Total Motorcycle Community Forums

So after the Riders Edge class I got my endorsement and feel pretty comfy on the bike. I'm still waiting for my jacket to arrive (if you don't recall I'm 6'10" and fitting anything is a PITA) so I'm confined to side streets and parking lots to practice (not a bad thing).

ANYWAY - while I'm putzing around I noticed something. I'm not looking in the direction of my turn like I should. Not good. Why? Well I'm terrified of rocks, gravel, other crap on the road. I feel like a little pebble is just going to kick the front tire out from me and I'll be kissing pavement. This was compouned when I was practicing in a parking lot and the front tire slipped a little on some branches from a tree above.

I scan the road ahead but these little dangers are hard to spot until your on top of them. Am I just paraniod? Anyone else have this issue? I'm dealing with it by forcing myself to look ahead and not worry... but it's tough!

It's pretty normal to be paranoid when you start riding. When I started riding, I was always thinking that I'd run across an oil puddle or something at any moment. It took me quite a while to get over this - alhtough I'm still alert and looking for trouble ahead, I don't spend a disproportionate time worrying about it like I used. With time, the paranoia will reduce.

Part of looking AHEAD is looking through the turn before you even start it. This includes checking out the pavement condtions and looking for gravel, ruts, etc...

When you see gravel as you're going through a turn, back off of the throttle SLOWLY and, if possible, make MINOR corrections in your line to avoid the obstacle.

Depending upon how fast you're going and what the turn looks like, it's possible to straighten up your bike a little in the turn to decrease the lateral forces on your tires and lessen the chances of a tire sliding out from under. But obviously, don't make any radical course or speed corrections in the middle of a turn.

And don't fixate on the gravel or whatever as you ride over it, react as best you can and then get your eyes up and looking forward again.

Most importantly, always "leave a liitle on the table." In other words, always ride well within the limt of your/your bike's abilities.

Just take it easy while you're gaining experience and remember that it's better to take a turn too slow than too fast.

i recently dropped my bike bec i underestimated a gravel patch. i lost the front in an instant. i was carrying a little too much speed. my mistake.

i've ridden over gravel many times before but this latest accident will teach me not to ever ever underestimate loose gravel ever again.

i at least should never crash again while intentionally riding over gravel.

BUT meeting gravel in the middle of the turn though is a different story.



anyway... take it slow on loose gravel, don't make sudden throttle control changes and try not to use the front brake too much.

Riding over gravel isn't too bad, but you have to think differently because it is not as stable as regular pavement. Reduce your speed and lean angle (if it is in a turn) and make any changes in throttle or direction slowly.

Like it was said earlier, when you first start riding you'll be a lot more aprehensive but you'll learn to be more comfortable as you rack up the miles.

Respect your bike and abilities and you'll be ok...

hop on a friends dirtbike if you can, its great experience for this kind of thing. otherwise you need to start by being confident, and be ready for your bike to move a little if you hit bad traction so you can make the necessary adjustments.

Regular gravel is a pain to deal with, but you do get acclimated.

The stuff i hate is that super fine almost dust crap that blends in with the pavement. Never encountered that in a higher speed turn, but have had my front chatter to the side in a few intersections.


Encountered a miles long shoulder cleaning operation once, windless day, visibility from the sweepers kicking up dust was about 50 feet, Everything with coated with nice slippery brown dust. occasional patches of loose big side of the road gravel in the road. Eyes were watering, hacking and coughing trying to get the crap out of my lungs. All the while people were zipping by me in their 14 ton suv's going at least 10-15 over the pre- roadwork highway speed limit. That sure as hell got my attention.

GrandGT wrote:hop on a friends dirtbike if you can, its great experience for this kind of thing. otherwise you need to start by being confident, and be ready for your bike to move a little if you hit bad traction so you can make the necessary adjustments.

+1

Your bike will move around due to instances like surface changes, bumps, gravel and rain. Once you are comfortable with this it will be a lot easier to control because you are relaxed.
Dirtbike riding emphasises these movements and loss of traction to the point of when it happens on the road it is so small in comparison you just ride on through without a second thought.

One of the old adages (darn, I keep saying that in these forums....does this mean I'm getting old? ) is that you will survive if you learned to "do it in the dirt". If you have dirt bike experience you will be shocked to learn that street bikes have the same handling characteristics as dirt bikes when they get in the dirt which is essentially what you are talking about. Here in Tennessee we have a lot of gravel driveways that wash into the street when it rains hard and it typically does. Rains like p_ss out of a boot for 3 hours and washes everything away into the street. You just have to learn to anticipate where this will be, straighten the bike and kind of roll through it.

Keep the shiny up.

Greg

Thanks for the pointers. I'll continue to do my thing, nice and easy!

BLKNSLVR wrote:One of the old adages (darn, I keep saying that in these forums....does this mean I'm getting old? ) is that you will survive if you learned to "do it in the dirt". If you have dirt bike experience you will be shocked to learn that street bikes have the same handling characteristics as dirt bikes when they get in the dirt which is essentially what you are talking about. Here in Tennessee we have a lot of gravel driveways that wash into the street when it rains hard and it typically does. Rains like p_ss out of a boot for 3 hours and washes everything away into the street. You just have to learn to anticipate where this will be, straighten the bike and kind of roll through it.

Keep the shiny up.

Greg

Dirt bike experience does help quite a bit but, at least for me, there's a big difference in how my 700# touring bike rides vs. a 250cc dirt bike. The main difference being that I can get a 250 moved around a lot more quickly with body english than I can on my K1100LT where I have to rely more on the bike's handling and body english has a much smaller efffect.