The continuous fascination of people with extreme sports has made dirt bike racing popular for young and old; biking at high speed in challenging terrains has adrenaline pumping and brings thrill and excitement. As a beginner, you might be overwhelmed with choosing the brand of dirt bike that’s right for you. Just like with other types of vehicles, dirt bike brands are chosen for their quality, features and durability. So the stirring question of a newbie is, what is the best dirt bike brand?

What Is The Best Dirt Bike Brand?

To answer that question, we’ve tabulated the best of the best out in the market, based on our own personal experience as well as of other dirt bike racers. The number one and best dirt bike brand is Yamaha and Honda.

 Yamaha started making dirt bikes in 1955. Since then it has gained the reputation of being the best in the world, a leader in innovation in dirt bike technology. They have a range of diverse products such as fishing boats, water pumps, multipurpose engines and car engines. But their excellence and craftsmanship is truly expressed in their dirt bikes. What makes Yamaha the best dirt bike brand? The suspension and superb handling put it in the number one spot. Racers and dirt bike aficionados really look forward to new Yamaha dirt bike models coming out. Yamaha’s popular models are the YZ-250, the WR-250-F and the YZ-125. They are light, small and dynamic. They’ve won race after race that make them stand out from other bikes, and racers truly value their quality features and durability.

Honda – The car manufacturer also makes quality motorcycles for different utilities including dirt bike racing. The quality that they put into their cars and heavy equipment for construction is also the standard of quality used in making dirt bikes. Their bikes are known for strength, power and long-lasting engines. Bikers who own Honda motorcycles commend them for the steadiness of their ride in relation to the power they can exert and pick up. The popular Honda dirt bikes are CRF-450R for expert riders and CRF-50F for kids and beginners. Each dirt bike model produced by Honda is known for its excellent engineering, stability even on hard to maneuver terrain, and no breakdowns while on the track. Stability, durable engines as well as good engineering and design make Honda dirt bikes a class of their own with value that’s good as gold to bikers.

Other Best Dirt Bike Brands

Now that we’ve covered the number one best dirt bike brand, whether for a beginner or an expert, let’s move on to the other brands that’ve proven their own place in the racing world and hearts of riders world wide.

1. Suzuki – Suzuki is one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world focused on vehicles and heavy equipment. They consistently supply the world with motorcycles of various utilities including dirt bikes – two and four wheelers. They also produce and distribute separate bike engines. In other words, the brand has established global authority in manufacturing motorcycles. Some bikers are so loyal to the brand that they will not ride other bike brands. Their noteworthy dirt bike models are DR-Z400 and DR-650. Suzuki brand motorcycles are also perfect for beginners. And a lot of experienced and professional bikers learned riding and maneuvering the different terrains and conditions using a Suzuki bike. Their most noted quality features are economy, both in gas and low maintenance. Suzuki is a stable brand that’s well respected by enthusiasts.
2. KTM – KTM is still a young brand compared to it’s Asian counterparts; established in 1992 in Austria. KTM also manufactures sports cars. It’s style and design puts it as one of best dirt bike brands. It is a well-accepted brand around the world. Their innovative design and technologies have created a fan base among biker communities. KTM became one of the best dirt bike brands in 2004 when they released their first model – KTM Sport Motorcycle. It is as popular as their road motorcycle series – Duke. The four-stroke engine and rear swing make it a formidable bike on the track even in forested areas. An added plus to the great engine and features are the look and style of the bike. It is considered eye-candy for bikers.
3. Beta – Beta dirt bike brand hails from Italy. Beta is a specialty bike manufacturer that’s been making motorcycles since 1948. They aren’t as big as the Japanese, German or Austrian brands. But they’ve made a niche as a top producer of high-end motorcycles. Specialty means they really pay attention to the design and craftsmanship of their product. They are set apart from other brands by producing dirt bikes with distinctive design and style as well as features. Demands for their product increased as their Beta Alp 200 and Enduro became known to bikers and the circuit. Their high performance level in motor cross races gained them a high quality brand reputation. Their bikes are praised for their first-rate suspension and balance; making them formidable on dirt tracks.
4. Kawasaki – Kawasaki dirt bikes are legends of their own as they are designed and made with aspiration for great performance on dirt tracks. They are recommended dirt bikes for beginners and experienced riders alike. All bikes carrying the Kawasaki brand are known for power, durability and being rough-terrain oriented through and through. They also have excellent handling, suspension and torque. Their most popular dirt bike models are the Ninja, 500SS, Mach III and the KZ 900. The brand and their product never go out of style design and performance wise on any dirt track.

These brands are the top of the dirt bike class for their performance and features that won races with handling of the best riders. They have also proven their durability, easy maintenance and long lifespan. Owners of these brands can attest to their long-lasting performance race after race. As a newbie, you just have to look and access what features and qualities that stand out to you.

Basic Points To Keep In Mind When Choosing a Dirt Bike Brand

As a beginner, choosing the right dirt bike brand for you can be overwhelming and confusing. Beginners are prone to making mistakes – but that’s how we learn. But to help you out in making the best decision when choosing the best dirt bike for you, here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. Be honest about your skill level. For sure what hooked you to motorbiking is test driving a great bike of a friend or family. But keep in mind your skill level and its equivalent in terms of bike performance. Stick to the average rather than going for high octane 450cc or larger motorcycles. The average range for beginners is 200cc to 250cc. Your mindset should be to learn more; hone skills and make as many mistakes with an average bike first and maximize your experience on the dirt road with it. 450cc is powerful and can take you to new heights for sure but will you be able to handle it properly without injuring yourself? Remember that it’s you riding the bike. Don’t let it ride you.
2. Size does matter. For sure you’ll spend a lot of time picking up your bike and getting back on it after getting dropped and toppled over again and again. This is the life of a dirt bike rider, even for experienced and professional racers. Choose the size and weight that you can handle and pick up without exerting too much effort and resistance; because this can be exhausting, affecting your practice and performance level. Pick a lighter dirt bike that’s just right for your build and height. On the other side of the spectrum, if you are a more than 6 ft. tall, you don’t want to ride a bike that’s within your skill level but the size does not fit you. You can’t compromise on size because you must have a level of “comfort” that will enable you to practice and learn. So, the lesson is, choose a size that will fit you based on your physical skill level.
3. Another point to consider is the mechanics of riding but also maintaining as well as repairing and troubleshooting. How mechanically proficient are you? A fact you have to face is the expenses necessary to ride and maintain a dirt bike. You must have the proficiency or know how to repair and do quick troubleshooting to thrive in this sport. If you aren’t skillful in repairs, look for a newer dirt bike brand that’s known for durability and low maintenance. Go for major brands that pack the power you want and are known for their long lifespan and low maintenance as well as availability of parts.

There are many aspects to choosing the best dirt bike brand that will fit you in any level you are in. Before choosing and investing in a sports motorcycle, you have to ask yourself what is your level of commitment to the sport and really plunging into it as a leisure activity for you and maybe even for your family. From this article, and previous posts you might have gathered that there is a level of commitment needed to sustain this leisure activity, from the dirt bike to the trailer to haul it to the race tracks. Time is also a factor. Learning the skills as well as maintaining your bikes will consume time.

Be patient and discerning in choosing the best dirt bike brand that’s right for you. Aside from learning about the different brands you can choose; consider your skill set in terms of riding, repairing and maintenance, your size and build and enjoy the process of learning in picking the best for you.

