Ssssand

[Paul_E_D]

Wow, riding in the powder is pretty tough. I'm learning, but does anyone here have a lot of sand riding experience? You really can't get away with many mistakes.

Today I was actually faster than someone around the track. He was on a real pretty CRF and pristine gear. My old KDX is caked in mud as is my gear. I felt like a BMW commercial or something!

I stiffened the damping a ton on my front end and it helped enormously in the whoops. I actually got the front up and skimming in the sandy ones, but I'm still taking a beating in the harder whoops.

[Sidewinder]

As far as jumping goes Kdx's real suck at it. The only time I run into problems in sand on my kdx is when I let off the gas the sand knom's grab the front tire

[ChR1s]

MX338 has some sand?

I'm no master, but this is some stuff I try to do:

Weight back over the fender, head low, enter the whoops in a gear that you can pull all the way through, combined with a throttle opening that will allow you to keep the power coming on. You want the bike to be able to keep the front end light via power through the entire section. Keep the clutch lever covered so you can dip it if the front end starts coming up. You do not want the front to "fall down" at all in between whoops. If you feel the front's going to drop in deep, try to take the next whoop as a jump with your weight more centered so you don't get ejected. If the forks are too soft, whoops will kick your ass up over your head.

For sand in general, maintain speed to aid floatation, gradual turns so the front doesn't knife in, don't let your inside boot get dragged back or you may kick yourself in the back of the helmet, short shift whenever possible so you have revs on reserve if needed, don't be afraid to use the clutch.

[beet]

I've played in the pits, all that Chris said works.
PS sand can be verry hard when you hit it you stop fast.

[Paul_E_D]

Thanks guys. I'm getting up the nerver to run the KDX into the whoops with some speed. At least in the powdery stuff when you bail it doesn't hurt!

[TTD]

Chris summed up perfectly everything I try to do...

I usually end up doing about 20% effectively.

[SarahLyndsey]

i absolutely despise sand.. but ive found the faster you go and farther you lean back the easier it is... and the faster you go the faster your out of it!!

[Paul_E_D]

i absolutely despise sand.. but ive found the faster you go and farther you lean back the easier it is... and the faster you go the faster your out of it!!

Yeah, except on the track I keep coming back around to it! I'm trying to learn to love it...

[typeone]

move to Florida.. . that's all you'll ever get to ride, whooped out mounds of sand. i dont miss it.

on top of the comments above, proper tires help tons in sand but i know its tough in NE to run a general tire that does it ALL really well. (unless you're swapping for conditions, of course)

[Paul_E_D]

If you want to reminisce come on over with the husky some friday. We've got some "whooped out mounds of sand" here in MA too! At least they aren't too hot to walk on in bare feet though...

[SarahLyndsey]

ohh i was thinking of the big sand pits randomly found in the woods.. im not a track girl i like the wild outdoors

[SSearchVT]

The tires and gearing will make a huge difference in sand (and confidence). Get a tire designed to run in either soft dirt or sand (a paddle is overkill), and go up a few teeth on the rear sprocket to keep the revs up - fan the clutch in the corners more then normal. I would burn through a set of clutch plates in a single race day at Southwick on a 125. It's counterintuitive - but go faster, keep your weight back to keep the front end light - even in corners.

Lower the tire pressure in the rear to around 14 to 16 psi, front at about 20 psi.

Sand gets everywhere - take all the plastic off the bike, clean the air filter, wash everything, and check and lube all the bearings.

It also doesn't hurt as much to fall in sand - it's like powder skiing!!!! Good Luck..

[Paul_E_D]

Thanks foe the tips on the tire pressures. I'm running 14/14 right now. I'll try adding some to the front. I ride an older KDX, so I don't really need to fan the clutch at all, but perhaps I'll try it. My clutch is grabby, and probably needs to be replaced.

[ChR1s]

I'm no moto freak, but that's seems like some insanely high PSI.

For most off-road riding in this area, I run 13f/12r on my YZ (19" r), and that's at the high end. Just enough pressure to allow some rim kiss on hard hits, but still make it tough for rocks to leave a permanent impression. For just sand, I'd be much lower.

[typeone]

+1... some notes i had bookmarked

Hard pack: 11.5 psi front, 11 psi rear. This would be for normal supercross-type conditions with no rocks or large square edged bumps.

Intermediate: 12 psi front, 13 psi rear.

Sand/Mud: 12 psi front, 10 psi rear. The lower pressure will help get a bite in the sand and slippery wet conditions. If it is rocky and muddy we would not suggest 10 psi in the rear.

btw, Paul, are you riding an MX track out near you? or just local 'secret spot'?

[SSearchVT]

The riding style, confidence level, and tire itself makes a bigger difference then the pressure. 14-16R/20F was what worked for me when I played in the sand. I was also on a 125 and weighed less than 130 lbs with my gear on.

Play around in the sand, adjust the pressures both ways (on good sand tires) and see what works for you.

[Paul_E_D]

+1... some notes i had bookmarked
btw, Paul, are you riding an MX track out near you? or just local 'secret spot'?

If I told you, I'd have to kill you...

[a13x]

Keep it fucking pinned, try a gear higher, and stay weight back.


I love(d) powering thru the sand straights at Crow Hill just tapped out bike swapping all around. I hated that section first few times I rode it, but figured it out and braaapt.

I normally run 12/12 as a baseline.