HILL TECHNIQUES for Adventure Motorcycles / Add Confidence / Delete Anxiety / Level 1 Lesson 

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I was a huge fan of the Yamaha 125 in the 80's. After not riding for 25 years I thought I'd do the right thing and buy a Tiger 900 Rally Pro and took it on the AZ back road to Crown King. Before buying the Tiger I watched all of you videos and I think that may have saved me from certain insurance disability claims. I really need to take your class.

Many experienced off road riders will always stay in second on steep inclines and feather the clutch to control the rear tire. It is easier to control rear wheel spin in 2nd gear than in 1st gear. We've ridden thousands of miles of technical single track and learning that technique is a game changer. Also, as you hinted, momentum is always your friend when attacking hills. A little quicker approach speed in the beginning translates into easier riding near the top.

I don't even own an offroad motorcycle. I just love Mototrek and these educational videos are outstanding to learn from for city riding too. Great job Mototrek Team and Dusty!!!

Sadly, the camera doesn't do justice to the gnarlyness of that hill.

The theory given about descending with the engine off… brilliant. This whole session has helped my anxiety levels. Thank you

Another outstanding lesson. Dusty really understands how to ride these big ADV bikes off road. I’ve picked up a lot of really useful information.

I'd never thought of using the engine off - what a great idea!

What a nice, comprehensive explanation, Dusty! Thank you very much for that! I chose to listen to it twice, it really carries a lot of useful info, cannot afford to miss any of it 😊

One of the things I like about the GS is the ability in many situations to crawl up over sketchy terrain…it’s like a tractor with it’s torque, bottom end and gearing. After riding peaky low displacement two stroke dirt bikes in my youth and high horsepower in-line four street bikes since, I am continually impressed by the broad scope of capabilities my R1250GS possesses.

🙌 the tip of turning off the engine and feathering the clutch is a first for me,, and a dam fine technique. I'm a huge fan of engine braking. Thanks for sharing that 🙏🏻. Cheers 🍻, G.

I am not sure if it's the content presentation or what but I found this remarkably well done. Somewhat new to a Big Africa Twin and this hit home.

Awesome video! Wish I had seen it a couple weeks ago when I found myself forced to go up, then back down, the most challenging road I’ve ever ridden. Glad to see that I did some stuff right, but can also see things I could have done better.

Momentum, momentum and look done the line.

Wish I saw this yesterday morning lol. Went down a trail yesterday I thought would be pretty tame. After all most of the trail was on google street view. That section that wasn’t was very steep up and back down. Several switch backs that didn’t level off one bit. But I didn’t. 1st gear and engine breaking, gentle rear and front breaking and lots of balancing got me back down safely.

This is by far the best Dusty video you folks have put together this far. Well done!

wow .. thank you nice lesson ..

Really interesting approach to conveying useful information in an easy to understand manner, and very encouraging to go out and do it. Nicely done. My two cents is that some mention of where to look (a reasonable distance ahead along the chosen line works well for me, and kind of naturally curtails target fixation). Also, when I first road a 1250 GSA off road I was amazed at how well the bike felt with the surface that would paralyze a road rider on a non-adventure bike. I now understand that these big adventure bikes are extremely capable of confidently rolling through the terraine of one’s well chosen path. Accepting bumps through the suspension travel and in one’s knees if standing inspires sure footed assurance. So pick the line, focus ahead as that line unfolds, and let the suspension deal with the ground beneath the tires because by the time you get there its too late to do much about it without perhaps radical clutch, brake, steering, peg pressure, throttle input. All the techniques he offers + practice are the ticket to smooth. 🙏☮️

Another great video about my most-dreaded aspect of off-roading. We shall try to implement the lesson in hopes of arriving at the bottom of gnarly hills with slightly less solid underpants than is currently the case. Great video, great technique, many thanks for posting.

Awesome advice! Hadn’t heard the engine off on decent before and using clutch. Going to try it next time 👍

Great tips. I live off-road in mountainous, rocky terrain in Mongolia. It's a mix of grassy and forested mountain terrain with loose and embedded rocks. I don't usually ride trails, I generally ride cross country. The hardest thing for me is traversing hills when the hills are 20-30 degrees and have loose rocks. I think this is called 'crabbing' or maybe just traversing. It's intense. I also only ride lighter bikes because when I have tip-overs (pretty frequent), I need to pick up and position the bike on an awkward slope to get moving again. Lighter is better in this situation for picking up, avoiding injuries and getting pinned. My bikes are 24kg (eMTB), 85kg (Surron Ultra Bee) and 132kg (Surron Storm Bee). My bikes are all electric too so that's entirely different from a controls point of view. I used to ride mid-weight and heavyweight adventure bikes but sold them because I don't find them suitable for my 100% off-road, technical riding terrain. Nevertheless, your tips on body position, momentum and so on, are great and apply to my kind of riding. Thanks again.

