I’m 60 and awaiting delivery of my first ever dirt bike. Been watching videos to learn basics. Your videos are by far the best. Articulate. No hype or idiocy. Just awesome. Thank you. No other video said you can shift without clutching! Great!
I'm pushing 67 and I just took delivery of a new Husqvarna FE350S. I replaced my old well worn Yamaha XT-250. I started riding dirt on a mini bike at 12. I did have some time off over the years but picked it back up in earnest in 2011. Here's the deal. Be sure you spend some time on cardio and strength training. Build up your fitness and loose your body fat. I eat KETO. I went from 183 to 146. It's a very demanding sport. Obviously, start out with easy trails and progress as you learn. But the new bikes are sprung for a roughly 180-185 pound human. That includes your gear. If you weigh more than that, you'll need to change the spring/s to accommodate more weight. Otherwise the suspension will not work properly. Diet and fitness are just as important as the bike and it's setup. Proper body weight and cardiovascular fitness is the best defense against aging and will go far in injury prevention when you biff off into the pucker bushes. Also, get knee, elbow and chest protection and wear it. You will as we say "eat it" now and again. Even the best riders eat it. Congratulations for having a pair large enough to try dirt at 60. Join a club too. That will ensure you get out frequently. Ride with people you trust and who are better than you, but will temper the rides to your ability but gently push your skills safely. It's a fun time and the people who do it are for the most part like minded, and super fun to hang out with, camp out with and you'll make many new friends. Have a great time!!!!
Brand loyalty is ignorant. Jap bikes make amazing MX bikes. And the most reliable tanks for decades. European bikes dominate the enduro scene. Its all about specialized niches. If you've ridden for decades you respect Jap bikes. If you're currently riding trail/enduro you're on a European bike, if you can afford it.
@@noirxplorer3185 So true have a 86 honda xl250r best motor ever. Have had the oil plug shoot out from previous owner ran out of oil. Took motor apart still looked brand new. Have 2 now because of it both still are cherry and run like new.
if youre racing hard and rebuilding your bike regularly, id agree you might not want to use the clutch, but if youre an average joe, you most definitely need to use the clutch. I've rebuild multiple bikes from people trying to power shift without the clutch and they end up destroying second gear and bending shift rods.
Over my 4 years in a motorcycle dealership, I rebuilt over 30 transmissions due to clutches shifting. Primarily destroying second gear, you can do whatever youd like, but as a technician I can't condone it. Best of luck to you guys.
@Jesse Hoolihan Right there with you brother! As most watching this type channel (beginner tips vid), if you want your clutch to last, use the lever.. Now if your able to match engine/wheel speed with precision, one could more safely (for the clutch), not use lever while at speed.. Its a great skill to have (manipulating clutch lever) riding offroad for a multitude of reasons, but if ur that 1% who gets paid to bang gears, this video/comments arent for you.. Keep Riding!
That was extremely informative I can't wait to introduce these techniques into my riding. Pretty stoked right now I'm picking up a Husqvarna te300 in the next couple days!
Tip number 12, buy any old clapped out air cooled 4 stroke above 150ccs. Tip number 13, take tips 1-12 and register for a local hare scramble/enduro race.
1) Stand up (use your legs to grip the motorcycle so you don't need too much tension on the handlebars), 2) look far ahead (observe obstacles and plan your route), 3) keep momentum to the level required for the route, 4) Keep one or two fingers on clutch and front brake (This is really important for reaction time), 5) Find the best way to use the rear break swiftly and efficiently, Don't lock up the rear brake, learn to use the break so you don't need to pull the clutch (learn to down shift at the same time and you can let the engine do most of the work), 6) Don't point your toes out, an obstacle can rip your leg off and you off the bike (also, don't point your toes down, your foot could get ripped off, 7) Stay on the balls of your feet for most operations, This allows you you squeeze the motorcycle with your legs and provides better steering control, There are exceptions maybe a very long high jump. 8) Learn to shift up and down without the clutch. It's much faster and provides better results when in go fast mode. This technique is more than 44 years old. I know for a fact. (FYI, you don't need a clutch to shift a manual in a car either). 9) Sit on the tank when preparing to corner, this unloads the rear suspension and loads the front suspension, making your front brake bite harder before flicking the bike into the desired line. It also help the rear wheel to drift out so you can apply throttle quicker and use the rear wheel to steer the bike, at which point you might want to slide off the tank a bit to add extra bite to the rear. 10) I guess I missed it or deemed it unnecessary. :) sorry about that!
