Difficulty with gravel driveway for a learner?

[pete-blen]

I got a motorbike licence and that was it. the test consisted of the local cop watching me do a few figure 8's in a carpark and riding round the block.

I have car & bike licence... never sat a driveing test in my life..
the local at Wakefeild all those years ago got sick of giveing me tickets
for rideing & driveing with no licence.. he draged me down to his house/cop shop
sat me at his desk stood behind me & pretty much told me what boxes to tick on
the test form... didn't even take me for a ride or drive..he had been handing me tickets
for the best part of 2 years... he new I could ride/drive...
But anyway this qute little book thing turned up about 2 weeks later..and he even delivered it
to my door...

Old Doug Jansion was one of the good old school copers..


And as far as gravel goes i have never had any difficulty with it.... easyest stuff yer can find to fall off on... easy-peasy..

[Dangsta]

The driveways a shocker from a new rider perspective so I can appreciate the concern. You'll be fine eventually. Going up will be no problem but coming down may be tricky depending on the weather. Again, I'm writing this from the perspective of a brand new rider on his learners. Don't let it put you off but be careful.

Also, fuck all this GN250 nonsense. Yes I'm sure they get to 100kph no problem (just like any bike above 150cc) but you're a big guy and you'll look silly. Plus try stopping from 100kph in an emergency situation and you may have a bit of trouble.

Now that LAMS has kicked in, you've got a whole range of bikes to choose from in all different shapes and sizes. Take a few test rides, see what you're comfortable on and what style suits you. Forget all the bullshit about what's cheap, sensible and easy to get parts for. Go with what puts a huge smile on your face when you see it and a bigger one when you take it for a ride.

Best of luck
D

[Drew]

Get a DR650. Rode one yesterday, what a bloody HOOT!

LAMs legal, great for a tall bloke, and gravel driveways become something to look forward to!

[breakaway]

Jesus H. Christ, I am shocked at the amount of people here that apparently have trouble with riding gravel.

I have ridden a RG150 up to a GSXR1000 and most things inbetween and I never had any trouble negotiating gravel (bar those times when I was doing stupid shit).

[2SMOK]

I'm 6'2" and my first bike was a 1990 GSF250 Bandit. That was comfortable for me. I wouldn't have wanted to be any taller though.

[Wayz]

[QUOTE=breakaway;1130558766]Jesus H. Christ, I am shocked at the amount of people here that apparently have trouble with riding gravel.

I hear you mate, this supports my case that dirt bikes are where all newbies should start, I mean riding a dirt bike is at times like riding a bucking bronco, if you can control that then your going to piss all over a road bike.....heck, worked wonders for me

[russd7]

to many damned pussy's out there scared of riding gravel, not hard, just relax, i have an 800mtr gravel drive that has pot holes from the blasted silage trucks and i still scoot up and down at 60 or 70 km on both the zzr and the goldwing. just relax and let the bike do the work.
as far as a bike with your stretch, forget the GN as has already been said you would look awkward on it, go for the big trailies, you will have much more fun

[unstuck]

Get a DR650. Rode one yesterday, what a bloody HOOT!

LAMs legal, great for a tall bloke, and gravel driveways become something to look forward to!

Been looking at one of those myself.

[motox]

Hey guys

I am pretty interested in sitting my learners and getting my first bike but I had a slight concern about my driveway. It is a fairly long uphill gravel driveway with grass in the middle. It often gets deep holes in it from cars going down and digging them out.

Easy............ Stand up, hang on with your knees and pin it!

[swbarnett]

Jesus H. Christ, I am shocked at the amount of people here that apparently have trouble with riding gravel.

I have ridden a RG150 up to a GSXR1000 and most things inbetween and I never had any trouble negotiating gravel (bar those times when I was doing stupid shit).

This is exactly what's wrong with the western world. People that believe we are all carbon copies of each other. Just because you're a wiz on gravel doesn't mean that the rest of us can be expected to be. We haven't all had the same exposure to gravel that you obviously have.

[nerrrd]

This is exactly what's wrong with the western world. People that believe we are all carbon copies of each other. Just because you're a wiz on gravel doesn't mean that the rest of us can be expected to be. We haven't all had the same exposure to gravel that you obviously have.

I've been reading a few gravel riding threads for tips, the consensus seems to be the more practice you get the more relaxed you'll be and the easier you'll find it. I guess most of us don't come across gravel these days on a regular basis except for the occasional road works (I don't anyway).

I'm going to look for some gravel roads around Auckland and give it a go (weather permitting) at some stage. If I don't pussy out, that is. Don't appear to be any specific 'how to ride your road bike on gravel' courses around - probably not worth the effort.

[Drew]

Here's a great way to fuck a weekend.

Go down to Taumaranui, vai Te Kuiti. It's a great ride as soon as you turn off from highway one coming from Aukland.

Do that on a Friday arvo, and get a motel. Saturday morning, once the hangover wears off from drinking with the local losers there, hit the forgotten highway! Gravel bit is pretty long, but well kept, and the tarmac from there to Stratford is the best piece of road I have ever ridden.

[swbarnett]

I've been reading a few gravel riding threads for tips, the consensus seems to be the more practice you get the more relaxed you'll be and the easier you'll find it. I guess most of us don't come across gravel these days on a regular basis except for the occasional road works (I don't anyway).

Indeed. I used to be fine on gravel until I didn't hit any for 20 years or so.

I'm going to look for some gravel roads around Auckland and give it a go (weather permitting) at some stage. If I don't pussy out, that is.

If you find youself down our way there's a 13km stretch of gravel south of Por Waikato that's not too challenging.

[Mom]

Indeed. I used to be fine on gravel until I didn't hit any for 20 years or so.


If you find youself down our way there's a 13km stretch of gravel south of Por Waikato that's not too challenging.

I feel I little ride coming on. There is also a really easy stretch of gravel up this way. Well, easy unless the grader has just been through. Perhaps that is when I should plan it

A bit of gravel riding is good to have under your belt. Makes those pesky roadworks "fun times".

[nzspokes]

Indeed. I used to be fine on gravel until I didn't hit any for 20 years or so.


If you find youself down our way there's a 13km stretch of gravel south of Por Waikato that's not too challenging.

I had wondered about that bit of road. May give it a try sometime.

Waved to you on the southern a while back, I pulled off before Bombay. Im on a Hornet now.