Dirt bike recommendations?

[unstuck]

Yea, sure, it's possibly remotely related to my lack of ability/understanding of what I'm doing. It's all in my head.

Now your getting it.

[nzspokes]

Maybe we could go sometime? I don't really want to go by myself...

If its a weekend when I dont have kids I will be in to.

[bosslady]

If its a weekend when I dont have kids I will be in to.

That sounds like a good idea. I just don't want to upset any locals or anything though and rip up the beach....?

[Lawrence]

That sounds like a good idea. I just don't want to upset any locals or anything though and rip up the beach....?

You'll be ok, just use common sense and stay well clear of other beach users, usually just people walking their dogs this time of year. Once your further down the beach you are usually on your own. There are some dunes at the south end, just watch for on coming traffic! And just be careful of the streams and ditches.

[leathel]

Maybe we could go sometime? I don't really want to go by myself...

My bike isn't to far of going so when it is I am sure we can sort something, Load up here and take the ute depending on numbers going

I wont be taking the mates 100 on the beach so I will need to double people or take the quad for Rose ?

I should have a spare weekend this month if you have, next month is pretty nuts with several Road rides.

[bosslady]

My bike isn't to far of going so when it is I am sure we can sort something, Load up here and take the ute depending on numbers going

I wont be taking the mates 100 on the beach so I will need to double people or take the quad for Rose ?

I should have a spare weekend this month if you have, next month is pretty nuts with several Road rides.

I have the kids this weekend, away for the weekend getting taught how to ride (my dirt bike) weekend after that, then there's the cold kiwi, then the kids, then another free weekend which is.... whenever that is? haha Unless I brought the kids but not a good idea esp if I am up the beach and can't keep an eye on 'em.

[leathel]

I have the kids this weekend, away for the weekend getting taught how to ride (my dirt bike) weekend after that, then there's the cold kiwi, then the kids, then another free weekend which is.... whenever that is? haha Unless I brought the kids but not a good idea esp if I am up the beach and can't keep an eye on 'em.

If I take both kids there will be more people that bikes so will have someone to keep an eye out.... as the quad will only be to cart people not play on, I could take a couple of surf casting rods and do some fishing as well :P

Next weekend would be afternoons with a 11am high tide from memory so a couple of hours after that, fortnight later would be an half an hour later (Saturdays) so lunch then ride

[motor_mayhem]

CRF230s suspension is very basic and it isn't about being tall etc it's the weight. The average new MX/off road bike is set-up roughly for a 55kg rider out of the factory, the CRF even less; and far less for one that isn't new. Tell me what's the fun going to be with a bike off road for a learner if that bikes going to wallowing around underneath them behaving like an unhinged pin and the rider is all over it like a gorilla on a tonka toy mmm?

What your implying is like seeing a 100kg rider on a RG150 scooting around a twisty backroad & them saying their bike is behaving badly and saying don't worry about it the bike is ideal for ya

You're quite wrong. A friend of mine has a 350SXF and a 450SXF and still uses his CRF230 for practice every other day and I think he's a similar weight to BL and about a head taller than my 1.75m and pretty sure he hasn't done anything to the suspension. In terms of gaining confidence as a learner being over top of your bike is (IMO) a key ingredient. Also I have discovered that getting on a high spec bike can at times lead to developing lazy riding habits.

From the sounds of where BL is riding i.e. sand, you need to be really aggressive there - seriously twist the throttle to how fast you think you should be going then add a bit more. It'll take courage but if you can start doing that, you will find it easier. The other thing would be to not be decelerating through thick sand, if you can see it coming decelerate before it then get on the gas to go through it. From the top riders through to the bottom you will find numerous examples of people who have bluffed their way through an obstacle by staying on the gas. And it's difficult to do because from the outset it seems counter-intuitive. Another thing I have found constructive is to use helmet cams and get friends to take pictures when you're doing particular things then you can actually know if you are progressing (sometimes you are when you think you aren't) and can help you see what you can do better.

Finally and most importantly if you're not sure what to do at times then get lessons from the professionals - I really cannot emphasise that enough. I got lessons from Broxy and it made a absolute world of difference to my riding. I gather Chris Birch also does lessons up your way as well. Broxy has a women only day coming up on Sunday - perhaps that might work for you? http://www.broxy.co.nz/featured-events/calendar

PS check out this sweet gif from my first ride on an CR125 I fixed up, still plenty of work to do on it but good to get a rideable result at this stage and the first half reasonable 2 stroke I've had in about 15 years: http://sdrv.ms/182gU3F

[george formby]

I concur motor_mayhem. "Lazy riding habits" dings a big bell. Most important thing is to use your head / brains & body to ride. Compensating for the limitations of or getting the most from a softer bike is a fun way to learn.

Video of our practice has been a great way to spot the bad habits & see the improvement. More importantly you feel the benefit on the bike, what was a problem a week ago now has a solution & a wee woo hoo.

