0:36 1. Not looking where you’re going... 1:50 2. Waiting too long to stand... 2:56 3. Not taking the time to sit and go slow... 3:57 4. Too much tension and freezing up 4:55 5. Micromanaging the bike 5:39 6. Incorrect bike set-up 6:55 7. Using the brakes too much 7:49 8. Not buffering the clutch to stabilize the bike 8:40 9. Shifting your weight too far back 9:50 10. Accelerating instead of maintaining momentum 11:26 11. Chopping the throttle 12:38 12. Not dabbing to fix body position 13:42 13. Blaming the bike of tires 16:01 14. Not practicing until you enjoy it Be blessed (Psalms 1)
When you use risers you can always roll the bar forward to compensate. I am 6'7" and there is no peg-lowering kit that could help. Even for a GSA or Honda 450RL, which are extremely common bikes, you won't find anything lowering your pegs more than maybe 1/4" over stock.
This was the the most comprhensuve video i've seen about riding in sand. It definitely takes some of the mystery out of it, and inspires some confidence. While not the same, i recently made it through some unexpected stretches of washed out road covered completely with 3 to 4, up to 6 inch 'baby head' round rocks. End of season wet coming on here so i didn't go back (after i got through i just kept asking myself 'wtf just happened?!' I credit in large part the one training class I've taken with RideAdv, and paying attention to you and other great instructors on youtube. Maybe sand next season, thanks!
Outstanding advice. Had a chance to ride in the sand extensively on a trip in Botswana. I got reasonably comfortable and your teaching points all apply. Where I continue to struggle are tight turn or narrow sections - definitely do a few daps in those scenarios.
If your bike has a hydraulic preload adjuster for the shock, you can add sag to the shock before entering the sand, (reducing spring tension) giving the front end more stability due to the increased rake angle.
I just had a really bad experience in the sand and have done my back in from the struggle, fall and lifting it. I hope this vid will help me! I am a complete novice and sometimes I bite off more than I can chew, but I enjoy the challenge (just not the back pain lol)
I’m not very good in sand. The situation I’ve had the most trouble with you don’t address in this video. That would be sand+slope. Going across (or up) a sandy slope with a 600lb bike and street tires never seems to be very easy for me. 😂
Good one. We almost certainly didn’t address that situation because it almost certainly will never work. Not to say anything is impossible, but enough to be sand, slope, and such may never be possible to ride
As you say, it all boils down to skill. That said, for someone with my skills, or lack there of, there’s a huge difference for me between my super Tenere with 90/10 “street” tires and a T7 with Shinko 805 or Motoz. I can do things on the T7 without even thinking about it, that I struggle or fail to do on the bigger bike with “bad “tires. I’m stubborn though and one of these days…
I notice the dab examples, if there had been bags on the bike, there would have been major problems with the results of those dabs. Lower leg injury type problems.
I'm ok with sand on my dirtbike. My Vstrom 800DE is another story....but I really like that adage of practice until it's fun...its just the fear of picking up that heavy porker.
Would love to see a video addressing deep sandy areas, with only narrow tracks, that have been deeply rutted up (ruts deeper than a foot or more in some areas) by four wheelers. My local APV park is sand, narrow track, and deeply rutted up by four wheelers. I would love to ride off-road more, but no way I'll take another 500 lbs ADV bike there again. Between duck- walking and dodging idiots on four wheelers flying around entirely too fast to avoid me on a slower bike, it just simply wasn't fun to ride. I grew up riding dirt trails back east, but this just isn't fun. I honestly don't know how to make it fun short of buying a second bike. So, any advice you have, I'm listening....
how much help are steering dampers?? by the way it looks like eveyone of the students gets caought out by the deeper sandpatches where the sand is just two three inches deep everyone is doing just fine :) thats exactly how I ride in the sand :))
Dampers can be great, some say they won’t ride without one. Probably depends on the settings, sand density, and a whole bunch of factors. Give it a try and let us know?
Mistake #1. Riding into sand. Mistake #2. Not turning around once you realize your in sand. Mistake #3. Forgetting to order pepperoni on your pizza after you turn around and get back home, five minutes away. Source: on old proverb probably. Not personal experience.
0:36 1. Not looking where you’re going...
1:50 2. Waiting too long to stand...
2:56 3. Not taking the time to sit and go slow...
3:57 4. Too much tension and freezing up
4:55 5. Micromanaging the bike
5:39 6. Incorrect bike set-up
6:55 7. Using the brakes too much
7:49 8. Not buffering the clutch to stabilize the bike
8:40 9. Shifting your weight too far back
9:50 10. Accelerating instead of maintaining momentum
11:26 11. Chopping the throttle
12:38 12. Not dabbing to fix body position
13:42 13. Blaming the bike of tires
16:01 14. Not practicing until you enjoy it
Be blessed (Psalms 1)
Glad you mentioned steering through the sand with your feet! Works great!
