How to Ride a Motorcycle on Gravel Roads: Five Gravel Riding Tips for Beginners
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- When you're new to off road motorcycle riding, riding a motorcycle on gravel roads can be an intimidating experience. Gravel road motorcycle riding is sketchy, wobbly, and very different from riding your bike on the street. Eventually it becomes easier and you'll have a lot of fun once you get a sense of how to ride a motorcycle on gravel roads, but for those of you who are just starting out riding your bike off pavement, I have five tips that will hopefully help you feel more secure and planted on the sketchy gravel and other loose surfaces.
Here are a few motorcycle gravel road riding techniques to keep in mind:
1. Understand that when riding a motorcycle on gravel, it's going to feel sketchy and wobbly. Your front end will wander and that's perfectly normal and okay. The trick is not to fight it.
2. At first, try to do much of your motorcycle gravel road acceleration and deceleration in straight lines.
3. Trust your dual sport or adventure bike tires. Most have great traction and are very sturdy, so when riding motorcycle on gravel roads, you don't really need to worry about puncturing or otherwise damaging your off road motorcycle tires in most normal situations, and the extra traction of the knobbies will make your riding on gravel roads much easier if you just trust it.
4. Stand up! This is one of the most important off road motorcycling skills and it will help you in almost every situation. That gravel road riding sketchiness is always there, but when you stand up on your motorcycle you feel it less and are better equipped to deal with any surprises that might come your way.
5. Lean your motorcycle underneath you when riding motorcycle gravel. Unlike when we ride on the street, off road the important thing is to keep your weight over the contact patch on the ground to maximize traction.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:23 Gravel Feels Wobbly
02:52 Straight Lines
04:38 Trust Your Tires
05:36 Stand Up
07:57 Lean The Bike Underneath You
09:32 Outro
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I used your link to get some stuff from Rock Mountain for my KTM. I hope it helps. Thanks for the content!
Thanks for the links. I'm happy to use them for you youtubers.
Much appreciated.
As a street rider for 20 years and now dipping my wick into dirt as an Adv rider, you channel is gold.
I'm happy you find it useful!
@@1DrBar HAH!
Seriously. I'm in the same boat. It takes a lot to make the transition, but dirt, gravel is a hoot.
Definitely helpfull used to ride dirt as a kid but don't remember much of those yrs lol and been riding road cruisers and rice rockets for yrs just got a Enduro and first day took a spill thinking just ride like ya normally do lesson learned lucky nothing broken on bike or body and taking in some videos and trying new things
Being afraid of gravel roads definitely resonates! One thing that really helped me was doing really slow figure 8 drills on gravel / dirt surfaces, and getting used to moving the bike underneath me while standing up. It makes it much less scary when the bike gets squirley because you get accustomed to the bike being leaned way over and not necessarily in line with your body.
That figure 8 drill is the best thing you can do to practice.
I would love to see on a real gravel road vs natural gravel. While there were gravely sections, it’s a world away from a back alley, or better, a newly graded, 3”-5” deep gravel country road with a few wonky tractor tracks in it.
I know all your advice applies, and the whole gyroscopic effect I understand. Yet I have decent scars from going down on a bicycle in gravel, and know that there is a limit to it all. And that limit can have little or no warning. All was well, next I’m picking stones out of hamburgered flesh.
Couple things. Another channel said to stand up and lean back to get weight off the front tire. I grew up on nothing but gravel and single trails. Never stood up, and never had a problem.
Some great tips here. Another thing that has really helped me when standing and going through turns on gravel is to weight the outside foot peg. This was a game changer for me.
How do you mean?
@@rkr6237 I think he means putting more weight on the peg.
The one thing I would add would be to get comfortable breaking the rear tire loose. Steering with the rear end is both useful and incredibly fun!
Yup! Easiest way to turn the bike on thick gravel where the front end wants to keep pushing instead of turning. Doesn't take much throttle input to make it work.
Thanks Ben, lots of valuable info for anyone transitioning from street riding only to off road.
Love all the tips, thanks for going through this….it’s pretty reassuring to know that the slight slip is a normal feel of the bike enjoying itself 😌. Very cool videos so far that I’ve seen (newer subscriber) and love what you’re sharing with the community!
Good advice. Thanks for sharing.
In gravel, sand or mud squeeze the bike with your legs. It's amazing how much control/confidence you gain.
great video. really helps me. thanks man
That ending view was awesome. Great tips too. The biggest change when I started riding on dirt and loose gravel was learning to stay loose. 👍
Good timing! I have only ridden logging roads once, and this answers some of the questions I have. Thanks.
