Riding rutted tracks.... going where @$%# 4x4s have been before...

[AlpinePossum]

Ok, so the tar and then the gravel has run out... and then there are only ruts left by the damn 4x4'ers.

That's sort of OK. Aim for the grass in the middle and all is happy.

Then you get really eroded ruts.

Typically you'll find the two old one's have been dug out down a good few inches, so they aim for the grass in the middle and dig that down a foot or so, and then they aim between the left and the middle....

So now you have a devils choice.... Ride in the old deep ruts... but if you lean a teensy bit left or right (or the track turns), the front wheel keeps going on straight and you keep going over. SPLAT! You have to catch the full weight of a rapidly moving 650 on one leg.

Or you can ride in the newer higher ruts... and unless you very very careful... you wobble and end up in the deep ruts and SPLAT again!

One way of playing it safe is to aim for the deep ruts and then go slowly with legs out on each side and "walk" it.

...it just, seems so, so, UNDIGNIFIED!

So question... how do you learn to ride precisely on a single car tyre wide strip (without _ever_ wobbling).

[BoristheBiter]

Ok, so the tar and then the gravel has run out... and then there are only ruts left by the damn 4x4'ers.

That's sort of OK. Aim for the grass in the middle and all is happy.

Then you get really eroded ruts.

Typically you'll find the two old one's have been dug out down a good few inches, so they aim for the grass in the middle and dig that down a foot or so, and then they aim between the left and the middle....

So now you have a devils choice.... Ride in the old deep ruts... but if you lean a teensy bit left or right (or the track turns), the front wheel keeps going on straight and you keep going over. SPLAT! You have to catch the full weight of a rapidly moving 650 on one leg.

Or you can ride in the newer higher ruts... and unless you very very careful... you wobble and end up in the deep ruts and SPLAT again!

One way of playing it safe is to aim for the deep ruts and then go slowly with legs out on each side and "walk" it.

...it just, seems so, so, UNDIGNIFIED!

So question... how do you learn to ride precisely on a single car tyre wide strip (without _ever_ wobbling).

Ride faster.

If you look further ahead and not at the rut in front of you, you will find that you are more stable and it will be easyier to stay on the top. it is the old saying "you go where you look".
if you look at the rut you will end up in it but there are times when the rut is the best choice (safer).

[Eddieb]

And stand up for better balance if you aren't already.

[Phreaky Phil]

Ok, so the tar and then the gravel has run out... and then there are only ruts left by the damn 4x4'ers.

That's sort of OK. Aim for the grass in the middle and all is happy.

Then you get really eroded ruts.

Typically you'll find the two old one's have been dug out down a good few inches, so they aim for the grass in the middle and dig that down a foot or so, and then they aim between the left and the middle....

So now you have a devils choice.... Ride in the old deep ruts... but if you lean a teensy bit left or right (or the track turns), the front wheel keeps going on straight and you keep going over. SPLAT! You have to catch the full weight of a rapidly moving 650 on one leg.

Or you can ride in the newer higher ruts... and unless you very very careful... you wobble and end up in the deep ruts and SPLAT again!

One way of playing it safe is to aim for the deep ruts and then go slowly with legs out on each side and "walk" it.

...it just, seems so, so, UNDIGNIFIED!

So question... how do you learn to ride precisely on a single car tyre wide strip (without _ever_ wobbling).

Try that with a pillion and 50kg of luggage ( on the way into and out of the Serpintine Church )
Standing up helps with balance but it will also come down to how slippery things are and how much grip you have

[zeRax]

look ahead and dont over think it, go with the flow!

[george formby]

As stated above look well ahead & anticipate or, buy a 2 stroke or a trials bike so you don't need a front wheel. I learned to ride or more accurately crash safely on the moors in the north of England. The terrain is tussock grass, bracken & heather. The ground is riddled with "sykes & gyles", grooves from a couple of inches wide & deep to 10 feet across, caused by heavy rain run off & melting snow. Most of them are covered with grass so your first warning is the family jewels slapping over the handlebar cross brace as the bike stops dead. Weapons of choice were anything that would wheelie at a twist of the throttle with a light, obedient front end.
We always looked well ahead to plan our route & would weave all over the place to avoid getting "rutted". When it was really ugly, stopping & walking through was the only way to pick a rideable line, followed by mucho concentration & commitment.
Geez, i miss having a trail bike.

