How fast do you run on gravel roads ?

[steveWFL]

Don't outride your brakes either, consider the increased stopping distance

[BanjoBoy]

Originally Posted by Hawk62cj5

Im a newb and ride alone so I have nothing to gauge myself on . I spend alot of my time riding /exploring state maintained gravel roads and just wonder how fast do most people run . Ive noticed to me the bike feels good between 30-45 mph , slower or faster the handling feels like it degrades to me. Is this normal ? Im in no hurry when I ride so I doubt I really change but I was curious.

That'z all fine, but keep in mind; ya can't stop or turn too fast on gravel. The good news is when you bail, it's usually not a s bad as the street. If'n yer all alone out in bum fuck nowhere and ya bail, you might be in a bad way. Sumpin ta think 'bout.

I do the same on gravel as the street, 'n that's to achieve "the pace." I get into a comfortable rhythmic flow where all is perfect in the world 'til I go down!
I've gone as fast as 70mph on a gravel road, butt most of the roads I ride are windy, 'n I'm usually in 2nd or 3rd gear go'in round 20-45.

[bbagwell]

Usually 20 mph and maybe as fast as 40 mph. If I ride with people who want to go faster they just wait at the next intersection so no one gets lost.

[CanadianX]

Originally Posted by Hawk62cj5

Im a newb and ride alone so I have nothing to gauge myself on . I spend alot of my time riding /exploring state maintained gravel roads and just wonder how fast do most people run . Ive noticed to me the bike feels good between 30-45 mph , slower or faster the handling feels like it degrades to me. Is this normal ? Im in no hurry when I ride so I doubt I really change but I was curious.

I found that different bikes have different sweet spots when it comes to speed on loose gravel and that the individual bike can also have many variables from suspension setting, air pressure, tire type, load and rider position. On a long trip covering some 1000 miles on gravel on my GSA loaded with pillion and a bunch of gear for two weeks on the road I found that below 40 mph and the handling was squirrelly. The faster I went the better it felt, although above 70 mph my passenger was less enthusiastic. this was on highly variable gravel. Areas with loose sand required a slower approach. Comparably some riding partners felt that 45 to 55 was the zone where their bikes were most stable and happy. My KTM is happy to run at mad speeds and can be drifted around on the gravel or wrestled back from a wobble if I hit a patch of loose stuff. The suspension is much mre adaptable to variations on the road when going at speed.

There is also rider skill and personal comfort as variables of course

[crofrog]

the 950 only goes about 100 to 110mph depending on surface before the wind resistance overcomes tire traction with scorpions or trail attacks.

[motu]

If it's a straight road in good condition I might do 100 to 120kph....but we don't have many straight roads in New Zealand, I'm lucky to get into top gear most of the time. This is a nice surface, and I'd be doing about 80kph before I went into the hard left and up a hill.



Coming the other way.

[fallingoff]

if you ride with faster riders
make sure you have a rest
they will wait for you
when you arrive they will leave
therefore you leave too
no rest
so stop and relax

cheers

[Hawk62cj5]

Ok glad to see the bike world is a bit more lax about individuals in the group which is understandable , with jeeps you are responsible for the jeep behind you . We try to keep the jeep behind us in the rear view and try not to lose sight of them for more than a minute or so . That way is something happens the group will stop with in a minute or so to help out since we have quite a few EMT/FF in our group . Ive personally had a group of 12 jeeps escort me 26 miles to camp when I smoked my transmission once and couldnt get out of 2nd gear . My best friend went with a group of different people and the guy infront of him rolled and got hung in a tree , he had 2 kids in the jeep strapped in so 3 people hanging 45* upside down and a frantic wife that had got out to video it . They couldnt risk getting out because if the jeep slipped off the tree it could crush them so there they hung for 30 minutes before the group noticed the 2 jeeps missing and came back , then another 45 minutes of recovery involving 4 winches and 6 vehicles . My best friend no will not go wheeling with out our group or some we partner with .

