Adventure bike training?

[OV Lander]

So, if you'd reached a point where you thought "Jeez, it would be a good idea to get some formal Adventure Bike training!" where would you go?

I'm thinking of doing so technical training to improve my base skills, and so far, for big adventure bikes, the only options I've found are 2-day courses in Ozzie:
- BMW
- Outback Adventure Tours

Can anybody recommend anything closer to home? Say, in NZ somewhere?

Cheers

[Taz]

Haven't heard of any courses but the best way to up skill might be to buy a cheap trail bike and hit the trails? I had done a lot of off road riding and racing before I got old and started the adv riding thing.

[Padmei]

I know what you mean. If you haven't grown up doing mx or riding on a farm there are a lot of skills that are harder to pick up. If you can try to get hold of the DVD Dual Sport Riding Techniques. It has good drills to try to practise (I ahem am borrowing Jatz' copy at the mo).

I went to a mx training day with Team Green & Mike Cotter to gain some tips which was good but not really relavent to sliding around gravel roads.

There sure is a market (although small) for some small group tuition.

[cooneyr]

Calling Mr Warewolf. Where did we get to with Greg Power making a visit to NN?

[gunnyrob]

Get hold of Chris Birch, an enduro rider based in Auckland who also does rider training. It cost $150 for 3 hours one on one, was bloody excellent, and a damn side cheaper than the BMW courses in Oz. My riding through the gentle Annie last weekend on the big beemer was much more enjoyable and quicker as a result.

http://www.birchy.co.nz/

[marks]

So, if you'd reached a point where you thought "Jeez, it would be a good idea to get some formal Adventure Bike training!" where would you go?

I'm thinking of doing so technical training to improve my base skills, and so far, for big adventure bikes, the only options I've found are 2-day courses in Ozzie:
- BMW
- Outback Adventure Tours

Can anybody recommend anything closer to home? Say, in NZ somewhere?

Cheers

the Goldwing was not made to opposite lock around gravel corners.....

Haven't heard of any courses but the best way to up skill might be to buy a cheap trail bike and hit the trails? I had done a lot of off road riding and racing before I got old and started the adv riding thing.

falling off trail bikes has certainly made me better at falling off the klr.

[Taz]

falling off trail bikes has certainly made me better at falling off the klr.

You're trying too hard Relax.

[dino3310]

Get hold of Chris Birch, an enduro rider based in Auckland who also does rider training. It cost $150 for 3 hours one on one, was bloody excellent, and a damn side cheaper than the BMW courses in Oz. My riding through the gentle Annie last weekend on the big beemer was much more enjoyable and quicker as a result.

http://www.birchy.co.nz/

yeah thats the one, i think it was Iain who did a training session with him last summer.

[warewolf]

Calling Mr Warewolf. Where did we get to with Greg Power making a visit to NN?

He agreed to it, I didn't follow up because I haven't had the wherewithal to participate. Funnily enough I've been thinking about that again recently.

Greg runs "trail" coaching which is doable on adventure bikes. I've done his courses on a Honda NX650 Dominator, DR200, DR-Z250... heck my wife was even seen pulling wheelies on one course!

Since Greg runs adventure tours he understands the genre. Some of the MX-focussed trainers may not. I would expect if you talk to any of the trail/XC/enduro coaches (eg Birchy, but there's lots of them, you could even approach Nick Reader @ Epic Events, Taupo) you could be accommodated on their courses. Maybe not 100% depending on terrain technicality, but you'd still learn heaps. AFAIK there is no dedicated adventure/big bike training in NZ.

PS Anthrax is on the money. You'll learn a lot faster on a smaller, lighter less expensive trail bike. Most of the better adventure riders have spent years and years throwing trail bikes into the scrub, but now they are less competitive and just tour about on bigger bikes with aplomb.

Get a bunch o' riders together, tell an enduro coach you want a 'big bike' course run...

[gav24]

Hi OVlander, and others.
I'm based in Waikanae and could offer my services for a few riding tips.
Experience riding bikes for last 25 years is...
Junior and senior MX, Cross country and enduro at national level in UK,
Roadracing up to national level in UK, and also a race instructor on the Ron Haslam, Honda, Suzuki and 100% Bikes road race schools.
Moved to NZ in 2006.
2008 NZ vintage MX champion 125cc
School Teacher for last 8 years as well
Now a part time VMX-er and Adventure rider due to new family and the titanium plates and screws that hold my leg together these days

If you need any references on my riding ability pm Junkman Joe, or Paladin as I've been on a few rides with these guys recently.

So if you want a bit of low key, informal training, or something more focussed, then pm me, and we can discuss it further, otherwise see you out on the trail sometime

[Padmei]

I would be keen on some small group tuition if others in Nelson are keen & you want to come over for a weekend trip.

Otherwise maybe we could maybe factor it in to our Nth Island invasion to have 1/2 a day training on the Saturday then go for a longer ride after that & Sunday??

I watched the Dual sporting techniques dvd again tonite & once again relearnt things that I'd forgotten from the 1st time I'd watched it.

As someone posted earlier it would be great to get a smaller bike & blast around learning as you go, however I've found to have instruction earlier on can save a lot of frustration & eliminate bad habits. Also what you percieve you're doing & what you're actually doing are two different things.

There's no school like the school of hard knocks but I'd prefer to be taught from someone who has graduated from there

[JATZ]

I would be keen on some small group tuition if others in Nelson are keen & you want to come over for a weekend trip.

Otherwise maybe we could maybe factor it in to our Nth Island invasion to have 1/2 a day training on the Saturday then go for a longer ride after that & Sunday??

I watched the Dual sporting techniques dvd again tonite & once again relearnt things that I'd forgotten from the 1st time I'd watched it.

Either option sounds like a bloody good idea, after Big is back together would be good.
BTW have you checked out the suspension set up extra on the DVD, explains it very simply and how to achieve a proper setup

[Padmei]

Gonzo doesn't like me touching his suspension

[NordieBoy]

Gonzo doesn't like me touching his suspension

Wear latex gloves and warm your hands up first.

[gav24]

Seems that the training idea is popular. Thanks for the pm.s people.
I'm thinking that I could run a low key day on either the 10/11 th October.

Start up at the Pram entrance to the Mangakutukutuku's and make use of the flat paddock there to demo and practice a few new skills/techniques, then head up and over the crossing to the karapoti entrace. The track has a bit of everything (hopefully it will be reasonably dry!) and going that way gets gradually more challenging I think.

Focus will be for off road novices and near novices. Looking at basic stuff like braking, body positioning, gaining confidence and riding safely. We'll stop at each new obstacle and discuss the best techniques to use. So best not come if you like to keep riding all day!

As for numbers, cost etc. I'm pretty relaxed about both. This is the first "event" So how about a truly democratic system where all welcome and you pay me based on how much you feel you have learned during the day. If I've spent heaps of time with you on a 1-to-1 and you feel you learned heaps then obviously you may wish to pay me more than if you cruised along bored at the back, and felt you already knew about everything I said or demo'ed. Maybe a price guide of $0 to $100?

If you are one of those who have been thinking about some 1-to-1 private tuition, why not come along on this first day, have a chat, and then decide if I'm the man for the job in the future.

Lastly I'll be on my DR650 on road/trail 70/30 tyres (trail wings) so will be big bike friendly.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, and the weather and keep things updated, like final date, times, meet up location etc.

Hope this gets things started...