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Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:39 pm
by Wrider
jmillheiser wrote:I think its low center of gravity bikes in general. There is a reason why dirt bikes have a high center of gravity.
The wrecked sportster I came across a couple of months ago is probably good testament that harleys dont belong on dirt (dirt track bikes excepted of course). I was coming back to my car after a hike and saw a pretty new sporty 1200 on its side and the rider walking around with a nice cut on his lip and some rash on his arm (thankfully he had a helmet on), he was trying to turn his sportster around on a dirt road and gave it a little too much throttle and lowsided it hard.
SlimColo would disagree with you here. I've met him in person and he's a ton of miles on a Sportster with dual sport tires cruising the dirt roads of CO.
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:39 am
by dr_bar
A lot of people don't know what their doing in gravel and use that front brake at the most inopportune time...
)
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:32 am
by MmeMagpie
dr_bar wrote:A lot of people don't know what their doing in gravel and use that front brake at the most inopportune time...
)
Engine braking, baby. Love it.
Come to think of it, riding on gravel is not unlike driving on ice. Small, deliberate moves and know your machine.
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:37 am
by vito
Riding on gravel is something only done when there is no way to avoid it. I ride for pleasure, and gravel, sand, ice, mud, snow riding do not bring me pleasure.
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 5:39 am
by dr_bar
A ride isn't official unless:
a) You have to make at least one U-Turn.
b) Made at least one wrong turn.
c) Stopped at least once for icecream.
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:28 pm
by BobK
dr_bar wrote:A ride isn't official unless:
a) You have to make at least one U-Turn.
b) Made at least one wrong turn.
c) Stopped at least once for icecream.
+1
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 12:38 pm
by HYPERR
jmillheiser wrote:I think its low center of gravity bikes in general. There is a reason why dirt bikes have a high center of gravity.
The wrecked sportster I came across a couple of months ago is probably good testament that harleys dont belong on dirt (dirt track bikes excepted of course). I was coming back to my car after a hike and saw a pretty new sporty 1200 on its side and the rider walking around with a nice cut on his lip and some rash on his arm (thankfully he had a helmet on), he was trying to turn his sportster around on a dirt road and gave it a little too much throttle and lowsided it hard.
The reason the center of gravity is higher on dirbikes is because dirtbikes need to be tall for ground clearance and lots of suspension travel. A low center of gravity is much more desirable than a high center of gravity on gravel roads.
Clearly the guy on the Sportster crashed because he didn't know how to ride, it had nothing to do with the bike.
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 12:32 am
by freebird73
[quote="dr_bar"]A ride isn't official unless:
a) You have to make at least one U-Turn.
b) Made at least one wrong turn.
c) Stopped at least once for icecream.[/quote
a) and b) describe me but since i dont stop for ice cream i guess i have never had an official ride
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:22 am
by MmeMagpie
I think french fries fried in peanut oil and a root beer float are a suitable substitution for ice cream.
Re: Cruisers and gravel roads
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 4:31 am
by BobK
I'm a very considerate rider. I stop for ice cream, french fries, cheeseburgers, donuts, and/or coffee.