Moving down a dirt/gravel road

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr make your own rock guard, that's what I did..... It's not Rocket Science, and was fairly easy to Fab up...…. jmho Mike ..hyea:

 

[MakoShark2]

From memory I think I've read somewhere that the F3S swing arm design makes the belt less prone to rock damage than the RT/F3T.

 

[PistonBlown]

From memory I think I've read somewhere that the F3S swing arm design makes the belt less prone to rock damage than the RT/F3T.

The guy who fitted the one in my picture had one stone through his belt so went to the dealers for a new belt. On the ride back home from having it fitted he went through some roadworks and damaged the new belt with two more stones...hence the semi-DIY guard and my comment about hot chip and tar

 

[SKME]

OK guys, thanks for all your input. Managed today to install the belt guard. Took it for a ride around the block and so far no sound of it brushing against the tire or belt guard. Now off to check on belt guard tensioner

 

[Peter Aawen]

....... Having said that I ride on a lot of gravel/dirt roads and not had an issue. The only time I have had a stone in my belt was after riding over some freshly laid, and still hot, chip & tar. The tar helped the stone chips stick to the tires and then flick everywhere.

The guy who fitted the one in my picture had one stone through his belt so went to the dealers for a new belt. On the ride back home from having it fitted he went through some roadworks and damaged the new belt with two more stones... hence the semi-DIY guard and my comment about hot chip and tar

And THAT's why I reckon you should worry more about chip-seal, especially if it's still hot!! :lecturef_smilie: . Dirt &/or Gravel roads aren't really that much of an issue if you ride to the conditions; but that bloody chipped gravel & tar stuff is sticky and nasty stuff! AND it's not just the belt you've gotta worry about with that stuff, cos it'll get stuck all over your paintwork & in all sorts of hidey holes & crevices under your Spyder/Ryker too! :cus:

 

[Big F]

Hey folks...
So life has thrown us a curve ball and we're going to be moving to a house down about a half mile of dirt/gravel road. Wondering if anyone is in the same boat and can offer any advise? I know Spyderpops? makes a belt guard but I contacted them and they said it's not available for the F3S (wife and I each have an F3S). They said they make one for the F3T and Limited, not the F3S. I'm terrified we may have to get rid of our Spyders....
Is anyone living on a dirt/gravel road and still riding?

Just similar to some of the other responses. I have a 2 block long driveway - half asphalt and rock and just take it slow and easy and have never had a problem with my RT Limited.. Good luck and safe riding
BIG F

 

[ButterSmooth]

Now that I've started riding gravel/dirt roads on a regular basis, my concern is no longer the belt. Washboard surfaces shake my windshield violently side-to-side and I'm sure the supports are at risk. Lowering it all the way helps, but it still freaks me out...

And Peter is right on target -- it's the chip seal you have to worry about.

 

[GreatPumpkin]

I live on a gravel road and I work on a gravel road....most of my family live on other gravel roads.....Ride them all the time.....just go slow and don't be spinning your tires .....

 

[Many brands]

Go slow- don't kick up the dust

Hey folks...
So life has thrown us a curve ball and we're going to be moving to a house down about a half mile of dirt/gravel road. Wondering if anyone is in the same boat and can offer any advise? I know Spyderpops? makes a belt guard but I contacted them and they said it's not available for the F3S (wife and I each have an F3S). They said they make one for the F3T and Limited, not the F3S. I'm terrified we may have to get rid of our Spyders....
Is anyone living on a dirt/gravel road and still riding?

And pick your spots on the road. GO slow !

 

[Mikey]

:2thumbs: Love it!!!!

 

[pidjones]

You are in North Georgia, so your gravel is most likely limestone. Limestone gravel edges rapidly round off and should do less damage than say, granite.

The black will be impossible to keep clean with limestone dust, however. That's why my '21 RTL is Chalk Metallic.

 

[GoNoGo]

I'm in Elbert/Oglethorpe county in NE Georgia and we've got granite quarries producing the harder sharper-edged gravel.

Our driveway to the north is a 2-mile long gravel and rocky-dirt road.. and 3-miles of the same when I turn south.

My only neighbor out here will occasionally take his Harley FatBoy and he drives painfully slow, but I will drive my Spyder maybe 15-20 MPH in the smooth sections.

We didn't have rain for over a month and the dust had been terrible, happy that I chose a SILVER Spyder 9 years ago hyea:

 

[Big F]

My driveway is partial asphalt/crushed rock and about 3 blocks from paved street. Have been living here for 5 years plus and merely take it slow and have never had a problem. I have a 2018 RTL and no belt guard.
BIG F

 

[baxter]

Rode many hundreds of miles on loose gravel roads in the Northwest Territories and Yukon as well as Alaska with an exposed belt drive Harley and no issues. Did not drive really slow either.

 

[Slick51]

Perfect excuse to buy a Ryker Rally!

 

[GreyGhost]

If anyone is familiar with the Pinto Canyon Road between Marfa and Presideo or the Old Maverick Road in Big Bend National Park you’ll know the gravel roads I rode last week..no issues..

 

[SeniorRider]

Beautiful country!