Learning to ride a big adventure bike in the dirt and sand. Honda Africa Twin 1100.

This was a free rider training clinic put on by a member of Utah Adventure Riders Facebook Group. The clinic was put on by Shane to help new and beginner riders have an opportunity to explore in the dirt and sand with a safety net of other riders and someone to guide and coach. It was very fun and helpfull.

[@lieutenantcolonelnicholson9228]

Looks like a lot of fun Brother! @7:43 right after the Whoo Hoo my advice would be, when you start to loose control in the really soft stuff rather than cutting the throttle, stay steady on the throttle and try to fish tail on through, IF you have the maneuvering space to let it get squirly. If you cut the power you go from fish tailing around without precise line control but zipping right on through, to stopped, wrestling with the bike even more and trying not to tip over. Your instructors advice at the beginning was spot on! In the loose stuff scoot back on the seat and try and use your knees and weight more and just try and hold the handle bars straight even if the bike is not going exactly where you want it to go, don't try and muscle the handle bars around, try and suggest to the bike where you want it to go by leaning and let the bike wander around as you slip and slide on through, again IF you have the space. I know, I know, my bike weighs less than half of what yours does, but the principles are the same. Looks like you will be fire roading past me in no time!

[@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387]

Thanks. I need a lot more practice but it’s coming.

[@aacc2622]

Great video thanx for sharing 👍🏼

[@TheYankeeh8r]

That was me all day last weekend. Constantly down because it was my first time in sand. I was making the same mistakes; too slow, letting off the throttle, not sitting back. I was also sitting too much. Learning experience, for sure.

[@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387]

It is tricky stuff but lots of fun! Thanks for watching.

[@Skiamakhos]

I've booked myself onto the Dave Thorpe off road riding adventure course in Taunton, Somerset. I'm still having problems with my Africa Twin - it's almost entirely mental though. I'm in a narrow "close" - a dead end residential street - off another close, which tends to be lined both sides with parked cars & has things like a blind T-junction where you can't see what's coming as you emerge onto the other close, and then an adverse camber bend around which you can guarantee there's some fool coming the other way, way too fast. So I reckon 2 days in the mud & gravel with the off road centre's DCT Africa Twin & I'll be ready to handle anything.

[@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387]

That sounds good man! Good luck. They are so much fun.

[@hunczar]

Good for you! I two week ago finished an off-road class on my ATAS DCT ‘22. Stock handlebar guards are of course basically crap. Broke the front brake handle, suggest you get Barkbusters:-) Good stuff to take the class and figure out riding these things better. Great bikes and good to follow your journey!

[@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387]

Thanks. I love it! I have some bark busters I just need to get them on. Now that it is getting cold here in Utah, I will take the time to get them on.

[@hunczar]

@@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387 I use Hippo Hands to keep warm; they're great. on the cheap so are good to use snow machine handlebar covers. Will keep you warm!

[@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387]

@@hunczar My Bike has great hand warmers that come stock. They work great.

[@jesseonamotorcycle]

Looks like fun. Would love to ride my Tiger 1200 there.

[@hardworkingamerican8847]

New sub here , thanks for the video .

[@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387]

Thanks for watching! 😁

[@jetsen0]

Did you disable or reduce the the Africa Twin's traction control settings while in that sand? Wondering what it does in sandy conditions. Having the HSTC cut power to the back wheel while climbing a rocky slope was very disconcerting for me. Wondered if it helps in sand. Based on your comment, I think I got my AT shortly after you did. I have a 2020 AT AS. I recently took mine on some rocky roads (above Stockton, UT) and it took me a minute to recognize what the HSTC was doing, and then disable it. I'm a relatively new rider and even newer to big bikes with things like traction and wheelie control.

[@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387]

Hey Randy, Good question. I set the ride mode to "Off Road" So it is reduced in that mode. I did not turn it off. I also lowered the tire pressure to 17 LBS in front and rear. I think that made a big difference. I am still running the original stock tires at this point. Thanks for watching! Did you notice much difference in turning off the traction control?

[@jetsen0]

@@sharplearningcurveontheblu6387 I was climbing a rocky slope and wanted a bit of spin, which the HSTC didn't allow. The way it would cut power made me wonder if I was going to have enough juice to get up the hill (I'm sure it was fine, but those were my thoughts at the time. haha). Other than that fairly specific instance, I appreciate the traction control. Haven't tried it in sand yet. I've never run the OEM tires. My bike came with nearly new Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires on it, so I don't have that baseline to judge by. Mine have been more than adequate for the dirt roads around the Wasatch Front and seem good on highways too. I'm told they're crap in mud... but I avoid that stuff anyway. Too hard to clean up. :-)