First time riding DIRT!

#DirtBikeCourse #MSF
Kody is interested in riding dirt, so you can bet I jumped on that to sign us up for a class. Here we are taking one of MSF's many courses, our first DirtBike class at the Honda Rider Education Center in Alpharetta, GA. I've been riding street for 5 years and Kody rode street for about a year before deciding it wasn't for him. I hope to be a better rider and am taking all the riding classes I can get. Plus, learning is fun - and I want to keep practicing my skills the rest of my riding career. For me, learning doesn't stop at the certification class.

*This is a collaboration with the MSF and their training site at the Honda facility in Alpharetta, GA. They covered the cost of the class in exchange for a video on my experience. All of the views and opinions expressed in this video are solely those of myself and not representative of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation or the MSF Campus Alpharetta/ Honda Rider Education Center.*

What did we ride in the course?
Doodle: Honda CRF125F
Kody: Honda CRF230F

Who joined me in class?

What's my bike?


Gear worn in this video?

*Some of the above are affiliate links, to which I may get a commission if you make a purchase

Video recorded with:
GoPro Hero 7 Black, Hero 5, and my iPhone 11 :P

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PATREON

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INTRO MUSIC
"Follow my Wild Horse" by Caspe Copyright © Epidemic Sound

[DoodleOnAMotorcycle]

MAN, that was fun! Can't wait to do the trail riding class next! :D

[randallcl]

I agree! I'm one of the guys who got a dirt bike a couple of years before a driver's license and glad I learned to ride dirt first. Traction is most important on any bike and learning to ride and balance with reduced traction is key. I believe that dirt riding techniques saved my butt a few times on the road in the many years I've been riding.

[boomdawg]

I grew up riding in the dirt, I started when I was about 4 years old and never stopped, I am 55 and still ride dirt, it has saved my bacon so many times on the road. Your comment made me think about crashes I have seen and those watched on Youtube. If a rider goes into a turn and loses traction at the rear wheel, most of the time, he will either brake more to slow down and the already loose rear tire just swings further forward or they will try to stand the bike back up and wash out the front tire trying to stay on the road. The real answer is to just keep riding and reduce throttle to let the rear tire hook back up. Riding in the dirt is practice riding with no traction. I watched a video of you, I think, running on a flat track a month or so past. Running in circles, rear wheel spinning throwing mud and gravel through every turn. You weren't controlling the motorcycle with the brakes, you were controlling it with throttle and counter steering. Controlling the loss of traction.

[HARMARSCH]

Good Morning Doodle, This looked like you and Cody had a blast. Your enthusiasm for everything is infectious. Very cool that You and Cody did this together. See you on Friday when the next video drops.

[msims]

I started riding dirt bikes when I was 9 years old. I learned how to deal with dirt, rocks, sand, gravel, and all that pretty early. That was forty-ish years ago. I took about 30 years off from riding, but those skills that I developed back then helped me when I started back riding. It seems, at least in my case, that it’s easier to go from dirt to street than it is the other way around. My wife, who started out on the street, was terrified of the dirt at first. She’s doing better and gaining confidence, but it doesn’t happen overnight. I enjoyed the video, and I hope y’all end up getting dirt bikes!

[davejohnson]

This will open up whole new world of endless adventures for you! Riding dirt bikes and/or dual sport bikes on trails will make you a better street rider also. Have fun and enjoy your rides!! Dave J

[ttrguy]

Doodle
Dirt will teach you survival skills that will keep you alive on the street! The street riding is "Proactive' while dirt is "Reactive". The street is tight and predictable. The dirt is loose and unpredictable. I've been riding dirt since I was a kid. I had 12 dirt bikes before I turned 18. This will hone your mad skills and you and Cody can do this together! Keep riding DIRT!!!
Great video Doodle!
Ride SAFE and BE safe Lady!
👏🙌👌👍✌🖖🤙👋🙂

[goldenageofdinosaurs]

I’m so impressed that you are constantly trying to improve your skills. If more car drivers were like that, there would be far fewer accidents on our streets👍
And Cody’s a cutie patootie!😊

[TheFremenChick]

This is great. I started riding about 5 months ago so still learning. I just took my bike, little DR 200 dual sport, to the mountains and rode dirt roads this weekend. It was awesome. I didn't do anything technical but I was happy with how my bike could go pretty much anywhere. I can't wait to take a dirt course.

[terryboehler]

I'm happy you are on the dirt. It will make you a much better rider.

[wolfman]

This was awesome! You're so lucky to have a dirt riding class available, that's a great option and looked like a lot of fun! Love your enthusiasm! Waiting for the future dirt bike reveal now ;)

[jeremygudgeon]

Congratulations and it was nice to finally meet Kody! Hope he pops up on occasion in future videos.

[scott]

Nice! Glad you got the hubs out there! I grew up on dirt! Love it! You can be a hooligan on dirt and not go to jail or get ticket lol. 🤘🏼😎

[theChestnutMtnTinman]

I grew up in Yuma Az on a dirt bike in the desert and I agree that it definitely makes you a better street rider😎😎

[stephenbobic]

So glad you had a good time at the Rider Ed Center in Alpharetta! I taught Dirt Bikes there for almost 20 years before having to stop for a while due to injuries and too much work. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent at that place! I miss this place so much! Your coach is a good coach and great guy!

One place you will find that really helps on street riding is riding slowly under control, without putting a foot down. You will be amazed how much more control you have now!

[chrishorbatt]

Doodle, this was really well done video! Very entertaining, well edited!

[MrTraewilliams]

Doodle and Kody are getting dual sports. Looks like y'all had a lot of fun.

[boostedlss]

GOOD TIMES! I think your observation about street riders with dirt experience is correct. IMO it's about staying loose on the bike, dirt riding makes the bike jump all over and as a street rider I can understand your nervousness, street is all about grip, but for me, dirt is all about getting loose! Just know it's there, and ride it out on the throttle, that's the way I rock it!

[WRjockey]

I'm one of the many ppl who grew up dirt riding. I started around age 14, and rode about 4 years before I ever rode on the street. Never had a class in dirt riding, just learned by doing. By the time I got to the street, it was a piece of cake. You look like you both had a lot of fun! Hope to see the trail riding video!

[ODDjs]

I really do hope you get him riding, you already did the hard part and got him out and about