Top 10 Dirt Bike Riding Tips for Offroad and Enduro Dirt Bikes - Stop Sucking!

Want to be a better dirt bike rider? I have ten tips for you here. Keep in mind that these are in no particular order of importance. These tips are not the only things that you need to worry about, but they will all help, that I am sure of.

1. Stand up on the pegs - be in attack position - when it’s gnarly, steep, or rocky... stand up!
2. Weigh the outside peg of a turn
3. Look ahead! Keep your eyes up!
4. Carry more momentum
5. Bike Setup - bars, controls, and sag
6. Cover the clutch and brake - only one or two fingers
7. Don’t Skid the rear wheel - and don’t always clutch when braking
8. Point toes in - and position the pegs on the balls of your feet
9. Don’t clutch when shifting
10. Sit on the tank!

Sean Williams, David Mariotti, Dustin Rasmussen, Ryan Woodley, Jon Colson, Flo Motorsports, Nate Winget, Colin Trevor, Steven Brady, Cody Hopkins, Travis Winston, Steve Yurko, Keith Snow, Chad Cooper, Jim Bass, Nathan Weber, Mitchell Forrest, Sean Massier, Bill Bitts, Mark Fleischman, Brian Anderson, Dion Jaramillo, Ken Paulino, James Knifong, Paul Warner

[jaydb]

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!

[posterlion]

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!

[musschootski]

Thanks Kyle for the vids. This one particularly useful for a new, aging, beginner rider.

[bobmcgrath]

Very sensible and clearly explained tips, agree with everything he says.

Whenever I talk with someone who is brand new to riding in the dirt...I always say "Remember the 3 Ups".

1: Stand Up
2: Elbows Up
3: Look Up

That's easy for them to digest before going into more detail, as per the video, on each point.

Good work.

[EarthSurferUSA]

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 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. :)

[cannedgoods]

i like how he has a yamaha and honda flag but then a ktm bike

[XxemoXlifex]

Great tips. I'm a pretty small lady, just bought my first dirt bike to learn on. It's a brand new crf125FB and I'm fairly comfortable with just scooting around in first now, but I want to be a good rider and be able to tackle some nice trails! I'm going to continue taking it easy well into and after the "break in" period with that first oil change. So I'm learning slower more technical maneuvers. It's pretty easy to get a bike to highway speeds and cruise, trails and slow tactical riding is where I'd argue most of the talent is at anyways. Thank you for videos like this

[jbraz]

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!

[Redbullgivesuwings]

Dude i ride with my dad and i swear he just disapears and i catch up to him when he takes breaks at least he lets me take one too

[lukep]

“Trust me do not use bar risers” me uhhhh I have those. “Unless your 6, 4” my 6, 5 ass. Oh okay I’m good

[jessehoolihan]

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.

[blakevandenakker]

ktms are the only bike i can use 1 finger for the clutch. thats why i love them for the woods

[RichLaffertyRacing]

Rich Lafferty ? Hey I know him. Great video.. thanks for props sir.. if ever in Jersey hit me up for a free school

[mdbonde]

Great video. I didn’t know about the shifting aspect and the other tips were good too will have to watch again

[haydenw]

Tip number 11 buy a old trials bike and polish up existing skills then learn new skills to transfer to your enduro bike

[redneckgarage]

This video helped me out an absolute ton

[woodsrider]

Kyle... Enter a race and make a video..

[maurikunnas]

Thx dude! Really good tips and tricks! Great performace and notice that you are speaking with experience ;)

[tomnekuda]

You are touching all the points that riders generally have to learn the hard way. Good video.

[brandon]

This was a great video! A couple of my buddies who've been riding for a while gave me some similar tips out on the trails, but you went in to more detail and explained the "why". I appreciate instructional videos like this one!