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A dirt bike helmet is one of the most useful things to have on you while taking your bike out. Dirt biking, no matter how fun or thrilling, is ultimately quite the dangerous exercise. Riding bikes of negligible weight at high speeds over dirt tracks does sound fun, but it’s quite dangerous. One of the most common injuries that can occur include a head injury. To protect yourself from them, a dirt bike helmet is required. A dirt bike helmet does not come cheap and is usually treated as a precious commodity by dirt bikers. No matter how expensive they are, dirt bike helmets do have a lifespan and need to be changed after a certain amount of time. The amount of time usually recommended for changing your dirt bike helmet is 3-5 years after use or 7 years since the production of the helmet. However, if you happen to be a part of a crash and sustain damage to your helmet, you should change it immediately.

Let’s have a look at what goes behind the decision of changing your dirt bike helmet.

When do Manufacturers Recommend Replacement?

Different dirt bike helmet manufacturers actually have different replacement time periods for their helmets. Every manufacturer develops their helmets in a different way, making their products different too. Therefore, different manufacturers offer different time periods for helmet replacement.

We asked some famous manufacturers about the time period they recommend for replacement, and here’s the answers we got:

O’Neal

O’Neal don’t particularly offer any time period for helmet replacement. According to them, the material they use to make their helmets has no risk of breaking down or disintegrating. However, after a period of five years replacement parts for their helmets are hard to find. Thus, five years would be the correct period of time to replace your O’Neal helmet.

Fly

According to Fly, their helmets should be changed after a period of five years since their production date. The reason for that happens to be the fact that the EPS foam in the helmets starts to harden and becomes unfit for use. Moreover, Fly suggests replacing your dirt bike helmet after a hard crash.

Fox

The people at Fox recommend changing their helmets after five years of use. No matter how long they have been in production, you should change them after five years of using them. Fox also recommends replacing their helmets after every hard crash, irrespective of visible damage or lack of it to both the exterior and interior of a helmet.

Bell

Bell recommend replacing their helmets after use for three years. Besides those three years, Bell also recommends replacing a helmet after any hard crash.

Troy Lee Designs

Much like Fly, Troy Lee Designs recommend dirt bike helmet replacement three years after the manufacturing date of the helmets. Moreover, much like any other helmet developer, they also suggest replacement after any crash or accident that may have struck the helmet.

These five manufacturers were chosen based on their popularity. If you happen to use helmets not manufactured by these five companies, contact your manufacturer when you can and ask them about how long you are supposed to wait till replacement time.

Do Different Brands Have Different Expiry Dates?

As you might have noticed from the information provided above, different manufacturers indeed have different expiry dates. While some, such as O’Neal’s claim that their helmets do not need to be replaced no matter how long you use them, manufacturers such as Fly do claim to have an expiry date on their helmets.

Some dirt bike helmet manufacturers suggest expiry dates that only begin after the helmet starts being used. Normally sitting around, a helmet retains its components and their qualities. However, once they start getting used, they incur wear and tear that is bound to affect their quality. For example Bell recommends replacement three years after use whereas Fox recommends replacement five years after use. It can be safely concluded that different brands do indeed have different expiry dates for their helmets.

When Not to Replace Your Dirt Bike Helmet?

As mentioned, a dirt bike helmet does not come cheap. It’s a major investment that you would want to keep with you for as long as possible. The word possible happens to define when you should not replace your dirt bike helmet.

There is no need to replace your dirt bike helmet when its allotted life period hasn’t run out. Some manufacturers advise replacement or change a few years after the production of the helmet. Other manufacturers advise that a few years after you start to use the helmet. Either way, the helmet does have an expiry date and you should not replace it before that expiration date comes along, except for a certain situation.

One situation in which nearly all of the manufacturers unanimously advise you to replace your helmet happens to be the case of a crash. Dirt bike helmets are obviously there to protect your from crashes. However, if you do end up having to need them in case of a crash, you can be sure that your helmet will sustain damage. Usually, this damage is visible and can be seen on either the interior or the exterior of the dirt bike helmet. However, a lot of times the damage isn’t even visible to the naked eye. It could have occurred to the foam inside and you might not even notice. Any damage to the padding or the foam puts your head at risk whenever you go out and ride again. Hence, do not end up changing your helmet before the expiration period unless if you happen to get into a crash.

Finally, another situation that may arise happens to be the lack of replacement part for helmets. Manufacturers update their designs every few years and you may not find replacement parts for your old helmet after some time. Therefore, until you run out of parts and can’t find them, there is no real need to replace your dirt bike helmet.

When to Replace Your Helmet

As previously pointed out, different manufacturers happen to have different expiration periods for their products. Some manufacturers suggest that their products need to be replaced after a certain period of time passes since the manufacturing date. Others suggest an expiration period that begins once you start using the helmet. In either case, you should follow the allotted expiration period and replace your helmet once that period of time passes.

On the other hand, almost every single manufacturer suggests changing their products after a crash. A crash on your dirt bike usually puts your helmet into use, and although the helmet will protect you, it will incur damage doing so. The damage that a dirt bike helmet incurs in a crash might not be visible, but it’s something that all manufacturers believe cannot be risked. Hence, replacing your helmet after a crash is a necessity for all dirt bikers.

Another situation that warrants replacement of a helmet is when you run out of spare parts. Helmet designs are constantly being updated and old designs are usually entirely scrapped. Therefore, replace your dirt bike helmets when you’re no longer able to find replacement parts for them.

Why You Must Replace Your Helmet After a Crash

The basic function of a dirt bike helmet is to protect you from head injuries in case an accident occurs. Obviously, an activity as dangerous as dirt biking involves a lot of falling down. You’re bound to fall on your head a few times at least. A head injury, as we all know, is life threatening and poses the greatest danger to a person’s wellbeing.

To keep them from happening a dirt bike helmet is designed to cover the entire head and offer each part uniform protection from damage or shock. In case a crash happens, your helmet absorbs both the damage and the shock from it. Both are bound to damage the helmet. Sometimes the damage is visible on either the exterior or interior of a helmet, and others time it is not.

You might reuse your helmet in the latter case thinking that it’s completely fine. However, even internal damage poses a great risk. Parts of your helmet’s protective foam might be damaged and won’t be able to provide the protection required for a part of your head. In case you get into a crash once again and end up landing on that part of your head, you’re risking head damage.

Hence, a crash cannot just damage a helmet, it can also decrease its protective capabilities. This negative effect on a helmet’s integrity is something that makes it a necessity for you to change it after a crash. Every single helmet brand advises you to change your helmet after a crash, no matter if it’s near to or far from its expiration date.

How to Inspect Your Helmet

To replace your helmet, you need to check if it’s damaged or not. To do so, regular inspections are a necessity. Furthermore, you need to inspect your helmet after every crash and every time your helmet happens to fall down. Here’s how you should inspect your helmet:

• Check Exterior

Check the exterior, especially the top, to see if there is any damage on top.

• Check inside

Check the inside of the helmet to look for any place where the foam might be getting weak or the covering cloth may be torn. In the latter case, the foam is exposed to the air and becomes hard.

• Check foam density

Run your hand on the inside of the helmet and check each of it to look out for any area where the foam density might not be normal. The foam needs to be firmly packed in all places.

• Check all straps and pads

Every single pad and strap must be intact and must be free from damage. No one wants their helmets to slip off while they are riding.

Should You Replace Your Helmet After Dropping It?

You might think that helmet damage is something that can occur at any time, such as when you drop it. That is not usually the case. A dirt bike crash happens at high velocity and sends you hurtling down at great speed and a lot of force. That’s how it incurs such major damage.

Dropping your helmet usually won’t damage it like that. A helmet is sturdy and just having it drop to the ground rarely causes damage to it. However, if you do happen to drop it hard or from an abnormal height, you should do an inspection of it just in case.