[Motu]

I can't do it on a big bike...but on a small bike you just nail it and leap up and down,crossing over the ruts to find the best line,it's all good fun.On a big bike the weight overpowers the grip of the tyres,and being puny I can't control the weight of the bike - the front won't climb the rut,slides and down I go.The rear slithers out,it won't push the heavy bike where it needs to go,one wheel in each rut and down I go.I don't take big bikes off road anymore,it's not fun,but 2 strokes or bikes under 250cc or good fun in nasty stuff.

[dino3310]

I don't take big bikes off road anymore,it's not fun,but 2 strokes or bikes under 250cc or good fun in nasty stuff.

gotta agree, the likes of the RM125 in the real shitty stuff is a shit bucket load of fun, even better when its muddy

[Crisis management]

At the end of the day you need to learn to ride ruts, any mid sized adventure bike won't keep the front light enough to use speed unless you are a very good rider so you are stuck with getting both wheels in the rut and riding along it. As others have said, stand on the pegs if you can (or paddle with your feet), look well ahead and pick a reasonable speed for the rut. I don't have one answer to ruts, some days I can just breeze through them other days I spend a lot of time picking the bike up.
If you have the chance, learn on a smaller bike, once the skills are embedded they are easier to transfer to a larger bike.

To assist your education invest in suspension tuning / upgrades and good tyres, traction and controll are your best friends.

[bart]

I often just go into the biggest rut and ride through it. You're going to end up in there anyway. Keep the back wheel turning (without over-reving). Tractor your way through.

But hey.....don't listen to me. I fall off lots. Especially on the slow technical stuff. I blame duck disease, but it's more likely that I just ride like an idiot.

[XF650]

I can relate to the original post, after binning the XF twice while trying to avoid the ruts on the Serpintine Rd during the Dusty Butt this year.
So then I tried looking further ahead, riding "through" the ruts & bingo, no more off's.
Same old story - avoid "target fixation"

[Woodman]

On the serpentine I was behind Alane and he was riding real steady and picking his lines around the ruts obviously looking well ahead. Myself on the other hand was just riding on through them whether they had water or not and that was fine too until near the church where there is one that looks shallow but actually has a ledge under the water that the bike just suddenly dropped into and the water was over the starter motor deep. So beware of dirty puddles in ruts.

personally don't like the middle route betwen the ruts as they are often bloody slippery.

[Underground]

I often just go into the biggest rut and ride through it. You're going to end up in there anyway. Keep the back wheel turning (without over-reving). Tractor your way through.

I agree with this theory for big bikes and particularly 2 up ,
If the biggest rut is at all rideable ...ride it.
I work on the theory that if you are already in it , you cant fall into it.
(works for a lot of things)

[CookMySock]

Get better suspension!

Steve

[clint640]

I work on the theory that if you are already in it , you cant fall into it.
(works for a lot of things)

Hmmm... Depends on the situation but I usually go by the theory that it's lots easier to drop into a rut if that's where you need to go, than to climb out of one if you come around the corner & find it's the wrong line. In a normal 2 rut 4x4 track I'll usually try & stay on the centre hump if possible then I can easily drop down either side if needed.

As above, the best advice is stand up & look well ahead. Practice riding in & out of ruts as you go down a straight dry track to build confidence that you can change direction if needed. Keep your toes tucked in when in ruts too, it's real easy to twist an ankle if you catch a foot on the side.

...& before you curse the 4x4ers too much, remember that bikers don't often carry chainsaws & shovels to keep the tracks open & the ruts on tracks that have only been used by motorbikes can be way worse than what the 4x4s leave behind.

Cheers
Clint