Beware of Gravel

twigginton · 09-17-2008, 01:14 AM

Well, after putting 1400 miles on my GZ I managed to drop it at the end of downhill paved driveway. Stopped to enter the highway, and the driveway had some accumulated gravel at the end of it next to the highway. My front wheel must have locked up in the gravel and down she went. I never saw it coming. Luckily I had no damage to anything other than my pride. I did a quick look around to see if anyone saw me fall, picked it up and got out of there. My footpeg, saddlebag and windshield took all the fall, along with my ankle...

Just wanted to let others know to watch out for that gravel. :??:

Jer · 09-17-2008, 07:34 AM

I've been reading about the dangers of gravel, sand, and other menaces. Is it primarily when braking and turning that these are a problem.

If you maintain speed and don't make any direction changes is it usually safe to cross these patches???

Sarris · 09-17-2008, 08:57 AM

The deal with gravel is don't make any sudden moves, slow down without braking, and try not to lean/turn while in it. I personally think it's alot more dangerous than wet roads. Also, don't panic, you're more likely to screw up if you're tense and gorilla gripping the bike.

:skull:

Jer · 09-17-2008, 09:04 AM

If you just roll across it though you needn't panic?

Is that kind of the thing with all these tricky surfaces?

Sarris · 09-17-2008, 09:12 AM

Panicing and therefore gorilla gripping the bike leads to choppy riding motions, so just roll on through. Just be cautious not terrified.

:2tup:

Jer · 09-17-2008, 09:16 AM

great, thanks!

Easy Rider · 09-17-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jer

If you maintain speed and don't make any direction changes is it usually safe to cross these patches???

Yes. If you don't notice it in time, there is not much of an alternative. Ride it out.
This might tend to indicate, however, that you are not looking far enough down the road.

Jer · 09-17-2008, 09:20 AM

Sure, avoiding it if possible is the best choice. But if you have to cross it, go straight with no sudden changes in speed.

Jer · 09-17-2008, 03:17 PM

Rode on a dirt/gravel road over lunch today.

By accident. BUt since I needed some practice on it I kept going instead of turning around.

Lots of hills. Gentle turns. Lots of surface types. Hat to be a grade B service road or not much more than that.

Kept it at 20mph or so. Felt 100% in control. Just kept it on the hardest packed parts. And looked further ahead so I wasnt zoning in on all the rocks and thus hitting them.

No problems.

Thanks for the help!

alanmcorcoran · 09-17-2008, 03:32 PM

It's just like driving in snow.

09-17-2008, 01:14 AM	#1
twigginton Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northeast Mississippi Posts: 9	Beware of Gravel Well, after putting 1400 miles on my GZ I managed to drop it at the end of downhill paved driveway. Stopped to enter the highway, and the driveway had some accumulated gravel at the end of it next to the highway. My front wheel must have locked up in the gravel and down she went. I never saw it coming. Luckily I had no damage to anything other than my pride. I did a quick look around to see if anyone saw me fall, picked it up and got out of there. My footpeg, saddlebag and windshield took all the fall, along with my ankle... Just wanted to let others know to watch out for that gravel. :??: Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-17-2008, 07:34 AM	#2
Jer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Des Moines IA USA Posts: 310	Re: Beware of Gravel I've been reading about the dangers of gravel, sand, and other menaces. Is it primarily when braking and turning that these are a problem. If you maintain speed and don't make any direction changes is it usually safe to cross these patches??? __________________ "There's many who tried, to prove that they're faster, but they didn't last and they died as they tried!"
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09-17-2008, 08:57 AM	#3
Sarris Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Port Richey, Florida USA Posts: 1,348	Re: Beware of Gravel The deal with gravel is don't make any sudden moves, slow down without braking, and try not to lean/turn while in it. I personally think it's alot more dangerous than wet roads. Also, don't panic, you're more likely to screw up if you're tense and gorilla gripping the bike. :skull: __________________ Prudent riders live longer than moron riders. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-17-2008, 09:04 AM	#4
Jer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Des Moines IA USA Posts: 310	Re: Beware of Gravel If you just roll across it though you needn't panic? Is that kind of the thing with all these tricky surfaces? __________________ "There's many who tried, to prove that they're faster, but they didn't last and they died as they tried!"
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09-17-2008, 09:12 AM	#5
Sarris Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Port Richey, Florida USA Posts: 1,348	Re: Beware of Gravel Panicing and therefore gorilla gripping the bike leads to choppy riding motions, so just roll on through. Just be cautious not terrified. :2tup: __________________ Prudent riders live longer than moron riders. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-17-2008, 09:16 AM	#6
Jer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Des Moines IA USA Posts: 310	Re: Beware of Gravel great, thanks! __________________ "There's many who tried, to prove that they're faster, but they didn't last and they died as they tried!"
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09-17-2008, 09:20 AM	#8
Jer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Des Moines IA USA Posts: 310	Re: Beware of Gravel Sure, avoiding it if possible is the best choice. But if you have to cross it, go straight with no sudden changes in speed. __________________ "There's many who tried, to prove that they're faster, but they didn't last and they died as they tried!"
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09-17-2008, 03:17 PM	#9
Jer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Des Moines IA USA Posts: 310	Re: Beware of Gravel Rode on a dirt/gravel road over lunch today. By accident. BUt since I needed some practice on it I kept going instead of turning around. Lots of hills. Gentle turns. Lots of surface types. Hat to be a grade B service road or not much more than that. Kept it at 20mph or so. Felt 100% in control. Just kept it on the hardest packed parts. And looked further ahead so I wasnt zoning in on all the rocks and thus hitting them. No problems. Thanks for the help! __________________ "There's many who tried, to prove that they're faster, but they didn't last and they died as they tried!"
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09-17-2008, 03:32 PM	#10
alanmcorcoran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 2,926	Re: Beware of Gravel It's just like driving in snow. __________________ [hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and More…
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