Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I went down a couple times on loose gravel while on my dirtbike, depends theres fine gravel, and rough gravel. Either one sucks but fine gravel hurts the most because it gets into every unprotected peice of skin and you have to wash/scrub it out, it still gives me shivers down my spine thinking of doing that. The rough gravel tend to tear more skin and goes right through light clothing (ie shirts)hurts but not nearly as long as fine gravel does

every now and then theres gravel in my parking lot. always around this one turn. i hate seeing it cause of all the storys iv herd about gravel. i just try to keep the bike as straight up as i can and go as slow as i can. is there anything else to be done other than avoiding gravel all together?

Keep your lean angles as close to 90* as you can. Gravel is not that hard to ride on if you...

#1 are aware it's there....

#2 keep the bike fairly level....

#3 keep your head. It's not going to jump out and take out your front tire. It's just another surface that you must deal with. Ride a gravel road once in awhile. It will give you a firm grasp on the technique and your fears will be disappaited. Gravel on pavement can be like ball bearings, so avoid it if possible, but if it's not possible, slow down and just ride smoothly. I think your phsycing yourself out more than anything.

I think what causes accidents are attention catchers. some drivers do not really watch the street attentively. they tend to wander around the roads. that gives them the chance to be attracted by other things.

Part of it has to be in believing you are doomed to fall off.

oldnslo wrote:Part of it has to be in believing you are doomed to fall off.

I agree.

I think the main danger for motorcyclists is not accepting/realizing that for the most part they control their own level of risk. Assuming someone turning left in front of you sees you and will wait... assuming the road is clear around that approaching blind curve, etc.

Do all you can to keep from adding up the risk factors, and you'll be a safer rider.

BuzZz wrote:Ride a gravel road once in awhile. It will give you a firm grasp on the technique and your fears will be disappaited.

Good advice.

I park my bike every day in a garage that opens onto a gravel alley, so I've got this covered!

I also sometimes ride down an extra block of the gravel alley, just for extra practice!

Yep! I rode on gravel yesterday...just because. I realized it had been a while, so it was time. Listen to BuzZz...he has good ideas! Even gravel parking lots will do ( they have alot of these around here.)

Nibblet99 wrote:combination of overconfidence, and others.

I could not agree more. I remember when I bought my bike the sales guy said, "Ride it like you stole it". So I did, and I crashed. I am glad I did, it put my confidence where it belongs. No wheelies for me thank you (well not on purpose).