Stay Upright - Off Road Techniques
We often have riders saying to us that they would really like to ride a trail bike, but are intimidated by the thought of riding on anything other than hard bitumen. There are some major differences in riding techniques for the dirt and the bitumen. So much so that quite often we get riders to our Advanced Courses who have had 10 years of riding dirt only and then discover the joys of touring on bitumen or the buzz of punting a GSX-R Suzuki around a racetrack! Conversely, when road riders experience the off-road scene, they are usually hooked! Once they understand that it requires a different technique (with practise) a whole new motorcycling world opens up. The following may help you understand some of the basic techniques to master off-road riding.
POSTURE
This is very important and often distinguishes an experienced rider from a learner or road rider. A road rider sits in a single position and usually with elbows down. Unless riding quickly, or on a circuit, he may move off the side of the motorcycle as he goes through a corner looking through to the exit and beyond. When on dirt, the rider is constantly moving around on the bike. Body position and weight distribution in relation to the bike will have a big effect on what the motorcycle will do whilst going into and out of a corner.It's most important that you understand that the bike and your body should work together - and work is what your body certainly does! It's much more physically demanding riding a dirt bike at speed over rough terrain than riding a road bike on bitumen.
LEGS
Your Other Suspension Unit - You should practise standing up on your bike and feeling the effects of the weight shift. Your legs are the biggest muscles in your body (unless you're in the WWE!!) and are your body's shock absorbers. Your legs can absorb a lot of the shocks transmitted by the suspension. If you sit down and try to negotiate some rough terrain, it's like your whole body is connected to the motorcycle's suspension. If the shock compresses, you go down, and when it rebounds your whole weight goes up. You'll have more control of the bike standing on the footpegs when crossing rough terrain. Also, it's easier to control the side-to-side movement of the bike when standing. It'll take some practise (and you will probably discover muscles you thought you never had the next day!), but using your legs is the key to good control.
The SEAT
You may wonder why seats on modern trail bikes go so far up the tank. Basically, it's to do with helping the rider keep the front end of the bike on the deck. The edges of the seat are also shaped to be square, so the rider can position his body on the edges when turning fast on flat turns. This is a technique that should be practised and is often the hardest technique for a road rider to adapt to. For flat turns, the basic thing to remember is BIKE IN - BODY OUT. Try to sit well forward on the seat and get your head over the crossbrace on the front handlebars with your elbows out and up high. This will help you get more weight onto the front wheel. In this flat turn, try and get your body as upright as possible - ideally 90 degrees to the ground.The trick to riding a left hand turn is to sit on the right hand edge of the seat as you lean the bike into the turn. More traction is achieved by your weight being directed through the bike's centre of gravity.
FOOTPEGS
Remember to punch down hard on the outside footpeg while in the turn. This will help the rear tyre to get more traction. Remember, left turns weight the right peg and the opposite for right turns. Use smooth power, too - any sudden burst of throttle use will result in the rear washing out from under you.
STANDING UP
By standing up on the footpegs you can maintain a position over the bike's centre of gravity much more precisely. The centre of gravity - on most dirt bikes - is a point just ahead of the footpegs. This helps to keep the bike more stable, hence you'll be in greater control, especially if you are travelling quickly across rough terrain.Try to keep your legs slightly bent, so when the bike moves underneath you, you can react correctly and absorb the movement through your upper leg muscles. Try to relax, let the bike move under you and let your legs do the work like big springs. Side to side movement can be controlled - to a point - by gripping the bike with your knees. It's amazing how much more control you have doing this.
Remember, the important points to developing a good off-road riding technique are that you must practise often in a controlled environment. Also, don't try any of the above at too fast a speed - build up the pace once you feel confident.
Until next time. . . stay upright in the dirt.
Warwick Schuberg
Stay Upright Motorcycle Techniques
