Sand vs bike

Andy7
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Andy7
Hi guys, I have only ridden in dirt motocross tracks because there are no sand tracks around, however I would really like to ride in the sand. Althought I know I will have to re-learn the basics, I am more concerned about how agressive it is on the bike. How hard it is on the engine, suspension, etc? Would a 250 2 stroke have a big advantage (maintenance wise) over a 450? I go like 80 hours on a 450 piston, if I ride sand a couple times a year how long can I go without blowing it up? Thanks
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Naanak
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Naanak 1/18/2019 11:40am
1/18/2019 11:40am
I ride mostly sand along with most of my buddies. No it’s not lommel but it’s a mix (sandpits) of a lot of deep stuff. We just do normal maintenance as most people do who ride anything else and have no issues. This is skill levels from C to pro license holders. Also visually it definitely is harder on the bare aluminum parts and I check/grease bearings 4-5 times a year but they’re usually always fine.
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Mm471
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Mm471 1/18/2019 1:37pm
1/18/2019 1:37pm Edited Date/Time 1/18/2019 1:38pm
Sand gets in everything so all friction parts wear quicker(chain,sprockets,bearings) any parts hit by roost are blasted constantly and usually get a silver ring on your rims if they are black. High wide open load on engine wears quicker and must maintain air filter more
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fullysicmate 1/18/2019 1:49pm
1/18/2019 1:49pm
Andy7 wrote:
Hi guys, I have only ridden in dirt motocross tracks because there are no sand tracks around, however I would really like to ride in the...
Hi guys, I have only ridden in dirt motocross tracks because there are no sand tracks around, however I would really like to ride in the sand. Althought I know I will have to re-learn the basics, I am more concerned about how agressive it is on the bike. How hard it is on the engine, suspension, etc? Would a 250 2 stroke have a big advantage (maintenance wise) over a 450? I go like 80 hours on a 450 piston, if I ride sand a couple times a year how long can I go without blowing it up? Thanks
Keep your air filter and oil clean and as with any other type of terrain your 4 stroke will outlast any 2 stroke.
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rockyuno
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rockyuno 1/18/2019 1:56pm
1/18/2019 1:56pm
No creo que una 250 tenga mucha ventaja en mantenimiento respecto a una 450. La falta de potencia paga con mayor desgaste seguramente.
Filtro de aire limpio en cada salida
Aceite de motor bueno y fresco
Suspensión sufre menos que la tierra, revisa mas seguido los rodamientos nomas
y si no sos 100% arenero no tendrías que notar una menor vida útil en el motor
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aees
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aees 1/18/2019 2:21pm
1/18/2019 2:21pm
No big difference in maintenance between sand and hard packed. Make sure air filter is clean or ok to use between sessions and you are good to go.
Depends more on riding style than condition actually. A wet hard packed track wear 2x more on chain and sprockets then a dry sand track.
Tires last longer, much much longer.

Bearing lifetime is decided by water and moisture, not dirt. On sand you can run higher air pressure so actually less risk for wear on rims
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Andy7
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Andy7 1/18/2019 3:34pm
1/18/2019 3:34pm
rockyuno wrote:
No creo que una 250 tenga mucha ventaja en mantenimiento respecto a una 450. La falta de potencia paga con mayor desgaste seguramente. Filtro de aire...
No creo que una 250 tenga mucha ventaja en mantenimiento respecto a una 450. La falta de potencia paga con mayor desgaste seguramente.
Filtro de aire limpio en cada salida
Aceite de motor bueno y fresco
Suspensión sufre menos que la tierra, revisa mas seguido los rodamientos nomas
y si no sos 100% arenero no tendrías que notar una menor vida útil en el motor
Perfecto muchas gracias! A veces uno se preocupa más por lo que escucha que por lo que en realidad sucede. De todos modos cada 15 horas desarmo y engraso todo así que no tendría que preocuparme por la arena que se mete en los bolilleros y rulemanes
Mm471
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Mm471 1/18/2019 7:59pm
1/18/2019 7:59pm
I switched from hard pack only most my life to sand only and there was a significant change in part wear on most friction surfaces as it gets in everything and grinds in it, I’ve had chains lock up from sand in them. But a few times a year isn’t so bad and nothing really beats a 450 in reliability until it blows up then I’d rather rebuilt a 2 stroke
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Sir Roostsalot 1/18/2019 8:39pm
1/18/2019 8:39pm
Jetting and fuel quality is critical for a 2 stroke in deep sand conditions. Stay away from pump gas even with a stock engine. Going one heat range colder on the spark plug is not a bad idea for extreme conditions. If it's colder temperature, all of the above is even more critical. 4 stroke just ride it.
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Timo_2824
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Timo_2824 1/18/2019 10:05pm
1/18/2019 10:05pm
Sir Roostsalot wrote:
Jetting and fuel quality is critical for a 2 stroke in deep sand conditions. Stay away from pump gas even with a stock engine. Going one...
Jetting and fuel quality is critical for a 2 stroke in deep sand conditions. Stay away from pump gas even with a stock engine. Going one heat range colder on the spark plug is not a bad idea for extreme conditions. If it's colder temperature, all of the above is even more critical. 4 stroke just ride it.
I ran 91 octane pump gas in my YZ and KX for years without issue. That's riding dunes at Little Sahara and miles of sand whoops in the Arkansas River bottom. One step richer on the main and call it good. My 4-strokes I don't do anything different, just gas and go.

I run o-ring chains and stopped lubricating them years ago. I just spray WD-40 on it after washing to keep it from rusting.
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Andy7
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Andy7 1/19/2019 5:39am
1/19/2019 5:39am
Thanks for the replies guys, so riding a few times in sand doesn't seem to be as bad as I've heard.
barnett468
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barnett468 1/19/2019 7:59am
1/19/2019 7:59am
Andy7 wrote:
Thanks for the replies guys, so riding a few times in sand doesn't seem to be as bad as I've heard.
Plus it is much softer when you crash.

.

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