Great stuff as usual!

Thanks for this. In my neck of the woods, we get lots of these rocky trails, so this video is really useful. Thanks again.

Great video. I feel like I learned something that has expanded my understanding of motorcycles. I was also the 1K like!

I have a video suggestion: Trying light to medium offroading but with 90/10 street tires like Anakee 3s or something similar. Basically trying to build confidence in street tires and finding their limits offroad. Great video as usual!

As always, good quality.

Really like your videos can’t wait to hit the trail again soon.

Such great info! Thanks!

Great lesson. Thanks. 🎉

👍Thanks for the tips!

Thanks Dusty!

Exactly what I needed - thank you 🙏

First gear also makes it a lot easier to whiskey throttle when you hit a big rock or ledge, whereas you can stall the engine in second if you don't keep revs up. I still prefer second gear because it's easier to control the throttle and to rely on torque to power up the hill.

AMAZING CONTENT !!! thanks for sharing all of this !!

last weekend, I took my 1150GS up a hill trail I would have no issue with on my KTM or Suzuki, but that's a real different animal on the trail. Hoping to take your CA training in Oct. Thx for all the great videos.

Very helpful.Thanks!!

thank you again, great lesson.

Muy bien explicado, con todo detalle, gracias!!!

Awesome tips!

For me the trouble starts when that flat trail turns into a "V" shaped trough due to erosion. I often try to ride up on the side of the "V" but frequently slide down to the bottom of the trench where my wheels get trapped and give me balance problems. But I can usually struggle back up to the other side of the "V". Except for one time when I slid to the bottom and wound up in a "death wobble". The bike eventually went one way and I went the other, landing in boulders. Broke 4 ribs and popped a lung that time. But since I was riding alone I had to self rescue. That was 10 more miles of dirt and 20 more miles on pavement to the nearest hospital to find out what I had done to myself. I think the next time I encounter those conditions, I'll park the bike and get a sure-footed horse.

Muito agradecido pelos ensinamentos. Você é o cara! Muito bom.

Fun video with useful info. That looks like a really fun trail! Could you please say where these trails are? Even if only in the description.

Great tutorial as always. I would like to add that the best method of doing any of these things off road is to simply get out there and ride and learn what works take these lessons apply them and get out and ride. Don’t be afraid you don’t get the experience that Dusty has by only riding once in a while.

Top always👏🏼👏🏼💪🏼

Fantastic explanation, Thanks to Italy.

Good advice!

I love that his channel is active again, I got a question about this video, in a loose gravel downhill, would it help to turn off ABS function?

Excellent video 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 great explanations on how you do it.

Thanks dusty, that peg weighting is so effective

Always love going over these technique videos. What's interesting to me now is that I've been taking my 250cc Suzuki cruiser up a hill like this, on my way to work. Body position is very hard to manage on forward controls.

Hay Dusty....what base layer (armour ?) are you using-wearing?....noticed the thumb loops...Another great video! All the best from CANADA!

Great vid...Thank you. Lots to think about depending where you are on the learning curve but becomes instinct with practice. Stand up, stay loose, keep er moving....and maybe start with a smaller bike 😉

Thanks for your lessons. Great stuff. Günter/Nürnberg

Great video! The gear choice has more to do with the bike's power.

Another excellent and informative video Dusty, thanks! This is the first time I have heard anyone suggest turning the engine off and using the clutch for improved engine braking. Makes sense, but I'd be nervous to loose the ability to power over a mid decent obstacle or possibly pause to turn it back on. I will probably try it on an easy one though =) I've recently switched from a 2006 R1200GS to a 2021 Tiger 900RP, and have had to adjust my downhill technique to compensate for the slightly higher idle speed and less (perceived?) engine braking. The Tiger feels faster downhill...not uncomfortably so, just need to get used to it. Maybe it's just the 21" front tolls easier than the 19 =D Though I have not had as much off road time on the Tiger as I would have liked by now, I find it a lot easier to manage/handle in the dirt (and in sand!) than the GS.

Great tips, except I don’t agree with you on the downhill recommendation for turning off the engine as an option, especially in the terrain you used as an example, there comes a time when you reach the bottom and in most cases off road you’re going to accelerate through the base of the hill in the same type of terrain or even through a stream, many times to go back up a hill, stopping to turn the engine back on will not be an option in most cases. Cheers from Abancay, Peru. Currently riding from northern Colombia to Argentine, mostly off/back roads, Honda XRE 300, dual sport.