Good training. +1

The throttle is your friend +1 too.

[nzspokes]

The throttle is your friend +1 too.

I got told to pin it to win it.

Works well.

Apart from that tree.

It hurt.

[george formby]

I got told to pin it to win it.

Works well.

Apart from that tree.

It hurt.

That sounds more like enthusiasm than control. I have a taste for Ti tree & clay.

[bosslady]

If I take both kids there will be more people that bikes so will have someone to keep an eye out.... as the quad will only be to cart people not play on, I could take a couple of surf casting rods and do some fishing as well :P

Next weekend would be afternoons with a 11am high tide from memory so a couple of hours after that, fortnight later would be an half an hour later (Saturdays) so lunch then ride

I think I'm too scared to have my boys out of my own sight, lol.

From the sounds of where BL is riding i.e. sand, you need to be really aggressive there - seriously twist the throttle to how fast you think you should be going then add a bit more. It'll take courage but if you can start doing that, you will find it easier. The other thing would be to not be decelerating through thick sand, if you can see it coming decelerate before it then get on the gas to go through it. From the top riders through to the bottom you will find numerous examples of people who have bluffed their way through an obstacle by staying on the gas. And it's difficult to do because from the outset it seems counter-intuitive. Another thing I have found constructive is to use helmet cams and get friends to take pictures when you're doing particular things then you can actually know if you are progressing (sometimes you are when you think you aren't) and can help you see what you can do better.

Finally and most importantly if you're not sure what to do at times then get lessons from the professionals - I really cannot emphasise that enough. I got lessons from Broxy and it made a absolute world of difference to my riding. I gather Chris Birch also does lessons up your way as well. Broxy has a women only day coming up on Sunday - perhaps that might work for you? http://www.broxy.co.nz/featured-events/calendar

PS check out this sweet gif from my first ride on an CR125 I fixed up, still plenty of work to do on it but good to get a rideable result at this stage and the first half reasonable 2 stroke I've had in about 15 years: http://sdrv.ms/182gU3F

Yea I keep getting told going faster will help and I've tried and failed probably cause I haven't done it at the right time then freak myself out haha then it's all over rover, I guess it's also the trees and shit either side of ya, tis not like a wide open road! I've had one lesson so far, then am going out of town weekend after next for some help. Lessons get pretty expensive quickly esp as I still get road lessons occasionally, not that I don't think it's worth it cause it is, just all adds up lol.

[george formby]

I think I'm too scared to have my boys out of my own sight, lol.


Yea I keep getting told going faster will help and I've tried and failed probably cause I haven't done it at the right time then freak myself out haha then it's all over rover, I guess it's also the trees and shit either side of ya, tis not like a wide open road! I've had one lesson so far, then am going out of town weekend after next for some help. Lessons get pretty expensive quickly esp as I still get road lessons occasionally, not that I don't think it's worth it cause it is, just all adds up lol.

It's not about faster, it's about using the throttle for control. If you dive the bike into a corner & close the throttle it will turn into itself & fall over. If you dive the bike into a corner & open the throttle it will try to stand up & move forward. Slow in fast out is a well worn expression & true. Don't ride faster than you can see.
The speed of your turn & how much throttle to apply are the real skills. Grip is everything, to go faster you need to find more grip, to find more grip you have to ride better. Two tires touching the ground, the rider makes it move.

[Smifffy]

From the sounds of where BL is riding i.e. sand, you need to be really aggressive there - seriously twist the throttle to how fast you think you should be going then add a bit more. It'll take courage but if you can start doing that, you will find it easier. The other thing would be to not be decelerating through thick sand, if you can see it coming decelerate before it then get on the gas to go through it. From the top riders through to the bottom you will find numerous examples of people who have bluffed their way through an obstacle by staying on the gas. And it's difficult to do because from the outset it seems counter-intuitive.

Unfortunately it seems that the sand just gets in all the wrong places.

[Jay GTI]

It's not about faster, it's about using the throttle for control. If you dive the bike into a corner & close the throttle it will turn into itself & fall over. If you dive the bike into a corner & open the throttle it will try to stand up & move forward. Slow in fast out is a well worn expression & true. Don't ride faster than you can see.
The speed of your turn & how much throttle to apply are the real skills. Grip is everything, to go faster you need to find more grip, to find more grip you have to ride better. Two tires touching the ground, the rider makes it move.

There is an element of going faster helps, laws of physics work in your favour with additional speed, i.e. the momentum (excuse the crap terms/explanation, long time since I studied physics) helps keep the bike upright, it will keep the bike more static, meaning the suspension is doing more work but the bike is not going up and down as much and... ok I know what I'm trying to say in my head... but basically, if you're going too slow, the bike will want to fall over more easily, will react more to deflections and both you and the bike will be moving around more.

Beyond the basic physics comes the technique comes in and everything you say is correct, but pottering around at little more than walking speed actually makes riding more difficult in a lot of cases.