| Author | Message | ||
     Andrejs2112 |
Does anyone NOT have a problem in deeper sand with their Uly? I have been practicing riding on sandy trails and usually dump it a few times. It really is a work out. I know that it's not a dirt bike, but a lot of the trails I like to ride have sections of sand. I am new to riding adventure bikes, so I have a lot to learn. I try to stand while maneuvering through the tough stuff, but it is a bitch a lot of the time. Is it mostly me, or the bike type. | ||
| Growl |
I tried lowering the tire pressure (by about 6 lbs front and rear - might try more sometime) that helps. I don't stand much on the Uly because the suspension is good and sitting gives me more control. I don't go fast in sand but it's important to keep moving! | ||
| Jim_sb |
IMHO you are better off sitting on the Uly in the sand, standing results in a CG too far forward. I do not think the Uly is good in sand. Regards, Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Danger_dave |
Riding any big bike in soft sand is not something I do for enjoyment. | ||
| New12r |
The Uly and Sand are really not a good combo, best advice, stay sitting as FAR BACK on the seat as you can, the less weight on the front wheel the better. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
So I'm not just being a sissy? | ||
| New12r |
I dont think so, my first encounter with sand on the Uly I just about dumped it. My years of dirtbikes are the ONLY reason I did not. | ||
| Kvdog |
Keep the weight back, stay off the front brake as much a possible. I've found the D616 still works best on the front in sand and loose gravel. | ||
| Crashing |
two key things that have been mentioned: low tire pressure if you have a long way to go in the sand--25psi or so--and STAY BACK. I learned this in an enduro I raced in Nevada. Guys were flying by me on this 300yard sand downhill. I was gripped just trying to keep from crashing. I said @#$%-it and gassed it and it was night and day since it weighted my back tire and I kind of steered with the throttle and my legs. Went from 5mph to 50mph and it felt better! | ||
| Hughlysses |
I did a ~30 mile ride on area dirt roads back in February and found myself going through deep river sand in the last mile before I got back to pavement. That's the longest I've ever ridden on the edge of busting my a** at any instant. I had to stop for a few minutes about halfway through just to give my butt a chance to un-clinch.  I definitely agree faster was better; I'll have to try dropping the tire pressure if I'm ever in that situation again. | ||
| Al_lighton |
Sand is the Uly's nemesis. The first time I rode one on sand I understood this (and almost dropped it). And it really is no surprise. As any dirtbiker knows, the way you do sand is to slide back, go relatively fast, let the front end do what it wants up until a point and any time that point is exceeded, crack the throttle to lighten the front end and unbind it from whatever is grabbing it. This doesn't work so well with the Uly. It sinks in too far to begin with due to it's weight, the relatively steep steering angle makes the front move to those limits too easily, and cracking the throttle doesn't lighten the front end enough to unstick it because the rear tire too slick to get enough purchase and the bike is too heavy to lift the front. Of course, I haven't put a sand paddle on my Uly to see if that fixes it.  It's a fire road bike at best. If you want to do true offroad stuff, there are far better choices. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Al, I totally agree with your assessment of the proper use of a Uly. The trouble is (at least here in coastal South Carolina) that sometimes public, well-graded, otherwise fine dirt roads have long sandy sections. I don't think I'll go looking for sand to practice in, but at least I'll have a better idea of what to do if I find myself in that situation again. | ||
| Buellerandy |
I'm 5'9, and to me, the Uly handles sand just fine for the size of bike it is. In the deep stuff I just plant my butt on the passenger seat and keep the throttle open. The problem that stood out most for me is that when I was riding with enduros and the like, those tires on the Uly are too wide to hit the rutts. So the front tire tends to bounce between them. As stated before, you can pretty much let the front forks do as they please, just keep the throttle going. Also understand the concept of counter balancing. That can sometimes take away from having to "battle" as hard. But as Al hinted at, it's no enduro lol. | ||
| Rubberdown |
When in sand, stand. If you're going straight, shift weight back and stay on the throttle, use rear brake and clutch to modulate speed, stay on the gas. When turning, stand and throw your weight to the outside of the bike, weight the outside peg to keep the weight right over the contact patch, rotate your hips and shoulders agressively in the direction you're turning while hanging off to the outside, standing. Keep looking up and where you want to go, not down. Works for me on a big bike in the sand, most of the time .  | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Just like Rubberdown said and I live in the crap. Only difference for me comes with how deep it is. Sand Dune type soft beach sand for any great distance requires me to sit and swing the legs around because the tires just aren't aggresssive enough to get the traction required for sand. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Thanks for the replies. I did some more sand today after work. It gets better the more you do it. It's the going down hill in it that is really tough. You hit it to make it through, but then you are going too fast and have to hit the brake. Kind of a conundrum. I guess I'll have to start hinting about an enduro to the Minister of Finance. It took me 5 years to get the Uly. I guess it helped that I sold the Honda Shadow to buy a diamond. I guess things work out in the end because I wouldn't give you a nickel for a cruiser now since I discovered what riding is all about. Edit: I would give a nickel for a cruiser. Maybe a '69 Panhead or something like that. (Message edited by andrejs2112 on October 04, 2007) | ||
| Bertotti |
I traded my Shadow for the Uly also. I won't ever go back the only thing I miss is the very nice and strong rear brake the Shadow had. The Uly rear brake sucks and a better one would be a blessing for those of us going more off road. Just my .02, I like good rear brake. (Message edited by Bertotti on October 05, 2007) | ||
| Technomad |
How would you like to see the Uly's rear brake improved? | ||
| Jmhinkle |
The Lyndalls on the rear make the brake extremely good. It gains feel and progessive response that didn't exist on the stock pads. They work really well in the sand and gravel on my road. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
I used to use my back brakes. My last two bikes had back brakes that were what I thought weak. I think they are designed that way. I'd rather not have the rear lock and skid when I need to stop in a hurry. I only hit the rears when at a stop to keep from moving. | ||
| Rubberdown |
In the dirt/sand, you need the ability to lock the rear. | ||
| Michael1 |
Sand + Uly = This  yeah, I played in the sand for awhile with the Uly. It's not the easiest cat to toss around. The pic is my first attemp up the sand pit. The result is not enough speed and long highway miles tire pressures (40F/42R). But it's not a bad bike and pretty capable off the beaten path. | ||
| Andrejs2112 |
Michael, How did that seat treat you? I sold you an 07 I think. That sand in your photo is a joyride compared to the crap I have to deal with. Is that in Canada? | ||
| Michael1 |
The 07 seat is very good for me. I like it all around (much better with my homemade beaded seat thingie) but it puts me just a tad lower for the Zero Gravity and I get some buffeting. But it's doable. Yes, that's in Canada. Up by the Algonquin Park. It was on some ATV/Snowmobile trails that we found. | ||
| Bertotti |
Technomad, I like rear brakes that lock up as I apply full pressure. These stock brakes are ok but the back is way to weak. I can all but stand on it and it is pitiful. |