As far as I'm concerned, the rear brake is only good for 2 things, 1) As a back-up emergency brake, and, 2) When having to decend a very slow steep incline, (your butt should be as far back as possible). There's not enough weight on the rear wheel to do any detectable slowing of the bike, you should spend a serious amount of time learning how to use the front brake EXCLUSIVELY, especially in turns, when you get good at this, you can almost go all the way around the turn with the rear wheel IN THE AIR, or at least so lightly loaded that the slightest touch of the rear brake will lock the wheel, which will result in less control. If you really need to kick the rear end out to make a turn, do it with the throttle. As soon as you stop braking you are going to need instant acceleration, if you just had the rear wheel locked, there will always be a delay in power delivery, but if the power is already on, a simple shift of weight to the rear wheel is all that is required to blast you out of the corner
@@brandonnewman1018 You're obviously a newbie to motorcycles. You should do more listening and less talking. I'll make you look silly in a race. Re-read my post and try it.
Good tips for sure. Here's another one - get in shape BEFORE riding your dirt bike. I know I feel so much better when I'm down a few pounds and not sucking as much wind. That translates, at least for me, in to a more enjoyable riding experience.
I ride a heavy bike. I need to wait for the 2 stroke ktms to go all the way up the hills first or i'd run into them with the momentum i need to get to the top.
Also quick footnote: Danny Hamel was a wonderful human being! I was fortunate enough to call him my friend, but he was everyones friend again a most wonderful human being. He was probably the best desert racer of all time. He also probably sat 70% of the time when he was riding and racing. (But his bike was setup for his riding style) So you really have to do what works best for what gives you the most confidence what feels right for you? Again just sayin.
I will have to stand more. Being short 5'6"- 5'7" makes things so much more difficult... or it saps me of confidence and I keep dropping the bike. I am constantly fighting the bike, exhausting myself to the point of heat stroke in the past. Plus, looking down at the ruts is another area of improvement. It is amazing how little tips make a monumental difference. I recall riding in the sand once... deep sand, it was impossible, and my brother told me to keep my weight back and don't look down at the wheel. I tore it up after that.
One of the best tips he gave before he even started counting them, was ride with guys who are better [more experienced] than you and do what they do. Great tips all around Thanks we are watching in 2020 quarantine!!
Thanks dude! I've been riding street for 20 years and I just picked up a wr450f. Just took it out yesterday and the struggle was real. I was doing pretty much everything wrong. I've watched/listened to this video 5 times while I'm working. Going to pick up some elbow pads lol and going to put your tips to use. Thanks again.
Yep, been riding street 10 years, dirt is a Whole different game....my balance and Throttle/Clutch work are amazing, coming from 160hp bikes, but it's just "traction" and jumping over Logs that is tricky to adapt to......riding street, it feels SO weird being High up, and aiming FOR logs.....or potholes knowing you can soak them up now.
I've been riding for 45 years and picked up a few things new. Maybe my YZ400 wouldn't have hurt me in the early 80s had the internet been around. Thanks for making this vid.
