a sea anchor) but your front brake is still the one to slow you down. Look well ahead and anticipate the road surface.

There is a lot of good advice in http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=24616

[moT]

just drift all the time

[gijoe1313]

As Jantar said, I wished I picked up on this thread too - I've ridden my little ol'hornet through quite a lot of the gravelly stuff, it can handle it in its stride no hay problema, just follow the good advice that others have mentioned here.

Stay calm, stay relaxed and always look to where you want to go! Steady hand on the throttle and keep away from the brakes ... all dang good advice given already :yes:

Don't see it as a negative, see it as a valuable learning experience to add to your biking experience and knowledge! :sherlock:

[Rhino]

Damn, I'm sorry I hadn't picked up on this thread earlier, but how did it go Jake?

Hopefully you would have ignored most of the advice given in this thread, and you would have had a safe and enjoyable gravel ride. Unfortunately, if you followed the advice given then you probably have some damage to sort out.

Gravel riding on a road bike is a topic that comes up quite frequently, yet it is nothing to be scared of. The main things to remember are to weight your footpegs and allow the bike to move around under you. Ride in one gear higher than you would on the seal. Slow down early for corners. Use your rear brake to balance the bike (a bit like a sea anchor) but your front brake is still the one to slow you down. Look well ahead and anticipate the road surface.

There is a lot of good advice in http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=24616
Jantar has given some really good advice here, particularly about using one gear higher than on a sealed road.

I took the `Wing down shingle roads in the Catlins recently with ScoryGirl as pillion and everything was fine. Brake balance is very important in shingle. Smooth progressive braking is a must.


Look well ahead and anticipate the road surface.
That is the best advice anyone can get for all types of riding.:niceone:

[McDuck]

Anyone that takes a foot off the peg in a corner is asking for trobel.

[clint640]

Anyone that takes a foot off the peg in a corner is asking for trobel.

Trobel? I'll have some of ya trobel mate, how much is it? can ya do a bulk deal?

What does that Josh Coppins guy know about riding motorbikes on a loose surface anyway? :bleh:

Although I will admit that 'anyone' asking for tips on riding their roadbike on gravel is probably better off keeping their feet on the pegs

Clint

[zxcvbnm]

Keep your eyes up. Don't get caught out staring at the road only a few meters beyond your front.


Number one tip: ALWAYS look where you want to go. You want to stay in the wheel tracks, so that is where to look.

If you look at the side of the road.... that's where you will head. Look where you want to go!!!

Do these 2 things and your most of the way there.

I find even after years of dritbikes I still fixate on dangerous stuff when on gravel with my NSR. You just have to teach yourself to look away from it once you've see it to an escape route.

[NordieBoy]

Anyone that takes a foot off the peg in a corner is asking for trobel.

I agree. Look where it got Josh C and Katherine P, not to mention Ben T.

[McDuck]

I agree. Look where it got Josh C and Katherine P, not to mention Ben T.

Yes on a motard with knoblie tyres on it not a sports bike with fucking road tyres on it. Once a sports tyre lets go on gravel it takes a fuck load of skill to bring it back, a lot more than i have (or anybody that needs to ask) but with gravel tyres you can get away with it.

[Taz]

Yes on a motard with knoblie tyres on it not a sports bike with fucking road tyres on it. Once a sports tyre lets go on gravel it takes a fuck load of skill to bring it back, a lot more than i have (or anybody that needs to ask) but with gravel tyres you can get away with it.


Bullshit.... You just need practise and less fear.

[McDuck]

Bullshit.... You just need practise and less fear.

That may well be but i am guessing that the thread starter will be at a simmiler level?

[xwhatsit]

Yes on a motard with knoblie tyres on it not a sports bike with fucking road tyres on it. Once a sports tyre lets go on gravel it takes a fuck load of skill to bring it back, a lot more than i have (or anybody that needs to ask) but with gravel tyres you can get away with it.
Dunno, I saved my arse by blind luck a couple of times in Kawhia by sticking my foot out. Normally kept it on the peg though, my boots are road boots and not sure running them through gravel is good for them.

[Mikkel]

Gravel makes Mr. Fairing cry! :cry:

[Ripperjon]

I ride on a gravel road for the last little bit every morning / afternoon to and from work. I started out riding super-slow up and down it and i was stiff as a board, shitting bricks.
After a little while you get used to it and i feel confident on it now.
I think the fear of it makes you stiffen up and get wobbly but when you relax it's fine.
Like the others have said and like with anything you just go super-slow 'til you get confident. (And maybe don't change down too low or you might be firing rocks all over the shop)

[Choco]

I learnt all those lessons the hard way when we rode through the gravel roads from hell on the way back from cape reinga. It's all true, look where you wanna go, the bike will move fuckloads, go with the flow and don't do what I did and slow down too much, cos then it all goes to poo.

You were the man on that trip!

For me it's simple: relax, accelerate and look where you want to go.
Saying that I commuted everyday for a month on a gravel road and got used to it :bleh: