Riding Gravel

[bowsandreels]

Any one else here drive gravel with their bike on a regular basis? I live on gravel so the beginning and end of my daily ride can be a real bear. Just the other day I went to work and the gravel was packed down well with good wheel tracks and when I can home I found that they had re-graveled that day so I got to skate home on the marbles. As good as this bike is on the road I think it might be the most unsuited bike for gravel I have ever riden.

[dandiver]

I hate gravel and avoid it like the plague. San and dust too. This BFP (big fat pig) don't ride well when it's slippery unless you are very careful. Wet seems to be OK, but still gets your attention.

[NorwoodD]

Likewise. Gravel does not increase my confidence! Back in 01, went with a group to western NC. A friend rented a cabin for the weekend. Didn't check it out in advance. Got there- the road was straight up (slightly exaggerated) and gravel. Nedless to say, I found somewhere else to sleep that night along with the GW rider I was with.

Two weeks back, before I got my GPS, I downloaded what appeared to be some "nice" routes in central NC. Found a couple to be gravel roads. Turned around and got back on the slab.

Norwood
08 Biarritz Blue
NC

[EncoreJoe]

My parents live 1-1/2 miles down a gravel road. I ride it to see them but it feels a little bit like riding on marbles.

I just keep the rpm's in the 3500 range and avoid any brake or extra throttle input at all costs!

So far so good, but I'm always glad to get back on the blacktop.

Joe

[jorawro]

With practice you can get comfortable on gravel. Sit back, keep your revs up and don't try to over-control the bike (relax the death grip on the bars).
Lastly - try to keep your speed up a bit - going slower does not make it easier.

[meese]

Rent, borrow, or buy a small dirt bike and get comfortable riding on that. That kind of experience makes a huge difference when dealing with large heavy street bikes in low-traction situations.

And like others have said, rpms up, speed reasonable (not too slow or too fast), and just let it float and learn to trust the bike. I won't go looking for gravel on an LT, but I won't automatically turn away from it either. But soft, deep sand is another matter entirely. :)

[c00k1e]

I have 2 big bikes and the LT seems by far the worseon gravel. I reakon it is the lack of feedback from the frount end.

[ironbuttwannabe]

I have a bit long gravel driveway, same as yours, hard packed from tractor and feed truck. But we graded it yesterday and it wasn't fun getting out lastnight.

I've got it easy compared to my brother. 5 miles of gas company roads to get to the house. They make them out of Cleachey (spelling), that stuff gets slicker than oil on the road when it rains or the water truck tries keeping down the dust.

[living_free]

I live a mile down a dirt road as well. You just have to get used to riding on gravel. Up until tuesday, we had major potholes on the road, so I had to zig zag the whole mile each way. It was graded on Tuesday, was very loose coming home that day, but just kind of let the bike go where it wants.

I also have to drive across a grated bridge to get to work, and on the way out the bridge has railroad tracks as well, so I have to ride between the tracks on a grated bridge. You can get used to that as well.

[Colyn]

Next time on the gravel ... try and relax your arms ... keep a good grip on the bars with you hands but relax the fore-arms.

Next hint ... when you sense the bike is beginning to slide around a bit much, step hard on the pegs, almost to the point that your butt wants to lift from the saddle ... you could go the GS way and stand up but I dont like that because I am concerned about the forces on the handle bars.

I have done up to 100kmh around 60 mph on stretches of gravel road. Not ideal but doable.

I have posted a little story of me and the LT on a farm track in the Ride Reports section.

[BecketMa]

I learned how to ride dirt roads when I bought my HD FXRS. My cabin was about 2 miles from the paved road.

WHen I decide to move to Tucson, from Becket MA, I figured I finally live on a paved road.

The house I bought here is about .25 miles in from the paved road.

With the HD, I would stand a little on the foot pegs going down dirt roads. There isn't a lot of gravel on the dirt roads here, so its rare I have to stand on the pegs with the LT.
When the road here is muddy, I go more slowly on the LT and hang my feet off each side.
After a hard down pour, sand pockets develop on the dirt roads here. If it s a small pocket, I got to the pegs; karger longer sand pockets, I hang my feet off the side.

Bob

[Steve_R]

Not much confidence on gravel these days. Read here. (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27372) So I don't necessarily go out of my way to stay off of it. STC at Iron Horse helped some, but still think about doing something else when it rears its ugly head. :(

[bowsandreels]

My biggest concern is that 6 of the 60 miles I drive daily are on gravel and I'm concerned I'm going to chew up tires quickly. I've been checking prices and they are a little shocking.

[gbob]

I have about 500yds of gravel road in and out , it was unnerving at first but like others have all ready stated I just ride slow(20-25MPH ) and let the bike have it's head .Farmers around here say gravel road mileage wares a tire out 2 to one over pavement miles. I do not like the sound of the stones bouncing of the bottom of the bike .

Bob G

[NorwoodD]

I learned to ride on a dirt bike in El Paso so gravel, dirt in itself doesn't bother me. The problem I have is I now typically ride 2-up (wife won't let me go xplorin without her- a good thing), and I just try to avoid long stretches of gravel when possible. There are times you're gonna encounter gravel, if you ever stop in any out of the way places.

I was looking for some ride suggestions in NC and came across this article- good info for gravel. Of course the Road King has a much lower CoG, but the techniques are sound and echo what most had said here.

Norwood
08 Biarritz Blue
NC

[cdave]

Head up, focus on horizon. Knees in tight. Light on back brake only. RPM's up, riding clutch as necessary. Speed up, not teetering slow. Arms loose. Good adrenaline rush.

[NorwoodD]

I just realized I didn't post he link I found... I meant to.

http://www.openroadjourney.com/articles/110.asp :rolleyes:

[SoberBiker]

After Steve's and our adventure on the way back from CCR last year, I have to say that I don't have much confidence in Betty (GPS) finding suitable roads for our LT's. If I encounter gravel again, I am turning around immediately.

On that trip, the GT, 2 up, handled the gravel OK but I was a bit concerned about Steve on the LT and was soon reminded of the perils of not listening to my gut.

I can say now, being back on the LT that that experience hasn't been forgotten and I will avoid those roads at any cost.