I'm a mechanic and I have to say please don't shift with out using clutch unless you have an aftermarket rekluse clutch or other aftermarket slipper clutches yes there continues mesh but that's how bikes have been for a very long time you need to use at least a little clutch because otherwise it can damage the couch basket and disks you don't have to fully disengaged the couch but you should still use it partially I had a customer on a 2020 ktm listen to this guy and now I'm having to replace his entire clutch assembly
You should re title this. Top 10 beginner tips. I was hoping to get some good tips as I can tell you know what your doing. Could you do a top 10 tips for people that can ride, like fast already. I guess that's more of a course lol 👍😊
Great tips but this guy is soooo long winded!🙄 Eg the look ahead section.... Me: keep your head up and look as far ahead as you can! Look through the turns as far as you can and pick your breaking point! Great tips though. Thanks mate. 👍
I gotta say all this info is spot on, I just started dirt biking 2 weeks to be exact, I bmxed for 10+yrs though, bought a 2019 wr250fx and my first day was a challenge at first but towards the end of the day with all this advice given to me from my brother and his buddy I really started riding way better, luckily I live in the mountains and can practice a bit in my yard (not too much cause there's always those pesky neighbors that like to call the cops) but I went from dropping my bike in easy situations, to riding the expert trails the next weekend with my brother and his friends that have been riding since they were kids (they're 30yrs old now) so they're really really good. One thing they really wanted to nail into my head was slipping the clutch in really steep hill climbs while balancing it with throttle control so you don't bog the bike down and kill it or like you were saying lose momentum. It's crazy stuff, but with the right knowledge and understanding of the physics of riding you can get really far really fast. The rocky hill climbs with loose softball and up size rocks everywhere and the single track with one way to go and no other is when you really need to pay attention ahead of you, as far as possible. And riding on rocks in the rain you also wants to maintain momentum so when you hit rocks and your tire slides you keep going rather than get knocked around and put your foot down and then drop the bike. My brother and his friends are crazy though, so they have taken me into the gnarliest stuff and just explained all of this stuff to me so I had no choice but to just go for it! I'm not the type of person to just turn around and go back either which is the mindset you need for dirt biking. And don't worry about hurting your bike! It'll ruin your fun. I'd also suggest the cycra probends to protect your levers if you're a noob like me.
I’m just getting back into off-road riding after 30 years riding on the street. These tips were very helpful and articulated what I was in the process of relearning. Thanks!
Come ride Winchester trails in Oregon between Coos Bay and Bandon and tell me what you think of them. It makes you focus alot on technical work and momentum for certain!!!
After you learn the body positioning, how to work the controls, weighting and such to the point it is like second nature, the #1 thing to do is-----relax! If you can't relax, you will never go fast on a track or trail. When you get that feeling that you are "one with the bike", using little energy, (a feeling you can't get on any other machine), you will probably be going fast. :)
9:30 - thankyou! I'm sharing this to my friends. I'm 6ft6 and pretty new to offroading. I got myself an AJP PR3 - not the best choice with its low seat height ahaha - and I've been telling them I need risers (new to offroading, not new to biking), but they tell me I don't. When I'm stood up the bars are about 2" lower than I want them to be (tested standing on the bike on a paddock stand), but other than that I can't fault the bike at all, it's nice and light - always a bonus. I've watched a few of your videos now, but it's given me the urge to go out and ride (yep, we're in lockdown, nope I'm not going mad because my back yard is a woods which is pretty secluded and this PR3 has a quiet exhaust :D), so I'll have to watch more later :P Sub'd.
Have to disagree with not clutching to shift. Yes, they are constant mesh but if you don't clutch you are slamming the dog ears on the gears as the shift forks engage the next gear. The gear teeth between the gear pairs on the input shaft and output shaft are constant mesh but not the dog ears that mesh to engage a gear with the input shaft. Not clutching to shift will ware down your dog ears faster. Lots of videos out there showing this.
Ryan Hammerel shifting without clutching is fine, you dont do it while the engine is under a load. It takes practice and timing to do. Only time i clutch when shifting is when im downshifting multiple gears. There are videos that explain and back up what im saying too. What you are doing is going to wear out your clutch and or make it slip. Just to add something else- most if not almost all pro riders shift without clutching. It takes timing but its just fine, when the motor is under load tou will HAVE TO clutch to allow it to shift
Actually thats not true. Kyle is right. the throttle part doesn't need to happen. what is happening is all the gears inside a dirt bike are spinning at the same speed when shifting(constant mesh transmission) it puts as much stress on the gears as letting go of the clutch real fast would. the tranny is much like a double clutch system in super cars where they have a gear when you pull the paddle sifter it in-gauges an idler gear that gets the next gear up to the same speed before letting go of the paddle sifter to shift to the next gear. thats why they shift so fast. but dirt bikes keep all the gears spinning at the same speed. when your decelerating and you down shift if you pull in the clutch you start free wheeling and loose balance and your inertia that keeps you up right. that tension on your chain helps you balance.
