Slip & Slide
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 202
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From:
Slip & Slide
Hi everyone, today the wife and I went for a ride. I was stopped at a cross road. I started to go when all of a sudden I started loosing my footing. I just barely had enough strength to get control of my beast. I have 06 Ultra. Let me tell you once this bike decides to start letting gravity take hold of her, she is a handful with the wife. I was wearing running shoes and they slipped on the gravel. Any suggestions to what to wear when dealing with hard packed gravel with loose gravel on top. My brother in laws driveway is very similar, very hard to get a good footing. Need brand of footwear you all might suggest. Hope you all have a great 4th.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,234
Likes: 106
RE: Slip & Slide
Golf Shoes with the spikes.
Sorry, had to.
With gravel under foot there is not a shoe made that will keep traction. Once that stuff starts to roll you better have both feet down.
That's what I do if I see gravel or sand. I try to put both feet down to get balance till I can put the kickstand down. Or if I am at a stop sign till I can get going.
Sorry, had to.
With gravel under foot there is not a shoe made that will keep traction. Once that stuff starts to roll you better have both feet down.
That's what I do if I see gravel or sand. I try to put both feet down to get balance till I can put the kickstand down. Or if I am at a stop sign till I can get going.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,929
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RE: Slip & Slide
Logically, the best you an do is wear a good quality boot (or shoe) with a heavy treaded sole when it comes to traction. No different than tire treading (serves the same purpose). Other than that, if you are prepared to put your feet down onto gravel (especially on pavement with loose gravel) it's best just to pay attention to your footing. You never know until you do it whether or not it will hold you. Personally, I believe running shoes are just not the greatest kind of foot wear for riding a motorcycle, but lots do it.
Have had the unfortunate experience of having oil on the bottom of my boot when I put my foot down on wet pavement .... now THAT was a close one too!
Have had the unfortunate experience of having oil on the bottom of my boot when I put my foot down on wet pavement .... now THAT was a close one too!
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 86,081
Likes: 118
From: Snottsdale, Az
RE: Slip & Slide
Also keep off the front brake , it will send you places you don`t want to go. I would get a nice pair of boots. Tennies are fine but boots are better in the long run ! My .02 , Steve
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,318
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RE: Slip & Slide
Here's what I do,...wear boots,..and stay off gravel roads,.
..seriously, I always wear boots when riding. I have a E-Glide, and your right, they're damned heavy, and if you get too far off balance your gonna be real intimate with aforementioned gravel. Got caught once on a road being re-paved with fresh gravel, had to ride about 10 miles in that stuff,....no fun!
..seriously, I always wear boots when riding. I have a E-Glide, and your right, they're damned heavy, and if you get too far off balance your gonna be real intimate with aforementioned gravel. Got caught once on a road being re-paved with fresh gravel, had to ride about 10 miles in that stuff,....no fun!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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RE: Slip & Slide
I have a couple pair of boots that I can choose from when I ride. The pair that I feel the most secure in are a pair of boots with lug soles. Granted, if gravel decides that it wants to move under your feet, it will do so. My lug boots will give me a firmer grip on things than my other pair of boots that are flat on the bottom. At least they work for me. Personally, I try to stay away from gravel roads whenever possible, but at least with the lug soled boots I feel that I am ready for anything.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 991
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From: Campbellton NB
RE: Slip & Slide
Just what SPRINGER suggests. Good solid work boots with lug soles are the best I've worn when riding. Work boots also have oil resistant soles and are surprisingly slip resistant.
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: USA
Road Captain
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 645
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From:
RE: Slip & Slide
HD Cimarron Boots, 87.95 at Leather Up - http://www.leatherup.com/product.asp...FCimarron%5FHD . Won't guarantee no slipping in gravel, but certainly better than tennis shoes, and pretty comfortable to boot. (Sorry, I couldn't help it).
Bill
(Sorry, I couldn't help it).Bill