Cruiser off roading

Patwil0818 · 11-26-2011, 07:56 PM

Howdy everyone.

I recently bought a Suzuki VL 800 and was wondering about the capabilities on gravel roads like the government roads up into the hills and backcountry. The roads are usually hard packed dirt, rock and some gravel.

So what do you all think, would my cruiser ride ok there?

Pat

markk53 · 11-27-2011, 09:01 AM

It would do fine until you got on some sketchy loose stuff that gets you out of shape and you throw away a 600lb bike. If it was me I'd do one of two things depending on what the circumstances are.

If I have some cash and space I'd have both the 800 and a dual sport for the back roads. That actually is exactly what I have done too.

If space or money was more an issue and the back roads are where you want to be, sell or trade the 800 in and get either a big bore dual sport or one of the adventure bikes like the V-Strom or BMW GS series.

Cruisers don't have the tires (fat tires ride on top of gravel too easily) or the geometry for comfortable confident dirt/gravel road running on any regular basis.

Badlands-4-2 · 11-27-2011, 11:22 AM

On a hard packed road you will do fine. I have done many miles of gravel on my Ultra. Still they do not have the suspension travel for bumps, so go slow. Also loose stuff is not your friend. Lastly, have crash/tip over bars on the bike. Just in case.

Refinery Trash · 01-14-2012, 03:12 AM

Just swing by South Sound BMW and trade the zuke in on a new GS or GSA. I did it last year and it was the best move ever. Like you, I wanted to spend more time exploring the beautiful back country in our great state and this bike allows me the versatility to handle I-5 and our forest service roads.

aaronrkelly · 01-14-2012, 11:22 PM

Pat,

You will be fine. Ive logged several hundred if not thousand miles of gravel on my 900 lb touring bike with no problems. And I mean loose gravel.....not hard packed stuff. Keep the speed reasonable, watch ahead for road conditions and "keep loose" on the controls - thats my advice.

I also ride dual sport (have a BMW and a Kawasaki) but Ive NEVER passed up a good looking gravel road no matter what Im on......Ive been riding my Vision with my dual sport buddies and blasted down the gravel right along side them just fine.

........might also be why I keep finding rocks wedged in my belt.

Badlands-4-2 · 01-15-2012, 12:05 PM

I would have to do a serious double take if I saw a Vision off roading with a couple of dual sports.

aaronrkelly · 01-16-2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badlands-4-2

I would have to do a serious double take if I saw a Vision off roading with a couple of dual sports.

Well I do skip the no maintenance roads....nothing hard core.

Slim Johnson · 01-16-2012, 05:41 AM

You will be fine so long as you keep your speed mellow (as it has already been mentioned) and stay off the front brake. There is much less friction on gravel, and street tires SUCK on dirt. This makes tucking the front end real easy. You will also want to clean your air filter, and change your oil, and clean your chain more often if you frequent this sort of road, because the dust will get into the bike, requiring more maintenance.

Badlands-4-2 · 01-16-2012, 09:50 AM

Well I go off road on limited occasions, I am sure you put many more miles on than I do. I have never had an issue, but I am usually with my wife and do not want to have an issue with her along.

chefonahonda · 01-16-2012, 10:20 AM

I got off road, a gravel road on Saturday, then needed to do a turn around as the road was getting progressivly worse and low and behold I got right into sand that was at least 6 inches deep with the front tire. Glad that I remembered all that I have read and learned on this forum about those conditions. Almost dumped the bike but held on and SLowly got out of that mess, the remaining 3/4 of mile were a breeze after that. Slow and steady just like riding over those metal drawbridge connectors that I went over yesterday.

Slim Johnson · 01-16-2012, 10:47 AM

I do all I can to avoid riding on gravel, dirt etc.. It makes my butt pucker every time I do it! Last time I rode gravel was by accident. I was riding the Mt Nebo loop, and about half of the road had been chipsealed... This meant riding along at 20-25mph on some awesome twisties.

Then there was the occasional break in traction, which made for a white knuckle ride that I won't be repeating any time soon. Maybe if I had a KLR it wouldn't be so bad. :shrug:

zmago · 01-18-2012, 10:56 PM

The road to our weekend cottage is about two miles of winding gravel road with several steep inclines, and it is no fun on my XR or the Moto Guzzi Nevada 750 I had before it. One of these days I'm going to buy a little dirt bike just to keep there.

Gold5th · 01-20-2012, 05:45 PM

I ride my c109RT on gravel, loose stuff I slow WAY down for... really loose stuff is interesting with a 240 rear tire.

Previously with my Virago and 130rear tire I took gravel roads at 60mph sometimes 75mph no worries.. did 55mph on a soupy gravel in the rain once...

I also took the virago off off road on a quad path with a passenger. I was getting new tires the next day so I wasn't worried about those. I putted along between 5 and 20mph.

I don't have any pics of the bike ont he path, if you check the cruisers pic thread there's pics of my Virago in thick grass .. that was a bumpy ditch I rode through.

railriderstv · 01-28-2012, 04:22 PM

Having previous dirt bike riding exsperience helps also....