How to Keep Your Helmet in Great Shape

To give yourself the proper protection, you need to make sure that your helmet stays in great shape. To make sure that it does, you need to constantly inspect it and maintain it. Just like every other object, maintenance is a necessity for a dirt bike helmet. Therefore, you can only use it regularly if you maintain it properly.

How to Maintain Your Dirt Bike Helmet?

Maintaining your dirt bike helmet requires you to take care of certain things in an order. You need to follow the process each time you go for dirt bike helmet maintenance. The process usually advised for helmet maintenance goes like this:

• Clean It

Thoroughly clean each and every part of your helmet. This includes the outside, inside, and everything else that you find on your helmet.

• Polish the Outer Shell

The outer shell is either made of plastic or metal, and polishing both not only make them look good, but also clean them up of any unwanted materials.

• Take Care of the Plastic Parts

Check if all the plastic parts are intact. Fix them if they are loose and replace them if they are cracked.

• Comfort and EPS Liners

Both liners keep the EPS foam intact and protect it from damage. So apply them to keep the protection to your head intact.

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Why Dirt Bikes Don’t Have Kickstands

While some dirt bikes do come with kickstands, the majority do not, especially the very pricey ones. That might be surprising to you as any new dirt bike rider would expect to see a kickstand to support your bike while you are taking a break from riding or simply keeping your bike in the garage. Well, that is not always the case. Experienced dirt bike riders would tell you they don’t need a kickstand on their bikes because there is 1 less thing to worry about getting caught in vegetation as they ride. Some riders laugh and consider kickstands as a completely impractical dirt bike dress-up accessories, kind-a like ribbons on your handlebars. The real reason why dirt bikes don’t have kickstands is a weight saving. The heavier the bike the slower the rider goes.
Some riders complain about the annoying rattling sounds they make, so motocross riders would much rather avoid them.

• Weight Savings

Dirt bikes in themselves are heavy enough and while the heavier it is the harder it is to maneuver and it slows the rider down. If a motocross riders want to win they will do anything they can to shave few pounds off their bikes. Granted kickstands do not weigh that much, but it all adds up in the end.

• Kickstands Are Not All That Secure

Some riders avoid kickstands because they are actually less secure than a bike stand. They often fall over causing a lot of damage to the bike and who wants to deal with that. Imagine putting the bike on a kickstand on the dirt or any softer surface. You get the picture the weight on the kickstand while the bike leans on it on one side can sink in soft dirt and bike falls again damaging it.

• Safety Hazard

The very position of the kickstand makes it very susceptible to getting caught on things like vegetation on the side of the trail, especially when riding enduro, putting the safety of the rider in jeopardy. With a hundred plus parts on the dirt bike alone that can pick up vegetation, most riders don’t want to add on the burden of the kickstand getting stuck on things. The kickstand has the knack ability to not only pick but actually get stuck which can easily throw off the riders’ balance when riding on top speed.

Kickstands Might Get In The Way Of The Boot

There are some brands of riding boots that make it extremely tricky for riders to push down the kickstand down while riding the bike, especially on an incline. Boots that have solid plastic heel areas at the back of the boot with a very narrow rubber sole on the bottom are the culprits. Their design makes it very hard to get to the narrow rubber sole on the little stub and push the kickstand down.

Is A Kickstand Important On A Dirt Bike?

Since dirt bikes are built for sport, most riders agree that kickstands are not necessary at all unless you are using it for transportation as well. Nobody seems to have a problem supporting their bikes. A simple dirt bike stand, where you can set your bike on it after riding, should do the trick.

Parking A Dirt Bike Without Kickstand

There are several ways you can park or support your dirt bike without a kickstand when not in use. From bike stands, click-stands to even leaning it on the wall, you can never run out of alternatives. Fortunately, all of these solutions are easy and cheap. You’ll just have to pick the one that is best suited to your style. Let’s look in detail at some of the ways below.

Kickstand Alternatives/How To Stand Up A Bike Without A Kickstand

Dirt Bike Stand

A dirt bike stand is probably the most common alternatives out there. You can easily bring it with you on your truck when you go riding. When you are riding, you simply lift your machine onto the stand. They are readily available online.

Triangle Stand

A Triangle Stand works more or less like the bike stand but it is more secure. It has a wider base that makes it more stable. You will also find it easily online.

The Click-Stand

The click stand is another great alternative and it comes in two basic tubing diameters: the Mini 9.5 mm and the Maxi 11 mm. The Mini is ideal for basic unloaded bikes, while Maxi is best suited for heavy things like loaded touring bikes or racing bikes. Each stand is custom-made to the frame size of the particular bike and has one an option of choosing between four, five and six segments. The higher the number of segments, the shorter the stand will be when folded down and these vary from seven to ten inches.

The Upstand

The Upstand, similar to the Click-Stand, attaches to the bike’s rear wheel via a magnet. It is also made of connected sections of tubing and held with a rubber foot on the ground. When the stand is in use, the magnet attaches itself to a metal tab installed next to the quick release lever on the rear wheel skewer of the bike.

Lean It Up Against Walls

Of course, you always have the option of leaning it against the wall; the most cost-effective alternative to all the above. Most riders do this anyway; you might as well join the bandwagon. With dirt bikes, eventually one realizes there are always things to lean it against, even on the side of a jeep.

Is Kickstands Easy To Mount On The Bike And Take It Off?

Fortunately, kickstands are not difficult to install or take off if you happen to want one on your dirt bike. They come with installation instructions that are easy to follow. Step by step online videos and pictorial guides also come in handy and many are using them.

How Can You Secure Kickstand So It Doesn’t Open During Riding?

When installing a kickstand, you want one that has a retraction device, very resilient auto-retreat mechanisms that make accidental deployments highly unlikely. While the kickstand may shift slightly under heavy impact, that fleeting momentum is quickly overridden by the retraction device. This device is practically mandatory for off-road riding.

Is There A Disadvantage Of Not Having A Kickstand?

The only disadvantage really of not having a kickstand is if you actually use your bike for transportation. Still, there are those who use their dirt bikes for transportation (as they don’t own a car) and still swear by riding without a kickstand, nor do they wish for one.

Is There A Dirt Bike With Kickstand Already Installed?

Many older models of dirt bikes come with a kickstand including the Worksman Industrial Bike and the Honda 250x Trail Bike.

So if you expected your dirt bike to come with a kickstand and it doesn’t, don’t let this bug you and get tempted to go drilling holes in your bike. With or without a kickstand you now know what to do.

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Dirt Bike Jumping Tips For Beginners

Dirt bike jumping – so you feel comfortable enough with your bike that you want to consider it. Let me give you some jumping tips for beginners. Well if you have never done it before don’t rush and make sure first you really feel very very confident and comfortable on your bike. I am not going to beat around the bush jumping is a very exciting experience. Your job is to make sure that every jump is successful. If you have been interested in this sport for a while I am sure you have seen people hit the ramp and nose dive or worst so make sure you follow some simple but important tips to avoid any injuries or breaking your bones.

What Do You Need To Get Started Fast

A Proper Bike For Your Size and Weight

The very basic thing to do is to make sure you have a proper bike that supports your weight. I am sure you spent a lot of time on selecting the best bike for your adventure so I will not spend time on it however just wanted to make sure we get that out of the way.

Dirt Bike Jumping Gear

To ensure that you are thoroughly prepared for the experience, you need a complete set of protective gear. You need an approved helmet, chest pads, jersey, goggles, and a neck brace before you do anything. Safety should be always your number one concern. Don’t take it lightly. Now, You’re Good To Go!

How To Jump On a Dirt Bike?

Dirt bike jumping for the first time can be scary and overwhelming. If you don’t want it to be your last, then start with small jumps as you work up to bigger ones. If you are ready for your first try to make sure to your bike is on the right gear and keep the line straight so you don’t hit the ramp on the weird angle so you end up falling before jumping.

