Sportbike Convert: Need Tips for Riding Gravel

[avc8130]

Coming from sportbikes I am totally in love with my Tenere's street capabilities (save a lack of power). After watching all of the marketing hype and guys blasting all over on unpaved roads I feel compelled to do some dirt of my own. There are a few straight up GRAVEL roads "between" work and home that I have been hitting up. They have some serious turns and decent elevation changes. The roads are graded dirt with annual gravel application. So basically 1" marbles on hard pack.

Any tips/advice? I have been using "S" w/ TCS 2. I find the throttle response of S more predictable and I found TCS1 would almost bring me to a stop when heading up hill across washboard.

Tires are stock Battlewings.

ac

 

[RED CAT]

TCS 2 is good but not much you can do with 1 inch marbles on dirt. As long as you are going straight the foreward momentum will carry you through at higher speeds even if the front weaves around a bit but you'll have to really slow down before you get to the corners and just keep a little throttle on while going around then pickup speed on the way out. Whatever you do, don't coast through the corners. Thats really scary. Don't worry about braking hard with the front brake on gravel. It will activate the back brake also and won't lock up with the ABS. Try some hard stops in a straight. You'll be surprised how fast you actually slow down. Would recommend some less marbley gravel roads to practice on though. Hope this helps. ::001::

 

[avc8130]

TCS 2 is good but not much you can do with 1 inch marbles on dirt. As long as you are going straight the foreward momentum will carry you through at higher speeds even if the front weaves around a bit but you'll have to really slow down before you get to the corners and just keep a little throttle on while going around then pickup speed on the way out. Whatever you do, don't coast through the corners. Thats really scary. Don't worry about braking hard with the front brake on gravel. It will activate the back brake also and won't lock up with the ABS. Try some hard stops in a straight. You'll be surprised how fast you actually slow down. Would recommend some less marbley gravel roads to practice on though. Hope this helps. ::001::

Certainly does. I noticed coasting is less than ideal. The bike seems to go "limp" when coasting and there is a distinct lack of control.

ac

 

[oregon-rider]

I find TC2 and T mode work best for me on washboards and gravel ::002::

 

[RockyDS]

Deep loose gravel is tough and can be scary. Speed is your friend but not easy to do and as the previous poster said, slow down well before the corners. Try riding stood up. It transfers your weight to the pegs and lowers your centre of gravity. Lean forward to shift the weight to the front of the bike and look well ahead at where you want to go and the bike will follow. Forget about push steering when your up on the pegs and steer by shifting your weight - weight the inside peg to initiate the lean and for sharper turns once the lean is established weight the outside peg as you lean in. It's very effective.

My buddy told me if I'm going too fast and cross the apex on a turn the only way to recover is to slide out the rear wheel to get the bike pointing in the right direction (traction control doesn't help you to do that). That technique is for the seasoned dirt bikers, I prefer to slow down.

I think traction control will work against you on deep loose gravel as the system will detect the loss of traction as wheel spin and that's not what you want.

Just a few ideas - I don't claim to be an expert by any means. Take an off road riding school - you'll learn plenty.

Enjoy!

 

[Tolong]

A great bit of advise to start with ^^

 

[3putt]

Momentum is your friend, stand and pick your lines, be slightly on the gas or stopping in gravel. Constantly speeding up or slowing down, no coasting unless road is nice, keep the rear wheel working the bike. I like "T" mode and TC1 in most cases, TC2 allows more wheel spin, depends on the surface tho, experience will tell.

This a BIG heavy bike, keep it balanced with some momentum. It will take some pretty rough offroad conditions, but does not like jumping so much.

 

[2wheelhuble]

If its really loose I select one gear down, keep a bit of power on stand by on the rear tire. Standing is relaxing in really loose gravel. While sitting you tend to feel every wobble. Once you have some miles on the bike on some gravel the "tank knee death grip" will disappear. Rigid body bad, relax body good. You will get confident but give it some time. Once you master it just imagine the amount of roads other than highway you can cover compared to your last ride. fun fun. ::021::

 

[SisuTen]

If I had no knowledge of dirt riding, I'd buy a little used 200-250cc dirt bike and go play for a while. Then I'd use that knowledge while riding my big bike. If you did this you'd probably keep the little bike to play on, since they tend to be a no-risk blast to ride.

Riding tips online result in fractured debates, which are confusing and non-productive. PM me if you'd like my opinions on dirt riding.

Tip: Go to Amazon, buy some books on the subject, read, then experiment.

Paul

 

[DuMar]

Riding tips online result in fractured debates, which are confusing and non-productive. PM me if you'd like my opinions on dirt riding.
Tip: Go to Amazon, buy some books on the subject, read, then experiment.

No harm in a little debate.

Tip: Never judge a book by its cover, from Amazon or anywhere else. Take everything you read with a grain of salt and let experience and careful experimentation be your guide.

Personally, I am liking what's been said in this thread so far concerning gravel riding.

Have fun.

