There is plenty of fun and adventure to be had when participating in off-road motorcycling, but you will also face plenty of challenges.
As it’s different from conventional riding, off-road riding can be risky and safety should be your number one priority at all times.
1. Have All the Necessities
Have a pocket-size toolkit with you at all times as it will definitely come in handy if any mishaps occur.
You need to be ready for all the obstacles you may encounter so be sure to have a basic understanding of various repairing techniques.
2. Hold the Clutch Correctly
It’s important to keep control of the clutch while off-roading and be well-acquainted with its many functions.
Become accustomed to controlling the clutch with your index and middle fingers only so that you don’t have to constantly adjust your grip.
3. Thrust the Motorcycle in a Downwards Direction
You should always bend and thrust your motorcycle in a downwards directions as much as you can while off-roading, but be sure to keep your body straight.
This movement will help you easily keep control of the motorcycle if it begins sliding down.
4. Adjust Riding Style Accordingly
It’s best to ride slowly if your motorcycle is heavy, while a lighter motorcycle will be far more balanced when driving at a good speed.
When going through dips, exert force towards the back of the motorcycle, as higher power will be given to rear wheel and help push the motorcycle forward.
5. Avoid Front Breaks on Turns
The front brakes should only be given preference when you’re riding straight and without many obstacles.
However, you should avoid using the front brakes before taking any corners and rather drag the rear brakes or slide down your rear tire to reduce speed.
6. Stand Up
Not only does standing up make off-roading easier, but it will also bring the centre of gravity to the front of the motorcycle, as your body will be supported by the foot pegs as opposed to the seat.
Standing up is also a great way to reduce impact on landing.
7. Stay Focused
It’s of utmost importance that you stay focused on the path you want to follow as opposed to looking around for possible obstacles.
By focusing your mind and sight on a particular direction, your body and bike will follow suit. Be sure to practise plenty to avoid panic.
8. Sit Behind on Corners
At corners your body will naturally be pushed forward over the front wheel, however, this means an increase in resistance and corner speed which can be dangerous.
As such, you should always try to set far behind as this will make sliding the motorcycle as painless as possible.
9. Weight the Inside Peg
All you need to do when taking a turn is hit the inside peg and simultaneously deviate your body mass in the opposite direction to evenly distribute weight on the motorcycle.
This will teach you how to take control of the motorcycle’s direction without making using of the handlebars. Safety first!