| Author | Message | ||
     Jandj_davis |
Most of the twisty bits around me and in surrounding states have at least small portions of gravel in them. I have gotten used to riding on gravel with a "standard" seating position and find it quite enjoyable, but I am wondering if a sportbike can be fun as well. For those of you that have Firebolts and have ventured onto gravel roads, do you find yourself working too much to have fun? I would especially like input from those of you that have enjoyed gravel in other seating positions, then moved to a sportbike. The foundation to my question is that I will likely be buying this winter, and while I really want an XB9R, I also want to be able to enjoy gravel roads, which points me to the XB9SX. Thanks for the input all. | ||
| Kpg2713 |
I can't speak for all, but gravel gives me the shivers. I like to get into my twisties, and gravel just freaks me out. I don't enjoy worrying about having the bike slide out in a turn. | ||
| Frankfast |
A sportbike with clipons is not meant for gravel and is dangerous. You need all the leverage you can get on dirt or gravel. Hence the high bars. (Message edited by frankfast on March 27, 2007) | ||
| Xbullet |
for the record...i'm a moron. just so you know, that's the disclaimer before you read this. if it wasn't dangerous, it wouldn't be as much fun.  i have an xb9sx with the firebolt top triple tree conversion (so essentially, clipons). with the stock tires (the pirelli scorpion syncs) i would tear up the local dirt roads and the pastures on the family farm. very squirrely, but a lot of fun. probably not the smartest thing to do, and i wouldn't do it on my race D.O.T.'s, but with the right tires and some testicular fortitude, it can be done and be fun. if you like the look of the firebolt, you could always put an S top triple on it with some whittling and cussing and reworking. i don't know of anyone who has gone that route yet, but it would basically be like an S3T at that point...hmmmmmmm.... but then again, that's what they make uly's and dirt bikes for. (Message edited by xbullet on March 27, 2007) | ||
| M1combat |
"I don't enjoy worrying about having the bike slide out in a turn." It'll do that on good pavement too ... you just have to be at a bit higher lean angle . (Message edited by M1Combat on March 27, 2007) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
mmm riding it on the bendy and dirty and treating the CityX like an over grown dirtbike or a short Uly. When it rains I head for the hills and hit the mud. I did bring the bars up by using Blast bars so I can get up in the pegs when it gets hairy. Will try and get some vid soon. 50 on dirt is the new tonne ! Dirty Bike? Fabulous! | ||
| Jackbequick |
I like gravel roads. And I like paved roads too. But I don't like paved roads with patches of gravel here and there. So I'm assuming that Josh is talking about the joys of riding gravel roads. Things like getting a little crossed up, sawing at the bars, playing with the throttle, and maybe dragging a foot to keep it that way. That is what was called "fire roading" when I started riding in California. And the bikes that were the best for it and at it had more of a standard road bike seating and foot peg location. As you got more serious about it you wanted wider bars, better suspension, and tires more suited to the task. The more suitable the bike was for fire roading the less like a road bike it became. So, in my opinion, the narrower bars and higher/forward leaning riding position, and higher/more rearward foot peg locations on a sports bike would not lend themselves to fire roading. Other than momentary and unintended occurrences, I see a sports bike crossed up and sliding on gravel as at high risk of a highside or low side. I had a Buell 2000 Cyclone (M2) for a while and it was sort of a middle ground bike. A little removed from the sports bike thing. In a couple of moments of idle curiousity and maybe borderline stupidity I tried to get the M2 into a power slide on a flat, smooth, hard packed gravel road and I quickly got the impression that both I and the bike were getting out of their elements. But I'm getting up in years, my courage levels may be waning, and I may not have the blissful abandon I had when I was fire roading in Northern California on a 1958 Triumph 650 in 1963. My feeling is that the Uly would be a much better choice for what you want to do. There is some talk of Buell's impending new model(s) that will be a dirt bike or maybe even a dual purpose or enduro type bike. Probably a medium displacement single they thing. Now that sounds like the Buell for fire roading. But it will take something away from the road riding of course. Jack | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Come out and ride with me on your own cityx, XB12STT or Uly and I will show you how much fun they are fire roadin. I now try and include dirt on every ride I do. There are some nice off map areas that are fun without being single track hoopdees. I want thank the ORV guys for some incredible maps  | ||
| Ulendo |
+1 on the CityX for that kind of work. I''m in central BC, so 90% of the backroads are gravel, or mixed gravel. wouldnt want to do it in a 'sport bike' position as you;re too far out of place if the bike should ever start to low side, and cant stand up on the pegs for better weight shift when needed, either.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
I will have to get my passport updated so I can come ride on those roads. Looks like a lot of fun Ulendo. Those MTs will be on my ride for this summer dirty riding season. How is the exhaust mod coming? |