When you use risers you can always roll the bar forward to compensate. I am 6'7" and there is no peg-lowering kit that could help. Even for a GSA or Honda 450RL, which are extremely common bikes, you won't find anything lowering your pegs more than maybe 1/4" over stock.
Very good things to know 👍
Great review, great comments.
Appreciate the feedback!
Hey Cool. Met Andrew the other day out in Cline Butte Rec Area. Cant wait for me and my buddy to take the class.
This was the the most comprhensuve video i've seen about riding in sand. It definitely takes some of the mystery out of it, and inspires some confidence. While not the same, i recently made it through some unexpected stretches of washed out road covered completely with 3 to 4, up to 6 inch 'baby head' round rocks. End of season wet coming on here so i didn't go back (after i got through i just kept asking myself 'wtf just happened?!' I credit in large part the one training class I've taken with RideAdv, and paying attention to you and other great instructors on youtube. Maybe sand next season, thanks!
Outstanding advice. Had a chance to ride in the sand extensively on a trip in Botswana. I got reasonably comfortable and your teaching points all apply. Where I continue to struggle are tight turn or narrow sections - definitely do a few daps in those scenarios.
Great video, great advice, thanks!
Thanks for this. I'm getting back into riding after not having a bike for 23 years, and am looking for tips.
Thanks. Glad this helped a bit on your journey to get back on the bike. Cheers
These are great tips!
Great video guys really well done I feel encouraged to take on my nemesis the sand Iam going to practise till it's fun.
If your bike has a hydraulic preload adjuster for the shock, you can add sag to the shock before entering the sand, (reducing spring tension) giving the front end more stability due to the increased rake angle.
My issue was forgetting to turn off traction control.
Yes. We know this all to well lol.
Superb value, this was time well spent watching this video! Thanks Gents, keep up the great work!
Thanks for the note! Glad it helped
@ And just emailed you about your tours 😁
I just had a really bad experience in the sand and have done my back in from the struggle, fall and lifting it. I hope this vid will help me! I am a complete novice and sometimes I bite off more than I can chew, but I enjoy the challenge (just not the back pain lol)
Sorry to hear about your back, but glad you're ready to learn from your mistakes. Fatigue on these big bikes is half the battle at times.
Got your own sand riding tips? Drop them in the comments below👇
There are people that travel the world heavily laden in every kind of material on 150cc trail bikes. You learn quick when you have what you have.
Learn quick, I agree but if you're trying to have a bit of fun personally I would not pick a 150cc trail bike and put luggage on it.
I’m not very good in sand. The situation I’ve had the most trouble with you don’t address in this video. That would be sand+slope. Going across (or up) a sandy slope with a 600lb bike and street tires never seems to be very easy for me. 😂
Good one. We almost certainly didn’t address that situation because it almost certainly will never work. Not to say anything is impossible, but enough to be sand, slope, and such may never be possible to ride
As you say, it all boils down to skill. That said, for someone with my skills, or lack there of, there’s a huge difference for me between my super Tenere with 90/10 “street” tires and a T7 with Shinko 805 or Motoz. I can do things on the T7 without even thinking about it, that I struggle or fail to do on the bigger bike with “bad “tires. I’m stubborn though and one of these days…
Nice
I notice the dab examples, if there had been bags on the bike, there would have been major problems with the results of those dabs. Lower leg injury type problems.
Before playing in the sandbox, should we wax the chain, lube chain, or both? If both, which goes on first?
See a lot of BIG bikes here. “F” that! Heck, I don’t even like the dunes on a smaller dual-sport much less a full dress ADV.
I'm ok with sand on my dirtbike. My Vstrom 800DE is another story....but I really like that adage of practice until it's fun...its just the fear of picking up that heavy porker.
Absolutely something to consider when taking a 400+ lbs bike offroad.
Would love to see a video addressing deep sandy areas, with only narrow tracks, that have been deeply rutted up (ruts deeper than a foot or more in some areas) by four wheelers. My local APV park is sand, narrow track, and deeply rutted up by four wheelers. I would love to ride off-road more, but no way I'll take another 500 lbs ADV bike there again. Between duck- walking and dodging idiots on four wheelers flying around entirely too fast to avoid me on a slower bike, it just simply wasn't fun to ride. I grew up riding dirt trails back east, but this just isn't fun. I honestly don't know how to make it fun short of buying a second bike. So, any advice you have, I'm listening....
how much help are steering dampers?? by the way it looks like eveyone of the students gets caought out by the deeper sandpatches where the sand is just two three inches deep everyone is doing just fine :) thats exactly how I ride in the sand :))
Dampers can be great, some say they won’t ride without one. Probably depends on the settings, sand density, and a whole bunch of factors. Give it a try and let us know?
❤👍👌👍
Mistake #1. Riding into sand.
Mistake #2. Not turning around once you realize your in sand.
Mistake #3. Forgetting to order pepperoni on your pizza after you turn around and get back home, five minutes away.
Source: on old proverb probably. Not personal experience.
;-)
Erster! ❤
Practice until it's fun!