Riding on a dirt road

610 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Tourer, 2 mo ago

JohnwJ

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

Good Evening Everyone

Another question some of the roads I drive going to and from work are dirt roads what do I need to expect when I ride on them and do I need to do anything to protect the underside of my Spyder when I get it. Plus a little warning I will be posting lots and lots of photo's LOL

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Gerald Mac

· #2 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Same as a car I guess. Dont grab a complete fist full on exiting. Dont ride like a dumb ass.

What do you have?

1 or 2 photos would do for starters.

I dont recall seeing any photos at all???????? ,now is the time to step up and walk the talk.

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Easy Rider

· #3 · 2 mo ago

Gerald Mac said:
What do you have?

1 or 2 photos would do for starters.

Nothing.....yet. He said "when I get it".

And I agree about the pictures.
I already know what a Spyder looks like.

As far as the "dirt" roads goes, that likely will be a problem.

If it really is dirt or sand, the front wheels will kick dust up right in your face.
If it is gravel, you need to get a belt guard......and same for sand in your face.
If it has recently rained......MUD will splash around.

Regardless of the actual surface, GO SLOW is the key.
Hope you don't need to go very far on that kind of surface.

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JohnwJ

Discussion Starter · #4 · 2 mo ago

Gerald Mac said:
Same as a car I guess. Dont grab a complete fist full on exiting. Dont ride like a dumb ass.

What do you have?

1 or 2 photos would do for starters.

I dont recall seeing any photos at all???????? ,now is the time to step up and walk the talk.

Do have a Spyder yet but it will be either a F3-T or a F3 limited but will be getting it in a couple of months

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JohnwJ

Discussion Starter · #5 · 2 mo ago

Easy Rider said:
Nothing.....yet. He said "when I get it".

And I agree about the pictures.
I already know what a Spyder looks like.

As far as the "dirt" roads goes, that likely will be a problem.

If it really is dirt or sand, the front wheels will kick dust up right in your face.
If it is gravel, you need to get a belt guard......and same for sand in your face.
If it has recently rained......MUD will splash around.

Regardless of the actual surface, GO SLOW is the key.
Hope you don't need to go very far on that kind of surface.

The road is a gravel road and I will only be going about 2 or 3 miiles

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Easy Rider

· #6 · 2 mo ago

JohnwJ said:
The road is a gravel road and I will only be going about 2 or 3 miiles

That is a LONG way on a "motorcycle"......any kind.
You absolutely should get a belt guard and inspect the belt often.

AND you may find that it picks up or kicks up enough sand so that you will want goggles on that stretch of road.

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Gerald Mac

· #7 · 2 mo ago

Belt guard - yes essential.

If it really is dirt or sand, the front wheels will kick dust up right in your face.

I ride some dirt and gravel from time to time. Did some yesterday in fact on the F3 for about 20k.
Not once has and dust been kicked up right into my face from my front wheels. Not ever.

I have ridden through dust in the air from other vehicles now and again.
If it is dry yes there is dust but its all behind me. If its damp well there is nothing at all.

Off the front wheels. Never experienced that at all.

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Easy Rider

· #8 · 2 mo ago

Gerald Mac said:
Off the front wheels. Never experienced that at all.

And telling us your memory of your personal experiences is supposed to help.......how exactly ??

Maybe it's a sand thing. Gravel roads contain a lot of sand.

IF.....you really have never had the front wheels and the air currents bring "junk" up behind the windshield, you are either extremely lucky or your memory is failing.

I have had it happen on EVERY bike I've owned over 50 years or so.........under the right conditions.

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BadMonk

· #9 · 2 mo ago

Just rode out to the state game lands gun range today. Maybe a mile and a half on a road with dirt and rocks. We have clay, not much sand here in PA. So as has been stated, expect lots of dust, dirt, gravel, rocks, etc. to get kicked up. Lots. A belt guard is a very good idea. Get a (sharp) rock jammed up into the sprocket and the belt will have quickly seen better days.

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Easy Rider

· #10 · 2 mo ago

BadMonk said:
Get a (sharp) rock jammed up into the sprocket and the belt will have quickly seen better days.

It doesn't even have to be sharp.......or on an unpaved road.
I NEVER ride on unimproved roads except a few times on pure Florida sand and ended up with a fairly smooth rock about the size of a pencil eraser punched through my belt. Still don't know where it came from.
I noticed it just by accident.

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BadMonk

· #11 · 2 mo ago

I agree. My "(sharp)" was like an additional warning. Last time I went to the SGL range, I could swear the road was paved. I won't be riding that road on the Spyder again. TBH, I wouldn't even ride it with a belt guard.

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Tourer

· #12 · 2 mo ago

Hi John.
I live way out in the North Carolina countryside. My driveway is a mile long dirt road with plenty of rocks, ruts, and uneven holes.

I crawl at idle all the way and creep in the bad areas. Never had any issues. So just go real slow to avoid crap getting in between the belt and pulley.

Also would recommend a bump skid to protect underneath the front.

Biggest issue for us is we can never keep any vehicles clean. After it rains, there’s no trike riding until the road dries out.

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