Jumping Body Position

Footwork always pointing forward, use more of the bulkier part of the foot, not the hills. Position your knees in the middle of the bike so you have access to things. Knees should be squeezing tight both sides of the bike.  Hips should be positioned over the foot pegs. Your upper body is probably the most important part and it should be at about 45-degree angle from the ground. Elbow should be in a neutral position so you can lean into the steep phase or drop back to something that is little more mellow.  Overall you want to have a very neutral feeling on the bike. You don’t want to be too much forward  or too far back

Keep the throttle even and you can accelerate a little as you leave the up-ramp. Practice enough time and once you get better you can back off the throttle just as you leave the up-ramp which will help you direct the front of the bike down for landing over steeper jumps.

Throttle Delivery

Please do not go aggressive with the throttle at any given moment. When you are just learning how to jump you want to be as smooth as possible as it will give you a nice bike level in the air. If you accelerate too much that can send you into an air-wheelie style jump. If that would, in fact, happen to correct that lean as forward as you can, pull the clatch in a tap the rear brake to try to pull the front of the bike down. Hopefully, you are not upside down already as that will not work.

Helpful Tip

Find a jump to practice hitting in 2^nd gear using half throttle before moving up to 3^rd or 4^th.

Make sure you don’t back off the throttle too much when hitting the up-ramp as you probably guessed right, it would send you into a nose dive and that one is worse than air-wheelie. If that happens you must lift the front wheel back up by spinning the rear wheel as fast as you can by accelerating in the air.

Landing Safely

There are a couple of different things that will help you. One is your knees should always be squeezing the bike while in the air and on the ground. That helps in the flow of the jump. Number two is finding a nice smaller jump where you can physically see the landing. This will not only help you with depth perception but also with how fast do you need to hit it.

How To Land To Absorb The Impact?

As mentioned above use your legs to help absorb the impact and remember to keep your elbows out and wrists straight. It is because you want to spread the pressure evenly through your shoulders, chest, and arms. This is done to protect your wrists.

It is recommended to accelerate little just before your landing to direct the bike in straight line.

As a beginner, I advise you to start on very small jumps and don’t push yourself too far so you don’t hurt yourself.

Landing is the most crucial part of your bike jumping. By following common sense safety rules you protect yourself from severe crashes that might be life-threatening.

Positive mental thinking while bike jumping will not only help you stay focused but also provide you with the inner energy you need to keep moving.

To make your practice and training time more effective, you can ask a professional bike rider to help.

Do You Land Front Wheel First, Back Wheel First Or Both At The Same Time?

The answer will not be that simple because it all depends on a type of jump. The best advice when starting I would tell you to land with the bike closely matching the level of the landing area.

Inspect Your Jumping Zone

Make sure to inspect your jumping zone to ensure that it is safe to use. Check to see if there are people, animals or other obstructions and hazardous objects along the way. Ensure that space is sufficient for the task and that you’ve got a safe landing point and then back up about 50 feet from the back of your jump ready to set off.

If you are jumping the ridge of the hill make sure there is no one else coming your way so you don’t hit each other. It can be deadly.

Does It End Here?

Congratulations on your first try but it doesn’t end there. Practice as many times as possible. As you do this, you’ll start feeling more comfortable and you can keep building up the height of the jump.

Do You Feel Confident Enough?

At this point, you are now confident about dirt bike jumping and it shouldn’t be boring. Why not add some tricks. If you are capable of jumping 30 feet off the ground, then you can add a trick one at a time. Start with the basic tricks first as you progress to more complex tricks.

If you feel like you’ve got all the confidence and capability to do it like a pro, you may join in a competition and team up with other bike jumping professionals. There’s a lot you can learn from them as you further your dirt bike jumping experience.

What Are The Safety Tips For Dirt Bike Jumping?

Before you start jumping take your bike for a few laps around and get the engine to warm up. Since you will not be doing high jumps take some time getting comfortable with the idea of jumping. It is as important to feel confident mentally as physically. Remember it all starts in your head. Don’t rush it.

How To Deal With Unexpected?

If you end up with the bike going sideways in the air, do not panic but keep your body in line with front suspension and accelerate before landing. That will help you straighten things out.

If you come up short or case out remember to stay on the bike revving the bike hard before landing to tighten the chain and stiffen the suspension. A bike should be used to absorb the impact and not your body that can only take so much before snapping.

Safety

Knowing what to do in case you encounter a challenge while bike jumping is the best safety measure you can ever take. Learn the basics first.

How Do You Know If Dirt Bike Jumping Is The Thing For You?

Everyone would definitely love launching a successful jump and fly in the air – including you who are reading this article now. But how do you know if it is the thing for you before you get started? I cannot answer that for you but what I will say is you must always remember that your safety comes first. You can still enjoy dirt bike riding without jumping at least for a while if you don’t feel confident enough.

If you decide that you will do it no matter what, avoid fear – it is the worst enemy of bike jumping. Get some solid education (use a youtube video to start and talk to a professional), believe in your ability to master the game, be confident, follow instructions and be ready to start small but stay focused to your goals. With all that in mind, I am confident that it will be fantastic. See you there.

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How To Winterize a Dirt Bike in Two Easy Steps

You should get plenty of time out of your dirt bike, and it should hold its value extremely well, as long as you give it the proper maintenance. One of the most important steps to proper maintenance is getting it ready for the off-season by winterizing your dirt bike.

Winterizing a dirt bike is simple but very important if you want to enjoy your bike year after year. It’s a straightforward process that will eventually become second nature.

For a quick rundown, the two first steps you need to take to winterize your bike are simple and easy:

1. Put some fuel stabilizer in your bike’s gas tank and run the engine to get the stabilizer all the way though. This should take about two minutes
2. Take off the battery and put it on a smart charger for the entire off-season.

 These first couple of steps are by far the most important and will end up saving you money down the line, but there is much more that you can do to get your bike ready for the winter. The following article I wrote should serve as a step-by-step guide to winterizing your dirt bike.

Step-by-Step to Winterizing a Dirt Bike

It’s never a good feeling putting up a dirt bike for the season, and many of us (myself included at times) put it off for as long as possible. However, it’s an extremely important process if you don’t want to spend more than you should on bike maintenance each year and if you want to ride as early as possible in the spring. The last thing you want is to get all set to ride and realize you’re bike isn’t ready on the first nice day of the year.

Simply having the mindfulness to follow the first two steps should save you the cost of a battery each year. However, if you’re as thorough as I like to be with my bikes, you’ll want to follow this step-by-step guide.

Especially if you’re new to dirt bikes or have run into trouble when winterizing them in the past, you might want to go through the full winterization method I’ve written up and either take notes or print it off.

Step One: Put Fuel Stabilizer in the Gas Tank

Since gas only stays good for around 4-6 weeks, you’ll want to get some feel stabilizer in your tank to preserve it. Another option is completely draining the tank, but adding the stabilizer is much easier.

The good news is that when you’re putting fuel stabilizer in your dirt bike, you can use the same product that you’d put in your car. There’s no need to go to a specialty shop. Any auto parts store will have exactly what you need. Putting the fuel stabilizer in the tank will help to preserve the gas over the off-season.

Step Two: Run the Bike for a Couple Minutes            

You’ll want to run your bike for a bit after you add the fuel stabilizer so that it can get disperse through the engine, and also warms it up in preparation for the oil change (Step Four). Two minutes with the gas on should be plenty.

After that, you should turn off the gas and let the bike run until it dies. This makes sure that the carburetor is dry and keeps it from getting grimy in the off-season.

