Ducati Monster Forum

I just moved into a new house, and the house is great except for the fact that the only way to get to it includes half a mile of gravel road.  The road twists and turns, goes up hill and down, and there are ample potholes.  It's not very fun.

Anyone have any tips on how to deal with this?  I've ridden a dirtbike a few times, but I'd love to learn a few techniques that would make this road less intimidating.  So far all I do is go slow and leave the front brake alone.

I find that it helps to clench the butt cheeks as tightly as possible, keeping one firmly anchored to the seat.

 [coffee]

Good luck.

It's just liking riding a dirtbike in gravel, except you don't have any nubs to keep traction.

my driveway used to be 1/4 mile of gravel (thank god it's paved now)

Go SLOW use both brakes but very lightly, if you need to brake hard you're going too fast for gravel. Wouldn't recommend leaning much either.

Be ready to kick out a leg to keep yourself upright. I have had to do this countless times on the 696 to prevent laying the bike down due to gravel.

When on stuff like that I usually forgo the front brake, keeps the front from being a little less squirrely.  Standing on the pegs, or hovering over the seat will help mellow some of the shimmy of the bike being transmitted to you

+1 on shifting more weight on pegs
I'd also suggest staying loose and, or course, be gentle on the throttle.

Build a garage near the highway?

If your drive is flat, I would ignore the front brakes. 

I'm a firm believer that those who ride dirt make better street riders overall.  Learning what your bike will feel like when it's not firmly planted will make it easier to handle when it happens unexpectedly. 

For sure. My years of off-road riding have without a doubt saved me in many situations. A little sliding or back wheel shimmy is no big deal, just ride it out.

Ha.  Unfortunately I've never ridden dirt in my life, it's just a theory I have.  I rode cross country mountain bikes for years before I took up road cycling and I was amazed at how many people couldn't even hop up onto a curb with their road bikes.  Same goes for motorbikes.  I wish I could do some of the stuff the dirt guys do, I just don't have the practice. 

Watch the brakes, too hard and you'll slide

unfortunate enough and you'll be sliding sideways or the front will tuck

Gravel sucks, but I took my monster through lots of stuff most wouldn't, including washed out muddy clay roads and water crossings.  Sit as upright as possible, forward right on the base of the tank, and keep your elbows up.  Running a bit faster, around 20 or 25 mph gave me a lot better control and stability.  I found it was better to run in 2 or 3 gear and barely open the throttle to get enough speed without putting a bunch of power down and breaking traction.  Pull in the clutch and light rear brake to slow down, you probably will have to do some feet dabbing as well.  Steering involved pulling in the clutch and lightly turning the bars, keeping the bike completely upright.  Good luck  [thumbsup]

Take a weekend to make a path next to the road or pave one..

(http://www.e-z-ride.com/pics/products/misc/kdx50%20008.jpg)

hold the grips very loosely in your hands and 'guide' the bars, allow them to wobble in your loose hands. this will allow the front end to move slightly with the gravel. works great at high speed on a mtn bike also.

I was serious..

(http://bikeexif.exifmedia.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/ducati_terra_mostro.jpg)


A few simple mods should do the trick  [evil]

The absolute best piece of advice is eyes up, head up, look ahead.  I took a dirt riding class and it's amazing what you can drive through by looking where you want to go.

+1  [thumbsup]

 +1 on both accounts!  I am forced onto gravel roads regularly and also barely ever touch the front brake or use it VERY lightly if needed. Performance street tires just beg for front end wash outs while braking on loose gravel. Standing allowing the bike to float around beneath you can also help in spades. You're also in a much better position to attack if the bike starts doing something stupid. Just think of those GNCC guys ripping through a huge rock garden! Off the seat standing! Great tips by Sad Panda.
 You know the thing I hate most about gravel? It's getting the white stone powder all over the tires. If I am feeling especially evil, I'll ride through someone's manicured front lawn to clean the rubber. Usually I'll just go find some techy turns I can lean hard through to wear that junk off!!  Gravel strips are worse than chicken strips!!  [thumbsup]

Can you just ride in the grass next to the driveway.  This could be easier on you.  Just a though.

That thing is a MONSTER...literally. I'll take two.

Float.   Stand up on the pegs, guide the bars, take your SO... washboard apparently has "interesting" effects.  :o

I have ridden on the dirt/terrible-parking-lot-made-of-pea-gravel/my-driveway-made-of-big-gravel... look where you are going, don't get too worried if things are slightly slidey. 

Nothing quite so radical for me - Next tire change, I'm putting a dualsport tire like the Avon Distanzia in a slightly larger overall diameter on my '99.

http://www.amazon.com/Avon-AM44-Distanzia-Rear-Tire/dp/B001CD5DJ2 (http://www.amazon.com/Avon-AM44-Distanzia-Rear-Tire/dp/B001CD5DJ2)

..as well as raising the ride height equally F&R as much as possible (hoop frame + no clipons)

+1

Grandparents have a long gravel driveway that has 2 pretty steep hills and deep gravel. I was so tense the first few times I rode on it, I had to dig the seat cushion outta my ass with a crowbar. I eventually learned to deal with it, now it's nothing.

...relax, loosen your grip. Let the front tire track a little. Don't force it, it's ok.

...I use the rear brake only. Not taking a chance. But that's just me.

...look where you want to go. It's amazing how many situations this will get you out of. It's almost like the bike is hardwired to your brain. It has saved my ass more than once.

Lots of good advice.  I've raced off road a bunch and done a few hundred miles of gravel on sport bikes.  The key points I think are to stay loose (don't necessarily have your hands loose on the bars, but don't fight ever little movement with your arms), keep your eyes focused ahead and where you want to go.  Don't be nervous when the tires move around and even slide a bit.  On non-paved surfaces this is normal and traction doesn't go away as suddenly as on the street.  Don't be afraid of the throttle or brakes, but be smooth and back off if things start to slide.  Because traction doesn't go away so suddenly if you start to push the front tire a rider with moderately decent skill/response times can correct before it gets out of control (same for the rear, but its even easier).

Also to the extent you can try to keep you weight toward the rear of the bike and off the bars.

In general it will be more stable the faster you go and the motor will be more tractable at lower rpms.