Challenging or Bad Roads

[Bigwolf]

I was checking out a possible ride route when I got on a few miles of rough road.  The roughness cleared up after a few miles and the reward was a pleasant ride along a lake.  But it got me to thinking, “is it worth it?”  I know the answer will be different for different people but are we even close to a consensus?

So: At what point do you say “enough! I’m turning around”.

1) When it is raining
2) when the pavement has tar snakes
3) When the pavement is more patches or pot holes than smooth original pavement
4) When the pavement ends and the gravel begins
5) When the gravel ends and the dirt road begins
6) When the dirt road becomes mud road
7) Never

[DirtyDan]

Grin  

Answer...... less than I should of

115 miles north of  coldfoot Alaska on the dalton highway....... I tapped out

Dan

[hubcapsc]

A friend of mine had a place called Kuykendall near Brevard NC
for the weekend, and I was planning to drop by for the day
on the Red bike... until I saw this on the web page when I
was studying the directions:

Vehicles must cross a creek on the way to the facility; the creek
rises during heavy rains; a high profile and/or 4x4 vehicle is
recommended



Five miles of good gravel on a nice curvy road, though, that's
a good part of the ride 



-Mike

[Oss]

I try to avoid wind over 50mph at 70 I stop and hold onto something solid that wont blow away, lightning makes me very nervous with those 2 big antennas but I have yet to turn around - hide under overpass yes, tornados I will certainly avoid by going to warp

loose gravel, yeah that aint fun but Ive ridden thru pea gravel down south with a few members (sorta by accident), tar snakes are just part of life (except in Wyoming where they are literally as thick as snakes)

[Rams]

Impossible for me to answer the question.   It really depends on how bad the road is.   Depends on how badly I want to get to ________.   Too many variables to say.    What I will say is, I would rather slow down than dump the bike and risk injury.   Safety Chrome is expensive and I've discovered after repeated silly decisions that,  I'm allergic to pain. 

[DDT (12)]

Impossible for me to answer the question.   It really depends on how bad the road is.   Depends on how badly I want to get to ________.   Too many variables to say.    What I will say is, I would rather slow down than dump the bike and risk injury.   Safety Chrome is expensive and I've discovered after repeated silly decisions that,  I'm allergic to pain. 

Yep. Like the man said, "Itz jis 'corrdin'." That said, I don't care for unpaved roads (who does?), submerged surfaces, tar snakes, mud, yadda, yadda... However, sometimes, we have little choice. I reckon it really is jis 'corrdin'... Is it something I can actually do without injury or harm... to myself or ALI... and do I really need to attempt it... If it's purely a recreational ride with no urgency of any sort, I'll turn around with little discouragement and abandon a particular route in favor of a more pleasant ride... no masochism here!!!

DDT

[northernvalk]

If you want to ride Up Here, you start at number 3 

[Gryphon Rider]

To echo Rams' thoughts, I suppose it depends on how far I need to go, what's at the other end of the poor road, and how likely is it that I'll dump the bike if I'm giving my riding proper attention.  One thing I hate in a car or on a bike on a gravel road is when oncoming traffic is travelling far too fast and throws gravel at me.

[Rams]

One thing I hate in a car or on a bike on a gravel road is when oncoming traffic is travelling far too fast and throws gravel at me.

Hey buddy, that was one time and I didn't see ya on that tri-cycle.................    BTW, we were traveling the same direction and you simply weren't peddling fast enough............ 

How'd it feel to get passed by a pedal powered fire truck?   

[Gryphon Rider]

Hey buddy, that was one time and I didn't see ya on that tri-cycle.................    BTW, we were traveling the same direction and you simply weren't peddling fast enough............ 

How'd it feel to get passed by a pedal powered fire truck?   

Don'cha know, I always make way for emergency vehicles!

[Rams]

Hey buddy, that was one time and I didn't see ya on that tri-cycle.................    BTW, we were traveling the same direction and you simply weren't peddling fast enough............ 

How'd it feel to get passed by a pedal powered fire truck?   

Don'cha know, I always make way for emergency vehicles!

 

[..]

From 2005

My route was to take me to the north side of Hayesville, NC just above the Georgia State line. To get there I was going to ride south on Wayah Bald Rd for a few miles and then head west on Junaluska Road to Big Choga to the dirt road. Now this dirt road I had already used to go up and over the mountain to get to Hayesville but looking at maps and Streets & Trips it seemed there was a better way to go which would get me back onto blacktop near to where I usually did.

After about a mile of dirt I turned left onto the section I had never ridden before. I’m not a stranger to taking the Valk off  blacktop http://www.northgeorgiamotorcycleclub.com/stories/jb001-cwa.pdf is a story written by a friend of mine I had persuaded to ride on dirt with me.

