How to Ride In Sand

[DavidBMWRT]

I live on a sandy road. It is one mile from my home to the pavement and sometimes this one mile can be the most challenging part of the trip. If it is dry, the front tire on my 600lb RT digs in to the sand and makes it impossible to steer.

When I was 20 years old I welcomed such adventure but at 60, my orifices tighten painfully and I am afraid I’m going to have a stroke or worse drop my beautiful motorcycle.

I have found that standing on the pegs helps but even then I have to occasionally jump to the ground to keep it from falling.

What is the best way to negotiate sand?

[Vagabird]

I should probably wait for the experts to reply, since I am not one. But here goes anyway:

Stay up on the pegs to let the bike move under you. Lean back a little to unload the front wheel. Stay out of the deep stuff if possible. Keep your speed up - not fast but not walking speed (20-30?).

I admire your fortitude to have an RT when you live 1 mile from pavement. :bow Good luck and read the following posts when the experts tell you how to really do it.

[jdmetzger]

I live on a sandy road. It is one mile from my home to the pavement and sometimes this one mile can be the most challenging part of the trip. If it is dry, the front tire on my 600lb RT digs in to the sand and makes it impossible to steer.

When I was 20 years old I welcomed such adventure but at 60, my orifices tighten painfully and I am afraid I’m going to have a stroke or worse drop my beautiful motorcycle.

I have found that standing on the pegs helps but even then I have to occasionally jump to the ground to keep it from falling.

What is the best way to negotiate sand?

I'm in no way an expert on this subject, but in the few times I've been on sand, I have found that when the bike feels like it's about to tip over, I give it some gas and it pulls itself through. I admit it's kind of scary to try that, though. The first time I did it was a complete accident - my R80/7 started to get wobbly and while I was going to close the throttle (less than 1 year riding at this point), I had a "throttle rocker" on my bike and I ended up gassing it, which worked fine. I've since remembered that situation and also thrown away the throttle rocker. :)

[108625]

I used to live two and a half miles down a dirt road and travelled it with a variety of bikes, street and dirt.
The best advise I can give is to stand up on the pegs, don't lean on the bars and keep your head up and your eyes focused as far down the road as you can see. You'll find yourself riding smoother and straighter without really thinking about it.
More powerful bikes with wider tires (like my old CBR 600) need to be a gear or two higher than skinny tired airheads and dual sports, it helps reduce your chances of breaking the rear loose, and sudden front loading when you throttle back.
Depending on conditions, I rode it around 25-40 mph.

[KGT1200]

I am not an expert, nor do I play one on TV, however, my experience says the best way is relax, keep your weight to the rear, speed up and steady, and don't freak out on the feeling of ""float" on the front end.

The bike will motor through. It gets easier the more you do it.

Now let the resident ëxperts" tell you how to really do it.

I keep hoping a thread about golf swings comes up- I bet they have a answer!

[rmarkr]

A heavy bike, with a smaller front wheel (than a dirt bike) is not a good recipe for sand, or mud. For what its worth, keep the speed up, gearing tall, no sudden turns, and let the bike wander around a bit - don't fight it. Keep your weight towards the back of the bike (standing helps) and use a bit of power to turn.
:blah

[PGlaves]

Practice on a bike that won't cost $$$$ to replace plastic once it augers in.

[corbtown]

Maintaining forward momentum seems so obvious, but you don't want to do this in
a hesitating fasion. The best way to control this is with a little more and steady throttle than normal, and much more active use of the clutch lever. One of the off roar riders web sites has tutorials on this topic, not sure which, but it might be advriders.com

"every man is the architecht of his own character."

[SCQTT]

Stand up, butt over the rear axle, smooth throttle, let the bike wander around and do not fight the bars. Look far ahead, really far ahead, and focus on where you ultimatley want to go. Do not panic if the bikes wanders off track, just keep your focus on where you want to be. It can feel like a jet ski or snowmobile in deep powder. Stay on the gas. STAY ON THE GAS. Never chop the throttle, it just causes the front to dig. Confidence helps.

Sounds like you are going to get alot of practice, by 70 you'll be able to those sportbike stunts down that sandy road!

Best of luck.