Riding the 990 in the sand?

[4corners14]

So in the interest of not doing this again (see below), I'm curious about how others handle it. ie...technique, air pressure in tires, load distribution......whatever tips you have are appreciated! It was pretty hard on an already tore up shoulder to get it out of there.

[Black Hills]

I haven't done much sand riding, couple days around Moab, but it seems like if you slow down you are screwed? keep it a t 5-6000rpm in 3rd and it works fantastically well, steer with your feet (like waterskiing). Not sure how to get it moving again once you slow down??

[Andyd]

haha , probably dont bury it down to the bashplate for starters

[el queso]

Originally Posted by Black Hills

I haven't done much sand riding, couple days around Moab, but it seems like if you slow down you are screwed? keep it a t 5-6000rpm in 3rd and it works fantastically well, steer with your feet (like waterskiing). Not sure how to get it moving again once you slow down??

Oh man, that sounds like a great way to break a foot / ankle / leg. Keep those feet on the pegs!

In general for sand riding, lower your tire pressure and keep up your momentum. Sometimes easier said than done.

[crazybrit]

Another recent thread on sand riding on the big katoom: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=789052

[DirtyADV]

Originally Posted by el queso

Oh man, that sounds like a great way to break a foot / ankle / leg. Keep those feet on the pegs!

In general for sand riding, lower your tire pressure and keep up your momentum. Sometimes easier said than done.

I sure hope he means shifting his weight around on the pegs that is how I do it.

And be prepared to go where the bike goes and not where you want to, works well in open areas.



But I might not have it all figured out, not a lot of really loose sand around to practice on.

/Johan

[MAXVERT]

Meoni said ride it like a 125 2 stroke !

Keep a lot of speed and gas it !

Twist it, Max

[Dustodust]

keep up speed and STAY FORWARD, standing is best

I got a personal one on one lesson from Scot Harden and he taught me to "sit on the gas cap , it will feel weird at first but once you get used to it , it will be like a whole new world in the soft sand"
we naturally want to get back but that is wrong

this happened when some quadtards cut in front of me and made me brake
to get out I just dug out to one side, lean the bike over , then with the bike on its side fill the hole through the spokes with sand , then pick up the bike, took only a few minutes to get out
,

[rinho]

I guess it depend on the speed... the faster you go the more forward you must be...But accross Withe Wash Sand dune (Moab), up to 50Mph, I was not able to get my weight out of the rear (but not sat), and I felt safe.
The right hand is also your best friend! Throttle must be high enough to make the front lighter (and that,s the reason you should put your weight on the back)
all the trouble I had in the sand were when I was following a lighter bike, wich can be riden slowly without exhausting the rider... you can't ride a 9X0 LC8 slowy and sat in the sand (Hulk may be...)

[biggus]

Originally Posted by Dustodust

keep up speed and STAY FORWARD, standing is best

I got a personal one on one lesson from Scot Harden and he taught me to "sit on the gas cap , it will feel weird at first but once you get used to it , it will be like a whole new world in the soft sand"
we naturally want to get back but that is wrong

this happened when some quadtards cut in front of me and made me brake
to get out I just dug out to one side, lean the bike over , then with the bike on its side fill the hole through the spokes with sand , then pick up the bike, took only a few minutes to get out
,

"Sitting on the gas cap"

Everything that I have read on sand riding is to keep your weight back to get the front end up.

I am definitely no expert on sand riding, I get a warm and sweaty feeling anytime I get in it especially on a 500 pound bike.

Now I am confused.

[ShadyRascal]

Tires--flat

Throttle--on

That bike is so heavy I don't know if it matters where your body weight goes.

Ridden sand for a million years but on light bikes. Seen 950's do well but with no baggage and a paddle.

Tire speed is your friend. Front will wobble but don't fight it.

[rinho]

Originally Posted by ShadyRascal

That bike is so heavy I don't know if it matters where your body weight goes.

Yes, It matters (maybe not if you are less than 100Lbs)

[biggus]

Originally Posted by rinho

Yes, It matters (maybe not if you are less than 100Lbs)

I guess at 280 lbs. I should think twice about sitting on the caps?

[stephenwclark]

I rode my 990 in the sand today for the first time on a section of the Tour of Idaho. I have ridden sand a lot on smaller bikes but on the 990 it was exhausting. I thought I was going down a dozen times but managed to save it. This bike is a lot of work in the sand. Im going to replace my Pirreli Scorpions for something a bit more dirt orientated and hopefully that will help in the sand.

[avocadofarmer]

At least if you dump it in the sand it is a relatively painless event...