Most of the gravel roads I run are curvy and wood line and some are single lane so you dont worry about me pushing it too hard plus I dont want to deal with my wife if I faceplant again Thanks again for yalls input .

[crofrog]

Originally Posted by Hawk62cj5

Ok glad to see the bike world is a bit more lax about individuals in the group which is understandable , with jeeps you are responsible for the jeep behind you . We try to keep the jeep behind us in the rear view and try not to lose sight of them for more than a minute or so .

I prefer the people behind me to ride with their lights on so you can see the headlight with a quick glance in the mirror. I'll adjust one for standing one for sitting.

You're "responsible" for the rider behind you if he's the last in line, and whenever there is a turn, you should always hold turns so the guy behind you knows where to go.

Most of the gravel roads I run are curvy and wood line and some are single lane so you dont worry about me pushing it too hard plus I dont want to deal with my wife if I faceplant again Thanks again for yalls input .

Don't apex / track out into the opposite side of the road, more than a few people have met the front of a truck.

[FinlandThumper]

When the road gets run in up here, usually by July, and its finally dried out and free of fresh gravel, I keep it pegged between 80-100 km/hour much of the time. In other seasons there's enough rain, and the road has enough clay, that a set of Metzeler Tourances won't let me go faster than about 60 km/hour. Or, they've just put a 3 or 4 inch layer of fresh crusher run on the road and then it's so damn squirrely it's scary.

Basically, stay comfortable. Push the limit when safe and you're okay with spilling.

[viverrid]

Originally Posted by Hawk62cj5

Ok glad to see the bike world is a bit more lax about individuals in the group which is understandable , with jeeps you are responsible for the jeep behind you .

On trails the Jeeps are going so damned slow anyway....

Motorcycle dirt rides, everybody rides there own ride. I'd rather have a faster guy pulling away than breathing down my neck, and it is frustrating for the faster guy to be held back by a slower rider blocking.

We all wait at the next trail junction, road crossing, per-arranged point, etc. If somebody doesn't come along at their normal interval, you go back and look for them. There is no need to keep them in the mirror at all times. A lot of dirt-only bikes don't even have mirrors, and alot of people with street registered enduro bikes have folding mirrors that are stowed for trail use, or nominal lip service for legality mirrors that they can't actually see squat with.

[Grreatdog]

Yep, that is how we do it. When we did a bunch of deserted forest service and farm gravel roads last fall everybody rode there own pace. For three of us on 600+cc bikes that was always at around 70 mph and a lot of the time flat out at 80+ mph. Which isn't a good pace for the 350, 250's and 175. So the other guys ran whatever they liked and we waited for them at road junctions. If somebody is MIA then we go back and look for tracks over the edge, flat tires, etc. When we hit goat trails roles get reversed about who has to do the waiting. So it all works out.

[Fleksta]

How fast? Well, with the CT I just pin the throttle

Otherwise, it depends on the conditions. Washboard, rain slick, mud, etc. I find that the XS with street tires is comfortable around 35 on dry gravel; but you can certainly feel the weight in corners. This year I have a set of dual-sport tires and spoke rims to put on, so hopefully its off-pavement handling will improve.

[corndog67]

As far as you focusing on some random speed/number, say 45mph, not the way to do it. You've got to get comfortable, the speed will come. There are days where I'm very comfortable just flat hauling ass on gravel, the bike is drifting, it's going where I want to go, little bermshots of the gravel around the edge of the road, etc., etc., but there are other times where it's just not comfortable, I'm hesitant, not smooth, not fluid, just not feeling it, and then it's time to slow down.

And that BMW a few posts up, is that a 19 in wheel on back? Are those GoodYear DTII dirt track tires? I see the flattrack handlebars, how does that bike work when you get up to speed on it? It looks cool.

[Tim McKittrick]

Originally Posted by crofrog

the 950 only goes about 100 to 110mph depending on surface before the wind resistance overcomes tire traction with scorpions or trail attacks.

I've had this problem as well.