Riding On The Sand For The First Time? Read These Tips
Riding wildly on the golden land with sand blowing everywhere just like air- it’s a fantasy of every dirt bike rider. But the soft sand doesn’t spare even the most skilled riders. Gliding on the golden sandy lands requires knowledge of riding techniques and a lot of practice. But a rider has to start somewhere.
If you are going to ride your dirt bike on the sand for the first time, let us interest you in some insightful tips that will give you a chance to pull off this challenge.
First, ensure that your bike is powerful enough for this super adventurous ride. You should have at least a 250 cc bike to be able to maneuver smoothly on the sand.
Let’s cruise over some more important tips:
Check the tire
The tires that work excellent on the roads don’t necessarily work well on sand. Even if you are a skilled rider, try not to ride with the road tires. For riding on sand, you ought to have tires that don’t have smooth sidewalls. Tires with an open block pattern work well.
Make sure your tires have an open block pattern on the sidewall too, as this is the area that will have the maximum contact with the ground. Also, dropping the tire pressure down to 10 to 12 psi will offer better traction and control.
Don’t over-use the clutch
Treat your clutch like an on/off switch when riding on sand. As the rear wheel will spin, working the clutch won’t make any difference.
Instead, let the torque take over. Master the throttle control to gain traction and reduce the spinning of the wheel. By backing off the throttle, you will actually accelerate your bike.
Maintain a steady riding position
Maintaining an ideal riding position is quite important when you ride on the sand. Your body position and weight should be further back while riding to allow your front wheel to glide over the sand. Use your body weight to maneuver the bike on the sand. Learn to work with your feet by putting your weight on the footpegs.
Do not try to be hard on the bar. Let loose and maintain a centered position on the bike. Standing position will help you gain better control of your bike on the sand.
Make sure you practice this position before hitting this unpredictable track.
Don’t give up the power
Generally, when a rider feels getting out of control, their natural tendency is to back off. But, this ruins the game. On the contrary, holding the power will thrust the bike forward and get the front wheel out of the sand. A short burst of power is enough to help you regain balance.
But, if it’s your first stint with the sand, do not use this trick. Instead, slow down to a comfortable speed or stop your bike and start again.
With time, you will learn the former technique until then you can use the latter one.
Learn to turn
Turning on sand is quite difficult and unless you know the right technique, you cannot do it smoothly and swiftly.
While entering hard and tight corners, move your body to the front. Your weight should shift on the petrol tank. This position will allow the rear wheel to turn on soft sand. Make sure you are leaning in the direction you want to head to.
Takeaways
Apart from the above-listed tips, there are several other tips that you must keep in mind, such as if your rear tire is digging into the sand, stop right away, get off your seat, move forward, and push off.
Also, as your throttle is going to work too much in the sand, your bike will need more fuel. So, make sure you have extra petrol with you.
Lastly, riding on sand takes its toll on your bike and so, clean your bike thoroughly after your ride.
Now that you are aware of the basics of riding on sand, don’t forget to gear up and look stylish, a Fox helmet never fails to impress in looks, comfort and safety. So get your style on and get ready to conquer the sand!
