Gravel mountain road advice needed
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Intermediate
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Gravel mountain road advice needed
I am visiting family in Asheville, NC this July. I'll be riding my Street Bob one-up, but with a couple bags on my luggage rack and rear pillion.
The mountain cabin rental sits atop a gravel two-track "road". Here is the description from the man who owns the house:
"The road has a very solid bed of crusher run over a layer of larger aggregate. The two tracks made by car tires are hard packed with little or no loose gravel (the greatest danger) unless the road has just been graded. I will make sure that the road has not been freshly graded when you arrive and is not graded while you are there."
And the description on his website:
"The driveway to our home comes at the end of about a half-mile of county-maintained gravel road.The driveway is about three-quarters of a mile long and was put in by a man who has been building roads in these mountains for over 50 years. We have our own tractor and keep it in good shape. It is pretty steep in a couple of places, but most people don't have any trouble with it. Several local trade, service, and delivery people have commented that it is a very good road. Four-wheel and all-wheel drive are perfect for it, of course, and front-wheel drive also works well because of the weight of the engine on the drive wheels. Rear-wheel drive requires a little more attention to driving technique. You need to carry enough momentum into the steep places so that you don't have to step too heavily on the accelerator on the upslope. The only people who have had trouble are those with rear-wheel drive who are so timid that they slow down excessively, or even stop, on the upslope. Eventually they have to add power to start moving again and the rear wheels lose traction and start spinning. Please note, this does not mean you have to drive fast, and you should not do so. People walk the road and with the blind curves you should not exceed about 10 mph. Just keep a steady foot and apply a little more accerelator as you ease into the upslope.
No where does he mention average or steepest grade %.
I rode enduro bikesas a teenage and am comfortable on sand/gravel on that type of bike, but have never done a steep hill on a Harley.
I don't think it will be an issue, but just thought I would check the forum for any hints!
Thanks,
Hugh
[IMG]local://upfiles/47689/5CE7D87C69234C94B376D41EFC7A7D80.jpg[/IMG]
The mountain cabin rental sits atop a gravel two-track "road". Here is the description from the man who owns the house:
"The road has a very solid bed of crusher run over a layer of larger aggregate. The two tracks made by car tires are hard packed with little or no loose gravel (the greatest danger) unless the road has just been graded. I will make sure that the road has not been freshly graded when you arrive and is not graded while you are there."
And the description on his website:
"The driveway to our home comes at the end of about a half-mile of county-maintained gravel road.The driveway is about three-quarters of a mile long and was put in by a man who has been building roads in these mountains for over 50 years. We have our own tractor and keep it in good shape. It is pretty steep in a couple of places, but most people don't have any trouble with it. Several local trade, service, and delivery people have commented that it is a very good road. Four-wheel and all-wheel drive are perfect for it, of course, and front-wheel drive also works well because of the weight of the engine on the drive wheels. Rear-wheel drive requires a little more attention to driving technique. You need to carry enough momentum into the steep places so that you don't have to step too heavily on the accelerator on the upslope. The only people who have had trouble are those with rear-wheel drive who are so timid that they slow down excessively, or even stop, on the upslope. Eventually they have to add power to start moving again and the rear wheels lose traction and start spinning. Please note, this does not mean you have to drive fast, and you should not do so. People walk the road and with the blind curves you should not exceed about 10 mph. Just keep a steady foot and apply a little more accerelator as you ease into the upslope.
No where does he mention average or steepest grade %.
I rode enduro bikesas a teenage and am comfortable on sand/gravel on that type of bike, but have never done a steep hill on a Harley.
I don't think it will be an issue, but just thought I would check the forum for any hints!
Thanks,
Hugh
[IMG]local://upfiles/47689/5CE7D87C69234C94B376D41EFC7A7D80.jpg[/IMG]
6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 13
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RE: Gravel mountain road advice needed
Not specific to Harley but how I've ridden other large street bikes with clip ons up similar roads or sand. Stay centered on the bike. Don't lean your body to correct but move the bike under you. Pick your line, ride "ahead" of yourself not two feet beyond the front tire, light hand on the bar but don't let the front wheel tuck, use the throttle, clutch and rear brake, simulaneously if needed, to regulate drive, don't stop, keep your speed up but don't accellerate on the grades, be ready to paddle if needed. Remeber target fixation. If you look at it you'll hit it. Look where you want to go, not at what you want to miss. Attack and coast. When you can, build speed enough let you cover as much of the obstacle or low traction spots, off the throttle, if possible.
I rode dirt bikes as a kid and did observed trials competition for years on vintage bikes. Your dirt experience will benefit you. So, how you gonna get down?
Good luck,
Tobit
I rode dirt bikes as a kid and did observed trials competition for years on vintage bikes. Your dirt experience will benefit you. So, how you gonna get down?
Good luck,
Tobit
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
RE: Gravel mountain road advice needed
If cars can make it you should have no problems. Your Harley will do the same things a dirt bike will, just a lot slower. In soft gravel, get up on the floorboards, it lowers the CG for better control, you will get some wobble in the front wheel(you lose trail).
I would highly suggest you put duct tape on the frame legs, bag fronts and bottoms, etc to prevent rock damage.
Going down, use the throttle(engine braking), not the brakes, for the steep parts. It will be challenging but you'll make it!
I would highly suggest you put duct tape on the frame legs, bag fronts and bottoms, etc to prevent rock damage.
Going down, use the throttle(engine braking), not the brakes, for the steep parts. It will be challenging but you'll make it!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,443
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From: Sasser, GA
RE: Gravel mountain road advice needed
...don't stop, keep your speed up...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 110
From: Mesa, Az.
RE: Gravel mountain road advice needed
If the road is fairly smooth you shouldn't have any problems.
Graded roads tend to get a washboard affect, and can have deep areas of sand / gravel.
Just take it slow and easy and be prepared for some loss of traction.
Like was mentioned, gain speed before the uphill sections so you don't have to accellerate to much on the hill.
Graded roads tend to get a washboard affect, and can have deep areas of sand / gravel.
Just take it slow and easy and be prepared for some loss of traction.
Like was mentioned, gain speed before the uphill sections so you don't have to accellerate to much on the hill.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2007
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RE: Gravel mountain road advice needed
Thanks for the posts, pretty much like I thought, except for the covering up of the frame, etc-didn't think of that! I thinkgoing downmight be the hard part!
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RE: Gravel mountain road advice needed
i have a friend that has to ride 200 yards of gravel from his house and has replaced 3 belts due to rocks getting between belt and pulley, so you might want to check for gravel stuck in the belteach time you have to ride through.
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Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2007
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From:
Thanks for all the help....ended up being fun going up and coming down....was packed harder than I thought it was going to be, and not near as much loose, deep, gravel. Was pretty steep in places, and only five feet wide with sheer drop off one side and mountain on the other. All in all, not really a problem once I went up it in a car first.
Hugh
Hugh
