Sand riding is very, very different from bitumen riding. Some riders love it and others hate it - we've found that your relationship to sand is a direct correlation to how you are introduced to it!

No matter what base you are starting out from, learning to ride in sand will open up a whole new level of adventure and exploration.

Remember, EVERY expert was once a beginner so to get that “sand riding nemesis” off your back you simply…just need to start!

#1. TYRES 

Tyres matter! Set yourself up for success from the start. Getting the right tyres will mean that they will work FOR you, NOT against you. To get the traction and drive you’ll need to ride sand well, you should prepare your bike with the most aggressive knobby tyre suitable. It can be challenging for the big bikes because knobby’s get destroyed on the road in no time, but you'll set yourself up for disappointment all round if you think you can ride sand with a smooth or 70/30 tyre, not to mention increasing your risk to yourself and others. We use (Motoz) 50/50 tyres for our KTM790R.

#2. STAND UP

Riding in sand is not about sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the scenery – If anything, far from it! Be prepared to stand up most of the time. When you are seated you will have far less control over your direction. It’s the difference between letting the bike be in control (seated) VS you being in control (standing). Your bike will move around a lot and you will need to be prepared to move around also. Standing lets you get your weight back over the bike so you can steer with your feet (weighting the pegs) much easier. Weighting the pegs and correct technique when moving your body around helps get you as much traction as needed. Be sure to bend your knees slightly and stay relaxed, this will allow you to move your body around on the bike and keep balance. It will also allow the bike to self-correct as it weaves back and forth in the sand.

#3. SPEED

Speed is your friend! Firstly it’s not a race and don’t just “gas it” and hope for the best. Going too fast will not only increase your risk factor but also affect your ability to concentrate on what is actually happening around you. Sand riding is about balancing a neutral riding position while maintaining just enough speed to comfortably find traction and move forward. The slower you go, the more the tyres will sink and the harder it will be to control the bike. Depending on the conditions, typically second gear is preferable to first, since first will have the back wheel spinning and digging more while second gear hooks up better driving you forward, not down. Use the throttle to give short bursts of speed, if needed, but adding too much could just dig your rear tyre into the ground instead of moving you forward.

#4. BRAKING

Rear brake control is not just for skids! Riding off-road we say Front brake is king for 3 things:

1. Slowing down fast
2. Stopping immediately
3. Nose wheelies/Endos…just ask Pol Tarres 😉

Many riders coming from the road rarely use or grasp the confidence rear brake feel can offer in slippery terrain and definitely in sand. When you already have a heavy bike, added luggage & fuel, the front wheel is already dealing with some weight bias. Rear brake can assist in a stable reduction in speed rather dipping the front & swapping out the front wheel.

#5. LOOK AHEAD

RESIST the urge to look down! – Yes, that is easier said than done! One of the most common mistakes all riders make in sand and off-road terrain, is target fixation. The bike will go where your eyes are looking. It’s called target fixation. Target fixation is only bad if you’re fixating on the wrong things. Instead, keep your eyes up and scanning forward, far down the trail to where you want to end up. The moment you look down, the front wheel will follow, which usually leads to it digging into the sand and tossing you off. By looking forward your whole body will adjust and aim the bike in that direction. Just remember what it was like learning to ride a bicycle as a kid, if you looked down you wobbled and probably fell off, it you looked up and ahead you stayed straight and proudly road along with your mates to your destination. Nothing much has changed, only now the bike is a 200kg+ beast! : - ).

#6. NO CLUTCH

The clutch should be an on/off switch. Drop the clutch (don’t slip it because the tyre is going to spin no matter what) and quickly reduce the throttle to find the traction. This works wonders for starting off in sandy conditions.

#7. MOMENTUM

It’s not a race! Whatever you do, try to keep your momentum. Keep your speed up, avoid tight turns and make big flowing arcs as you ride. Often spotting a turn and slowing prior so your can drive through the turn assertively yields great results rather than coasting….oh did we say minimal front brake already?

#8. GETTING STUCK & UNSTUCK

Stop digging a hole! If your rear tyre is digging down faster than it is going forward, you need to stop. Stop digging a hole. There are various techniques that can be applied including, putting your feet on the ground and standing up, getting off the bike entirely and holding the bars from the side, put it in first or second gear, rock yourself back & forward to drive it out or even lay the bike over to get the rear wheel out of the hole. Fill the hole again and use power, muscle, and motion to work it back and forth, looking for traction.

#9. BALANCE & BODY POSITION

Balance is critical! If you are out of balance, it will compound anything the bike does. Sand riding is about balancing a neutral riding position while maintaining just enough speed to comfortably find traction and move forward. Get used to the bike moving underneath you. You need to be loose on the bars, balanced, and centered over the bike so you can use your weight to influence where you want the bike to go as well as react to the bike going someplace you don’t want. Bend your knees and make sure you stay relaxed so you can move your body around on the bike to keep the balance. This will allow the bike to self-correct as it weaves back and forth in the sand.

#10. STEERING

Steer With Your Feet, NOT your handlebar muscle! You must use your weight and push through the footpegs to turn the bike. In can feel counter intuitive, especially when you are used to handlebar input when you have front wheel traction, but relying on this habit will only dig your front when in rather than actually turn the bike. Use gentle and delicate steering inputs and leave the muscles for another time.

PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE - Every expert was once a beginner!

We get it, it’s hard being a beginner and wishing you were already there, riding in all off-road conditions with confidence and ease like Jarvis or Chris Berch. Riding in sand regularly is the ONLY way to really get over your fear of riding in sand. Practising in a safe place, starting, stopping, riding slow, fast and balanced should form part of your regular practice and riding routine. Other than that, keep the power on, your speed up, stay in a high gear and use steering inputs. If you’re keen to start your sand riding journey, feel free to book in for our next two day DARE2DESERT - Intro to Sand Riding course coming up!

 See you out on the dunes soon!

 Safe2Ride Team.