Riding in sand—love it or hate it, it’s a skill every ADV rider needs to tackle. If you’re a seasoned off-road adventurer or just starting out, sand can be one of the trickiest terrains to master.
It’s unpredictable, wobbly, and unforgiving if your technique isn’t on point. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.
We teamed up with Andrew Murray, Lead Instructor of the RIDE Training Program, to bring you this comprehensive guide. It breaks down the most common mistakes riders make in the sand—and, more importantly, how to fix them.
With a few adjustments and a little practice, you’ll go from fearing the sandpit to charging through it with confidence (and maybe even some fun). Let’s dig in!
1. Target Acquisition vs Target Fixation
❌ The Mistake: Sand riding can feel intimidating, and it’s easy to fixate on the pushing and pulling of the front tire or irregularities in the sand.
When you focus too much on what’s immediately in front of you—or where you don’t want to go—you’re more likely to veer off course or lose control.
✅ How to Fix It: Look up and focus on where you want to go, not where you don't. Your bike will follow your eyes. Think of it as target acquisition vs target fixation.
A great drill is to pick a clear target far, far away in the land of sand, and lock your focus on it. Then build momentum, steady the throttle and you will fine that your in much more control.
Bikes want to go straight. Trust that the bike can handle the small wobbles in the sand, and focus on keeping your head up and intent on the horizon.
2. Waiting Too Long to Stand
❌ The Mistake: Sand riding is all about staying dynamic, and waiting too long to stand leaves you less prepared to handle the constant shifts in terrain.
✅ How to Fix It: Stand up early and with confidence. One of the drills we teach our students focuses on transitioning smoothly from a stopped position to standing on the pegs.
Standing in this position provides better control by allowing your legs to function as shock absorbers and your feet to assist with steering.
Remember to keep your body relaxed, knees slightly bent, weight centered, elbows soft, and hands lightly gripping the handlebars."
3. Not Taking the Time to Sit and Go Slow
❌ The Mistake: Riders often believe that standing and charging through sand is the only way to succeed.
While that’s a solid approach for those small patches, it’s not always the best choice for long enduring sand riding —especially when you’re tired, riding solo, or on a fully loaded bike.
✅ How to Fix It: Sometimes, the safest approach is to slow down and sit. Shift into first gear, plant your feet lightly for balance, and “waddle” through tough stretches.
Be mindful of keeping your feet forward—this prevents them from snagging on luggage or the ground.
This isn’t about winning style points—it’s about making it through safely when conditions demand extra caution.
4. Too Much Upper Body Tension and Freezing Up
❌ The Mistake: Sand riding feels unpredictable, and many riders panic, gripping the handlebars tightly in an attempt to control every movement.
This rigidity works against you, as it stops the bike from naturally self-correcting. Fighting the bike’s natural tendencies often leads to fatigue or going down.
✅ How to Fix It: Relax your grip and trust the bike. Modern ADV bikes are designed to self-stabilize when the front wheel sways.
Keep your hands loose and let the bike’s geometry work its magic. Think of your body as a flexible hinge—allow the bike to move beneath you while you stay balanced on top.
5. Micromanaging the Bike
❌ The Mistake: Overcorrecting every little movement of the bike in the sand is exhausting and unnecessary.
It’s tempting to want to control everything, but in sand, the more you fight it, the more it will work against you.
✅ How to Fix It: Keep responses light! Instead of trying to micromanage every twitch of the handlebars, keep your focus on the bigger picture—your destination.
A steady throttle and relaxed posture will let the bike correct itself as needed. By trying to “fix” every movement, you’ll wear yourself out and likely make things worse.
Trust your bike, trust the throttle, and let the sand do its thing.
6. Incorrect Bike Setup
❌ The Mistake: Poor ergonomics make sand riding harder than it needs to be. Too-high bar risers, improperly angled levers, or foot pegs that don’t suit your size can throw you off balance.
These small adjustments can have a big impact on how you control the bike.
✅ How to Fix It: Set up your bike to match your body and riding style. If you’re tall, consider lowered foot pegs to create a more comfortable standing position.
Avoid overly high bar risers that pull you too upright. Rotate your handlebars and levers to align with your natural stance, and tip the levers slightly downward for easier access.
A well setup bike tailored to you will make sand riding much more comfortable.
7. Using the Brakes Too Much
❌ The Mistake: In sand, grabbing the brakes—especially the front brake—is a recipe for disaster.
Sand already provides natural rolling resistance, so braking hard often causes the front tire to dig in and lose traction, leading to a fall.
✅ How to Fix It: Minimize brake use in sand, especially the front brake. Instead, rely on throttle control to maintain stability.
If you need to slow down, gently use the rear brake or ease off the throttle. A great alternative is using the clutch to "buffer" power when things get shaky.
