riding on gravel

 I really hate it.
My ride is a 99 FXDX... got the narrow front tire. I was riding with a bunch
of friends a few days ago, and two of us had the same arrangement, narrow
front tire and wide rear tire. The others had wide front and rear tires.
Me and the other guy with the narrow front tire were both having a devil of a
time, wallowing down the road as if we were riding on open grill bridge decks
or grooved pavement. The other guys were all goin' like there was solid
pavement under them.
I'll admit my technique could be part of the problem, but the other skinny
tire guy has been a great rider for lots of years.
The bikes were all Harleys, either Evos or TC88s. The gravel was yer basic
class 5, packed, with a bit of loose stuff on top.
I've ridden on gravel before, always with the same results, with the
wallowing.
Any comments on what is going on, here? Shirley will set you up, while you
ponder your answers. Thanks.
tom k. AH#118


--
I will find a way or make one.

 
I've got 2 FLT's.  Both have wide front and rear tires.  The shovel has a
conventional front fork and the evo has the air forks.  I've noticed that
with the evo if I've got the air pressure too high the front end will dance
all over the place.  The shovel is steady as a rock all the time.
My wife's Superglide has a 19" on the front end and it's pretty steady going
up the driveway even though it feels like a dirt bike compared to the
dressers.
I'm thinking spring rate and damping are the difference.

--
Old Crow
'82 FLTC 'Pearl'
'87 FLTC 'Fugly'
'61 F-100
BS#133, SENS, TOMKAT, SLOB#13, MAMBM

 
I hate sand on asphalt.  I fell once on it just getting out of a car.  It's
like walking on ball bearings.  I refuse to ride on local road that
Cal-Trans spreads sand like rain all over it in the winter.  Works when wet,
but when dry "Watch out!"

Regarding grates, some where along Hwy. 395 near Pearsonville in eastern CA
there was a Harley with its front tire wedged in a wide-spaced iron grate.
It was still upright - just wedged tightly.  Someone had place a orange cone
near it and the rider wasn't around.  Maybe gone to get help. Needless to
say, I slowed, turned wide and crossed it at 90 degrees.

B~

 On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 7:47:50 -0600, Donna A. wrote


oiled and grooved... sweet mother of pearl! I'd 'a been ridin' with my legs
spread like outriggers! uffda!

am glad you liked the pie, an' hi to Crowdog.

tom k. AH#118

--
I will find a way or make one.

 On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:32:55 -0600, tom koehler


I'm kind of surprised to read this, actually.  For me, that a narrow
front tire and fat rear tire combination are way better on gravel.

During the riding season (now becoming just a memory, here in
Edmonton), I ride a stretch of gravel road to get to my folks' farm
every Sunday.  

On the Road Glide, it seems that fat front tire just sorta surfs on
the gravel.  You know how gravel is; it's all longitudinal grooves
from tires, with the gravel piling higher on the edges tire ruts.
With a fat front tire, it seems those gravel ridges push the tire
around (left and right) very easily, the tire basically surfing the
surface, so the front wanders.

With a narrower front tire, it seems to just cut it's own path
throught the gravel and not surf when encountering the gravel ridges.

That's my experience anyway...