Here's a good 3 part video where he actually shows you how the internals work. Not just some dude going through gears without clutching saying "see, it works so it's fine." What all 3 parts. Geared Bikes: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y3oMMW5XL2A.html
i know exactly how it works. its just like a double clutch just different system. im not saying it doesnt hurt the gears but it doesnt hurt them anymore then it would shifting without the clutch. if you ask any race team they say the same thing. i talked with the motor builder from pro circuit about it he said the hardest thing it is on is the clutch gear on the back of the basket. outside of the case half. i have about 300 hours on a bike shifting with out the clutch and had no issues. including 9 100 mile desert races.
Chris Brewer yeah i agree lol they always on new machines. However i said that to make the point that saying if a pro rider does it, that it must be an "ok" or "correct" thing to do. Trying to explain that is a pain lol. Be good and safe out there.
Thanks so much for doing this video Kyle. Your explanations and demonstrations have given me greater insight to riding better and safer offroad. Have had road bikes previously so learning the ropes and feel of offroad biking. Your explanations and demonstrations have been insightful and helpful, the best I've watched and listened to. Certainly going to improve my skills and enjoyment. Thanks heaps.
brian Im still growing(14 yo)Im curently at 6'3 my dad is 6'6 so lets say im going to be 6'6 too.Will I be able to ride dirtbike?? . I'm a too tall for motorcycles in general?(+ Im preety slim)
This was a great video. I've been riding street for quite a few years and just bought my first dirt bike and I've picked up so many great tips. Thanks very much!
Best tip I've ever got was from Jeremy McGrath. Bend at the waist, try to keep your boots vertical. weight the INSIDE peg with all your weight, let the bike flop to the inside, center your mouth over the outside grip and bend the outside knee forward and grab a handfull. This is how he road all fast bumpy sweepers. I weighted the outside peg for 30 years, because everybody said to, it sucks!
Good information, liked an subscribed. Only thing I disagree with is clutchless shifting. I could understand if it came down to making or breaking a race, but disagree from a longevity standpoint.
Pretty sure they all do, and always have. I would like to see a mechanic weight in this one because I just saw a bike buying guide that said this practice ruins the transmission, and I agree. The gears are always meshed, but the sliders are not. They have prongs on them, and slamming them in is going to wear them off. If there are syncos that might make the difference, but those wear too. Having all the mass of the rest if the drive train will make them wear faster, while the clutch would wear there instead. The replacement parts... He might be right, but I am not going risk it.
A tip Steven fordd taught me is a general rule of thumb, you should set your levers so they are in a straight line from your arm to your finger. If you know what I mean
Awesome tips m8 great great video not a dirt bike rider but an f800gs rider I think most of what you saying here also applies to heavier bikes like mine specially as mine got the fuel tank on the back and weight distribution is key Offroad also momentum super important on more beefy bikes as when you loose it you drop in traction straight after thanks for all advice very useful
You have to be showing this stuff in the field and not just talking about it. Hands on and visually showing these tips with comentary. Check out CROSS TRAINING ENDURO SKILLS ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-i7D2XDT57p8.html This is how it should be done...don't half ass it.
AWESOME Tips,, Ive been riding for so long,, just about everything is second nature.. Its difficult to actually put words to all of it... Great Job! SPOT ON! (Although I do have Bar risers LOL (strictly for comfort)) Keep making great videos!
Because lately I've been riding mountain bikes a lot more than dirt bikes I've become quite skilled on a mountain bike and not very good on a dirt bike. One thing I've learned from mountain biking is that although RU-vid videos are helpful the only way you can truly improve is through practice. It's funny because I watch these videos and say to myself, oh so that's what I'm doing wrong, next time I will do that better. But then next time I ride I end up having so much fun that I forget about it.🤣
great video & tips! of all of them, to keep my right foot sitting on the balls is the hardest one to get.... I always tend to have the tip of my foot right above the brake
Ok so I literally am 6 foot 4 and riding normal bars is pretty awkward (2000 yz250 smoker) should I try bar risers? For reference my legs are the long part so I'm TALL tall
Why can I not find a video that covers mounting / dismounting and coming to a stop on a medium to large Enduro or ADV? They appear to have 35" seat heights on average, when the average male American inseam is about 30" to 32". I look at these at dealers and won't even try climbing up on them.
