Any tips for riding in sand?

**Ktmboy** · 4th March 2009, 22:37

Originally Posted by Pierce

Defo keep your speed up and keep the front light. Lots of whooped out parts to the trakcs too so like I said keep your speed up and front light and you'l skip over them. You'l find in the sand it the bike will want to go all over the place (expecially when it's deep soft sand) but just lock the bike in with your knees and let the bike go where it wants to go. Trying to turn will make it worse

Pierce has it sorted. Keep the front end light and power through corners. Bum on the rear guard on fast bumpy sections. Power on!! Yeah ha.

Jeez, theres nothing like full tit with the front wheel in the air on a big long straight.....just waiting for bambi to jump out in front of you.

Yes, the local inhabitants love giving you a freakin big adrenalin rush

**flyingcr250** · 5th March 2009, 05:35

ooooooo i feel a few offs happening this weekend lol

**SpikedPunch** · 5th March 2009, 06:07

Steer with your rear and when when the bike starts getting squirrely, don't look down!

**Danger** · 5th March 2009, 07:12

Increase fork compression.
Bleed the fork bleeders the day before then forget them. A little pressure build up will help.
This time of year you might benefit from lowering the forks a few mm in the clamps, depends on compression settings, oil level and overall balance.
Increase shock rebound 4 clicks, this also stiffens the low speed compression.
Ride central, let the power keep the front light, don't hang off the back like a gumby (unless your forks are too soft).
If on the whoops your bike kicks to the side, increase shock low speed compression. If it kicks straight up increase shock rebound. Keep the power on over any whoops to keep the front up, again stay central, don't crouch, keep the legs straight without locking the knees so you don't get kicked over the bars and let the bike do the work under you. Alternatively sit forward or central, not back, use the power to keep the front light, move back if you need the traction (like up the big dipper).
Tune the shocks HS compression damping for cornering, less for slower turning, more for quicker turning. Set your sag for about 105mm rider sag.
Do not lube the chain with anything but WD40 and lube it the day before then forget it. Sand will not stick and will not wear the chain, mud will do much worse.
Spray WD40 under your seat and inside the side covers of you air box to catch a large proportion of the sand. Do this the day before so the fumes can evaporate. Use filter skins.
Have fun, many don't like sand if they have not ridden it before but master sand and you become a much better rider overall.

**REDRIDER** · 5th March 2009, 07:36

Originally Posted by flyingcr250

ooooooo i feel a few offs happening this weekend lol

Dude if I can ride the sand anyone can, grip the bike and give it heaps.. no drama

**takitimu** · 5th March 2009, 08:15

Originally Posted by Danger

d. Do this the day before so the fumes can evaporate. Use filter skins.
Have fun, many don't like sand if they have not ridden it before but master sand and you become a much better rider overall.

When's your book(let) coming out on suspension tips Danger, sign me up for a copy.

**camchain** · 5th March 2009, 12:21

+1 on KTMboy's power on in the corners, deeper the sand the more important this is. You really need to get your braking done while upright (unless setting up for corner by locking up rear and backing it in. Works good in the right situation).

Coasting or Nanna riding through a sandy corner will cause too much weight up front and front wheel will turn into a plow. Better to be a touch slow on corner entry, especially if you don't know the trails. You can easily make up time with good corner and exit speed.
I find it best to start rolling on power even before you initiate the turn, gets the bike back in proper front/rear balance. With plenty of power on in the turn, you have some line alteration options using a bit of throttle control.
If you're sitting down in the corner, lift arse off seat if you spot a big accelleration bump on corner exit. You can do this even if inside leg still out and off the peg.

Good throttle control important in the whoops. Last thing you want is getting your timing wrong and dropping front into bottom of a deep one.
Especially in the twisty stuff, the more you can keep your feet up on the pegs the better. Legs are heavy lumps of meat, even more so with heavy boots on. Once they start paddling and swinging around, your balance goes out the window.

That said, I'm no expert just my tuppence.

Tire pressures? I tend to run 12.5 psi. Low pressures not really needed for Sandpit, not super hilly and not much extra tire deformation happening with deep sand/lower pressures anyway. Need to allow for tube pinch on hard tree roots. If you end up on the Big Dipper, try hitting it 4th gear. Heaps of throttle, changing down on the way up. Keep your eye on your intended line - not the fence.

As a Sandpit first timer, keep a sharp eye out for the odd tree root sticking out on sections that seem very root free. Very easy to let the guard down and get caught out on these.
Sand takes a bit of getting used to, but after an hour or so you'll start to get the hang of it. Heaps of fun and very good for the skills.

**kezzafish** · 5th March 2009, 12:30

very well described camchain. points to add would be... sand sucks energy and horsepower, obviousely the softer the worse. Start running round the block now

**one-speed** · 5th March 2009, 12:44

I came accross a situation not so long ago in which i had to cross a section of about 100 meters of thick soft sand on me CBR1100
The only way was to give it heaps LOL

**marty** · 5th March 2009, 13:23

Don't get any in your vagina

**theblacksmith** · 5th March 2009, 17:36

Speed is what you need at the Sandpit. It is a little different to dirt and clay - its more similar to riding in snow.Under a certain speed it feels like your front tyre is flat- increase your speed and it feels like your planing on the sand rather than sinking into it.The Big Dipper is cool - use as much hp as you can -you will need it. If its gonna piss down on the weekend I might come up with ya.Its a wicked place to ride - you ll love it.Bloody good workout on the body as well.

**theblacksmith** · 5th March 2009, 17:42

Originally Posted by marty

Don't get any in your vagina

Fark -have you got one of those flyingcr250?? lol

**Rupe** · 5th March 2009, 17:42

Originally Posted by marty

Don't get any in your vagina

That would be the most important one,

**flyingcr250** · 5th March 2009, 17:43

Originally Posted by theblacksmith

Speed is what you need at the Sandpit. It is a little different to dirt and clay - its more similar to riding in snow.Under a certain speed it feels like your front tyre is flat- increase your speed and it feels like your planing on the sand rather than sinking into it.The Big Dipper is cool - use as much hp as you can -you will need it. If its gonna piss down on the weekend I might come up with ya.Its a wicked place to ride - you ll love it.Bloody good workout on the body as well.

workout? exercise? what have i got myself into? lol,
looking forward to saturday should be good. just have to find the place lol, should be ok.