Practice steady, consistent throttle management to avoid panic braking altogether. Remember: smooth inputs equal a smoother ride.
8. Not Buffering the Power With the Clutch to Stabilize the Bike
❌ The Mistake: Ignoring the clutch when riding in sand makes it harder to control speed and balance.
When things go sideways, riders often instinctively grab the brakes. However, using the clutch to adjust power more smoothly is a more effective practice.
✅ How to Fix It: Use your clutch as a tool to stabilize the bike. If your momentum starts to falter or the bike feels unstable, feather the clutch to spill off power without disrupting balance.
This technique prevents stalling while allowing the bike to recover from wobbles. Avoid overdoing it, though—riding with a constantly slipping clutch can burn it out quickly.
Practice using the clutch lightly during sand drills to build muscle memory.
9. Shifting Your Weight Too Far Back
❌ The Mistake: While it's important to shift some weight toward the rear to lighten the front end, going too far back creates a new set of problems.
Overextending can make it difficult to steer, as your arms are stretched and lose flexibility to absorb movement.
✅ How to Fix It: Find the sweet spot for your weight distribution. Stand with your weight slightly biased toward the rear, but keep your arms bent and elbows up for control.
This technique allows the front wheel to move freely without throwing you off balance. Avoid mimicking the Dakar racing postures you see on TV, where riders lean far back.
Those riders are operating under entirely different conditions, bike set up, and skill level, which don’t fully apply to the average adventure rider and the scenarios we get into.
Focus on balance and control, not exaggerated extremes."
10. Accelerating Instead of Maintaining Momentum
❌ The Mistake: Many riders think the solution to instability is to keep on the throttle.
While short bursts of acceleration can be helpful, constantly relying on it can push the rider into speeds that feel uncomfortable or increase the risk of severe injury if an error does occur.
✅ How to Fix It: Maintain steady momentum instead of just gunning it. A consistent throttle keeps the bike balanced and prevents the front tire from digging in.
If you feel the bike start to wobble, a small, controlled increase in throttle can help stabilize it. Think of it as riding smoothly, not fast—focus on control over speed.
11. Chopping the Throttle
❌ The Mistake: Cutting off the throttle suddenly when things get wobbly is a common panic response.
Unfortunately, this shifts weight forward, causing the front wheel to dig into the sand and hinder your control over the bike.
✅ How to Fix It: Stay smooth and avoid abrupt movements. If the bike starts to feel unstable, keep the throttle steady and trust the bike to regain balance.
Instead of chopping the throttle, think of rolling off gradually to maintain momentum. Practice riding with even RPMs to build confidence in sand.
12. Not Dabbing to Fix Body Position
❌ The Mistake: When your body position gets off-center in sand, many riders freeze up or let the bike go down instead of making a quick correction.
✅ How to Fix It: Use a quick "dab" to save yourself. A dab is when you momentarily put a foot down to stabilize and reposition your body, then immediately return to the pegs.
This technique helps you recover from imbalance without losing momentum or getting stuck. Practice dabbing in controlled environments to build reflexes and confidence.
13. Blaming the Bike or Tires
❌ The Mistake: It’s tempting to blame your gear for struggles in sand, especially if your bike or tires don’t seem optimized for the terrain.
However, poor technique is often the real culprit.
✅ How to Fix It: Focus on improving your skills instead of relying on equipment to compensate. Most bikes and tires are capable of handling sand with the right rider inputs.
If you’re struggling, analyze your technique first. Look at your tracks in the sand to identify what went wrong—did you brake too hard, chop the throttle, or lose balance?
Practice and refine your skills, and only make adjustments to your setup if absolutely necessary. We just saved you $400 bucks. You're welcome ;)
14. Not Practicing Until You Enjoy It
❌ The Mistake: Many riders stop practicing sand riding once they feel “okay” or comfortable enough to get through it.
This mindset can leave you stuck at an intermediate skill level and still dreading sand every time it appears.
✅ How to Fix It: Practice until sand riding becomes fun. The more confident you are, the more you’ll start to enjoy the challenge instead of fearing it.
Spend time drilling key techniques, like standing early, maintaining steady throttle, and steering with your feet. As you build skill and confidence, you’ll start to see sand as an opportunity to play and test your limits.
When you hit this point, you’ve truly mastered it.
Final Thoughts:
Riding in sand is a skill that takes practice, patience, and the right mindset. If you’re struggling, focus on correcting these common mistakes and keep practicing until the techniques feel second nature.
Want hands-on help? Our training programs are designed to get you confident and ready for any terrain. RIDE on!
→ Read More:
How to Get Into Big Bike Adventure Riding If Your New To Dirt
6 ADV Riding Techniques for Offroad Adventures