11-26-2011, 07:56 PM	#1
Patwil0818 Verified Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Washington State / Tacoma Posts: 17	Cruiser off roading Howdy everyone. I recently bought a Suzuki VL 800 and was wondering about the capabilities on gravel roads like the government roads up into the hills and backcountry. The roads are usually hard packed dirt, rock and some gravel. So what do you all think, would my cruiser ride ok there? Pat

11-27-2011, 09:01 AM	#2
markk53 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 3,242	It would do fine until you got on some sketchy loose stuff that gets you out of shape and you throw away a 600lb bike. If it was me I'd do one of two things depending on what the circumstances are. If I have some cash and space I'd have both the 800 and a dual sport for the back roads. That actually is exactly what I have done too. If space or money was more an issue and the back roads are where you want to be, sell or trade the 800 in and get either a big bore dual sport or one of the adventure bikes like the V-Strom or BMW GS series. Cruisers don't have the tires (fat tires ride on top of gravel too easily) or the geometry for comfortable confident dirt/gravel road running on any regular basis. __________________ KLX650C, Zephyr 550 SR500, Bultaco Sherpa T

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11-27-2011, 11:22 AM	#3
Badlands-4-2 Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Badlands of North Dakota Posts: 9,669	On a hard packed road you will do fine. I have done many miles of gravel on my Ultra. Still they do not have the suspension travel for bumps, so go slow. Also loose stuff is not your friend. Lastly, have crash/tip over bars on the bike. Just in case.

01-14-2012, 03:12 AM	#4
Refinery Trash Verified Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bow, Washington Posts: 15	Just swing by South Sound BMW and trade the zuke in on a new GS or GSA. I did it last year and it was the best move ever. Like you, I wanted to spend more time exploring the beautiful back country in our great state and this bike allows me the versatility to handle I-5 and our forest service roads.

01-14-2012, 11:22 PM	#5
aaronrkelly Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: southern Iowa Posts: 2,463	Pat, You will be fine. Ive logged several hundred if not thousand miles of gravel on my 900 lb touring bike with no problems. And I mean loose gravel.....not hard packed stuff. Keep the speed reasonable, watch ahead for road conditions and "keep loose" on the controls - thats my advice. I also ride dual sport (have a BMW and a Kawasaki) but Ive NEVER passed up a good looking gravel road no matter what Im on......Ive been riding my Vision with my dual sport buddies and blasted down the gravel right along side them just fine. ........might also be why I keep finding rocks wedged in my belt.

01-15-2012, 12:05 PM	#6
Badlands-4-2 Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Badlands of North Dakota Posts: 9,669	I would have to do a serious double take if I saw a Vision off roading with a couple of dual sports.

01-16-2012, 05:41 AM	#8
Slim Johnson Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 1,303	You will be fine so long as you keep your speed mellow (as it has already been mentioned) and stay off the front brake. There is much less friction on gravel, and street tires SUCK on dirt. This makes tucking the front end real easy. You will also want to clean your air filter, and change your oil, and clean your chain more often if you frequent this sort of road, because the dust will get into the bike, requiring more maintenance.

01-16-2012, 09:50 AM	#9
Badlands-4-2 Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Badlands of North Dakota Posts: 9,669	Well I go off road on limited occasions, I am sure you put many more miles on than I do. I have never had an issue, but I am usually with my wife and do not want to have an issue with her along.

01-16-2012, 10:20 AM	#10
chefonahonda Lead, follow or get out of the way. Life Is Good! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zolfo Springs, Florida Posts: 743	I got off road, a gravel road on Saturday, then needed to do a turn around as the road was getting progressivly worse and low and behold I got right into sand that was at least 6 inches deep with the front tire. Glad that I remembered all that I have read and learned on this forum about those conditions. Almost dumped the bike but held on and SLowly got out of that mess, the remaining 3/4 of mile were a breeze after that. Slow and steady just like riding over those metal drawbridge connectors that I went over yesterday.

01-16-2012, 10:47 AM	#11
Slim Johnson Banned Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 1,303	I do all I can to avoid riding on gravel, dirt etc.. It makes my butt pucker every time I do it! Last time I rode gravel was by accident. I was riding the Mt Nebo loop, and about half of the road had been chipsealed... This meant riding along at 20-25mph on some awesome twisties. Then there was the occasional break in traction, which made for a white knuckle ride that I won't be repeating any time soon. Maybe if I had a KLR it wouldn't be so bad. :shrug:

01-18-2012, 10:56 PM	#12
zmago Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Slovenia Posts: 752	The road to our weekend cottage is about two miles of winding gravel road with several steep inclines, and it is no fun on my XR or the Moto Guzzi Nevada 750 I had before it. One of these days I'm going to buy a little dirt bike just to keep there.

01-20-2012, 05:45 PM	#13
Gold5th Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Athabasca, Alberta Posts: 434	I ride my c109RT on gravel, loose stuff I slow WAY down for... really loose stuff is interesting with a 240 rear tire. Previously with my Virago and 130rear tire I took gravel roads at 60mph sometimes 75mph no worries.. did 55mph on a soupy gravel in the rain once... I also took the virago off off road on a quad path with a passenger. I was getting new tires the next day so I wasn't worried about those. I putted along between 5 and 20mph. I don't have any pics of the bike ont he path, if you check the cruisers pic thread there's pics of my Virago in thick grass .. that was a bumpy ditch I rode through.

01-28-2012, 04:22 PM	#14
railriderstv "Back in the saddle" Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: E. Tenn. Posts: 200	Having previous dirt bike riding exsperience helps also....