The dirt road I normally use is wide enough for 2 vehicles and only slightly washboarded on a couple of the bends along its 5-mile length.

Immediately the unknown dirt road is narrower and obviously not traveled as frequently. This I deduce by the few tufts of weed growing in the center of the single track. The track rises pretty sharply on bends tighter than those at Deals Gap. Oh well the sooner I go up the sooner I go down. Still rising the track is deteriorating slightly but forward motion keeps the Valk pretty steady. Up I ride with the weeds in the center getting more prolific.

After a couple of twisty miles the option would be to turn around and retrace my route. Easy to do if not riding a bike the length of the Valk. I reckon I would either have to have my front wheel up a slope or the back wheel getting close to the edge to be able to complete the 180-degree maneuver. I have gone too far (stubborn) to be able to back down so I press on. At last I reach the summit and start to gingerly descend on the worsening surface. Minimal maintenance has been done to the track and in sections it feels like I am riding on pool balls on top of marbles. The handlebars are wagging from side to side and the front wheel keeps trying to slide away. It’s a strange feeling knowing that to stop falling over when the wheel slides I have to release the rear brake to get more forward speed and hence more stability.

By now the blackberry bushes are starting to crowd the track and I have to close my visor to keep them from hitting my face. As I do this I realize I have trapped a small bug inside my helmet so quickly I lift the visor and try to blow it out whilst still keeping the Valk from steering itself towards the drop off on my left. If I go over there I’ll never be found. The bug escapes and the visor comes back down. Why didn’t I stop to do this? I just knew if I stopped whilst going down the steep “slippery” slope I ran the risk of the bike falling over.

I’m now at the bottom of the slope and there is room to turn around and go back but after 3 ½ miles I know the end must be just around the corner. In fact just around the corner is a shallow stream I have to ford. This is done easily with both feet up on the pegs. A hiss of steam and the track starts to rise again.

Now the surface is not only covered in loose rocks and stones but also slick with water and moss. This section is in perpetual shade and my headlight modulator sensor ceases to work the light is so dim. The front wheel is wagging so much it feels like I have a flat.

This dimly lit section lasts for a short time and I start to break into sunlight once more after having to ford a deeper, wider stream. Only have to dab once with my left foot to keep the bike straight on course.

Up the track rises again and now it’s so rough I have to keep a firm grip on the handlebars which are wagging faster than a dogs tail. My grip on the gas tank with my thighs is getting tighter and tighter and I’m moving forward at about 4 miles an hour. So far I’ve gone 5 1/2 miles. Up and up and up. Rounding a bend there’s a small clearing to my right occupied by four horses and their on foot riders. I chug slowly by under the incredulous stare of all four. I raise my left hand for a quick wave and one rider bemusedly raises his in return. Going down a slope and rounding a very sharp hairpin bend I see why they stared. The track is now completely broken up with water channels running at a very gradual diagonal. These try to capture both front and rear wheels to make me ride off the edge into the trees alongside and below. For the first time I have to stop and use both legs whilst I paddle walk the Valk up and over these ruts. This continues for about 100 yards. Great for trail riding on a horse. I guess that’s why the riders were out. They knew there was no chance of a motorized vehicle coming along!

Down the track goes again and levels out with yet another stream to ford, the biggest so far. I’m able to put the Valk onto its sidestand and test the depth of the water with a stick. The stream bottom is made up of small stones with a good solid rock surface underneath. About 9 inches deep in the center and 6 feet wide the edges slope gradually and I make it across with minimal water in each boot.

7 miles traversed and I must be getting to the end of the dirt road soon. There are a couple of old wooden shacks covered in weeds off to the side and I hear the faint echoes of a banjo playing in the back of my mind. Scenes from Deliverance, X-Files and Wrong Turn flash through my head and my right hand forces a tad more gas into the engine causing the back wheel to slide away. My thighs are aching and sweat is dripping off my nose. Who knew going so slowly could be such hard work. Constantly changing from first to second and back has meant I have only had to use the rear brake for the past 1-½ hours. 15 more minutes and here is the blacktop.

I know if I stop straight away there’s a chance that my legs will cramp up and I’ll drop the bike. So I decide to ride for about a couple of hundred yards and then stop to give my legs a chance to relax.

Rounding a bend my jaw drops. There are about 100 Harley Davidson’s of all shapes and sizes parked all over the road and verges. Customs with rear wheels the width of a cows butt. Choppers with extended forks, full dressers and people walking in the road. I hit my Fiamm horns a couple of times to open a path through them. All the pedestrians freeze. They must know it’s a dirt road just around the bend so WHERE THE HELL HAVE I COME FROM? I thread my way through them with the dust accumulated from THE 8-mile dirt road rising from the Valk and I like talcum powder from a Whigs wig..

