Forums > Adventure Touring > Sand Problems

Dandan - I run in the sand of south jersey quite a bit (see one of the XPLOR the Pines posts in this section for pics) on a GSA 1200.  I run the front end one notch from firm and tighten the back shock about 75%.  I keep the suspension this tight more for the woops and washouts that I encounter than for the deep sand.  Tire pressures in the low 20's are a pretty good compromise.  I think sand riding is more a riding technique, not how the bike is set up.  Keep your weight on the pegs, outside pegs in a turn and blip the throttle everytime the front end gets squirrelly.  Use a little bit of throttle to lighten the front end.  Nice thing about sand is it is nice and soft when you fall, no damage to you or the bike. 

And attend a Jimmy Lewis class if you get a chance!

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Shawn in PA ________________________________ ___________________________ ________ many thanks to these guys for helping me out with Vegas to Reno 2008! ________ ________ *Adventurers Workshop* - Custom Accessories for Adventure Touring Riders ________________ *MAXBMW* - The Northeast's ONLY exclusive BMW Motorcycle dealer

I attend the same XPLOR activity at PB/NJ like Smithy, and he is right.

I'm a moderate level rider, and all I can say that on sand-riding ball is on your court. Suspension or tire pressure (Jimmy's Advice) do NOT play a role on this big homongous bikes, maybe slightly if you are a competitor level rider, racer etc. Only one thing is VERY important, which is knobby tires. Contie's...Rest depends on you.

Relax, smile if you can, keep your weight on back tire mostly, but don't pull grips. Stand on pegs, keep on throttle, not necessarly fast but keep it in stable speed, look ahead, chin up always. Keep your shoulder parallel to handlebar.

If you feel you're too fast it's too late. Don't brake. No panic, clutch in... Do not fixate any object. You'll have a lesson there.  Next time use this lesson. Scream, yell and swear in your helmet but keep yourself as relax as possible.  

You have to reach the fine line between scary extra cautious boring riding and riding dnagerously out of your head. One should force his/her limits a little for progress.

Did I do all these? Not really. Maybe 30-40% but it was great fun and worthed to try.

I'm sure there are scores of more tips around. Attend Americade, get a course from Jimmy as Smithy suggested. Ask questions to adnvanced riders, everyone is helpful around.

BTW. Do not ride alone. You'll drop it, and after three or four pick-ups you'll be dead.  Well not lierally but... It's very VERY difficult on sand.

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Hell must be full of tasteless motorcycle designers... DD

Thanks you guys.  I can attest to the fact that it is very tiring to drop your bike several times in a day.  I have managed to bend handlebars, and scratch up valve covers, tank, etc. I get the part about weight shift.  I actually try to stand, and shift back to the rear of the seat.  I pull back on the bars(sounds like thats wrong) and I try to maintain acceleration.  Eventually though I have to decelerate.  Then the front just ploughs a troff.  I ride with other guys with 21" front wheels, and they do not seem to shimmy like I do.I try to relax, but since I frequently fall, its difficult.  It seems like I see many pictures of these bikes skimming across the desert.  I sure don't skim, but I will keep trying. Ride on.

DanDan 

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"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today."-Mark Twain

Some seat time on a lighter bike, with good knobbies, on sandy trails will help a lot when you get back on the GS. If you can borrow a decent dual sport for a day and go ride some sand  your skills should improve a lot.

The other guys in this thread have pretty much said it all. A couple of additional points:

1. When starting from rest in sand, try starting in second gear and slipping the clutch to get moving. You won't spin up the rear nearly as much, and you'll get moving faster.

2. Don't be afraid to go one gear higher than you think you should, and let the engine lug a little. Slip the clutch if you have to. You won't hurt the engine, and the bike will behave better when you give it gas. The bike will hook up and go, rather than spin up and stop. 

3.  Throttle cures a lot of problems in sand, but not all problems. Luckily, sand slows you down fast, and it's soft when you fall down. 

4. Stay relaxed! The bike will handle anything if you let it. Trust it.  

As Dandan mentioned, there is some great information in our web site... weshould give the link.

http://www.bmwxplor.com/explor/newsletter/3

We have serious navigation problems in this web site guys, devteam hear us please. For example how one can reach these helpful and great newsletter pages?

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Hell must be full of tasteless motorcycle designers... DD

Solution to sand problems? Get a lighter bike with good knobbies on it!

It may be obvious to some, to it was remarkable to me how much i felt my riding improved when I began trying to get in shape.  A few days after the initial body shock, and the bike felt Way more in control, and I didnt do anything but 50 more pushups a day than I did before. Well, 50 pushups, 100 situps, 25 pullups, and a few miles on the bicycle, for cardio. Nothing fancy, for sure.

 Conversly, its amazing how much my riding sucks when I'm exhausted, as from picking the bike  up several times. I got stronger at doing just that, and was able to keep riding much longer. I got a lot more out of practice sessions.

That said. I usually just close my eyes when I hit sand, so I couldnt give you any good riding advice.

Stand on the pegs run it in second (first gear is too short and winds out too quickly) and blip the throttle to transfer weight to the rear tire. Dont wind it out because eventually you'll have to come off the throttle and that will bury your nose. If you see a 20-30 foot section of very heavy soup with hard pack behind it then go ahead and nail to keep weight off the front you can always lock up the rear brake when you are in the firmer ground to check speed.

I'm no pro but that works for me.

I have my front cranked because my shocks were hitting full travel in the bumps when I bought the bike and they were almost fully adjusted. Rides fine not stiff at all.

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