gravel and rocks

[BentValve]

Ive hit rocks and gravel in corners and have slid over patches of loose gravel , by being smooth and not doing anything I have pulled out with no problems.

Other times I have hit them and when that loose feeling comes when I begin to slide I have tensed up and basically freaked...not doing anything dratically like hitting the brakes or throwing my weight around enough to upset the suspension but id still call it playing with matches.


The FEAR must be dealt with...not an easy task with the lard a$$ Busa underneath.

 

[BentValve]

Really I cannot think any other scenario besides a graveled up corner where smoothness is so critical.

 

[tedbiele]

Too true BV. I believe we have all experienced this pucker factor. Its what we do in times like this truely define our abilities. It can be the difference in talking about it afterwards and not being able to.

 

[pure_ego]

yep... no sudden movements is key...

avoidance works pretty good too.. hehe.

 

[BentValve]

yep... no sudden movements is key...

avoidance works pretty good too.. hehe.

I have riding buddies that hit every corner with complete abandon..I have no idea how they have gone so long without wrecking.

I guess this is one area where a modern SS bike has a strong advantage, they can stop on a dime and quickly swerve out of the way. We dont have that luxury.

 

[tedbiele]

Years ago my brother wiped out on an 1986 Ninja 1000. He was about ten feet from the edge of a cliff when he stopped skidding on the ground - after bouncing off the windshield of a mini-van. He had been doing about 100+ mph moments before. Came around a 10 mph blind-curve and wiped out because of the gravel. We still reminisce to this day at how close he was. Crazy. But things happen to even the best of riders. Just hope it doesn't put you on the ground if ya do hit gravel.....

 

[MrHans]

Looking through your corner while picking up clues via peripheral vision is the key. Pushing so hard into every corner without leaving yourself some room to tighten or loosen your line is trouble waiting to happen. That behaviour belongs @ the track where you have corner workers taking care of that sh stuff for you.

But yeah, let the pucker happen, dont tighten up too hard on the bars and ride through it. Throttle management is also key. No drastic changes to be sure and no fixation.

 

[justintime2]

I have riding buddies that hit every corner with complete abandon..I have no idea how they have gone so long without wrecking.

It's luck and it will run out sooner or later. Not saying I hope it does, just the fact that it probably will. Outside of controlled settings the odds of avoiding a crash in such conditions diminishes to an undecernable %. I know, I have ridin HWY 9 so fast that it's a blur when I am done. Twice I have rounded blind corners and had deer crossing. When your moving at that speed there is no way to adjust your line, period. One of the many hazards of street riding, luck doesn't care or know what is around the next corner, your moving too fast for it to keep up.

 

[BentValve]

Well fast is fun, I guess its up to each of us to decide how much we are willing to gamble. I take it pretty easy overall especially on streets I dont know...there are very few corners on the streets around here that I am willing to divebomb hard.
Hwy 9 has alot of room for error compared to some roads, though I have kicked out my rear tire with a rock a few times.

 

[stkr00]

Fear of gravel is a good thing...It keeps you on your toes trying to look for it

I've still got asphalt in my left knee from 1983 when the front end washed out on me due to gravel. It was at night, and by the time I saw it in my headlight, it was too friggin late.

 

[shenoyp]

Where you are on a sports bike you should fere gravel... thats a sane thing. Not panicking... and not doing any sudden manuvers is the only way out of gravel.

 

[manatrader]

Really I cannot think any other scenario besides a graveled up corner where smoothness is so critical.

How about diving into a corner in December and halfway through it seeing that nice patch of ice. I know you have been there since you too live in the area. I will take gravel anytime over ice. Good thing is same action, keep her up and down and no quick movements.

 

[TheDude27]

Really I cannot think any other scenario besides a graveled up corner where smoothness is so critical.

How about diving into a corner in December and halfway through it seeing that nice patch of ice. I know you have been there since you too live in the area. I will take gravel anytime over ice. Good thing is same action, keep her up and down and no quick movements.

So how bad was the wreck?? Or did you save it (Ice not gravel)



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[BentValve]

Really I cannot think any other scenario besides a graveled up corner where smoothness is so critical.

How about diving into a corner in December and halfway through it seeing that nice patch of ice. I know you have been there since you too live in the area. I will take gravel anytime over ice. Good thing is same action, keep her up and down and no quick movements.

Ah , forgot about ice, that remided me of another more sinister cultrip...wet leaves.

And then there are tar snakes.

Lots of hazards.

 

[manatrader]

Really I cannot think any other scenario besides a graveled up corner where smoothness is so critical.

How about diving into a corner in December and halfway through it seeing that nice patch of ice. I know you have been there since you too live in the area. I will take gravel anytime over ice. Good thing is same action, keep her up and down and no quick movements.

So how bad was the wreck?? Or did you save it (Ice not gravel)

I was saved, hurt my leg, but I became a human tripod, felt like I was dirt bike racing. Glade I did that a long time ago, just not on a busa.

 

[manatrader]

Really I cannot think any other scenario besides a graveled up corner where smoothness is so critical.

How about diving into a corner in December and halfway through it seeing that nice patch of ice. I know you have been there since you too live in the area. I will take gravel anytime over ice. Good thing is same action, keep her up and down and no quick movements.

Ah , forgot about ice, that remided me of another more sinister cultrip...wet leaves.

And then there are tar snakes.

Lots of hazards.

How about that moss, like up on Skate Creek Road, can not stand that stuff, it can turn a nice corner into a nightmare in a hurry.

 

[TheDude27]

Really I cannot think any other scenario besides a graveled up corner where smoothness is so critical.

How about diving into a corner in December and halfway through it seeing that nice patch of ice. I know you have been there since you too live in the area. I will take gravel anytime over ice. Good thing is same action, keep her up and down and no quick movements.

So how bad was the wreck?? Or did you save it (Ice not gravel)

I was saved, hurt my leg, but I became a human tripod, felt like I was dirt bike racing. Glade I did that a long time ago, just not on a busa.

By the time I realized I was on Ice, I was laying on it... and the bike was sliding down the street. Used to ride the dirtbike (unstudded) in the winter time and man, Ice just does not mix with 2 wheels(but its an easy way to shorten your levers) snow is a hell of a lot of fun tho.

 

[CorrodedAlien]

Yes... I've had fun with that stuff as well. Gravel, mud, ice, leaves, deer, bicycles, and cars in my lane. Oh yeah, branches too.

Take the MSF advanced course.... It will give you an added edge.

Best thing is to NOT grab a handful of any thing. Each gets it's own special reaction.

 

[USMCBUSA]

I have had my A-hole pucker up a time or two from gravel and I am just getting back to where I can relax just alittle going into a corner. I crashed a 03 954rr a month ago because of gravel. 75 mph in a curve and some a-hole had made a turn onto a gravel road and spun his damn tires. Before I could do anything I was in the ditch. Lucky I walked away without a scratch. And I got a busa out of the deal.

 

[Busa_05]

My wife's been down twice already this season because of gravel! One of a million new rider hazards, I suppose. Well, it's her first time ever riding, but she's a tough girl...Once was just like one person up top said already, going around a hair pin turn, a car was in our lane and I was able to get out of the way okay, but Lori ended up on the shoulder and went down in the gravel. Just recently we were out on a ride, and...to be honest I don't know what the heck happened, but she ended up down on the asphalt in a patch of gravel.

Bike's comestics are going to need a little touching up next season...