Tips for riding gravel roads

trevi

trevi

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I went out for a spin tonight and found some gravel back roads in Georgetown. I think I over-estimated my ability because I have some experience trail riding, but when I hit the gravel after being on smooth pavement for a long while...it was a different story all together. I didn't loose it, but I was very cautious, especially around the corners. I ride a dual sport kawi 250.

Any tips on changing the mind-set, or rider stance when going from pavement to gravel.

thanks
 
Just slow her down a bit around the corners. I took a little spill on 10th line I believe, I was doing like 80 around a corner and just went down on my left side, little bit of raseberry on my left thigh and a little scrape on the left mirror other than that no harm no foul. Once you straighten out your line give it gas and you should straighten right up. Try sticking your leg out. I know those roads quite well and there's a couple of them that are downward slopes + turns where you have to just watch your speed.
 
Gravel on hard base is like marbles. Not the same as dirt riding. Knobelly tires are better than slicks. Keep it upright and don't go for to much lean angle around corners. You could try getting up on the tank and flatracking around corners, on somebody elses bike preferably.
As for going straight, don't hang on for dear life. Let the bike move around underneath you. It'll become second nature after a while. It's the sudden inputs that might get you into trouble. And I'd give serious thought about slamming your foot down to save a lowside. It's very easy to tear an anterior cruciate ligament like that. Enjoy.
 
Just gotta get to know your bike , i've power slide my street bike around long gravel sweepers, but my skills also come from my MX racing. very risky but i don't ride over my head, like in my younger motocross life.
in my head everything is smother faster.
 
weldingglover said:
Just gotta get to know your bike , i've power slide my street bike around long gravel sweepers, but my skills also come from my MX racing. very risky but i don't ride over my head, like in my younger motocross life.
in my head everything is smother faster.
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It's do-able, but by the time you get it figgerd out the scoot may be trash. And hangin the back end out after the apex doesn't count.:D
 
weldingglover said:
Just gotta get to know your bike , i've power slide my street bike around long gravel sweepers, but my skills also come from my MX racing. very risky but i don't ride over my head, like in my younger motocross life.
in my head everything is smother faster.
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+1!

I can drift my streetbike around a grass field or on a dirt road without a problem, so I can't see why anyone on a dual sport would ever have an issue with it...they key is to make sure you don't allow your front tire to slip out. (I remember an incident a couple years ago where I chose to use a dirt road to "avoid" getting a speeding ticket on my GSXR, LOL. It was a bold move but it worked ;) )

If you lose the front, you are in trouble. But the back can really go almost all the way out without ever going down.

Knobbies will help, but the main thing is to use the throttle to help turn. You don't want to count on your steering to help you turn, because doing that will cause the front end to wash out easier. Idealy, you want the back to get a little loose to bring it around without having to change the line of your front tire all that much. You would be surprised at how well you can take a corner in loose gravel on a dual sport. Keep the front of the bike as vertical as possible and eventually you will find yourself countersteering around the corners :)

Just do it more often and before you will know it you will feel comfortable on it. Make sure you aren't riding on any gravel areas that may require you to grab a full hand of brakes because that is where I have made most of my mistakes over the years! Front brake on gravel=no no!
 
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Roost them corners!!!

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what kind of helmet is that? and what was the weather like when you were wearing all that gear? Can only imagine how hot it must of been.
 
Mikel said:
what kind of helmet is that? and what was the weather like when you were wearing all that gear? Can only imagine how hot it must of been.
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Helmet is a Shoei RF-1000 (matte black) - I use it during the cold months.
Troy Lee Merc in the warm/hot months.

That shot was taken about a month ago... must have been no warmer than 7 degrees that day (day time high).

.....the day before that shot was taken, this is what I was ridding in....
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sit farther forward, basically on top of the gas tank, and push the bike down towards the inside of the corner rather than leaning yourself into the corner.

This puts you on top of the pivot point of the chassis and will give you much better feedback from the front end and will give you a better chance of recovering should something go wrong.

Riding on asphalt tends to make DS riders a bit lazy, they'll sit farther back on the seat because the asphalt offers more traction and you REALLY have to be on the gas to make the front push.

unfortunately, when the road turns to dirt/gravel and that traction goes away you quickly end up on your head.
 
Really like the looks of that KTM you're riding there MotoLobo. Gonna look up the specs on it now. Read some of your adventure rides on Adv Rider and they were quite interesting, keep up the good work! God I wish I had the time off to sign up for the adventure rally on may 22nd-24th. Anyways keep Roosting!
 
Mikel said:
Really like the looks of that KTM you're riding there MotoLobo. Gonna look up the specs on it now. Read some of your adventure rides on Adv Rider and they were quite interesting, keep up the good work! God I wish I had the time off to sign up for the adventure rally on may 22nd-24th. Anyways keep Roosting!
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Thanks Mikel.


As for some tips RE: gravel roads.

Head to a large empty gravel lot and place two cans/rocks about 12m apart and practice doing figure 8's around them.

With enough practice, you'll get a feel for where your tires breakaway. Build up your confidence after a few rounds of this and you'll feel comfortable using your throttle to steer your bike (out of the corner - at first; around the corner - eventually).


Keep'r rubber side down,

Michael
 
Thanks for all the tips guys...good points by all. Reciprocity's point about Dual Sport riders getting lazy when riding on asphalt is right on in my case. Like every other skill, I continue to practice and ride safe.

cheers
 
also want to say thanks for posting the good tips. i'm new into dual sport and learning the basic's/cornering, and these posts help. I like the line "This puts you on top of the pivot point of the chassis" - that sounds like something taught at a bike riding course and to me justifies spending $ to help stay safe. (and have more confidence/fun!)
thanks again its a good way to look at it.
 
Weighting your footpegs is very important.
When on gravel roads weight the outside peg (turning left, push down on the right peg, hard)
This gets max traction to the road, and will allow you to play with the throttle more.
 
I know this is an old thread, but just the starter tips I need. I picked up a Versys this year with knobbies and wanted to start riding some gravel. A detour off a closed secondary hwy took me on my first gravel road last week, and I sort of loved it. Any other tips or anything specific to a bike that's top heavy for when I go looking for more?
 
Gsus said:
I know this is an old thread, but just the starter tips I need. I picked up a Versys this year with knobbies and wanted to start riding some gravel. A detour off a closed secondary hwy took me on my first gravel road last week, and I sort of loved it. Any other tips or anything specific to a bike that's top heavy for when I go looking for more?
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Put lots of crash guards on it. And if you are going to take it off road, bring along a friend.

[video=youtube;Y0-kqvwKO_Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0-kqvwKO_Q[/video]
 
usually for a weekday ride if i dont take off work its just app bay for me - can have the bike all loaded up at the office, change, sneak out a little early, and get in a couple hours
 
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