Step Three: Turn Off your Gas Tank

Next you should turn off the bike’s gas tank. The key benefit to doing this is that it seals the fuel system, preventing any leaks or evaporation.        

Step Four: Change the Oil and Filter

While the bike is still warm from running the fuel stabilizer through, now is a great time to change the oil. The used oil in your bike at the end of the season will have a number of corrosive elements in it, which can break down the engine if left sitting stagnant in the off season.

Changing the oil filter now compared to at a later time doesn’t make much difference, but I usually throw it in with my full winterization overhaul on my family’s bikes at home.

Step Five: Wash Your Bike

Just like with a car, the longer you leave it dirty, the harder it is to get looking like new later on. While you’re getting you’re dirt bike ready for its hibernation, now is a great time to get ride of some of that caked-on mud that you’ve been ignoring all season.

In addition to the aesthetics you should get in some of the nooks and crannies too. A lot of people will recommend using a pressure washer on a low setting, but if you don’t have one, or are afraid of damaging your bike, a little elbow grease will work fine. Dish soap can be put to use on some grease and oil, and for the tougher or hard to reach spots, a toothbrush or wire brush will work just fine.

It’s important to remember that any water left on metal parts could potentially rust them, so you should make sure that everything is either dry or lubed up (Step Six) to keep the bike in good condition while it’s in storage.

 Step Six: Lube the Chain and any Cables or Pivots 

To prevent rust after washing the bike, you need to make sure to lube the chain as well as any cables or pivots. This is to prevent your dirt bike chain and the other moving parts on your bike from rusting. Feel free to be generous with the lube, you can’t use too much.

Step Seven: Change the Spark Plug

Now is the perfect time to remove your old spark plug and add a new one. While you have it out, it might be a good idea to put a small amount of oil into the spark plug hole. Once you have the small amount of oil in, start up the engine slowly to disperse it throughout all the moving parts.

 Step Eight: Replace any Other Old or Broken Parts

It’s there’s some broken or worn down part on your bike that you’ve been living with it, now is a good time to replace it. You’ll definitely thank yourself once the spring rolls around and you’re able to uncover and ride without waiting for a part to come in.

Step Nine: Air Up the Tires

Next step is to check your tire pressure and air them up to the specifications.

Step Ten: Remove the Battery and Put it on a smart charge

If your bike doesn’t have a battery, you can obviously skip this step. If it does, you’ll want to remove the battery and put it on a smart charger in your garage for the entire winter.

If you were to leave the battery on your dirt bike, it would gradually drain itself over the offseason, and eventually be left with no charge at all. Once these batteries lose their charge completely, there’s a good chance they wont work at all and you’ll need to buy a new one. It’s a good investment to simply buy a smart charger and remove the battery for the winter.

Step Eleven: Put the Bike on a Stand

You should definitely store your bike on a stand over the off-season. The main issue with leaving it sitting on the ground is two-fold:

1. This puts unneeded pressure on the suspension and could cause serious damage.
2. Storing your dirt bike on a stand keeps the tires from deforming over time.

If you don’t have a stand, it’s a worthwhile investment! If you’re storing your bike in an often-used area of the garage or shed, a stand also makes it less likely that the bike will be knocked over by you or one of the kids.

Step Twelve: Cover Your Dirt Bike

You just cleaned the thing, why would you want any dust to gather on your bike in the off-season. If you cover it, even with an old sheet or two, then when you go and get the bike going in the spring, it should be in perfect condition.

This also serves as a deterrent to thieves if you have a street-facing garage. Crime and garage break-ins are prevalent even in the best neighborhoods. Covering it will make it blend in with the rest of the garage and keep any potential thieves from seeing exactly what you’ve got.

Conclusion

Following this list should serve as a full-service guide to winterizing your dirt bike.

It’s never a good feeling dealing with the changing seasons and sometimes that last ride comes up quicker than we’d like it to.

However, if you follow this guide, your dirt bike should be ready to go as soon as the weather breaks in spring and it’s time to fire up the engines again.

All you’ll need to do is put the battery back on, check the tire pressure, and you should be good to go!

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How to Safely Carry Extra Fuel on a Dirt Bike

While you are out there taking long rides on your dirt bike, you may need to carry extra fuel in case you run out and need to refill your tank. Storing extra gas can be hazardous if you don’t do it properly. So, make sure that you are transporting the potentially dangerous fuel in a safe manner to avoid any nasty accidental explosions. Make sure that the items you buy to store it in have been tested and approved by dirt bike riders, ensuring that accidents don’t happen. The three best and safest ways you have of carrying that extra fuel are as follows: a high capacity desert tank, fuel bottles carried within a holster strapped to your dirt bike, and inside a saddle bag carried on the plastic tail portion of your dirt bike.

High Capacity Desert Gas Tank

The factory installed gas tanks which dirt bikes come with tend to be quite small, with the majority of them having a capacity to carry 2 gallons or under, the aim of the small gas tanks being to keep down the weight and bulk of the dirt bike, making it conform to the way it is advertised. However, a considerable number of dirt bike riders switch these small gas tanks out for larger ones, ones with considerably higher capacities, capacities of up to and over 4 gallons of fuel. This allows them to store extra fuel in their dirt bikes in a very safe manner.

Fuel Bottles

Fuel bottles are another excellent choice when it comes to transporting extra gas safely. As usual, you can buy good quality bottles for this purpose from Amazon. I recommend their MSR fuel bottles. They are made out of metal, protecting the bottles from punctures. They are easy to open, requiring only a push and a twist. The bottles are also leak-proof, preventing any accidents from occurring, a cost effective and cheap solution to your fuel storing needs.

Store Your Fuel Bottles in a Saddle Bag for Safety

Saddle bags are a great way to safely store your fuel bottles. Many saddle bags come with separate compartments for holding fuel bottles. This saddle bag with a bottle holder from Amazon is especially designed to store fuel bottles on motorcycles. It goes on the left side of the bike on the swing arm. It is an excellent choice when it comes to storing your extra fuel, as it can easily be carried on your dirt bike without getting in the way.

Holsters to Store Fuel Bottles

If you’re not willing to spend that little bit extra on saddle bags to store gas for your dirt bikes in, you may consider buying a holster to do the job for you at a cheaper rate. You can store the same MSR bottles in the holster instead. There are lots of good quality holsters available on the market, some coming with plenty of attachments and straps, making them easy to affix to your dirt bike. Some people simply store their holsters underneath their handlebars, along their gas tanks, sideways, an ideal location, where they don’t get in the rider’s way.

How not to Carry Extra Fuel

There are a few ways that you should positively not store spare gas because of how unsafe they are.

First of all, never wear the extra gas on your person. If you’re storing your spare gas in your jacket, vest, hip pack, waist pack or back pack, you are definitely doing something wrong; the gas doesn’t belong there; there is a risk of it spilling on your person, sparking, and catching on fire. And trust me, you do not want to have to remove fuel that’s caught on fire from your person! Just avoid doing it.

Don’t store more fuel than you need. Store only as much as you need. Going overboard with how much you store is a bad idea. Storing spare fuel entails an element of risk.

Make sure that you store your extra fuel in containers that are fully sealed and are not going to leak. If the containers don’t seal the fuel properly, or if they can leak, the safety hazards are simply too great to tolerate.

In order to store your fuel use only those containers that have been designed for the purpose. Don’t use containers that have not been specifically designed for the purpose. You may run into some websites out there that recommend storing fuel in soda bottles, used bleach bottles, or Gatorade bottles. Recognize the folly of such advice for what it is by using common sense. Using these kinds of containers is extremely hazardous.

The extra fuel you store is likely to go bad if you leave it stored between rides in containers. Don’t do it.

