[ShanMan14]

Just curious about this since I'm not too willing to test. There is a lot of contruction going on around where I live. They frequently put down gravel since the soil here is red clay and it's really nasty to deal with when it rains. The gravel makes a temporary road, in a sense and it's not as messy as the red mud.

Anyway, from time to time I'm stuck having to ride through it. Common sense says to take it slow, but when you do you sink into the gravel and it's hard to control. Are you better off going a little faster? I'm not willing to test that theory since I tend to believe you're probably worse off.

What can you do when you have to ride through gravel?

 

[GSXR1000DJ]

Rode through it a few times. the first time was a small area and i was going very slow through it and that was a bad mistake. the bike bout went down. With going to slow in it, the tire doug in and turned and i was able to save it quickly. The rest of the times i was a bit faster and the back tire spun a bit but it was ok. I would just take it at a nice pace.

 

[EIDROEDYR]

I've taken it slow when riding through gravel for fear of breaking the rear tire loose. There has been gravel in the entrance (driveway) to my workplace lately and the back wheel slides a little each time. Furthermore, stopping on gravel and getting your footing has been extremely difficult for me. My foot would slide like it was on ice. I try to steer clear of gravel if at all possible.

 

[Gas Man]

Let's specify... gravel on concrete or real thick gravel?

 

[bumblebee]

I have a dirt road now to my house and the neighbors ride their 4 wheelers and rough up the surface enough that there is usually about 2" of loose clay/sand on the top and it is like riding through sugar...

 

[JK_DILLA]

Too slow and youll dig, too fast and youll shake. Youll have to try it to get it right. The front will want to track all over the place so keeping some throttle rolled will keep it honest. Good luck!

 

[R1up0n1]

keep it on the slow side, but not too slow, keep a steady pace with your feet ready to catch if the bike gets squidly or sideways.

 

[Guideon72]

I guess it would depend on how deep the gravel is. I've found that in gravel that's roughly 1/2 that about 30 (marked at 35) on the straights and roll off throttle to 25-ish around corners was about the best balance for my SVS. Anything faster and it slides a bit much, anything slower and it won't turn.

 

[pickle.of.doom]

I do quite a bit of gravel-roadin... the thing you need to watch out for are the soft sandy spots.. those are the areas that will definitely grab your front wheel and send you for a shimmy.

 

[bulldog]

Just curious about this since I'm not too willing to test. There is a lot of contruction going on around where I live. They frequently put down gravel since the soil here is red clay and it's really nasty to deal with when it rains. The gravel makes a temporary road, in a sense and it's not as messy as the red mud.

Anyway, from time to time I'm stuck having to ride through it. Common sense says to take it slow, but when you do you sink into the gravel and it's hard to control. Are you better off going a little faster? I'm not willing to test that theory since I tend to believe you're probably worse off.What can you do when you have to ride through gravel?

well i dont know but i was on the highway (i dont know which one i was following my friend) and we were just merging to the left from the on ramp and there was at least a 3 inch drop and it was staight gravel.....it was scary as hell before we hit but when we did it was not as nbad as it looked....we were goin about 85

 

[pickle.of.doom]

Lol bull you really do have a deathwish dont ya?

 

[carlmorrell]

Back in the 80's there was a bike shop I frequented (Vicious Cycle). They had a gravel parking lot. I dumped it in their lot once, and was pretty bummed about the whole deal. Had just put a new ceramic pipe on and did a number on it.

You can imagine, how careful I am now, when I have a street bike off of the pavement.

 

[bulldog]

Lol bull you really do have a deathwish dont ya?

well i dident know there was a dip b/c u couldent see it from the ramp then bam there it is and i just kept it steady and it was cool the only thing that sux is when i had to merge to get out of it........looking over your shoulder when the bike is loose is a gut wrenching feeling

 

[JK_DILLA]

Back in the 80's there was a bike shop I frequented (Vicious Cycle). They had a gravel parking lot. I dumped it in their lot once, and was pretty bummed about the whole deal. Had just put a new ceramic pipe on and did a number on it.

You can imagine, how careful I am now, when I have a street bike off of the pavement.

Gravel parking lot at a bike shop, boy i bet that was bad for buisness.