General Category > General Discussion
Gravel riding technique
YellowDuck:
I bought the Strada version of the V85 because I had no intentions of ever doing any "real" off road riding, and so the skid plate and wire spoke wheels seemed like cosplay for my use case.
However, dirt roads are not out of the question. Specifically, the last 7 km of the 250 km trip to the cottage consist of winding (TIGHT turns), hilly dirt road, with random sections of it covered in very fresh, loose gravel. My 40 years of riding include approximately zero experience on such roads.
I braved it this weekend (multiple times in and out that road, including once in the wet), and find I am improving, but still have much to learn.
The most important thing was learning to lean the bike underneath me while keeping my body upright. I successfully installed this subroutine into the old meat computer, but WOW was it counter-intuitive at first.
Before attempting it the first time, I also programmed myself to stay off the front brake (also very counter-intuitive for a 100% asphalt rider), relying on engine braking (first or second gear) and sometimes the rear brake.
I also tried to stay loose on the bars and let the front wheel wander about a bit.
Any more advice for me, from those of you with lots of off road experience? I never really scared myself because I was going pretty slow (20 - 40 kph), but sharp corners on steep downhills of piles of loose gravel were not what I would call comfortable.
I posted this question to a FB V85 group as well, and someone suggested getting the offroad and/or custom ride mode unlocked on my bike, so I could turn off TC and rear ABS. That seems like a pretty good idea. I also wonder how much benefit I might get from changing out the Meridian tires for something like the Anakee Adventure 2. Really don't want to give up much pavement performance though.
Tkelly:
Despite 60 years of riding I dread gravel or dirt roads,my fear is of dumping the bike,especially my 14 Stelvio,in the middle of nowhere.Many yeas ago I rode dirt and had no fear on gravel but quit that long ago and lost the knack.
Perazzimx14:
--- Quote from: YellowDuck on August 31, 2026, 09:24:18 AM ---I bought the Strada version of the V85 because I had no intentions of ever doing any "real" off road riding, and so the skid plate and wire spoke wheels seemed like cosplay for my use case.
However, dirt roads are not out of the question. Specifically, the last 7 km of the 250 km trip to the cottage consist of winding (TIGHT turns), hilly dirt road, with random sections of it covered in very fresh, loose gravel. My 40 years of riding include approximately zero experience on such roads.
I braved it this weekend (multiple times in and out that road, including once in the wet), and find I am improving, but still have much to learn.
The most important thing was learning to lean the bike underneath me while keeping my body upright. I successfully installed this subroutine into the old meat computer, but WOW was it counter-intuitive at first.
Before attempting it the first time, I also programmed myself to stay off the front brake (also very counter-intuitive for a 100% asphalt rider), relying on engine braking (first or second gear) and sometimes the rear brake.
I also tried to stay loose on the bars and let the front wheel wander about a bit.
Any more advice for me, from those of you with lots of off road experience? I never really scared myself because I was going pretty slow (20 - 40 kph), but sharp corners on steep downhills of piles of loose gravel were not what I would call comfortable.
I posted this question to a FB V85 group as well, and someone suggested getting the offroad and/or custom ride mode unlocked on my bike, so I could turn off TC and rear ABS. That seems like a pretty good idea. I also wonder how much benefit I might get from changing out the Meridian tires for something like the Anakee Adventure 2. Really don't want to give up much pavement performance though.
--- End quote ---
I am no Pol Tarres when it comes to dirt riding but have 100's of miles of gravel roads around the house and the biggest things i can tell you are ride loose and relaxed. The bike is going to move under you no matter what you do so let it. In deep gravel like boating you gotta get the bike up on plain. Sit back far in the saddle to unload the front and give it the beans. Deep gravel you either float on top or duck walk through it, not both.
Other than that, take your time relax and enjoy.
My bikes I can turn off the ABS/TC and select from several ride modes and 99% of the time when hitting the gravel I forget to do it. You're going to get all kinds of suggestions like more off-road oriented tires, different ride modes, disable the ABS etc and in the end they will enhance about the last 10% of you experience once you master the 1st 90% and that 90% is all you. I've ridden with guys on full dress Harleys and another on a Ducati monster with super sport tires and they handles gravel and even stream crossing just like everyone else. Theri enemy was ground clearance not tires or ride modes. Its the indian not the arrow.
MikeP996:
For several years I rode on a gravel road the last 7 miles to work. This was on my regular street motorcycle/street tires at the time, not any sort of dirt oriented machine. I found that contrary to my initial concerns, being in as high a gear as possible for whatever was a safe speed AND, as you noted, NOT trying to keep the front wheel aligned, allowing it to wander was best. ALSO, and this may sound counterintuitive, going as fast as safely possible kept the ride much smoother. The slower the speed and the lower the gear, the more uncomfortable/difficult was the ride. Obviously the speed has to be within safely controllable limits depending on the situation.
Additionally, as is always true on a motorcycle but even more in the gravel/dirt, look where you want the motorcycle to go. Other than initially seeing an obstacle (ruts, large rocks, etc), do NOT keep looking at the obstacle(s) you are trying to avoid.
You will probably find after a bit of such riding that it becomes "gravel road" muscle memory and you don't worry about it at all!!
Dirk_S:
Outside of the occasional unmaintained dirt/gravel road that I’ll seek here in New England, I’m also fairly inexperienced to unpaved riding compared to my total miles ridden, but in 2024-25 I rode about 1,000 km of gravel in Argentina, and I just returned from riding about 1200 km of un-paved roads/paths in Mongolia. Two big factors stand out—the heavier the bike, the harder it is to learn and unlearn techniques, and tire tread really makes the difference. I high-sided in Argentina, and I blame it on a growing lack of confidence in the wearing tires I had on the KLR, which were 70/30 at best. Ideally on gravel, the faster you go, the more stable and predictive you’ll be; if you’re going to be experiencing turns and tighter maneuvering, I think 70/30 tires are the minimum. 50/50 would be better, and I noticed a lot of success from riders who had tires with the paddle-style block tread with uninterrupted gaps between blocks going across the tire. The blocks also need to have some depth and space inbetween for best grip. That tire style works for sand and mud as well.
In Mongolia, I dealt with gravel, dirt, mud, rocks, and some deeper sand occasionally, in which case the need for that paddle-style usurped by pure solid off-road grip.l for the varying terrain.
Getting your butt off the seat helps in gravel and sand because you’re not weighing the rear tire down, instead bringing you body mass more toward the center of the bike’s own mass while still allowing the front to not dig into the terrain too much. Keep that front loose.
And yes, avoid leaning your body into the turn, keep your balance on the outside, otherwise the inside of your tire has all the more impetus to slip. Weight should be on the outside peg. I’d personally turn off the ABS and traction control when possible.
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