I just wanted to say that I enjoy your videos and you are helping me deal with off road camping alone, which is not something im comfortable with however seeing you do it is helping me cope with it.
Thanks, Dork. I'll likely watch this video again when the snow up here in Spokane county melts. Basic instructions are so necessary. Thanks again.
Well, I had been looking for this kind of video all winter. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for a clear and concise video of what to do , going to replay it several times before I go out. Commit to memory . You are doing a great job , will support you thru Rocky Mtn .
I just want to say that my dad and I watch your videos and I got so excited to see you taking off from the power dealership right near my house lol. I’m due to get my first bike next month. Thank you for putting out the content that you do! I hope to see you out there sometime!
Thanks SO much for the basic gravel-riding tips. I've been watching YT videos for months ... and yours is the FIRST I've come across addressing gravel riding (which was scaring me, a newbee).
Really excellent info for me as I’m a newbie to trail riding.
... let Jesus take the wheel... 🙏
Great tips! Now I wanna get out and practice 👍
Good tips! If these borders open up I’m gonna come ride these roads this summer!
Well done. You hit on all the major challenges riding gravel.
All great tips. Thanks very much.
Love your videos Dork! Lol I know exactly where you were riding, have ridden through there years ago on my TT600! I live just before the main gate, happy riding!
Hey Ben. Just went out and did some gravel dirt riding today. You’re advice was spot on and helped me out! I was able to tackle some obstacles that I would not have been able to if I had not watched this video. Thank you sir!
Thankyou So much, this is very helpful
I know you recorded this a while back, but it is much appreciated. I have made my triumphant return to the dirt after a 15 year break during which I just rode sporty bikes on the street. My new dual sport is a KLX300 and my other bike is an MT-10 (LOL). All the roads right around my house are insidious county graded gravel roads and they are kicking my ass. But I will not be defeated. Watching your videos and others plus daily practice are going to get me there. Thanks again, you inspire me.
Great tips! Thanks dork.
LOL. I LOVE your videos Dork! Especially the part about “don’t just let go of the handlebars, and let Jesus take the wheel”. I laughed out loud. I dunno tho, here in New Hampshire, I have ridden on a lot of snow covered roads on my KLR, and often have felt as though there was some kind of “higher power” keeping me upright in the snow. 😀 You call it “physics”... potāto / patáto. I agree on “trust your tires” too. My Continental TKC 80 Twinduros kept SO many bad things from happening to my KLR, I cannot wait to get my Gen III 2022 out there, on a set of them. Thanfor another “EXCELLENT” video Dork!
Thanks for the newbie tips! Can't wait to get off road and try these helpful tips! Thanks! Ride safe!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the video. Great tips.
Hey Ben. 42 yo new rider here, got my XT 250 a few months back. Live in rural PA mountains, tons of dirt and gravel, thanx for the video!!! Great content.
These tips are spot on - esp the one about standing on your pegs. It made the biggest difference for me right from the start.
This was possibly the most useful youtube vid I have watched to date. Thank you. I have lived my entire life driving gravel roads… and, on a bike, I have feared gravel since 1972. There were no courses then and with my second hand street bike I learned how to pull wrenches more than I ever learned to ride. Then a friend was killed on gravel, the bike got sold and the two wheel skill level stalled.
But just bought a little dual sport, took a course and am slowly learning stuff that’ll hopefully keep me vertical. Suspect you receive an overwhelming number of comments so may not see this one but I would love to know what bike you find the most stable on gravel. And what tires…
Cheers! Keep up the good work
Great tips, thanks
Well said, great explanations! Thanks!
Will definitely watch it tomorrow! Still carrying some marks on me left by gravel in rainy weather =)
Nice video Ben! Keep these videos coming please> I bought a KLX230 after watching your review
Very good tips for everyone!❤
I just bought my first small adv bike and have been practicing quite a bit. I find it much more comfortable to ride standing up and I feel I have better control over the bike. I do need to change tyres though, mine are apparently 60/40 tyres. I am still doing research on what is out there for mostly gravel riding. I am finding that I am gripping too tightly on the gravel roads and when I do loosen up I get a better and less stressful ride. Thanks for your tips, they are very helpful.
this video came at the perfect time. i was just looking up new tires that work bettter on gravel
I live in Iowa, where they cover gravel roads in loose limestone. First time I took my dritbike out on the gravel it felt like I was floating on the road. Took me a little bit to get used to that feeling, but once I did, I don't even notice anymore. Great advice to keep your acceleration on straight lines, I know I have had a near wipeout from getting on the throttle while I was turning on the gravel road. Great advice!
we have a 10 mile gravel road between our house and camp, it has lots of corners, very very fun road. anyway when we were first learning one of the biggest mistakes we made was not looking ahead/scanning ahead. stay on the packed section too, on the big county gravel road we have there is always a flat, smooth section of it
Great tips, even for street riders who occasionally find themselves on gravel/dirt roads.