Thanks! I have less of a problem uphill as down. On a steep, rocky downhill, a GS can become a runaway freight train. It never occurred to me to turn off the engine. I'll be sure to stick that in my repertoire.

Turn the engine off going downhill and use the clutch.... wow... learned something completely new! Thankyou!

Great clip, and I'd never considered killing the motor, and using the clutch as a more nuanced, left-hand controlled brake. But I will now, for sure. Thanks!

All good stuff; thank you. With that said, has anyone performed a "study" regarding how rider weight shifting actually changes the weight on the tires? For example, put a scale under the front wheel and a scale under the rear wheel. While balanced (probably need some assistance), how many lbs/kgs are on each wheel? Then, what happens when the rider shifts their weight forward? Then back? It would be fascinating to know how much % change actually occurs.

Thank you for another great video. I fully support your techniques for going uphill. On the other hand, I have some issues with your downhill ideas. Firstly, I prefer to ride my 1290 KTM (approx the same weight as the GS) on steep downhills rather slower than faster. It is always easier to add speed than break. Secondly,, turning off the engine and work with the clutch works only on very short downhill situations. If you go downhill for a couple of miles you will destroy your clutch. I did use it on a 300 EXC, though. In the woods, walking next to my bike since it was too steep to ride (the front break has already overheated). On the ADV I prefer the engine break and additional the front break if necessary, but the key point for me is, go as slow as possible in the beginning to get comfortable with the terrain. If there is suddenly a tight corner or a log or something like this, it is easier for me to handle the situation. However, I thank you for the videos and lessons you provide. All the best from Austria, EU (the home of KTM 🧡)

This hill makes me think it might be better to take the grass than that broken road lol. If the road were any worse I might even get off and check to see if the grass were hiding any obstructions

I think that foot position on some bikes, especially the GS, is horrible for size 12.5 and up. If you go just slightly back from the Arche, you are pushing down the side stand.

🔥🔥🔥

top!

What shocks are you rocking on that GSA, Dusty?

I did one of these roads (wide but completely washed out to deep ruts an huge rocks) at around 400miles on my first bike a KTM 890. Hoooly shiiit, dropped my bike twice. Downhill was easy tho.

What tires do you recommend for a GS doing the Idaho BDR?

You don’t recommend modulating the torque with your clutch?…a habit I keep from riding 2 stroke bikes

What techniques are helpful if the road was abused by 4x4 vehicles and has the usual bumps and undulations?

WHICH GEAR downhill using the clutch method (engine off)? I guess it depends on the slope, but where to start if unsure?

with engine off technique: is there a preferred gear to be in?

Would the downhill with engine off and riding the clutch cook the clutch?

This is an odd question, what motorcycle pants do you wear? They look hella comfortable. I don't like most 'ADV' gear as it looks like I'm going on a safari, I don't need all those pockets and being in Texas with 100+ Summers - cooling is an important consideration.

I can't ride on my arches of my feet, because my boots will ride the brake, and also hit up agaisn't the shifter.... I found out the hard way my boot was riding the brake on the highway few months ago (long expensive story btw).

Downhill, wet, washed out cobble size rocks?

hi, do i need to release some tire pressure during down lose rock hill?

What I always understand is when you put this big bikes in gear end cut off the engine you can bend your valves

Dusty! You’re back on a GSA!? I thought you were sold on the smaller GS?

Hey i have an issue while up hill climb.. my lower back pains

Hello," MatsPetterssonTravel" here ... and thanks for nice and instructive videos. Question: How do you fix the sound when you talk about your skills? I see you have a "Dead Cat" on your backpack, but how is that gear fixed. Which camera - which microphone do you use? I use in my helmet a micron when I drive, ,but I wonder how you get the sound in when you talk without a helmet. Thanks again ... /mats, Sweden

What gear would you use for engine off method, steep compared to less steep?

Clutch? what clutch? :D owner of Honda AT AS ;)

Tires make or break offroading for sure

What hill?

Which do you want to replace, brake pads or clutch discs??? 😮

Delete anxiety. Face your fear. It sounds so easy, but needs a lot of practice. And just when you've made it downhill, you crash on your next uphill ride...

Not sure its a good idea to turn off engine while descending on a modern motorcycles. I am basing my conclusion on a certain don't that manufacturer enforces, one of them is not to pushstart motorcycle. There is so much electronic controlled stuff happening that you basically may end with engine chain slip or valves bent.

DO NOT turn your engine off and go downhill on gear if you have carburetor. The engine without ignition will work as a pump. The gas will accumulate in exhaust and the second you turn on engine your exhaust will explode.

I Have a friend in a level two trauma hospital he got talked into a adventure. Now he's in a coma don't play with it. Think about it.😮

to start with why ride such a heavy pig ? if you have to go to roads like these...