One rider with WOLVERINE printed on the back of his T-shirt wobbled his bike out in front of me and in response to a couple more blasts of my horn quickly rode onto the grass verge. Now I’m through the gaggle of bikes and riders and open up the Valk hoping to get more dust off me.

I look in my mirror and 15 or 20 bikes have pulled in behind me. I assume that they heard my horn and thought the group was on the move. OH well I don’t mind leading them a merry dance. There’s a couple of customs I can see and a couple of bikes with passengers. Now I’m on a road I’ve ridden 3 or 4 times before so I just ride at a good peg scraping speed around the bends slowing down a little on the short straights. The bends are only 30 to 45 mph. In my mirrors I can see riders crossing the centerline trying to keep up. This continues for about 5 miles when I see another large group of bikes parked on the right in front of a “General Store”. Five or six people step out in front of me waving their arms in a slow down motion. Now I’m sure these guys are friendly but I move over to the left and pass them by as the bikes behind me pull over and stop.

Into Hayesville and then southwards home.

No more dirt roads for me for quite a while.

[cookiedough]

will not purposely drive on gravel or in the rain if can avoid it, just not fun for me to clean my cycle afterwards.  I leave that to my ATVs where is mostly plastic and even then will not usually go above the floorboards some 10 inches high of water.  I had to once and just lucky did not get washed downstream felt a tad bit light in the backend going sideways.  I hear ATVs float somewhat but did not want to find out.

I say need another option if too cold, say 35 degrees or too windy, say 40+ mph winds, or snow on the ground of course which sounds like is coming soon in MN and northern WI today.   

[northernvalk]

Just started snowing outside........

[Rams]

Just started snowing outside........

That my friend is a good reason to turn around and head south. 

[northernvalk]

No....that's why I have a set of studded tire for the valk......

[Rams]

No....that's why I have a set of studded tire for the valk......

 

Pictures of that would make my day.................... 

[northernvalk]

Jokes for sure, but there is one guy on V4muscle bike that rides a wing with outrigger wheels ALL WINTER.  He does live in southern Ontario where the winters are no nearly as severe, but he still rides in snow!!!
We have a few dirt bike with studs, use them on the lake for fun but I wouldn't ride them in the road, steel and pavement=slippy slippy......
I do have studded tires on all of our vehicle for winter, would give them up for the world, WAY safer, as long as you realize the person behind you may not have them LOL!!!!

[Jess from VA]

I miss my Yami DT360.

I don't miss it bad enough to try and make my Valks a substitute.

[0leman]

I sometimes check out Google Earth to see if the roads thru the forest are paved or gravel when looking for new roads to ride.  Several years ago, I blew it.  Got on a road that turned to gravel, looked like it was paved on Google Earth.  Since I was past the point of no return, longer to go back than to go forward and not enough gas to get back.  I went on the gravel.  After some 19 miles of gravel roads, the pavement returned.   Most of the road was in pretty good shape, that is not deep gravel nor rutted/washboard.   Some was.   I know that I can ride on gravel roads but just rather turn around and find another road. 

 It took about an hour to clean all the dust out of the middle section of my Valk.  Still some dust in tight places.

[Mr Whiskey]

Just started snowing outside........

I'm in, where we goin'?

PS; Hey Brit, you should try it 2 up.
22 miles of Little Shepherd Trail (middle segment)
http://www.donchesnut.com/motorcycle/londonwhitesburgloop/littleshepherdtrail.html
Wouldn't wanna repeat it, but glad we did it...




God I love that crazy girl!

[GiG]

No....that's why I have a set of studded tire for the valk......

I put a snow tar (Toyo) on my Victory in September.
I was in a tight spot, paid $20 when my Hankook C/T slipped a belt in Indiana.
Another $70 for mounting & installation, I've put ~5000 miles on it, handles real good.
Some guys were takin pictures of it in Robbinsville. It suits my cold weather bike with heated seats & grips and tall windscreen just  fine.  

[Mr Whiskey]

Hey, they make that in my size, thanks
https://www.toyotires.com/tire/pattern/observe-garit-kx-studless-performance-winter-tires

[..]

Nothing compared to those who have ridden Alaska but the longest I've done on unmade road was the Keebler Pass from Gunnison CO to Bowie CO. About 50 miles through some amazing scenery.

[..]

Here's another good one. Switchbacks so tight I had to make them in 2 goes. Back up and go forward.

https://goo.gl/maps/mDsmbFKgY8w

[..]

