How do you manage sand with the EG?
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
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From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
How do you manage sand with the EG?
Hi all,
I work on a private campus where road construction signs are not 'perfect'.
At 15 mph I suddently discovered the 20 foot long excavation I had to pass was filled with sand instead of earth. The bike immediately lost speed, skewed by about 30 degrees and I think I went to the maximum resistance of the handlebars to keep her upright. I didn't have time to downshift, I only used torque and remained concentrated on my point of exit.
Knowing that we can't relax the front wheel like on a dirt-bike, do you have a trick or do you rely on muscle and adrenalyn to get your Harley out of a sudden deep sand situation?
I work on a private campus where road construction signs are not 'perfect'.
At 15 mph I suddently discovered the 20 foot long excavation I had to pass was filled with sand instead of earth. The bike immediately lost speed, skewed by about 30 degrees and I think I went to the maximum resistance of the handlebars to keep her upright. I didn't have time to downshift, I only used torque and remained concentrated on my point of exit.
Knowing that we can't relax the front wheel like on a dirt-bike, do you have a trick or do you rely on muscle and adrenalyn to get your Harley out of a sudden deep sand situation?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,727
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No trick to it, just get through it without doing anything stupid. I don't know that I would have used anything to slow me down, the sand will do that, you don't want to add anything to help you lose control. I've found it best after you plow into something like that to just pull the clutch in, you don't want the bike to stall on you or lock up, maintain control until the bike slows down and you have full control, put the bike in the proper gear and ride out.
Last edited by jjnoble; Jun 1, 2012 at 06:04 AM.
Sounds like you may have not been paying attention to the task at hand, road conditions. Now that you know the hazard is there, avoid it. It also sounds like you handled it well. I live on dirt roads in east Texas. The conditions change daily on them. Yesterday it rained. Before that the dirt was powder. That's for about a mile before I get to hardtop.
Just watch what you are doing.
BTW, have you ever been on a bike during a earthquake?
Just watch what you are doing.
BTW, have you ever been on a bike during a earthquake?
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 472
Likes: 2
From: Hutchinson, Ks.
I ride fairly often on sand roads to get out to my grandparents house. If theres tracks, either stay in one or out of it, not inbetween. Other than that its kinda like ridin on ice (not a good idea either by the way), stay on the throttle, but dont goose it, and dont hit the brakes. I keep a steady 25 or 30 mph pace and just plow through it the best I can. Dont stop, cause youll be stuck. Im assuming of course youre talking about deep sandhill sand. Its areal bitch without knobbies but its doable.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 762
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From: Bellevue, NE
I used to live in California, and have experienced several earthquakes, from mild to wild, but never on a bike..that has to be a 'ride to remember'... 
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
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From: Central Illinois
Sometimes its more throttle. When the bike slows suddenly like that the weight shifts forward to the front wheel making it hell to handle. A bit of throttle helps shift it back to the rear wheel. Of course that can be rather disconcerting when you think you are losing control.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
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That's an interesting question AlCherry. Once I was on my bike when the ground rumbled and it felt like riding into gravel, lasted maybe 25 seconds or so. Twice in my car, once it was like gravel and the other was one big roll, I could see the ground rolling in front of me and hear it coming, it felt like hitting a curb with a loud bang and it was past me.
I wonder how many people have ridden in an earthquake, (not meaning to highjack this thread or anything).
I wonder how many people have ridden in an earthquake, (not meaning to highjack this thread or anything).
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Highlands, NJ
Over years of riding, I found that the most important thing about handling sudden obstacles is to not panic. Sudden movements usually spell disaster. Go slow and try to keep the front wheel straight as possible. Like Guntoter said, try to keep most of the weight to the rear.
Last edited by FDHOG; Jun 1, 2012 at 06:36 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
Sounds like you may have not been paying attention to the task at hand, road conditions. Now that you know the hazard is there, avoid it. It also sounds like you handled it well. I live on dirt roads in east Texas. The conditions change daily on them. Yesterday it rained. Before that the dirt was powder. That's for about a mile before I get to hardtop.
Just watch what you are doing.
BTW, have you ever been on a bike during a earthquake?
Just watch what you are doing.
BTW, have you ever been on a bike during a earthquake?
