Transcript
“Motorcycles 101: How to Ride a Motorcycle on Gravel
My name is Kenyon Kluge. I’m from Santa Cruz, California. I’m a team owner and rider for K Squared Racing. I’m also the team manager and rider for Zero Motorcycle Racing. If you want to find out more information about me you can look at my website, ksquaredracing.com or for more information on Zero Motorcycles go to zeromotorcycles.com. And now I’m going to talk to you about motorcycles. If you find yourself having to ride on gravel uh, either because you’ve gotten to a dirt road that you have to cross or for some reason you have to exit the road to avoid something or another car and you’re on gravel, first of all don’t tense up. Just like riding in the rain, riding in gravel is all about being smooth. Be smooth on and off the brakes. Be smooth on the throttle. And when you turn make much wider arcs and when you do use the brakes, use your rear brake and not your front brake. You’ll have a lot less traction and the front is going to want to tuck out from underneath you if you grab your front brake. So, rear brake only. On gravel the bike is going to move around underneath you a little bit. Go ahead and let it move around. Be deliberate with your actions. Steer it just like you normally would but smoothly, wide lines, easy on easy off the brakes, easy on and easy off the throttle. If you have opportunity go ride a dirt bike to get a little experience on grave. It will help immensely when you go back to the street. If you are riding through gravel go ahead and turn and brake and slow yourself down as much as possible and then ease back on the pavement as soon as you can and then you can continue on riding. But be aware that you might have a little bit of dirt and debris on your tires so take it easy when you get back on the pavement.”