The only thing I disagree with it bar risers. Some of us are tall with long waist and not so long arms. I’m 6’2” tall and 32” pants are too long. Without risers I’m hunched over without the ability to be straight up when standing. A little bar rise allows me to ride Linder. It’s pretty situational but I wouldn’t be afraid to use them if you are aware of why you’re using them and what the negatives can be.
I personally don't agree with standing up 70 to 90 percent of the time. I only stand up when I see rough terrain that could make me lose my balance or when I'll do a small jump, otherwise I sit down. Good video though, many important things...
I have a TRENDy question for you Kyle and rest of you guys! What do you think about the SPOKE WRAPS thing? I never used but looks like they will trap dirt and water and they will destroy the spokes In shorter time than normal. What do you think? Cheers
Sometimes I think there is a standard way of doing things that makes sense... in a perfect world and if they built motorcycles to a person's height specifications... then all the chime ins and input from shorter riders about risers etc would make perfect sense. However... regardless of correct geometry... if you are built extra long and trying to conform your unnaturally tall frame to function perfectly on a bike that was designed for a 5 foot 6 or 7 inch (170cm) individual... well, it's like trying to fit into a mazda miata when your 6'3" (190.5cm).... and not being allowed to move the seat back. Your comfort level on a motorcycle is an important factor when riding... and will impact, how much riding you can endure, your situational awareness (if you are not comfortable... part of your attention will be attending to it... meaning that your full focus is not on the ride itself) and will also reduce one's likelihood of feeling what the bike is doing under them and responding to it properly... as muscle fatigue can set in due to an awkward and unnatural body position. If you are riding competitively... or doing very steep inclines where weight over the handlebars is important... then perhaps precluding risers as an option might be the way to go... but if you are a casual noncompetetive rider that isn't going to be riding extremely aggressive, do yourself a favor and get the risers. I personally belive that your comfort on your motorcycle will balance what you will lose geometry-wise by contorting your Frankensteinish frame to a bike made for those who are certainly much smaller.
I let one of my buddies ride my bike 1 time. I was following his jeep and he ask to take my bike down a slick rock hill. He used to race so I let him. He has a problem locking the front brake. When the front brake locked he slid and just like you said. That tire turned easily and he broke my clutch lever off and ended my day of riding
You don't blip the throttle on upshift, you blip it on downshift. You drop the throttle in upshift. Giving people bad info that can fuck up their transmission.
Dirt Bikes & Ice Hockey hey I have a question I'm about 5 foot 10 and 220 pounds would a 250 or a 450 be better suited for me given that I have minimal riding experience
In general, I would go with a 250 either a 2 stroke or 4 stroke. Where you ride, what kind of riding and/or your experience should help in your final decision. If you have friends with different bikes see if you can ride them.
Dirt Bikes & Ice Hockey definitely leaning towards a four stroke because I don't feel like mixing fuel and I want better fuel economy and as far as the train I'm on is in mid to North Georgia so it's really hilly and a lot of clay type of dirt. So between the four stroke 250 and the 450 I was really wondering what would be best for my weight because I am heavier than the average rider
Austin Turner I will still go with a 250 or even a 350. I do here the new RMX450 is set up perfect for new to intermidiate riders. I think most MX 450s would be too much bike and you won't be happy. Again, I'm not sure if you are going new or used. One of my friends is 6' 2" and over 250lbs and he has an older husky 250 2 stroke and he has no problems in some of our hillier sections we ride. I know it's not the Appalachians but he has no problems. Ever think of a Beta 3 stroke with oil injection? Just a thought. You should be happy with a 250 4 stroke.👍
This does help... I haven't been on a dirt bike in 30+ years. I've had 4 wheelers, jet skis, ski boats & fast cars but not a single dirt bike. Not since 1984. It took a divorce & me moving out to the family ranch to want another dirt bike. I'm looking for one right now.
Great stuff! This is worthy of a second watch. im about 6'-2+ and have been running bar risers, a 10mm and a 15mm shim. I think I am going to remove the 15 and try that. they are comfy when standing, but sitting they feel a little high...get them bars down.
I am not so sure about no risers…should we all wear size 7 shoes??? I respect and have learned so much from you. Guys from 5,0 100 Lbs to 6’8 350. I just don’t think Lafferty etal are Ergonomic experts especially as they fit in the prototypical small guy MX body type. JMHO ❤