Mike

 

[tomatocity]

Monday was my first prolonged experience with hard based gravel. Carrizo Plains National Monument has a 45 mile crossing, Soda Lake Road, of mixed, asphalt; hard packed dirt with gravel; and hard packed dirt. This is an easy ride during the early months and probably gets wash boarded in the later months.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2090055

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Soda+Lake+Rd&daddr=Soda+Lake+Rd+to:Soda+Lake+Rd&hl=en&ll=35.094069,-119.641113&spn=0.657323,1.352692&sll=35.334873,-119.994907&sspn=0.081363,0.169086&geocode=FXR_FQIdGWXh-A%3BFax9FwId6BDd-A%3BFUhqGwIdqN3Y-A&t=h&mra=dme&mrsp=2&sz=13&z=10

I am not an experienced rider with dirt and gravel though found the Battlewing'd Tenere to be at home in these conditions. As most of you mentioned this motorcycle likes the power to be on and pushing it forward. Early on I floated through a corner and that was the last time. Before the corner I would slow to correct my speed then use power through the corner. A couple times I found how uncomfortable cross rutted in piles of gravel felt and a slight correction and some power and the Tenere would straighten the road. I was using Sport mode and TC1 but when I ride it again I will turn the TC off and continue to use the Sport mode unless the wash boarding is too much. I suspect the Tenere with K60's or the likes and a good rider would have a blast at higher speeds and sliding through the corners, something I used to do on a DT2 250 in Okinawa (1972).

While in the town of Lockwood I moved my new BMS seat to the high position and found the Tenere doesn't mind a rider in that position. I felt better balance and easy to transition from sitting on the seat to standing on the pegs and back. Riding in the high position was suggested by Adrian of BMS. Adrian said I looked too bunched up with flat upper legs and that the high seat position would be more comfortable. He was correct plus I have better control of me on the Tenere. Thank you Adrian.

I can see more dirt in future rides.

 

[roy]

If I had no knowledge of dirt riding, I'd buy a little used 200-250cc dirt bike and go play for a while. Then I'd use that knowledge while riding my big bike. If you did this you'd probably keep the little bike to play on, since they tend to be a no-risk blast to ride.

Riding tips online result in fractured debates, which are confusing and non-productive. PM me if you'd like my opinions on dirt riding.

Tip: Go to Amazon, buy some books on the subject, read, then experiment.

Paul

bingo we have a winner ::008::

 

[AlsoRan]

No harm in a little debate.

Tip: Never judge a book by its cover, from Amazon or anywhere else.

Mike

That is well said. ::026::

Especially be careful of books that offer "expert" advice unless you know who the the source is.

 

[2wheelhuble]

PM Cyril Despres if you have any questions.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Momentum is your friend, stand and pick your lines, be slightly on the gas or stopping in gravel. Constantly speeding up or slowing down, no coasting unless road is nice, keep the rear wheel working the bike. I like "T" mode and TC1 in most cases, TC2 allows more wheel spin, depends on the surface tho, experience will tell.

This a BIG heavy bike, keep it balanced with some momentum. It will take some pretty rough offroad conditions, but does not like jumping so much.

I agree, and for me I will add that I personally like to stand most of the time off road and I ride with TCS *OFF* 99% of the time.. I like the opportunity (while standing) to move my body forward and side to side while adding power and letting the rear tire move around while acceleration through corners or down the road. ::015::

 

[SisuTen]

I agree, and for me I will add that I personally like to stand most of the time off road and I ride with TCS *OFF* 99% of the time.. I like the opportunity (while standing) to move my body forward and side to side while adding power and letting the rear tire move around while acceleration through corners or down the road. ::015::

Good stuff, Jaxon! Of course, the reason you are comfortable standing is primarily because when you stand on the pegs, you effectively transfer your body weight to a much lower point on the frame and thus lower the center of gravity of the bike. You have essentially taken your weight out of the equation. At that point you can adjust for changes in the attitude and position of the bike by counterweighting with your body in any direction without fighting the high CG or the saddle.

I also bias my braking to the rear, riding dirt. Early on, I tried using front brake priority and learned my lesson by using my face as an auxilliary braking surface when the front tire ate it.

I would ride in the dirt with TCS off, as well. In the dirt I prefer to have full control of wheelspin at all times.

Good Luck AVC, I hope some of this helps!

Paul

 

[stevepsd]

Stand & TCS Off for me as well for anything other than jeep trails when off-road!

But this big beast will give you quad-burn in a hurry when the going gets rough (especially at speed) and will show you how out-of-shape your are!

 

[avc8130]

I appreciate all of the advice.

I have been riding quads for ~15 years. The sensation of the bike leaning underneath me is just not one I am used to.

I have been riding sport bikes for ~8 years, both on the street and track. The sensation of NOT counter-steering and feeling the front slip each time I "forget and try anyways" is new to me.

In summary:
1. Stand on the pegs
2. Get on the gas
3. Aim for the "road"
4. Your face is not an effective braking medium

ac

 

[SisuTen]

I appreciate all of the advice.

I have been riding quads for ~15 years. The sensation of the bike leaning underneath me is just not one I am used to.

I have been riding sport bikes for ~8 years, both on the street and track. The sensation of NOT counter-steering and feeling the front slip each time I "forget and try anyways" is new to me.

In summary:
1. Stand on the pegs
2. Get on the gas
3. Aim for the "road"
4. Your face is not an effective braking medium

ac

::025:: ::025:: ::025:: AC, Your analysis is spot on.

I went the other way from the dirt and brake bias to the front was the difficult part for me. In my case, hoping the front tire would stick when I got on it hard cornering was most unnerving. Now I have to re-train to dirt a bit and think about where I'm at and where I want to go at any given time. If an old guy can do it,you can too!

Have fun, you have a great bike to do it on!

Paul

 

[Brntrt]

Just to reiterate what others have said

1)stand on the pegs
2)keep your eyes up look ahead
3)TCS and ABS off
4) rear brake and power through corners

I love this bike in the dirt. As long as the wheels are turning its amazingly light and agile.


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Mark