The infamous Moki Dugway best ridden south to north. The overlook where the black top starts has amazing southerly views.

https://goo.gl/maps/DhMws8k23582

Zoom in to see the switchbacks. No guard rails 

[DirtyDan]

Wayah bald road

Moki dugway

I’m having a flashback

Dan

[Valker]

I did take my Valkyrie down the quite rough "North River Road" in the northern Texas Panhandle from the "Battle of Adobe Walls" site to just north of Boone Pickens "Mesa Vista Ranch" on highway 70. This is about 35 miles north of Pampa, TX. Car tire made it doable, but barely.
Edit to add pics.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I rode a Honda 150 scooter one winter to work and back in Anchorage waiting for my engine to get replaced in a Chevy S10. -20*, snow, ice will make you pucker up a little.

[ETC]

I used to turn around when the pavement ended but that is something I never do any more. My Valk and me have done stream crossings, dirt road and even field roads. I have not avoided an unpaved road since 2010. I love this Valkyrie.

[Bigwolf]

I want to thank everyone that has added to this thread so far.  There are some really great stories here.  What would make the stories even better would be a few photos of the challenging roadway (pathway) traveled.

I must say I am a little surprised.  I know the VRCC folks have several seasoned and adventurous motorcycle pilots among them.  However, I am surprised to see the majority of those polled so far are willing to take their very polished and pampered Valkyries on any road short of Mud (I am thinking snow/ice would fit in here also) if there is probability of a short cut or a nice view. 

Britman: I loved reading your story.  It brought some memories back for me.  I have never gotten in that situation with my bike but have many times in my jeep.

ETC: Now you're just showing off your specially equipped for bad road Valkyrie.  Is that even legal in this discussion?!     Actually I like the concept of that trike and that one looks well constructed.  The nose of it looks really long.

Meathead: I have rode when it was 20f,.... maybe even at 15f but i'm thinking minus 20f would be brutal.

Bigwolf

[Leathel]

This was the end of the road that day, I know those water spots are deep! 4X4 boys have made a mess of that road



This was the entry to the last cold kiwi I went to..... So I guess I poled the wrong category as I will ride through mud



But I haven't done the Cold Kiwi on my Valk yet, next year?  but the last bike handled it well,,,,bit dirty but I didn't need a push unlike my friends ....... I wore a lot of mud pushing others in





there was a valk there though

[George B]

With a sidecar, rain and loose gravel and a bit of snow are no problem. I took the Valk down a rough gravel road when I first got it, and remembered why I owned 2wd Urals in the past. I keep to paved roads when possible.     

[Farside]

  Wow, some really good stories about the conditions.  But I'd like to know, talk to who said "never"? A real Thrill Seeker on a Valk. 

[Bigwolf]

Nice photos folks!

Mike, You were probably right to not try that stream crossing.  If I was already close and it was no trouble to get to that crossing, I would want to look at that stream crossing before I ruled it out.  My experience is that a lot of people make roads like that sound a lot worse than they actually are.

Leathel, Wow!  That looks like a lot of fun if on a motocross or adventure bike, not so much on 700 to 800 lbs of cruiser bike.  And at my age and current physical condition, I don't think I would enjoy it on any bike.
I too would turn around at that waterhole.  Where I ran around as a young man, a water hole like that would be 3 to 4 feet deep and very rough. 

Bigwolf

[DirtyDan]

http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/river/mckendree/mckendree.htm

West Virginia, did this in 2004

Dan

[The emperor has no clothes]

http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/river/mckendree/mckendree.htm

West Virginia, did this in 2004

Dan

" Empty beer bottles and cans along the road hint at West Virginians' penchant for chugging beer while cruising the twisting roads of their native state."

 

[Savago]

It wasn't in a bike, but instead in a well built 4x4 rig... but in 2015 I crossed the fabled BR-319 in the heart of Amazon *during the rainy* season.

For people unaware of the BR-319, it used to be a highway crossing the heart of the Amazon state in Brazil, built in the 70's, it was abandoned and the jungle claimed back the road. In early 80's it was already considered destroyed and officially closed.

During the rainy season it is considered 'uncrossable'. It is also featured as one of the top most dangerous roads in the world: http://www.dangerousroads.org/south-america/brazil/2067-br-319.html


It took us 3 days to do 500 miles, one day driving over 17hours straight. For a few photos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MFymnnI4EuE1s1vG2

[Mr Whiskey]

http://www.coalcampusa.com/sowv/river/mckendree/mckendree.htm

West Virginia, did this in 2004

Dan

Nice
How long is 'at?
Another one of the many reasons I keep wanting to trade the Wing in ona...

[DirtyDan]

Wasn’t THAT long

Watch out for mud, and the dozen plus dogs living underneath trailers in Thurmond

Dan