It is shocking how unsafely some people store their fuel. There is a video on the internet of a man who stored spare gas in plastic vials, affixing these vials to his vest when he started to move around on his dirt bike, resembling a suicide bombing terrorist. Needless to say, this was an extremely reckless way of carrying around the fuel, one that could have resulted in an extremely painful death for the person concerned. All that was needed was for the fuel to spark; one tiny spark, and that could have been the end of him. Having that image in my mind makes me want to reiterate emphatically that one should never wear fuel on one’s person, whether it be on one’s vest or in one’s backpack. I strongly believe that the fuel must always be stored safely in a separate pouch and placed somewhere on a dirt bike and never on the rider him/herself.

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Dirt Bike Braking Tips & Techniques. How to Stop Faster

Having a good solid braking technique helps a lot in improving your dirt bike riding abilities. Some people brake too much, others too little; some brake too late, others too early; some brake at the wrong time, others in the wrong place; and some people don’t know how to balance the use of the front and rear brakes.

Braking: What You Should Understand Before Making A Mistake

If you’re a beginner at dirt bike riding, know that falling is a part of the process of learning. It may even happen quite often, possibly each time you ride. But don’t let that discourage you; remember that mastering how to ride a dirt bike is something that takes time, dedication and patience. However, having said that, you don’t want to fall unnecessarily. You can avoid this by being aware of a few basic errors that beginners tend to make with their braking. Just be mindful of these, and your control over your vehicle will increase exponentially.

Don’t Brake Too Early

One of the mistakes that beginning dirt bike riders make is to brake too early, especially when going around a corner. This is particularly disadvantageous if you’re racing, taking up valuable time, as it does. What you want to do is to attack the corners, going deep into them before braking, not braking before that. Slowing down when approaching a corner can cost you more time than you would at first think.

Front Brake Why You Should Depend on It

70% of your dirt bike’s stopping power comes from the front brake. When you use your brakes, use them firmly, pressing down on them hard; don’t press on them uncertainly; be strong, certain and decisive. You generally want to apply both breaks together, but if you have to make a sudden stop, you can rely on the front brake to do it for you.

Roughly 75% of your braking should be applied using the front brake. Sometimes people avoid the front brake out of fear that their front wheel will lock up. But the best brake occurs right before the front wheel starts skidding. So, the fear is one that you’ll have to face.

Practice is really important if you want to perfect your braking technique. In order to practice, you will need to find a surface that is consistent and smooth. During practice, be sure to apply the brake hard, just enough to start the front wheel locking up. As your practice improves your riding skills, try to actually lock up your front wheel, maintaining your balance all the while. This will come in handy when you hit patches of loose terrain where the front wheel does lock up by accident.

As you get better, practice the front brake on mixed terrain, getting a sense of how to apply the front brake differently on different surfaces. Always keep at least one finger on the front brake, or two if you’re just a beginner, to help apply the maximum brake every time.

Rear brake

The rear brake of your dirt bike is used mostly for directional control. Run your rear brake pedal low, as low as you can. Keep your foot on the rear brake pedal, so that you don’t have to move it much at all when you want to press on the rear brake. This allows you to brake quickly if needed, permitting you to react faster. Setting up this way is not ideal for riding on downhill sections, but it works in tight trails. Running your rear brake pedal really low allows you to have greater reaction time and better control over your dirt bike compared to setting up higher.

Practice is really important, especially for beginning riders. One great way to drill your rear braking skills is by employing the rear brake to plop your bike back down after a wheelie. Find an empty space, slightly uphill, where you can practice. Perform wheelies there through an interplay between your throttle and rear brake. In the beginning perform small wheelies while in the first gear. Once you get the hang of doing this in the first gear, try the second. Focus on performing controlled and smooth wheelies. This will undoubtedly improve your riding skills.

Engine Brake: How to Use It

Engine braking refers to the slowing down of your vehicle by using the retarding forces inside in an engine rather than the external braking mechanisms available, such as the front and rear brakes on your dirt bikes. Engine braking would allow you to apply the brakes without using the front or rear brakes. Sometimes, it’s as simple as rolling your hand off the throttle. More often however, it refers to moving from a higher to a lower gear, creating a slowing down effect on the bike. Engine braking isn’t a question of right or wrong. It simply comes down to personal preference.

Braking Point

Your braking point (not to be confused with breaking point) is, as the name implies, the point at which you apply the brakes, particularly when you are going around corners. Most riders tend to brake too early when it comes to corners, wasting valuable time if they’re racing. Therefore, braking points are particularly important to riders concerned with speed or riders who are looking to participate in a race. What you want to do is to pick a rather small endure loop, marking out the places where you are applying your brakes. Have a friend measure the time it takes you to get around the entire loop. Once you have a sense of how long you are taking for each loop, start moving your braking point markers forward, so that you brake at a later time. Stop moving the braking point markers forward once you start overshooting corners, getting the minimum possible braking distance on every corner. Measure your time again. You will be pleased at the improvement.

Braking Hard: Safety First

While you want to apply the brakes firmly, you don’t want to jam down on them hard all at once. This can create safety hazards. Applying your front brake hard will not cause your bike to skid uncontrollably. It will, however, skid uncontrollably and probably throw you off if you jam your front brake really hard. Make sure you apply your front brake in a progressive manner, progressing from a gentle squeeze to a hard one in stages. This way, the bike may still skid, but it will skid in a controllable way.

The rear wheel, on the other hand, will skid easily upon application of the rear brake, with most of the weight being on the front wheel. If the rear wheel skids when you apply the rear brake, simply make sure that you keep your eyes on where you want to go. Don’t panic under any circumstances.

Brake Sliding: What is That?

Brake sliding is a technique usually applied in dirt bike racing, where the rider releases the front break while applying the rear break, causing the rear wheel to lock up, the bike skidding or sliding for a certain distance before which acceleration is applied again. Brake sliding is used to shorten corners or increase the distance of the straight. It is often used to overtake other riders in a race. This technique is not for the casual rider, as it requires a lot of practice and experience.

Standing Through Braking When is That Allowed?

You should, generally speaking, be in a standing position when you apply the brakes. The position you should be standing in is called the central standing position. It involves positioning your feet on the foot pegs, from where they can easily access the foot levers. The bike should be gripped using your knees, keeping them slightly bent, positioned close to the tank’s bottom. Keep your back arched slightly, arms up, elbows forward, head above the handlebars. Keep a finger or two over the brake and clutch levers. This will possibly feel weird in the beginning, but with practice it will start to feel natural.

Use both breaks together in a smooth manner. Don’t use jerky motions to apply the brakes. This can cause the wheels to lock up, throwing you off, particularly if you’re going at high speeds. Use engine brakes to help you slow down.

Seating Position When Braking Good or Bad?

As a general rule, you should try and maintain a central standing position while you’re out riding your dirt bike. But it does sometimes depend on the terrain you’re riding. If you’re on tight, twisting trails, you may find yourself sitting more often than if you’re riding on a wide, expansive terrain. However, while braking, you probably want to remain in a central standing position. Otherwise the damage that the impact of braking would cause to your privates could be quite painful. Better to let your knees and legs absorb the shocks of braking.

Extreme Descents: What to Watch For ?

When you’re riding on extreme descents, you want to make sure that you maintain the proper body position (standing) and always look ahead. You may occasionally move your hips to the fender of the bike when the descent gets very steep. This will elongate your elbows; keep them straight but don’t lock them out. Keep your body fairly loose; steep descents tend to tense riders up.

Use both brakes while on steep descents, with greater emphasis placed on the front brake. Use the rear brake to stabilize your bike as it goes downhill. Keep one finger on the clutch, ready to pull it in should the back wheel threaten to lock up. If you’re heading down at a little bit of speed, consider using engine brakes to slow the bike down and prevent the rear wheel from locking up. Don’t apply the brakes when the descent becomes very steep, but let the bike build up speed. Apply the brakes again when the terrain flattens out a little.

