If you’re a motorcyclist, you have the unique opportunity to ride your motorcycle on a range of diverse terrains. Riding on sand can allow you to experience beautiful California attractions up close. But you’ll need to take a few precautions to protect your bike from damage and prepare for your ride first. Here’s what you need to know to protect your motorcycle from sand in California.
Preparing for Sand
Before you set out on a sandy motorcycle trip, you must prepare your motorcycle accordingly. Even if you have an adventure motorcycle, you’ll still need to ensure that all its parts are in the best working order before riding on this uneven terrain.
First, check your tires. If they’re more than a few years old, they may look a little worn. You need tires with excellent traction to ride a motorcycle on sand, as even wet sand does not provide as much traction as traditional asphalt.
Next, clean your air filter. This filter protects small particles — like sand — from entering the engine. Cleaning the filter before your ride can ensure that it catches any sand that flies up near the engine, while cleaning it after can prepare your bike for future rides.
You may also want to flush your radiator coolant. California tends to be hot, and riding on warm ground can quickly overheat your bike. Your cooling system must be in its prime to keep your engine cool during your sandy ride.
Riding near Sand
Riding a motorcycle near the beach is much different from riding on a regular road. Even if you’re a seasoned motorcyclist, you’ll have a bit of a learning curve as you transition to this new terrain. You must take caution and learn the ropes before setting out on a sandy ride.
Here are our tips for riding near sand:
Maintain Your Balance
Balance is an important component of riding a motorcycle, no matter the terrain. However, it’s even more critical when riding when the road is rocky or sandy. One way to maintain your balance is to stand up while riding. You maintain your balance by weighting the footpegs, so you can give extra power to this technique by standing. You’ll also be able to react faster if your bike starts to tip in one direction.
As you practice maintaining your balance, be sure not to confuse inertia with balance. Riding faster doesn’t mean you’re better at balancing. You’ll need to feel comfortable riding at all speeds on the sand before you begin your adventure ride.
Learn to Avoid Getting Stuck
Getting your bike stuck isn’t an issue you frequently encounter on normal roads. However, you do risk getting stuck when riding off-road or on sandy terrain. One common mistake is accidentally digging a hole when your back wheel gets stuck.
If you find your rear wheel getting stuck, come to a complete stop as quickly as you can to avoid digging a deeper hole. Then, push your body toward the front wheel as you rev the engine again.
Start Small and Work Your Way Up
Reading these tips isn’t enough to prepare to ride your motorcycle in the sand. Instead, you also need to practice. Start on a small patch of sand to get comfortable with the feeling of this terrain beneath you. Then, move to a flat sandy area, such as a wide beach. Once you become familiar with riding at different speeds, stopping, and staying balanced, you can transition to hillier sand dunes. But be sure to take the process slowly and correct your actions along the way.
With these tips in mind, you can learn to confidently ride a motorcycle on sand. Most of the California beaches do not allow motorcycles on the beach with the exception of Pismo near San Luis Obispo. But you will encounter sandy roads near all the beaches up and down the coast.
Had a Bad Fall? At Law Tigers, We Have Your Back
Accidents happen, especially if you are an adventurous motorcyclist. If you ever find yourself in a motorcycle accident, call our team at +1 (888) 863-7216 right away for a free consultation. You may be eligible for compensation. Our team at Law Tigers, attorneys who ride motorcycles, will refer you to a vetted California motorcycle attorney near you.