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Thread: Tips for gravel riding needed

  1. #16
    Join Date
    17th February 2004 - 13:09
    Bike
    Triumph Tiger 800
    Location
    Kapiti
    Posts
    2,741
    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
    Experience......something you get just after you needed it

  2. #17
    Join Date
    30th March 2007 - 18:18
    Bike
    KLR650 WR450
    Location
    Kapiti
    Posts
    2,665
    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?

  3. #18
    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.

  4. #19
    Join Date
    9th November 2003 - 13:52
    Bike
    08 RMZ 450
    Location
    taranaki
    Posts
    815
    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

  5. #20
    Join Date
    11th June 2007 - 22:07
    Bike
    GSF1200sk3, DR650k6
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    outside chch
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    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

  6. #21
    Join Date
    9th November 2003 - 13:52
    Bike
    08 RMZ 450
    Location
    taranaki
    Posts
    815
    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.

  7. #22
    Join Date
    11th June 2007 - 22:07
    Bike
    GSF1200sk3, DR650k6
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    I think your doing the right things on the shingle just need to get more certain of it over time riding on shingle

  8. #23
    Join Date
    2nd January 2006 - 10:02
    Bike
    ducati 916
    Location
    wellington
    Posts
    932
    Ride hard of you will crash

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