How easy is riding in sand or gravel.

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Apr 10, 2014 | 04:42 PM

#21

danzio

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 2,178

Likes: 600

From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather

Gravel on downhill twisties is the worst road condition I can think of.

Short of fresh wet tar I suppose.

Apr 10, 2014 | 05:50 PM

#22

bigheadted

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 2,976

Likes: 49

From: Northern California

It is easy peasy, you steer with the *** end and lots of tire speed is your friend. The front brake is worse than SATAN!

Hammer it !!!

Serous though it can be tricky especially if it gets deep. My baby brother who would always ride his dyna down gravel roads really went over the bars when his new RoadGlide buried the front. This was a road he was very familiar with.

I would say if you have questions you would not take a car on it then do not on the bike.

Apr 10, 2014 | 06:22 PM

#23

X Iron Butt

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 974

Likes: 13

From: Chesapeake Virginia

I was in a lake front neighborhood looking for a friend that builds boathouses and pulled into a driveway to do a u turn. The driveway had beige 1/4" pea gravel that obviously after I pulled in was raked smooth every 10 minutes. As smooth as it was I thought it was surface gravel. This chit was 4 or 5 inches deep and at full bike in I was on the bottom. Took 10 minutes to pull the Ultra out. Won't do that again. And I did not go back and smooth out the ruts and foot prints for a booby trap driveway.

Apr 10, 2014 | 06:25 PM

#24

NiteOwlNY

Tourer

Joined: Jan 2014

Posts: 496

Likes: 0

From: Plainview, NY

I raced MX as a kid, when I went through Motorcycle school the instructors figured they'd have fun with us and have us "try" and ride across the beach. So, one at a time all the guys get their RK's stuck and I just sat and watched. When my turn came, I got on it and blasted my way across while everyone was trying to dig their bikes out, lol... It's all in your technique!

Apr 10, 2014 | 06:25 PM

#25

UppercaseJC

Road Warrior

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 1,693

Likes: 17

From: Ontario Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by beary

I saw the movie "Electra Glide In Blue" the other day where Robert Blake does a chase scene through the desert sand on his Police Electra Glide. Granted the bike is a much lighter 1972 Electra Glide, but the riders made it look easy.

I have rode on a some dirt roads, but I'm not sure that is the same.

I know there are some riders here who have done it all. How easy is it really? Just curious.

Beary

deep sand don't slow down. Hard packed gravel and sand no real problem.

Apr 10, 2014 | 08:14 PM

#26

baldguy13

Road Master

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 1,026

Likes: 4

From: Lansing, MI

Lean back, stay on the gas, and for God's sake don't use the brake.

Apr 10, 2014 | 08:24 PM

#27

Jarhead_88

Advanced

Joined: Dec 2013

Posts: 64

Likes: 0

From: Northern VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigheadted

What he said no front brake on gravel especially. you can go through just about any reasonable gravel but dont hit the front brake as it disables all steering.

Apr 10, 2014 | 11:05 PM

#28

edtompkins

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 129

Likes: 0

From: NJ

IMHO - sand is much worse than gravel, especially loose dry sand. Driving on sand has the squirrelly feeling. Gravel is not bad but ride it steady - no fast turns or movements. And the heavier your bike, the more problematic in riding either. And stay off that front brake!