Very good and informative video. And DEFINITELY go slower than you would on harder packed roads. Loose gravel roads are pretty much all I have around me. Of course that's on a Kawi Versys 650 with road tires and I can genuinely attest to the sketchiness of that situation. Won't be doing that again.
Beautiful view from up there!
As always enjoyed watching thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
You got a "subscribe" from me the moment I saw the Excite Bike intro. First time viewer, but I'll be back!
Thanks. I’m in Northern California love to get up there and ride sometime.
Just ordered the map for bdr oregon #3. Bought a slightly used wr250r last weekend. Cant wait for riding season. Must wait for snow to melt. See you on the trail.
Great tips!!
Your a genius buddy if new bike riders keep going over your words of wisdom mate I'd say you have probably saved a few lives thank you from my heart ♥ there should be more experienced riders like you giving the young ones tips problem is they get a bike after a couple months they think there experienced there not they put a passenger on back and they try to show off its crazy no protection what's so ever again thank you
Thanks. Right now riding gravel/dirt roads in my mind I’m comparing it to walking on ice and waiting for the wheels to come from underneath me. I am starting to relax and gaining confidence slowly.
This video was real helpful, thanks!
This is the best, most useful (and beautifully concise) off-road instruction I've found. Without it, and as a total newbie to dirt despite 45 years on tarmac, I would not have been able to even attempt some of the Patagonia trip I did recently - even though I could not tackle the really gnarly stuff. Thanks so much.
I know this is an old comment but I am looking at a Patagonia trip and researching skills and happened upon your comment. What were the gnarliest bits and what do you wish you had focused on so you would have felt comfortable trying to do those bits?
I recently got humbled as an 80% street rider 20% occasional nice gravel road rider in the Himalayas - what ultimately took me out was a truck merging and running me into a rock slide, but there were some gnarly sections and water washes that in hindsight I wish I had better skills with to tackle.
I learned, on the trip and the support team was amazing but it was at a price. 😅
I didn't hear my favorite...."Just Ride Faster"......
Thanks for helping n00bs learn this stuff!
Great advice #1: Learn to stand up and practice it when it's easy, when the road is straight, etc, so you'll be comfortable when you need to stand in a hurry over obstacles.
Good Advice #2: Lean the bike over to turn. If you lean it over far enough, with all your weight on the high side peg and your knee pushed firmly into the tank, the bike will almost turn itself!
let the gyroscope of a 21" front wheel keep you upright. Just point to the least resistance! Thank you for the video!
Thanks for the great tips!! Good video (as always). Advice for riders of big bikes that have kevlar belt drive - like my ElectraGlide: gravel can damage your belt if a piece, even the size of a pea, gets caught between the belt and the sprocket. The small little stone will get mashed right through the belt as the bike rides down the road! (Not that I did this or anything ;).)
Great video, for some reason i started counting how often you said "Gravel" .. To help show the counter-lean you can attach a camera to the bike facing you, counter lean is a great skill for offroad and low speed manuvers anywhere .. I counted 34 Gravel's .. Meow
Another "excellent" vid. Adv-noob here. Recently completed first 40+ mi unpaved shake-down/practice ride; Toledo to Harlan to Philomath, OR. Experienced/discovered every tip you covered in the vid. Skill development and confidence comes with time n practice. I get that part. #1 worry was fear of a breakdown, tire or mechanical. I packed tools, but still...that fear of the unknown speaks to a shortage of experiences. And I know there is a solution toward to bottom of my next tank of gas.
That breakdown fear can be alleviated quite a bit with a satellite communicator. That's why I carry my InReach. Worst case I can always call for help.
Nice tips 👍🏻
Well summed up, thanks!
I just had an accident (where I had to get knee surgery) on gravel with my bike (I live in bali so scooters are the main transport). I’m feeling very scared to ride my bike again. This video is awesome. It’s giving me some confidence to get back on, and what to do if I hit gravel again. Going to go try to ride right now. Thank YOU!!
