PREPARE
If you’re going trail riding, heading out to the desert or just play riding always wear protective gear. Wear a helmet, goggles, boots, pants, long sleeved shirt, gloves and knee pads. Carry water in a camelback. Bring a few extras in a fanny pack, like a cell phone, nutrition bar, some tools, spark plug, fix a flat goop.
The night before your ride make sure everything is good to go. Pack your riding gear and go over your motorcycle. Make sure the bike starts, tires have air pressure, bring fuel, adjust chain, go over bolts and pack a cooler with food and drink.
Try to never ride alone. It’s safer and more fun riding with a friend. Before you leave for your fun and adventure let family and friends know where you’re going and when you expect to be back home.
Plan frequent breaks throughout your riding day. Research tells us that physical recovery from exertion happens much quicker if it isn’t carried to the point of exhaustion. Manage your energy. There are two positions to ride in; attack and energy conserving. We ride throughout the day going in and out of these positions.
KEEP IN MIND
While riding, you are always making quick line selection and path choices. Keep in mind the Motorcycle Safety Foundations acronym S.E.E. It stands for Search, Evaluate and Execute. Use S.E.E. to help make good riding decisions. Develop terrain reading skills. Look ahead to see if the ground has deep sand, is muddy or hard pack. Look ahead. You must see every rut and rock.
Also Tread Lightly. Try to minimize your impact on the environment when off-highway riding. Stay on designated routes and travel only in areas open to off-highway motorcycles (OHM).
RIDING FUNDAMEMTALS
There are three ways to turn a motorcycle; turning the handlebars, leaning the bike and power or brake sliding. The most common way to turn is leaning whether sitting or standing.
Think about how you can help the bike at all times. You as a rider can never move around too much on a dirt bike. While sitting on a dirt bike your performance capability is limited. That capability is greater as you stand and ride.
Slide forward (if sitting) around a corner or lean forward if standing to make the front tire stick. It’s okay if the rear end slides around, so keep a forward bias. Keep arms bent and lean forward with your torso. . Lean forward on up hills lean back on down hills.
Ultimately, work with your legs, they are the key to riding a dirt bike. The center of gravity lowers when you stand up. The contact point on the bike is at the feet. Steer the bike with your feet and legs. Use foot peg pressure (left or right) creating leans. Steer with foot peg pressure. Use your lower body and legs. Relax your upper and just work the controls. Use your legs and arms to spring and absorb.
Keep in mind, that the front brake is the best (70%). Respect it and don’t grab a handful. Use two fingers (peace sign) and develop a feel. Three fingers remain on throttle. You will fear no downhill with good front brake use. |
