Sand is F'ing scary

[maxtog]

Today was just a beautiful day.  I decided to take a trip to Sandbridge.  On the way home, I took the road closest to the ocean.  There were patches of sand here and there, which I avoided.  Then I saw it coming- sand all the way across the road,  extending 15-20 feet, perhaps 1 to 2 inches deep.  I figured- no problem, I have driven over sand before.  I will just follow the common sense stuff- reduce speed, go as straight as possible, maintain constant speed, no sudden movements.

I had the crap scared out of me.  The bike was almost uncontrollable and dancing around.  I was all ready to go down, but, amazingly, didn't.  I have driven over sand before, but never that far, never that deep, never that DRY, and never on the Concours.

I think I will avoid all similar occurrences at all costs next time.     Is there something I should have done differently?

[Kazairl]

Duck walk it next time? Sand or mud it really doesn't matter a bike is pretty difficult to control over. I live down a dirt road and this time of year I get lots of practice mud bogging on the C14. It's always a challenge. But on the plus side, I'm getting damn good at it.

[maxtog]

Duck walk it next time?

Hmm, I suppose that could be an option for some people, but with short legs, I don't think I could-  I can't really put down both feet at the same time, despite lowering the seat, the suspension, and wearing height-modified boots.  And even with a light touch on both, I assume my angle is so shallow that I would have essentially zero ability to "help" the bike become stable.  Might actually make things worse.

I was truly shocked at how bad the experience was.  I guess a heavy street bike and deep, dry, fine sand is just a disaster combination.

[VirginiaJim]

Today was just a beautiful day.  I decided to take a trip to Sandbridge.  On the way home, I took the road closest to the ocean.  There were patches of sand here and there, which I avoided.  Then I saw it coming- sand all the way across the road,  extending 15-20 feet, perhaps 1 to 2 inches deep.  I figured- no problem, I have driven over sand before.  I will just follow the common sense stuff- reduce speed, go as straight as possible, maintain constant speed, no sudden movements.

I had the crap scared out of me.  The bike was almost uncontrollable and dancing around.  I was all ready to go down, but, amazingly, didn't.  I have driven over sand before, but never that far, never that deep, never that DRY, and never on the Concours.

I think I will avoid all similar occurrences at all costs next time.     Is there something I should have done differently?

Trip to Sandbridge, ran into sand.....never saw that one coming did you?     I've got a bridge for sale in Brooklyn you might like.   

Maybe a 10+ bike with traction control....or stay away from Sandbridge?  Glad you made it back in one piece.

[maxtog]

Trip to Sandbridge, ran into sand.....never saw that one coming did you? 

Well, it is just the name of the beach.  Although, the irony of the name did not escape me.  Have ridden there many times without encountering sand all the way across the roads!

Maybe a 10+ bike with traction control....or stay away from Sandbridge?

It is a 2011, of course.  But the traction control did nada... or at least I think it did nada.  Traction control only really helps with power delivery issues (too much power, not enough power), not stability issues caused by non-power issues.  I am curious to hear from anyone else with similar experiences on the Concours.

I will visit Sandbridge again on the Concours, but not on the road closest to the ocean side!

Glad you made it back in one piece.

Me too.  At least if I did, it would have been nice, soft sand    Was also thinking of how unfair it would be to have to go down right on the verge of the new front bars being available.

[Jay]

For your next ride in the sand (just add C14 motor).

[ZG]

For your next ride in the sand (just add C14 motor).

 
 
 
 

[Jeremy Mitchell]

How fast were you going when you went across the sand? 

[Son of Pappy]

My only advice is relax and let the bike move, tension will make it much worse.  A good example would be grated bridges, a tense person will be all over the place, ride relax and all you get is small wigles.

[gPink]

Standing on the pegs helps.

[maxtog]

How fast were you going when you went across the sand?

I think I entered at 20MPH

[maxtog]

My only advice is relax and let the bike move, tension will make it much worse.  A good example would be grated bridges, a tense person will be all over the place, ride relax and all you get is small wigles.