So tip number 6 in my book is use first gear and engine braking when you get to a downhill bit you don't know... You probably don't have much chalk where you are, but theres a lot of it where i am, and when it's wet in wintertime, no matter what tyres you have on, you'd be better off on ice. I went down a new-to-me trail just after christmas a bit fast -- and i don't mean fast at all, but maybe a bit of throttle in second, and whoopsie there's a big iron gate at the bottom. I literally just touched the rear brake and the bike went one way and i went the other. Neither the bike nor I was seriously damaged, but i twisted my knee which was sore for a surprisingly long time. which rings me to tip number 7 -- steer clear of "technical" stuff too soon in your riding career, and tip number 8 -- get knee braces. Especially if, like me, you're a 50+ squid...
Great video! WHERE IS THIS ROAD? I'm in Colorado, and you are on an even crazier road than I get on! I LOVE it!
I really want to pick up a drz 400. Also as a first bike, I do want to travel gravel with it as where I work I travel gravel. I've rode mountain bike downhill and totally get the bike leaning over in corners as I feel I've done that unknowingly going fast when I raced on snow, its just keeping that center of gravity. Great videos as I've seen a few now and really makes me need a drz.
I have ridden bikes forever but just got an ADV. We live down a gravel road in the Bankhead National Forest and the Sipsey Wilderness. I rode my sport bike down a pea gravel road before and it was terrifying. I was keeping my ADV at around 20 MPH until I followed my roommate on his dirtbike one day. We were going 50 MPH and it actually encouraged me to push my limits amd made me a better rider. We also ride through our pastures and I have learned to break traction and slide my bike a bit by trying to hang with him.
It’s really helpful that you aren’t someone who has been riding since early childhood. You can still remember what you were anxious about, what you had to learn etc so you understand the beginner’s mind. A high level expert cannot recall that since they overcame all of it so long ago. Imagine someone who started racing enduros or motocross at age 7 or 8 and now after riding at a high level for decades trying to teach beginners. In the field of adult education, it is a well known phenomenon that the person least able to effectively teach beginners is a high level expert. Counterintuitive but true. So at this point in your riding career (I am guessing your are an intermediate level rider) you are probably the perfect instructor for beginner and advanced beginner off pavement riders.
Agree with everything you brought up….and….learning to use the foot pegs to distribute your weight as you’re leaning into the corners rather than shifting your but around. It’s not always understood that your weight on the foot pegs is what helps shift your weight when standing up. This little hint helped me understand the weight shift more comprehensively.
So like on a left hand turn shift your weight to the right peg as you lean the bike to the left?
Stand-up, look-up, open up! First rule taught at off-road professional training. Standing up on the pegs gives you more control. Look up, look far ahead, let the bike sort out the road. Look down and go directly to the scene of the accident. Ride lower pressures on the tyres for better traction. To save your new adv bike, get proper training!
cool tips! thanks man !
Needed this!
Standing up, and letting the bike float under you by far is what I've found to be the most useful tip. It takes a bit to get used to, (I've ridden Harleys forever ) and it was a totally foreign concept for me to grasp at first. You actually use your knees pressed against the frame to steer. This makes life a hell of a lot easier. The opposite lean thing is still a thing for me to get used to too, but it seriously helps a lot. The one thing that I might add too, is to look ahead to where YOU WANT TO GO. If you see a big chunking rock, or branch, and you focus on it, you'll probably hit it. The bike is going to go where you're looking. (Yeah, I've chomped on a couple rocks) I've only started off road a couple of years ago on a Dual Sport, but it's an absolute blast. Be safe out there kids. Wishing y'all peace. Great video, thank you sir.
Riding a mountain bike on offroad or gravel is a lot easier for me. I even ride at night. But when I'm on a motorcycle, it's waaay more challenging for me. This will help. Thanks :)
You made a good argument for standing up, as a means of actually feeling more confident when the bike is squirrelly underneath you. I tend to ride faster when standing.
Nice Tips. A++
I took the klx down a rail road track that was being renovated, big chunks of busted cross ties and big loose gravel piles every where
Nice ride
I crashed on a steep dry gravel descent simply because I could not slow down enough to take the corner at the bottom of the descent. Neither braking or a lower gear did anything to stop the bike from gaining momentum. Once off the bike it was even difficult to walk the road without falling over due to the grip being so bad.. I ended up getting a rock to bend the gear lever back into shape and rode out the way I came down - in the tyre marks I made going down - and headed home some 200 miles away.
After tipping over yesterday in my first gravel, I am now here. Seem like great tips, thanks for sharing! Also, where was this filmed at? LOVE the location
I have some really bad crowned gravel roads with all of the loose gravel on the crown. Makes for some interesting riding.
