Took my V-strom 800DE in the Sahara dunes, I came away impressed.
One of my goals on a recent Morocco trip was to see how far I could push my V-Strom 800DE in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. L
Not for the bike it self alone, but because it was a dream I had since I was a kid and the Dakar was what it was in the 80's and 90's.
I wasn't carrying my travel luggage that day, but the bike was otherwise in its normal setup, running Mitas Enduro Trail+ tyres. I had the suspension on almost all hard position, and the rear pre-charge setup for 20 kgs luggage, didn't change it thinking I had to put more ground pressure on the rear.
Before entering the dunes, I dropped the tyre pressures by roughly 20%, which made a noticeable difference, it's what I usually do for off road riding.
The experience taught me something important: riding sand on a 230 kg adventure bike isn't really about horsepower, it's almost entirely about technique.
Momentum, body position, looking far ahead, trusting the front wheel and committing to the throttle all matter much more than I expected.
Every time I hesitated or looked down, the bike immediately reminded me who was in charge.
Eventually, I buried the bike in a soft dune. Check picture. That wasn't the bike's limitation, it was mine.
What impressed me most was how predictable the 800DE remained. Even in deep sand, it never felt nervous or uncontrollable. It simply demanded the right inputs from the rider.
The biggest lesson, however, was psychological. On another section (Trans Morocco Section L start) I dropped it.
After watching a couple of riders (less experienced off road) in my group drop their bikes in deep sand, my confidence disappeared.
Instead of approaching the next section thinking "I've got this" and send it, I was already thinking about crashing. That hesitation changed everything.
A few minutes later, I lost momentum, tipped the bike over and ended up with my foot trapped underneath it.
Fortunately, nothing serious happened, but it was a clear reminder that in sand, confidence and commitment are just as important as throttle control.
Also, so glad I had soft luggage! For a moment I twisted my foot but keep cool and came front that with soft pain only, not hurt.
The rest of the day was equally memorable:
Riding to Gara Medouar ("Portuguese Prison
Attempting Section L of the Trans Morocco Trai
Turning back after losing confidence in a particularly sandy section (and later losing navigation when my phone overheated!)
Riding through the spectacular Todra Gorge and Dadès Gorge
Climbing the Atlas and finishing the day in Agoudal after around nine hours riding.
I came away convinced that the V-Strom 800DE is considerably more capable than many people give it credit for.
The limiting factor, at least in my case, wasn't the motorcycle, it was my sand riding skills and mindset.
I'll probably consider some training on this kind of terrain.
Has anyone else here taken a V-Strom 800DE into proper dunes? Or any other 200 kgs +.
I'd be interested to hear what tyre pressures and tyres you were running, and any sand-riding tips you've learned.
I filmed the whole day if anyone is interested in seeing how the bike performed, including the mistakes:
https://youtu.be/xxKVPdBwhmY?is=J5g\_eLr2vExW5c6N
Hope you like it!