Modern Vespa

Could more experienced riders please share tips for when encountering gravel or grass surfaces?

My husband and I were out a couple days ago and a wrong turn put us into a campground parking area, which was all gravel and grass. With intense Lamaze breathing, I brought Merlin to a halt safely, but not without a heart stopping lurch at the end! I know it was all because I tensed up.

A while later, leaving a winery parking lot (gravel again) I had another near drop due entirely to my tensing up.

On a happy note, I did not drop her. Once back on the road I gave myself a pat on the back, but I'd really like tips for getting over gravel terror.

It sounds as though you handled grass and gravel perfectly.

easy light brake feel, easy light throttle. no quick turns, wide arcs. relax , too tense and and folks freeze.

What OAD said. And never never "blip" the throttle. The rear end will come around on you instantly.

I have laid my bike over in gravel, and in grass. Both times it was because I blipped the throttle.

At home, I park in my side yard. I have to drive through the front yard to get to my 400' long gravel driveway. Take it easy on both surfaces.
Loosen your grip and relax on the gravel. The front wheels will move around a lot when they encounter big pieces.
Look where you want to go. Don't concentrate on that odd shaped rock you don't want to hit.
I had a 7 mile ride the other day, in gravel, while out exploring. I kept the speed low and the MP3 handled extremely well. I think those two front wheels helped me immensely.

My favorite local winery is at the end of a 1/4 mile long gravel driveway. I look for the hard packed ground on the edge of the road, riding in that narrow area between the grassy lawn and the loose gravel of the driveway. It's like driving a car on ice -- keep a low rate of speed, even pressure on the throttle, and avoid braking until the vehicle is on a better surface. Pick your path carefully, keeping the eyes up. You will probably slide a bit, so stay relaxed. And one more thing -- don't forget to breathe.

What they said. Take it slow and easy.

You can lean your body more when you need to turn so the bike stays more upright, too. Picture how bike racers (and OAD) like to lean intro the corners, dragging a knee and having just one cheek on the seat. You may not want to go quite that far, but leaning your body so the bike stays up will help.

Mark

Thanks, everyone!!

at slow speeds you stay in line with the bike and DON"T lean. A neutral position.

And don't put your feet out - keep them on the floorboards/pegs!

Glad you pointed this out because I do this without thinking when riding on gravel. I thought I would be able to stop myself if I lost balance.

+1

I'm with OAD. You wouldn't lean on ice, don't lean here. Just relax and stay centered on the scoot. Don't goose the throttle, just keep a slow, even speed.

This is all beginning to sound more complex than it really is. Don't worry. You can do it!

I disagree, but it sounds like I'm the oddball here. When it's slick, I like to lean so my bike doesn't and stays more perpendicular to the road. The experts may disagree, but I've found it works for me.

Find what works for you and do that, whether others think it's right or not.

That's my advice. Maybe it's not worth even the nothing you paid for it, but that's what my experience tells me.

Mark

Most of what they said and stay off the front brakes.

Or you can go full dirt and aggressively accelerate through each turn while dragging a foot and countersteering (drift style) then take each hill as a reason to launch....oh wait. MP3...well you can still do the first part.

Um...no. LOL Unless I had a teeny little pit bike to practice on, first.

Oh yeah, that's a given.

NOT goosing the throttle takes some concentration. I'm definitely improving my fine motor skills in my right hand!

Really? I've been dangling my feet to lower my center of gravity. Not a loose dangle, but like skimming the soles of my feet an inch off the ground. I thought it would help me relax to have my feet right there to catch myself if I start to tip.

You won't catch yourself. You could break an ankle.
Especially on the gravel. Your foot will go down on an uneven surface trying to catch 500+ pounds. Your foot will slide out.
Same with the grass. Although instead of uneven loose footing like gravel, you have a slick surface.
At least, that is how it worked when I tried to catch myself on gravel and grass.

excellent point

yup what she said.

My advice would be this...use only the BACK brake on gravel when you need to use the break to stop. Always be mindful of your foot position when you put it down, because this is what is most likely to slip out from under you. And, as others have said, GO SLOWLY and try not to break suddenly.

We have about a 1/4 mile of gravel to get to a hard surfaced road and I have found the MP3 to handle nicely on gravel..... I used to ride dirt bikes (until a year ago) and the MP3 goes better on gravel than it did!!!! Back brake, slow, and no goosing the throttle and you will be a pro!!!

I've heard that if you can ride dirt bikes, you can ride anything. Love the picture!