Would you take your bike on a gravel road?

[dawg]

Looking to maybe take my FZ6R for a camping trip but worried I might end up on some rough roads. Wondering if others take theirs on gravel roads?

Other option is I look at getting another bike (enduro)

 

[dart1963]

how's about... gravel + snow????

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gscpfp-4erU]Feb2011snowdaze - YouTube[/ame]

 

[99vengeur]

I've taken mine off-road a few times. You can do it. You just have to be really careful not to throw it over in a curve hoping to have the same traction on gravel as you do on the street. Not gonna happen. But if you are cautious about how much you are leaning over, it's totally doable. I have even gone down a muddy gravel road.

Be sure to take a small block of wood or kickstand puck so you don't sink when you stop and park the bike.

 

[dawg]

how's about... gravel + snow????

Feb2011snowdaze - YouTube

Cool stuff! Do you have to worry about the bike getting scratched up?

 

[JSP]

Sure! I have taken the R6 off roading many times . Soft dirt, sand, gravel, etc. Just go slow and don't mash the front brake.

 

[Chevyfazer]

I don't have a fz6r but a fz6 and I've had mine down many back roads, forestry roads, etc etc etc with no issues. If it starts to get too rough remember to try and stand up on the pegs if you can. Also if you plan on riding through some freshly laid, really thick, or loose gravel where the tire starts to find grooves, speed up!!! Seriously it sounds crazy but you have way more control with a little more speed on the loose stuff vs taking it slow.



Even rode it to my hunting property one weekend

 

[Perdurable]

i have before but never on purpose!!

 

[dawg]

Thanks everyone, I guess I'm not so crazy for considering it.

 

[Nastybutler]

Would, have, and I'm sure will again. I went camping last summer on a lake where I had to ride 15 miles down a gravel road.

 

[6R Blackout]

I would, just would ride careful!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Casey (aka) Hunter77!

 

[dart1963]

Cool stuff! Do you have to worry about the bike getting scratched up?

if you're going fast enough to throw gravel, there is always that possibility... but it's slim.... biggest thing is what has been brought up... grooves, if you get in one, you are stuck in it, fight it, and you will go down....

stay on the part of the road that is flattest... I went back my road one day and the crown was hideous (prob. two fee from center to outside edge), I road down the middle as much as I could because the road had such an angle to it.


our tires are not the best for it, but you can do it, just take it easy, note the slope of the road.. don't hesitate to stop and review your path... it's not going to be like you are on an enduro where the tires have a flatter profile.

 

[FitZ6R]

Go for it. I did some off road when my FZ6R was a few days old:

 

[CrazyCawi]

I do wheelies on dirt.

 

[Superzoom]

Been reading up a lot on gravel riding...

1. Relax on the bars, and let the front "wander". Focus well ahead, and don't try to microsteer.

2. Use very little, if any, front brake. Engine braking is fine.

3. You can use the throttle to steer and control the bike.

4. Ideally, you want lower pressure in your tires, but that's of course not very practical to change.

5. Practice a lot, especially at the beginning of the season, and you'll get better fast.

6. Be super, super smooth in turns and when braking. Try not to brake during turns.

 

[miketriebsch]

Shoot I've taken mine through a four wheeler trail lol. When it got stuck I just got off And mashed yet gas until it came out. Plus I drive it down a gravel road daily and it still looks brand new.

 

[jlog65]

I live down a gravel road and have to turn going downhill to go into my garage. Just take it slow till you you get the hang of it. Try to find a line that is packed down and not loose gravel. I only ride in the worn tire tracks from the cars and semi's. I don't know about the "let the front end wonder" part. That's how I dropped my GS. Letting some air out of the front tire does wonders. If you can drop it to about 20PSI you shouldn't have any problem. Just try not to use the front brake much, if at all. Also be cautious of turns where people my fishtailed or done doughnuts.

 

[buzzbomb]

Support your weight on your legs, (which we should all be doing anyway) and take it slow. No problem. The point with keeping light on the handlebars, is that every little bump won't make you change the throttle. If you're weight is on your legs, your throttle is smoother over the bumps. I've got a grass and gravel driveway, and do this every day.

As was previously said, you can be too loose, and the front end will grab, twist and down you'll go. Maintain control of the front end, with your weight off the bars.

You can take most any vehicle down a decent gravel road. With a little gumption, you can take lots of vehicles down lots of roads they were never meant for. I've got stories of a '69 SuperBeetle I had, and some motorcross trails! Whoohoo!

 

[FastFreddy]

Yes, take it very easy at first and pick the lines before you get into trouble.

It feels like it makes me a better rider having gone offroad on it, coz you get light and start 'reading' the surface.

I ended up doing about 60-80 km/h down the rough roads without thinking about it, but then I realised and backed down to 55 km/h or so.
----
Last time I camped with the FZ6R, I went for a wander on a full moon night and walked to up the hill and towards some trees which turned out to be the eagles nest, he was pumping his wings to let me know how strong he was, I knew it was the eagle and not the magpie or kestrel from the sound of the wings pumping, so I went back the way I came after that hoping he wouldn't swoop me like the bush pigeon did earlier when I was pitching my tent. I saw some kangaroos and feral pigs the next day too.

 

[flyingminno]

I've done it many times before without incident! Just do as everyone above says, and you will be fine! An important thing to remember, we have tubeless tires, so do try to avoid any large ruts or rocks just to be safe!

 

[FastFreddy]

there he is doing his thing up there