In my previous article on this topic, I discussed the importance of throttle control when faced with a stretch of sand. And although I consider that to be the single most important skill for an adventure biker in this situation, there are some other things you can do to ease your passage across what may seem like a vast desert.
The first tip has nothing really to do with skill. What will help you immensely on the sand is to increase the amount of contact your tires make with the surface. That means lowering your tire pressure. Where on a tarred road low pressure can be a fantastically dangerous thing, on sand it can be an absolute lifesaver. The pressure can be dropped remarkably low on sand, and I would suggest experimentation to find exactly what your bike needs on different surfaces. Do not be too shy about it – lowering it by 0.2 bar is not going to make a massive difference, so start by dropping it about 1 bar from your road pressure, and decrease incrementally from there.
A word of warning is needed here. Increased contact with the surface means increased friction, on the inside and outside of the tire, meaning your tires are going to get very hot. This will probably mean greater wear, and susceptibility to punctures. You will definitely need to carry a portable compressor with you, so that you can immediately get the pressure closer to normal as the road surface hardens. A fact of life in motorcycle touring is that it is very hard to carry all the tires you need. Knobblies wear quickly on tar, and road tires do not always provide sufficient traction on sand. One way to compensate is of course to get dual-purpose tires, and the other is to regulate pressure according to the surface.
The last tip is something you would have noticed if you have ever watched the Dakar rally. Those riders blasting across the dunes seem to do an awful lot of their riding standing up. It might seem a little counter-intuitive, but this will increase your control in the sand. Keep the knees on the tank when you do this. Doing this can certainly be tiring, especially if you are in an awkward position. Check on this before leaving for your trip over the wasteland, and have the necessary modifications made. Tall people often have to raise the handlebars an inch or two; otherwise you are hunched over, which is exhausting.
One last piece of advice. To be safe on the motorcycle, you need to keep your gaze up. The temptation when going off-road is to keep your eyes on the road directly in front of you. When you stand up in the sand, this also gives you an opportunity to look far ahead, and be ready for dangers you otherwise would not notice until you are right on top of them.
This is a lot to remember, but it will become second nature soon enough. Until then, just remember the motto: Look up, stand up, open up!
Similar Posts:
- Motorcycle Tire Care and Maintenance
- Motorcycle Touring – Riding on Sand
- Flat Motorcycle Tires – Roll Hard!
- Which Motorcycle Tires Are Right For Your Bike?
- Choosing The Right Motorcycle Tire Involves The Right Tread Style, Tire Bias And Tire Materials
