after taking my bike back to ATL for the recall, service and new pipe....I finally have it back at the lake/mountains. Went out exploring today and when I was going down a fairly steep incline which was a gravel road, I tried to stop but the bike kept on sliding down the gravel hill. Brakes engaged, clutch in, and I just slid forward about 15 yards......20 yards was down an embankment.

Should I have just kept in 1st and let the engine do all the braking?

 

First might have helped, all else fails lay the bike down.

 

i would have used 2nd not first, as first will probably lock but the back tire like the brakes did. its all about brake control, and knowing the limits of the tires, and most important, dont lock up the front tire.

 

I think in that situation first would have locked up the rear. You did the right thing only you needed to feather the brakes more. What gear were you in when you started down the hill? I've had my "scary but fun (sort of..)" sessions. Now, in new territory, I'll even stop at the top of a down to take a real good look at it. No damage to me, no damage to the bike is a great ride.

 

the rear was locked up first........

 

if your wheel "locks up" the motor wont run. it will skid a little bit but wont entirley lock up. as long as your not doin more than 20 mph or so, i would have put it in first gear and feathered the front brake, and then the back brake once u start loosing speed.

 

Loose downhills can be scary,mostly if you can't see the bottom. You are either gaining speed against your will, you are gaining speed but not so much that you can't make the turn at the bottom, or you are in control but puckered.

About the only wrong thing you can do is lock up the front brake. If the hill is very steep then I grab the clutch, lock or unlock the rear to regulate speed, and use as much front brake as I feel I can without loosing control. This isn't like a car on pavement. A locked rear wheel will stop you better than a rolling rear wheel. Think of it more as an anchor or a plow being drug through the soil.

It is better to dump the bike than it is to gain speed to a dangerous level and then have to eat a tree, fall in a river, or drop off a cliff at the bottom.

 

hmm.. your pretty smart. good pointers there!

 

Are you being sarcastic?

I have found steep downhills to be the downfall of otherwise pretty dang good riders. Especially when there are sharp turns like with switchbacks.

 

I think he was implying that it was a good post......
"good pointers there!"

it was, thanks for the advice.