I know what you mean on grating.  We have lots of draw bridges, and it is true that there is no need to "fight it".  But in this sand, it felt very different.  On the grating, there is always traction in all directions.  In the sand, it felt like none in any direction.

[basmntdweller]

+1 on standing up on the pegs. I have ridden in sand a little on my dirt bike and it sucks! I think one or two inches deep on a hard surface may be even worse than deep sand.

As long as you made it home okay is all that matters!

Matt

[Curt]

sounds to me like you did everything right, you made it through. Perhaps you could have reduced speed a bit more, but you made it. The C-14 is actually pretty good for a big bike. It is well balanced and not nearly as top heavy as the C-10. Rather than avoiding that road I would return and spend some time going back and forth through the sandy parts until I felt comfortable. Go slow, stand up with knees bent, knees gripping the tank, light touch on the grips with elbows bent, head up, and just let the girl dance beneath you. Keep your hips loose and let her lead. Oh, and second gear. First gear transition from closed throttle to a little bit of throttle can be snatchy. I rode my '08 over 12 miles of muddy logging road this way and it did fine.

[maxtog]

sounds to me like you did everything right, you made it through. Perhaps you could have reduced speed a bit more, but you made it. The C-14 is actually pretty good for a big bike. It is well balanced and not nearly as top heavy as the C-10. Rather than avoiding that road I would return and spend some time going back and forth through the sandy parts until I felt comfortable.

OMG.  Let's just pretend that is what I will do and move on    Really, though, I would love to practice that, but only with someone else's Concours and a little more body armor!

[stlheadake]

I disagree with standing on the pegs.  The bike's center of gravity is all ready high.  Standing only gets it higher.  You need to keep your weight down low to shift around to counter the movement of the bike.  The best approach is to shift your weight as far back on the rear wheel as you can and RELAX!  Let the bike move, it's going to.  Just try to keep a steady speed not too fast, not too slow.  Too fast and the front wheel will carve in the sand.  Too slow and the back wheel will run out from under you. 

I've ridden my connie in mud, sand, rocks, and grass.  All of them are ugly.  I like to ride the river levies here in Missouri and southern Illinois, and you NEVER know what you are going to run into. 

[basmntdweller]

I disagree with standing on the pegs.  The bike's center of gravity is all ready high.  Standing only gets it higher.  You need to keep your weight down low to shift around to counter the movement of the bike.  The best approach is to shift your weight as far back on the rear wheel as you can and RELAX!  Let the bike move, it's going to.  Just try to keep a steady speed not too fast, not too slow.  Too fast and the front wheel will carve in the sand.  Too slow and the back wheel will run out from under you. 

I've ridden my connie in mud, sand, rocks, and grass.  All of them are ugly.  I like to ride the river levies here in Missouri and southern Illinois, and you NEVER know what you are going to run into.

Actually,  standing on the pegs and letting the bike move under you effectively lowers the CG. Spend a little time on a dirt bike in the really loose stuff and you will get a much better feel for it. I do admit standing on my Connie is a rather awkward feeling compared to a dirt bike but all the same principles apply.

Matt

[Tarheelbob]

Max,

Another Virginia Beach native here. I've seen the ocean road at Sandbridge like this many times. Navigating across those drifts on the C-14 would be no fun. Don't stop going west, one street over, keep on going and get to Smithfield, Suffolk area for much better riding than the congested oceanfront.

Now, if we're not riding and want scenery, drink, and great food, the Beach is the place to be!

[maxtog]

Another Virginia Beach native here. I've seen the ocean road at Sandbridge like this many times. Navigating across those drifts on the C-14 would be no fun. Don't stop going west, one street over, keep on going and get to Smithfield, Suffolk area for much better riding than the congested oceanfront.

Now, if we're not riding and want scenery, drink, and great food, the Beach is the place to be!

Trust me, any other time of the year and I won't go anywhere near the beaches, they are freaking traffic and people nightmare!  Where do they all come from???

[ZG]

Soft sand is bad for 2 things IMO... a big heavy street bike and sex... Ouch!