Are you new to dirt biking and want to become a better rider that has more control and confidence off-road? This article will cover 3 basic dirt bike riding lessons, as well as some practical tips for beginners to make dirt biking safer.
I want to get you started on the right path so that you don’t waste time making mistakes or crashing while trying to figure it out on your own. I thought I was a pretty good rider after several years, but after riding with some friends, I found out I sucked.
I want to show you the proper riding techniques I wish I had started practicing when I was a beginner.
Is it hard to learn how to ride a dirt bike?
It’s actually pretty easy to learn how to ride a dirt bike, even with a clutch. I could show you how to do it in about 5 minutes, which I’ve done with many new riders that have never touched a dirt bike before.
With that said, it’s very difficult to become a skilled rider that can efficiently ride technical terrain with speed and endurance without crashing often.
My goal is to make learning to ride a dirt bike as easy and practical for you as possible. That’s one of the many reasons I started Motocross Hideout back in 2009.
How do you learn to ride a dirt bike with a clutch?
You could watch my video on youtube to safely ride a dirt bike with a clutch, or you can try to figure it out on your own and possibly make a lot of mistakes.
Learning to use the clutch requires an understanding of how it works, and then practicing to build your muscle memory so that using it becomes second nature.
What I mean is that when you first started (or start) riding a dirt bike, you had to think about what you were doing with the clutch lever. You will eventually not have to think when using it after enough practice with good technique.
What’s a good beginner dirt bike?
Practicing proper techniques on the right dirt bike is not only much easier, but it’s safer and the smarter way to go. Please don’t start riding off-road on a motocross bike for your first bike.
A good beginner dirt bike would be a trail bike that’s 250cc or less, such as:
- Yamaha TTR125
- Kawasaki KLX140
- Kawasaki KLX230R
- Honda CRF250F
How much do dirt bike classes cost?
It really depends on where you go, what kind of class it is (what all they teach), and how long it is. A typical 1-day group dirt bike class is anywhere from $150-800 based on the number of schools I researched.
There is another option that doesn’t require you to sign up and show up in person, but take it on your own time. More on that later.
3 Dirt Bike Riding Lessons for beginners
Whether you’re new to riding, just getting back into dirt biking, or simply struggling to stay in control riding off-road, I want to help you. In order to ride with control, you must understand how your dirt bike works and learn basic riding techniques.
If you don’t have the basic fundamentals down, then riding any kind of technical terrain is going to be more difficult in the long run, and it will take longer to become a skilled and confident rider.
So, here’s 3 simple riding lessons that you as a beginner can learn and practice to start making you a better rider today.
How do I know these lessons work? I still practice them to this day because you should never go away from the basics.
Clutch Control Lesson
Most new riders learn how to start out and move in 1st gear with the clutch, but then they think that’s “good enough” and don’t practice any further. This is a big mistake if you want to have more control off-road, especially on slower, technical trails.
To build your clutch control, simply practice starting and stopping with as little throttle as possible (slipping the clutch). Slipping the clutch less without as much throttle will cause you to stall more often because the engine RPM is lower. This will make you practice better clutch control. Not only will you be a more efficient rider, but it will create less heat in your engine.
Throttle Control Lesson
Do you get worn out just from twisting the throttle? Maybe you’re holding onto the grips too tight, which causes arm-pump. Or maybe you just need to work on your throttle control.
When I ride in the woods and I’m getting out of control, one lesson I try and always remember to slow it down and work on being smooth.
Once I settle down my right hand on the throttle and take more time to roll on the throttle, I start feeling smoother and more in control. As I build my confidence back up being smooth, I can then start building up my speed again.
Standing Lesson
Many beginners are either used to sitting all the time on a street bike or simply don’t realize how much more control you can have while standing on a dirt bike.
I don’t mean to say that standing is always better, but the amount of leverage and control you can have is much better in certain situations.
If there’s a trail loop that’s 10-15 minutes long, try standing the whole time and use your feet and core (hips) to control the bike more. It will not only be a good workout, but you’ll better understand how your bike works in correlation to how you position your body.
Virtual Dirt Bike School
Do you want to go to a riding school to get better but don’t have one close to you or simply can’t find the time to go? Then it’s time to learn online.
What are the benefits of taking an online dirt bike school? You can watch the riding lessons anytime, anywhere, and as many times as you want. It’s like your own private training class so you don’t have to worry about other riders while you work on your techniques.
So, are you an adult looking for quality riding lessons to make you a better rider that has more control and crashes less?
The next step to becoming a safe and confident rider
I want to help you get started with some more riding techniques that go more in-depth that will help you today.
Click or tap here to get started now.