In your video, around 2:27, you said "Relax and let the front end wobble". I have learned that consciously and intentionally smiling at the same time works wonders to relax.
My first experience with gravel was (predictably) a negative one.
I was riding my SFV650 street bike through some unfamiliar hills, pulled over to observe the scenery, set down the kickstand and the entire bike just slipped and sunk into about an inch of gravel.
Getting it upright again took a herculean effort for such a small bike; no matter which way I tried to lift it, it just slide around in the gravel.
I ended up digging a hole in the gravel and pushing the rear wheel into it, then using that as an anchor from which I could leverage up the bike.
Long story short: don't trust rocks.
Gravel is a bitch. I'm new to street riding even though I'm 53. Been riding dirt since I was a kid.
Here is my noob tip, don't try to put your bike on the center stand on deep pea gravel. Lol.
@@IRQ1Conflict Sounds more like a scooter than a motorcyle (w/center stand)
Very cool!
Thank you man, I am trying to put my wheels offroad with my 1090R... I need more confidence with my bike, but I am not in a rush. In my channel I am keeping all my trips, so I can watch it back to see my mistakes.. And I guess all biker makes a lot of it. 😄
Great video with great tips which I use when been venturing out on gravel and muddy off on my Honda VTX 1300 - when I go camping etc. It fish tails like crazy - Any further tips for a cruiser.
Went on a Kawasaki demo ride of the KLR 650 today. Very solid feeling bike.
It always baffles me to see like dakar riders just fly over any kind of terrain with seemingly ease, but as soon as i hit the tiniest bit of mud on a dirt road, i feel like im gonna fall... Although that is not exactly true anymore, because i am practicing and learning. Right now i am still concerned about cornering, especially tighter corners on (deep or muddy) dirt roads. But i love it though. Standing on the bike and letting it do it's thing is something i am pretty used to. I ride a 1200gsa
The best way I have found to describe making turns while standing is to push with your outside knee. That keeps your weight outside the turn.
Just got my first dual sport (kinda) this helps
As a newer adventure rider once the paved road ended, and hit a rocky road, more than just gravel, that handlebar was moving back and forth and my instinct was to hold tighter and to make it stop moving to go straight. Then watching your videos as well as others I learned to kinda let the front end do that and just help quide it to where I need to go. Now I need tips on how to navigate roads that are muddy, and have water puddles mixed in. Where I am at, the rainy season changes the roads drastically. I have a Honda CB500X and on two occasions have tipped over to the right because the back wheel spins and then it starts moving to the left pretty quickly causing to lean, then go down. Now I am paranoid if it has been rain and the road is muddy because it is so slick, similar to ice.
Wish you still had the KLR. Loved the video’s.
Thank you for the tips. I have been riding motorcycles for over 43 years and have gotten into AVD riding less than a year. I think the hardest thing for me to learn, was what you said about leaving your arms and the grip on the bars more relaxed. I enjoy your videos.
Early congratulations on 40K!
Don't jinx it! 🤣
@@DorkintheRoadHA!
Counter-leaning also works great for tight parking lot maneuvering. There’s a good video on youtube of a police officer demonstrating on a course.
I learned gravel riding across Canada!
You forgot to mention the number one tip, grip with the knees, it holds you in place either standing or sitting and lets you relax your grip on the bars, big benefit is it keeps your body mass closer to the centre of the bike so you don’t get the pendulum effect from your legs.
Gripping with the knees is number one off or on road, it works for braking, accelerating and cornering, pushing on the tank with your knee makes counter steering easier.
I rode dirt bikes for 14 years before riding on the streets, and loved watching the motorcycle road racing, but it looked to me like all the bikes were on the verge of losing traction, no matter what the speed. To my eyes, riding on the streets looked like riding on a frozen ice rink.
35 years later, and with 25 years of street-only riding, and my brain now tells me that riding on dirt looks like riding on a frozen ice rink. Funny how perceptions change. :)
Off road riding gives you so many skills that can save you on road.
Being off road you’re so used to loosing traction, or the front washing out it becomes second nature to react to it on the road. No more butt clenching, you just naturally correct the situation.
Hey nice to see those tips. They all make perfect sense. Would have liked to see you riding on gravel while explaining them rather than this mud/dirt track but good tips nonetheless! Standing is certainly the most control (even though for beginners like me it feels like less) but for those of us that don't do bicycling or lunge workouts, it burns out the legs pretty quick. Gotta work on those quads I guess.