Off-Road Riding Tips - Riva Motorsports Miami
Dirt bikes and other off-road motorcycles are great fun, whether you’re racing and jumping or hitting the trails for some adventure. You can explore new lands or just mess around in the dirt you know and love! Like with all off-road vehicles, it pays to understand the dangers involved and the right safety precautions to take to ensure you have an afternoon of fun on the track, not an evening in the ER. All it takes is a bit of prep and some knowledge and you can vastly decrease the chance you’ll suffer a serious accident.
At River Motorsports Miami, we want our customers to have as much fun as possible on their dirt bikes, which is why we’ve put together this short guide with some tips to getting the most out of your off-road fun. Read on for more information or head into our showroom in Miami. We proudly serve Ft. Lauderdale, Kendall, Fort Myers, Naples, and all of Broward County, Florida.
Establish Posture
Posture isn’t the easiest aspect of riding to get excited about, but finding the right posture is an important part of mastering any motorcycle. The right posture and position gives riders better control and helps to alleviate some of the bumpiness of off-road riding at high speeds. Set your bike’s foot pegs so that they rest in the center of your feet. This gives you a stable platform to work from and plenty of room to reach controls. Grip the bike between your knees while keeping them bent to relieve pressure. Lean forward slightly, as this will put more weight on the front tire for increased traction and tighten your core so you’re well-braced when the bike kicks back. Then, keep at least two fingers on each the clutch and brake levers at all times. This will feel a little unnatural the first time you do it, but it gives you better control so that you can stop and shift without hesitation.
Braking and You
If you’re used to driving a car or truck, it’ll take a bit to get used to braking with your dirt bike. You’ll have separate control over front and back brakes, so it takes some effort to engage the brakes effectively if you’re used to the interlocked braking systems on a car. Sometimes you’ll want to brake harder on the front, and others on the rear, depending on the situation. Apply the rear brake most of the time and minimize front brake usage, since too much braking power up front has the chance to flip you over or throw you over the handlebars. Of course, you’ll still need to use the front brakes, but it’s best to practice relying on rear brakes.
Taking Corners
Effective cornering is another situation where you’ll find a big difference between a car and dirt bike. It’s also extremely important to practice taking corners to develop your overall off-road skill. It’s an easy situation to take a quick spill, whether you’re cornering too fast, or even not fast enough! Start by considering safety and practicing at lower speeds until you’re comfortable with ticking it up. When taking a corner, decelerate as you come into it. Pick a point on the outside of the corner coming in and gradually move to the inside as you exit. You’ll have to lean to do it effectively, which is why it’s so important to wear proper safety gear when riding a dirt bike. Finally, try to put some extra weight on the front tire during the turn while cornering, as this will create more traction for better control.
Learning the ins and outs of riding a dirt bike takes time and practice, but don’t give up. Just like learning to ride a bicycle, riding a dirt bike leads to some inevitable spills. Don’t be discouraged. It happens to everyone, and it’s much better to make mistakes now so you can learn yourself right for the future! For more off-road riding tips, or if you’re just ready to take a look at some great new and used dirt bikes, head into Riva Motorsports Miami. We proudly serve Fort Myers, Naples, Kendall, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and all of Broward County, Florida. Come in today and speak with our team of courteous experts who are ready to answer your questions and show you the true meaning of customer satisfaction.