If the terrain gets so steep that it feels unsafe to ride on, paddle your way down with your feet. If it feels too steep even for that, switch off your engine and walk your bike down. Remember to always put safety first.

Braking While Cornering You Better Learn That

Braking while cornering is tricky and requires lots of practice, particularly if you’re going to be racing, looking to turn your corners as fast as possible. Make sure that you are in the right gear and have applied your brakes before getting into the turn. This is particularly important for clockwise (righthand) turns, where you need to remove your foot from the brake to extend it for the turn. Make sure that you apply the brakes gently, without stomping on them too hard or suddenly.

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Ultimate Dirt Bike Trailer Buyer’s Guide

If you are reading this article chances are you want more information on what, how, and where to buy a dirt bike trailer for your weekend warrior machine. Chances are you want to ride your bike, but likely can’t in your neighborhood unless you are living on a farm or off the beaten path. But in any of these cases you’ll still need a trailer to haul it to motor-cross events and locations to enjoy your bike with family and friends. It can be quite confusing choosing the right trailer for you, your needs and of course, how much you can afford. There are two types of trailers – open and enclosed. These are different from other flatbed trailers with key features to accommodate the hauling of dirt bikes for long distances.

• Both types have tracks to keep the wheels of the bike/s from sliding side to side.
• They have tie down features to hold the bike/s in place and avoid getting knocked down while the vehicle is on the move.
• They either tilt or have built-in ramp/s for easy loading and unloading of the dirt bikes.

Open Vs. Enclosed Trailer

Before getting into the nitty gritty of trailers, let’s get the basics out of the way – open versus enclosed trailers. Here we’ll cover the pros and cons of each one and let you decide which is best for you.

Open Trailer

• Open dirt bike trailers are hands-down more economical than enclosed ones in two ways:

• • It is definitely cheaper because less material is used.
  • It is also fuel-efficient because it causes less impact on the mpg (miles/gallon) as air can pass through, which consequently causes less drag.
• An open trailer is easier to tow because you have a 360-degree view of the road and surrounding areas when you are parking and thus it is easy to backup and check on cargo while driving.
• It is easily customizable for the least amount of cost.

Open dirt bike trailers also have disadvantages that should be considered:

• Exposure of the bikes to the elements such as wind, dusts, rain and extreme heat from the sun. Most users of open trailers use a plastic cover to keep the bike snug and protected.
• At anytime, if not tightly secured, something might fall off.

Enclosed Trailer

For enclosed trailers, there are 3 types out in the market, but for dirt bike hauling, the best is the flat face or round face trailer. Here are its advantages:

• Enclosed dirt bike trailers protect the cargo from the changing climate/weather conditions and from prying eyes. Rain, dust and high temperatures can be damaging to the bikes during the drive, especially for long distances.
• Less likely for equipment or objects such as gears to fall off during the trip. Keeps things securely in place as most trailers have locking mechanisms to hold things.
• There are wall spaces to hang your gears and other dirt bike paraphernalia that needs to be upright.
• It can still be custom fitted to maximize the use of the trailer for your motor cross needs.

Enclosed dirt bike trailers also have disadvantages that can stop you halfway before buying:

• The cost of enclosed trailers is the number one consideration as they can be twice as expensive as open ones. Plus your towing vehicle can chug up more gas/diesel because of the impact to mpg – caused by the drag.
• You have zero visibility on the rear view mirror, so you have to rely on the side mirrors during turns, backing and parking.
• You have to check the cargo inside the trailer from time to time to make sure everything is securely in place.

Other Types of Trailers

Other types of dirt bike trailers are either open or enclosed types. Their differences are usually seen on the other functions.

• Dirt bike camper trailers are camper trailers with hard floors and higher roofing to accommodate dirt bikes. They are made from fiberglass or aluminum with reinforcement for extra protection. Their mpg factor depends on the height of the roof and enclosing feature. Campers come with a four-wheel drive feature that makes them ideal for rough roads. Prices can vary depending on their add on features, such as bedding, built in kitchen, and spaces provided for provisions, including motor-cross equipment and gear. There is a huge supply of second hand campers that you can convert to include provision for the dirt bike. Like any enclosed trailer, it’s best advantage is storage once not in use. The dirt bike is protected and secured in the camper. You don’t have to unload it or the equipment when once you get home.
• Dirt bike cargo trailers are actually cargo trucks converted to house dirt bikes. This is ideal for people with multiple bikes; and those willing to shell out money to buy a cargo truck and customize it to house and keep dirt bikes in. Cargo trailers are customizable to fit three or four bikes in comfortably with wheel chocks, overhead straps and footing chains to keep them upright and prevent them from moving during transport. Cargo trailers have the same advantages and disadvantages of any enclosed trailer. It is for people with multiple dirt bikes; convenience in storing a number of bikes plus their equipment. You don’t have to worry about the bikes year round plus you save time loading and unloading multiple bikes. They cost more than any type of trailer because they also include the truck vehicle so it’s really more of an investment than just a hobby tool to tow your bike to tracks.
• Stand-up dirt bike trailers are open trailers that are foldable and easy to store when not in use. They come in single to three bike provisions. You can load up to 3 dirt bikes of different sizes. It has the capacity to tow up to 1500 lbs. Like most open trailers, the stand-up keeps you fuel efficient and economical as it is less expensive than an enclosed trailer. The problem with open trailers is the time consumed loading and unloading, plus with stand-up trailers, you still need room in your garage or a storage unit for proper storing of both the dirt bike/s and the trailer. It is ideal for hobbyists and people with more storage space.
• Aluminum dirt bike trailers are usually the enclosed type. Aluminum is lightweight, so it’s to tow relative to weight. Aluminum is thinner and easily damaged so it’s best to line the insides of the trailer with plywood to prevent punctures. It has the advantages of an enclosed trailer. It can be used to store the bike all-year-round.
• In case of a second-hand dirt bike trailer, check the body and the tires if they are still useable for the long haul. Check for cracks, the tire threads, the flooring and rust. Depending on how much the trailer has seen action hauling and how old. Cracks, rusts, weld faults and damaged edges means the trailer need a bit of bodywork and paint. Worn out tire threads means replacing the tires and the spare to ensure your safety in towing. You also have to consider the flooring as old trailers often use wooden floorboards; check for cracks and rotting boards. Before buying, make a checklist and the amount of money you’ll need for repair. The second-hand trailer could cost you more than a brand-new stand-up or an open one in the end and will just end up in the junk shop.

Dirt Bike Trailer Sizes

Size is important in choosing a dirt bike trailer. It is the number one mistake people make when they buy trailer that doesn’t fit their needs, especially when transporting multiple bikes. Another consideration is the parking of the trailer when not used, if it is the right size to fit the garage or just the driveway without worrying about scraping your other vehicles when parking. Yes folks, size does matter whenever dirt bike trailers are concerned. Some people make the mistake of purchasing the wrong size and end up reselling it right away, losing money and time in the process.

2 Dirt Bike Trailers

The usual size for two-dirt bike trailers is 5 feet by 8 feet. These are often loaded running the length of the trailer. They’d fit in perfectly as the common size for an adult 450cc is 3 feet wide with the handlebars and 7 feet long. Turn the handlebars slightly facing opposite each other to avoid hitting one another during rough terrain rides. Some dirt bike owners feel that it’s more practical to load these onto their pickup trucks because they could fit in snugly with a bit of room for everything else. But for car or SUV owners, a trailer is a must, even just for one bike. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the wear and tear on your vehicle that really costs more than a trailer. So, for the sake practicality, it is better to invest in a trailer to keep your vehicle maintained, even when you are roughin’ it.

