Life isn’t a beach when you’re riding on sand. So, when the time comes to take your Brixton off-road, there’s a whole host of things that you’re going to want to know
so that you and your motorcycle stand the best chance of tackling such a harsh and unforgiving type of terrain.

Though whilst sand can be a little tricky to get the hang of to begin with, once you’ve mastered this terrain, there’s no other quite like it.

Positioning

With the amount of immediate directional changes that you’re going to be making, the position that you take up on your Brixton is going to be key to hanging on. To keep your balance you’re going to want to adopt a neutral standing position. Gripping on with your legs, allowing you to shift your body weight towards the back of the motorcycle and
stopping your front wheel from sinking into the sand.

Thinking on your feet.

The unpredictability of sand means that you’re bound to stagger off of your line pretty often. Not only do you need to be thinking on your feet, but you need to be using them correctly.

With the reduced amount of traction that you get with sand, you’re going to need to do the majority of the steering with your feet, as turning the handle bars will more often than not cause your front wheel to sink into the sand. Instead try leaning left and right to direct your Brixton and keep on track.

Making contact with the ground is essential if you’re going to maintain your balance. So before hitting the sand, practice riding up to a raised object, placing your foot on it, and pushing off again in a continuous movement. And Remember that when you’re using your feet on the sand, you’ll need to use more rev than usual to move off.

Tyres

If you’re planning a long trip and your Brixton is going to be seeing a lot of action on sand, it’s a good idea to fit knobbly, open block tyres in preparation. The added grip that you’ll get from these is going to be essential to keep your Brixton moving in the right direction.

Speed

You’re going to need to pay close attention when gauging the speed to be riding at on sand. You really don’t want to be riding very fast on such unpredictable terrain. It’s less about using the throttle and more about using your brain to judge when to attack, and when to roll off – a skill that you’ll begin to master the more time you spend riding on the sand.

Keeping your speed under control ultimately allows you to dictate the line that you’re riding and judge the formation of the sand in front of you – giving you enough time to adjust your positioning.

Getting unstuck

If you’re riding on sand, you’re bound to end up getting your Brixton stuck somewhere along the line. When you see your tyres starting to dig down, STOP. Because the quicker you stop, the quicker you’ll be able to get out of the hole you’ve just dug yourself in. A good trick is to hop off the bike, lie it on its side, and let the hole you’ve just dug fill itself in. Now pick the bike up and jump back on. You’re going to summon a bit of strength here to pull away.

Get yourself into first or second and plant your feet firmly on the ground. When you’re ready to go, kick off and push hard on your handlebars. And move with the bike until you’ve climbed out of there.

The Clutch

On this terrain, the clutch shouldn’t be anything other than a means to switching on and off. Slipping the clutch will only lead to your back wheel spinning uncontrollably. Backing off of the throttle will lessen the spinning and allow you to gain traction instead.

Cleaning

Unfortunately sand gets everywhere, and so a thorough clean after riding it is a must. The abrasiveness of the sand can be tough on the exposed parts of your Brixton, especially your chain, sprockets and brake pads – We’d recommend using chain lube that’s dry when you’re riding sand, this will stop sand sticking to it and causing wear. Once you’ve finished riding, you should wash your bike straight away, you don’t want to be leaving it overnight for rust to begin setting in. Ideally you should get some WD40 applied to anything likely to rust after you’ve finished washing it.

Sand can be one of the trickiest terrains to master. Of Course it’s going to take some real practice and respect before you’ve truly got the hang of it. But don’t worry if you’re not getting it straight away, even the most competent of riders find sand a challenge. Because all of that practice is totally worth it for the experience that comes with riding on sand.

Tearing down a beach and over sand dunes with the sun sinking into the horizon, you’re presented with some of the most incredible scenery Mother Nature has to offer. And with this skill in your arsenal, you’re truly ready for any off-road adventure that there is out there.