Do you take that nice shiny bike on gravel roads? I'm wondering how the bike finish would take a gravel beating. Rock chips and such. I'm thinking I'd rather use the bike in every scenario and live with it, chips and all. Can't keep it purdy forever, can we?

 

A rental? Done that when we rented a Softail in Las Vegas and rode into the mountains. My bike - no way!

 

I don't go out of my way to look for gravel but I don't let gravel limit my riding either. I lived on a limestone gravel road for 6 yrs before moving to Texas. 4 miles to the nearest pavement. Had 2 HDs during that time. My friends used to call my FXDBI the "Dirty 88". 30k on gravel left some pits on the front of the tank but nothing a good wash couldn't remedy.

I must say I enjoy living on a paved, lonesome 2 lane now. But I still have a pea-gravel drive to remind me of my farm days in Iowa. There are a few pics of dirty in my album - It never looked too bad to me, but I never let it sit still for very long! Was hell on rear tires...

 

My bikes not that new or shiny but I avoid the gravel whenever possible.

 

I'm not big on gravel either.

 

The biggest problem I ever had on a gravel road was getting a rock caught up in my belt and wasting the belt.
Not a good thing to have happen to you.
As far as gravel nicks and chips, I only wash my bike once a year so that is the only time I would see them.

 

Speed kills on gravel roads

 

My bike dont like gravel at all.

 

I live on a dirt road. They put down gravel once in a while to fix pot holes.
The bike doesnt see any chips or scratches.
Just dont act like your on a off road bike and spin out and everything is fine.

 

The only way to look at it.You buy a motorcycle to ride not put in a trophy case.When it gets a little dirty to the point you can't sleep anymore you hose it down.The same when your body starts to stink.Cannot imagine worrying about the road surface,we are all suffering with crumbling roads and bridges,not to the point of leaving everything garaged for fear of getting sheet metal a little soiled.Live to Ride!!!