Learning to ride dirt?

[humphrt]

hey all i recently bought a 1989 xr250r for my daily ride and for playing on the weekend. im an fairly experienced road biker, but when it comes to dirt im woefully inexperienced. im from chch and if theres anyone who can pass on any knowledge at all it would be awesome. have spent a few hours down by the waimak, binned it a few times and have learnt to avoid the front brake like the plague while on gravel. thanks in advance

[B0000M]

binned it a few times and have learnt to avoid the front brake like the plague while on gravel. thanks in advance

i cant be bothered right now making a huge reply, but dont be afraid of the front brake, in all the material ive read they reckon the front brake is 80% of your braking power off road, and id agree that that is about right!, the back brake is only any good for setting the bike up coming into turns and generally keeping the rear end in check.

the key factor for off road riding is moving your weight around. they didnt make the seat so long so you can fit passengers on, its there to move around on and move your weight to get grip, if you find there's not much grip on the front end, move foward.

another handy tip which probably goes against everything you know as a road rider is, when on a flat turn or on gravel roads -eg no rut or berm, lean the bike, but keep yourself more upright and try to put as much weight as possible on the outer footpeg. you will find the bike gets a hell of a lot more traction.


ill leave all the rest upto someone else

[Pornstar]

Welcome to dirt biking dude.

[humphrt]

sweet thats the kinda info im after will try that on the weekend, thanks boooooom. yip lovin the dirt :2thumbsup

[barty5]

As booom said keep your weight up right to the knobs that are on the ground this will help push them in. And best thing for front brakes is practice on some gravel in straight line using both brakes and work out just how much you can use. Use your rear brake to keep it in line.
Dont be affraid to use the power as it can help to keep you outa trouble (although can get you in to it as well)
most of all have fun

[L Rider]

As booom said keep your weight up right to the knobs that are on the ground this will help push them in. And best thing for front brakes is practice on some gravel in straight line using both brakes and work out just how much you can use. Use your rear brake to keep it in line.
Dont be affraid to use the power as it can help to keep you outa trouble (although can get you in to it as well)
most of all have fun

Barty I see sentenceS. Glad your keyboards fullstop started working:2thumbsup:banana:

[BM-GS]

The first things I learned:
Grip the bike with your knees (or ankles).
The bike knows what it's doing better then me, so let it (unless disaster is imminent).
If in doubt, backing off will only make it worse. AKA: gas is good.

Is there any more than that? Oh yeah - stand up where possible. Feels funny after road-boking, but it works!

Welcome & enjoy.

[humphrt]

brilliant thanks for all the replys just another noob question on narrow trails how do you know you're going the right way? wouldnt want to have a head on :oi-grr:

[cave weta]

brilliant thanks for all the replys just another noob question on narrow trails how do you know you're going the right way? wouldnt want to have a head on :oi-grr:

Unless you are in a closed race circuit situation
always treat every trail as two way!
- even if its a pig hunter stumbling down a track with a pig over his shoulders, he's another user and he 'could' be around the next corner.
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I have been hit by one of my own tour party head on:girlfight:
after being briefed NOT TO. He went ahead while I attended to a stuck bike then realised that he didnt know where to go, so turned around and blasted back straight into me!

With regard to off road training- here are some good PDFs from a british guy called Kiwi! theres your Christmas present!

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[Henk]

There's lots of info out there on how to ride a dirt bike but the two things that made the bigest difference for me coming off road bikes were.

1. Stand up
2. Get your controls set so they are comfortable and within easy reach when standing. Clutch and front brake should be easy towork out and the shifter should be about in line with the top of the footpeg.

Aside from that just get out there and do it. Everyone has diferent riding styles. You'll have lots of low speed offs to start with and as time goes on this will turn into fewer higher speed crashes.

[cave weta]

There's lots of info out there on how to ride a dirt bike but the two things that made the bigest difference for me coming off road bikes were.

1. Stand up
2. Get your controls set so they are comfortable and within easy reach when standing. Clutch and front brake should be easy towork out and the shifter should be about in line with the top of the footpeg.

Aside from that just get out there and do it. Everyone has diferent riding styles. You'll have lots of low speed offs to start with and as time goes on this will turn into fewer higher speed crashes.

Well said, that man!:2thumbsup

[RJM]

I'm still very much in learner mode as I've owned my bike 9 weeks. I actually found I was much more comfortable after having a few minor offs. You find your limits and realise that crashing at low speed isn't too bad therefore your confidence increases.

From one learner to another the gripping with your knees deffinately works a treat and moving your weight around for traction. As long as you're pointing the handle bars where you want to go your backside will follow.

[Flygirl]

I agree, learning to place your weight is important. Also don't be afraid of the gas, it is your friend in the corners!!! Don't be discouraged by coming off, if you don;t come off, your not trying hard enough!!! Take it froma girl who just spent 4 hours in A&E, I'm itching to get back out there!!!

[cambocambo]

i second that dont be afraid of the gas, I am very much in learner mode at the moment too and I have found that braking and using the gas in corners on long wet grass helped me at low speed, let the bike slide around and get used to it.

[Blagger]

I fall off more at low speed and giving it a bit of a squirt gets the uprightness happening quicker.
Momentum is my friend.
I stick my leg out on sweeping corners which is hard to do when used to roadbikes where I'd never do that but I'm getting used to it

[camchain]

Get the Shane Watts "Dirtwise" DVD. Well worth having. It's all about mastering the basics.

Something that's strangely missing on it though; the trick booom mentioned about weighting outside peg (plus getting outside bum cheek off seat to help to get weight over peg). I read this in a magazine in mid 70's - went out and practiced it all afternoon Lol.