12-12-2008, 09:26 PM | #1 |
WERA White Plate
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NC
Moto: 2009 GSXR 1300
Posts: 2,448
|
Around the corner in lean mode: GRAVEL Ahead!!!
What's your tips/strategies for dealing with gravel once discovered as you are in mid turn and there's gravel just ahead or a series of decent sized rocks?
|
12-12-2008, 09:28 PM | #2 | |
Hold mah beer!
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: 80 Miles South of Moto Heaven
Moto: 08 R1200GS
Posts: 23,268
|
try to cut the corner so you can straighten up through the gravel section. Otherwise hold throttle steady and be smooth. That's why it's always best to do a scouting run before you start trying anything really aggressive.
__________________
Quote:
|
|
12-12-2008, 11:50 PM | #3 |
Ride Like an Asshole
Join Date: Feb 2008
Moto: nothing...
Posts: 11,254
|
My method was to eat shit and get insurance to buy my bike for me. Worked out pretty well.
|
12-13-2008, 06:01 PM | #4 |
Slow Poke
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: NJ
Moto: '05 R1
Posts: 61
|
Every situation is different but I would say to straighten up and brake as hard as you can before you hit the gravel. You would need good instinctive braking skills to do this properly.
|
12-13-2008, 07:25 PM | #5 |
AMA Supersport
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,698
|
I agree that every case is different. But if there has been some cars that drove over it after it was put on the road, then there is a good chance that you have a tire wide path thats some what clear. I have hit the same corner before to find it covered in gravel. Its a tight corner and the cars use the shoulder to get around. This covers the road. But the few that do stay on the road end up clearing a small path. I aim for that, stay calm and stay on the throttle. Worked for me. Both times I had a passenger. I think the first one noticed the gravel and went to sit up which started to take me out on my line. I had to lean in it more. I wanted to toss her in the ditch. The second passenger a few weeks later did what I said and just stayed with me. Both times I kept the rubber down so I was happy.
James |
12-13-2008, 08:14 PM | #6 | |
DefenderOfTheBuelliverse
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Parts Unknown
Moto: Buell XB12R
Posts: 18,585
|
Except that you don't become a better rider that way.
__________________
Quote:
|
|
12-14-2008, 06:45 AM | #7 |
Perpetual trouble
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: at the base of the Alps
Moto: VTX 1300C, RC51, CBR600RR, CBR929RR
Posts: 715
|
Every situation is different, but I agree with trip. Dig deep, cut the corner (but don't go off road), and stand her up before you hit the gravel. Try to slow down before you hit it if possible. And if you're not familiar with the road, DO NOT HAUL ASS. If you're gonna haul ass (i.e. knee down), scout it out first.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!" |
12-14-2008, 10:07 AM | #8 |
Ride Like an Asshole
Join Date: Feb 2008
Moto: nothing...
Posts: 11,254
|
|
12-14-2008, 12:11 PM | #9 |
Pompous Prick
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: MA
Moto: 06 R6 (race), 04 CRF Tard (race)
Posts: 3,040
|
If you're going to ride hard, scope out the road first.
Even under normal riding conditions it's usually the rider getting nervous and tightening up that causes the crash. If the gravel is really thick and you're riding too fast, stand up the bike and brake if you have the time/space... if you don't, don't, otherwise you'll be essentially trailbraking and you'll wash the front like whoa. In that case just hang off the bike to get it upright and stay loose... chances are it will be fine.
__________________
LRRS/CCS #123 Boston Moto Dunlop Woodcraft 35 Motorsports Sidi Pit Bull K&N Filters |
12-15-2008, 12:42 AM | #10 |
Keyboard Racer
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mile High City
Moto: Old Superbikes
Posts: 1,016
|
Except for today's snowstorm and -5 degrees, I had been riding between storms. Lookout Mountain's switchbacks are also steep. The plows that drop sand have to slow to 2 mph to get around them. The automatic sanders drop a ton of sand in these corners.
The snow melts quickly, but I wait until a bunch of cars have made tire tracks through the sand. So before each curve, I have to decide which tire track I want to be in. Even though I go slow, I lean heavily off the bike. This keeps the bike mostly upright. I'm also looking through the turn, but I glance down sometimes to make sure the tire is going where I want it. I actually like the precise riding of staying in a tire track. It takes patience, finesse with the throttle and brakes, and a lot of leaning. I scout the road going uphill. Coming downhill is a lot harder because of the braking. But by the time I come down, I forgot where all the bad places were. |
Bookmarks |
|
|