Off Road Technique

[Dodgy1]

A Question for all you off roaders.....you'll notice from my ride that I like to get off the seal occasoinaly...my question is this....how do you control ya machine in the gravel?? Tyre choice is an obvious factor in this....but is there a technique in staying upright and not in the ditch and controling my bike into an out of corners?? Your thoughts and advice will be appreciated...Cheers...Mal

[Motu]

Tyres are important alright,you can't get good control unless you have a fairly aggressive knob on the front,rear is less important,but the more knobby the front tyre the more confident you will feel...on seal of course you will feel less confident,it's a bugger that is.....As you brake more with the rear in gravel,tyre choice effects braking for corners,the more street the tyre the less braking control you will have,traction out of the turn is much more under control of your right hand,you will notice your tyre choice on corner entry.

Keep it loose,let the bike find it's own way...within reason of course....ride in the wheel tracks,cross the hump under power,set up your corners well in advance.I use a lot of road....I'll ride the right hand wheel track sometimes on straights,gives me a better entry on left handers,on right handers I cut to the inside if I can see through,if not then you have to ride the loose stuff on off camber down hills.These are the worst corners you get in gravel,it's real scary and there is no way to pull it off well,your speed drops and the bike wanders,the front slipping in the thick gravel....but it's better than meeting something coming the other way.

Look well ahead,and that means to your horizion,you need to look where the road is going,what's coming up,cars coming you can pick up by dust,which way are they going...how fast etc.You are planning ahead the whole way,there are clues everywhere,and you piece them together for a picture of your enviroment.Keep your tyre pressures and suspension setting on the soft side,soft dampning keeps the tyre in contact on ruts,helps with braking and power down out of turns....not too soft or you'll waloow off the road.

Have fun out there....

[WRT]

Nice write up, Motu . . .

Only thing I can think to add is that on any soft surface (gravel, sand, mud), you will find it easier if you keep the front light, use a bit of power to let it skim over loose gravel (as Motu mentioned for crossing the hump). The rear will just naturally follow.

[clint640]

Nice write up, Motu . . .

Only thing I can think to add is that on any soft surface (gravel, sand, mud), you will find it easier if you keep the front light, use a bit of power to let it skim over loose gravel (as Motu mentioned for crossing the hump). The rear will just naturally follow.

Dead right if you want to go straight, but in gravel corners weight the front if riding aggressively, put yer balls on the gas cap (er um not the best advice for an F650... um just sit well forward then..) put yer elbows up & weight the outside peg.

Look well ahead & focus on where you want to go is something that can't be said too often.

Cheers
Clint

[Dodgy1]

Thanks for the advice....im not running the best tyre up front...rear is quite knobbly....not hugly aggressive... but the front needs a change by the sound of things...thanks again....been through motu....and waikerimoana....WOW

[Motu]

I second Clint there - get up on that tank...on the XLV750 I would be on the nose of the seat,my balls actualy on the tank.The DT230 sits me pretty far forward anyway,but I scoot up far as I can in corners,slip back on the straights.The bane of the gravel road rider is thick freshly laid gravel,can go on for kms,so sit back and power on to keep the front light...but it's a fight most of the time.

[oldrider]

I thought Motu's post and advice was very very good but you will have to adapt to what suits you. The way you think, the way you respond to emergency situations (subconsciously) because by the time you think about it most situations are past tense.
My daughters husband just bought her a bike (KLX 250) and took her away to her brothers high country station for a weekends off road riding. She found at first she was being left behind because she felt a bit intimidated by it all. She told me she remembered me always saying if you feel intimidated by a situation on a bike you are already in the shit so when in doubt blast out, you just might survive. She did this, powered in powered out, shook her front wheel to settle into groovy shit, powered on and found herself suddenly up with them and just lovin it. The boys told me they were very proud of her. Didn't tell her of course, just muttered masculine noises and nodded hushed approval. They have their standards to maintain you know.
If you have ridden the Motu and been through Waikaremoana you have had a good start. (I used to live at Tuai know that road well) Just don't allow gravel to intimidate you and be prepared to lose a bit of skin here and there as you learn. If you don't, you aint tryin hard enough. If you are on a public road always drive as if there is oncoming traffic whether you can see them or not, the bastards will be there eventually believe me, ouch!!!
The only difference to Motu's advice I have is I use my front brake and use the engine and gearbox to control the back wheel, seldom use the back brake.
I have a bad back and can't get out of the seat onto the pegs too much these days so have to adjust my ride accordingly. Enjoy your bike. You would enjoy it down here. Cheers John.

[cowpoos]

another tip...keep your elbows up and out...and power through corners...start powering on just before or at the start of turning...how much power u use is up to you...
If the rear slides...keep looking ahead and not down...you will start to lose your natural sence of balance when looking down....if the front starts to slide...two options...a little rear brake or alittle [or alot] more throttle...

[Dodgy1]

another tip...keep your elbows up and out...and power through corners...start powering on just before or at the start of turning...how much power u use is up to you...
If the rear slides...keep looking ahead and not down...you will start to lose your natural sence of balance when looking down....if the front starts to slide...two options...a little rear brake or alittle [or alot] more throttle...

Thanks for the help .... Think I might get myself a little 250 to practice on before I sacrifice the Beemer.....