3 Dirt Bike Trailer

Although it is probable to haul 3 adult size dirt bikes in a 5-foot by 8-foot trailer, they would be too snug and hard to tie since you can’t really maneuver around them because the trailer would be tightly fitted by the cargo. And you have no other option than fitting them running the extent of it. The perfect size for hauling 3 bikes is 6-feet by 10-feet. Since there is more room to move, instead of loading them running the span of the trailer; you can load them diagonally. This gives you more room to move and fit other things too. 6-feet by 12-feet is another option to consider because there would be more room to move but also to store gears, equipment and other items you want to bring along. More importantly, you can load the bikes in any angle or position you want.

4 – 5 Dirt Bike Trailer

In a 6-foot by 12-foot trailer, it is easier to load 4 bikes with room to spare for equipment and gears. You can still fit in 5 bikes into a 6×12 but it will be a tight space that you’d barely be able to close the door even if you place them diagonally. So, instead of going getting a longer trailer if that’s still possible, opt instead for a wider one, preferably 7 or even 7.5 feet wider. This way, you can fit in your babies diagonally and still have room for storage. But you have to consider the provisions for parking because your garage or parking space might not fit a wider trailer.

Before buying a multiple dirt bike trailer, consider the parking space and the number of bikes you want to load. These are the top 2 considerations when looking for trailers when hauling more than one bike.

Dirt Bike Trailer Axle – Single or Double

Depending on which axle school of thought you’re inclined to, single or double (tandem), it really doesn’t make that world of difference because the common capacity of an axle is 3,500 lbs. And with a TTR-250 weighing 260lbs, 4 or 5 of these loaded in a trailer will not damage the axle, even if you also take into account the weight of gears and the trailer itself. There are those who are more comfortable with a double axle because the trailer tows straighter as it’s more balanced. But a double axle also requires buying 4 tires whenever they are worn out. So, a single axle is more economical.

Small or Big Tires for Dirt Bike Trailers, That is the Question?

Another question that dirt bike trailer seekers ask is the size preference of tires. Trailers with low beds are easier to load – that means getting smaller tires such as 8 inchers as opposed to bigger ones. They are also a lot lighter and less costly. Plus, they are better for riding rough terrain because of their lower height. Having a trailer means extra cost in maintenance, because small tires spin faster than larger ones, and you have to take care of the bearings.

Dirt Bike Trailer Key Checklist Before Buying

Now that we have the basics out of the way there are still key considerations you have to think and take note of when choosing the right dirt bike trailer for you.

1. Consider the size and the number of bikes you are hauling. Look for a trailer that’s the right size for your needs, the things you need when you go to the tracks including gears and equipment, plus the size of the bike/s you are hauling.
2. Before buying the dirt bike trailer, take a look at your towing vehicle – make sure it is powerful enough to tow the trailer and the cargo inside without giving up on you right in the middle of the open road. Another consideration is to have the right connector – make sure you have the right tow ball for the trailer connection.
3. Consider spaces for storage. For sure you have other things such as gears, helmets, tools and basically your whole garage. Some people find it convenient and more organized to keep all motor-cross equipment and paraphernalia in one place when not in use. A dirt bike trailer can be that all-in-one storage space to keep everything you need in one place, without the worry of losing something; and saves you time hauling these back and forth.
4. Make sure that your trailer is fully equipped with a spare tire and it’s own jack in case you encounter a flat tire.
5. For enclosed trailers, it’s good to have interior lighting for night loading or unloading; or early mornings.
6. Eventually, loading, unloading and positioning the bikes will cause scrapes, scratches and holes on the interior of the trailer. You can prevent this by lining the walls with ¾ inch plywood.
7. Curved roof enclosed trailer allows for water from rain or snow to slide off, preventing it from getting stuck on the roof. A flat one can collect and get water stuck at any part that can be a little bent. So a curved one is better.
8. It is good to measure interior and exterior dimensions of the dirt bike trailer before buying, to make sure it fits the parking space you have in mind aside from the number of bike you wish to load. On the exterior, you include the fender and bumper when measuring the width and length.

Trailer Accessories You Need to Secure Your Dirt Bike

You’ll need the right accessories to transport your dirt bike to tracks and places you want to ride and have fun. Having the right transport accessories for your trailer will give you peace of mind while hauling your cargo. Here are the accessories you can choose from to keep your bike securely in place during the road trip:

1. First one on the list is a ramp. Don’t try to prove you are strong and can lift everything because you will end up breaking something, either your bones, the bike or worst – both. Whether you are regularly riding or not, a ramp is essential. Make sure the ramp you purchase has the loading weight capacity you need. Choose aluminum ramps, they are lightweight but strong enough to hold a specific weight capacity. These ramps are used for loading other equipment including snowmobiles, lawn mowers, garden tractors and other sporting vehicles such as ATVs. Most ramps are also foldable for easy storage and transport.
2. Tie downs are important to securely keep your dirt bike in place and standing during hauling. Securing the bike removes your worry whenever you make a sharp turn, drive through a pothole or swerve. Loosely secured bikes are unsafe and dangerous not just for you but also for other commuters/drivers. Make sure your tie downs are sturdy enough to hold the bike upright and will not fall over, and if you are bringing multiple bikes, the tie down will ensure they don’t bump into each other while being hauled, even on rough roads.
3. Dirt bikes need the extra protection from sliding and other unwanted movements during rides to and from tracks, events and places to ride. Wheel chocks give the extra security you want in transporting your cargo, preventing the wheels from moving forward or backward; fastens them to stop any sideways movements. The beauty of wheel chocks is they are designed to be permanent or detachable depending on your purpose, whether the trailer will be the permanent home of the bike/s or not or if the trailer is also used as a utility trailer or used for other purposes.
4. For open trailers it’s never enough just to have tie downs. Keep your bike very secure with a lock strap with stainless steel cables inside the strap. It has a security code to keep the bike or any equipment/motor cross paraphernalia secure from theft.
5. A high roller tie bar kicker is useful for hauling multiple dirt bikes. It usually has easy to install hardware.

The post Ultimate Dirt Bike Trailer Buyer’s Guide appeared first on Dirt Bike It.

Dirt Bike Arm Pump – 15 Tips and Tricks to Prevent It

Arm pump, oh no – the nightmare of every motocross rider but can you avoid it? There are physical injuries that can be expected while in pursuit of adventure and adrenaline rush in extreme sports. While such sports involve spectacular stunts, they also require a high level of physical exertion, which increases the risk and severity of injuries to the upper limbs and sometimes to the entire body.

Dirt biking is a good example of an extreme sport that not only exposes the body to twists, turns, jumps, bumps, but also to G-forces than that can have potentially damaging effects on the brain and bone structure of the racer.

Even when practicing safe riding techniques such as wearing full-body protective gear, your whole body is still vulnerable when dirt bike racing and injuries are bound to happen. One such common injury is the dirt bike arm pump, also known as Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome (CECS) in technical terms.

This condition affects motocross racers that mainly use their grip, which leaves it susceptible to injuries associated with high horsepower bikes and rough riding conditions.

What is a Dirt Bike Arm Pump?

An arm pump injury occurs along the forearm due to a pooling of blood that creates pressure. It’s this build-up of pressure that negatively affects the mechanics of the muscles and therefore, makes it impossible even debilitatingly painful for a rider to control the throttle, brakes, clutch and affects his or her ability to hold onto the bike. While arm pump isn’t life-threatening and usually doesn’t cause lasting damage if you get appropriate treatment certain factors such as a racers age, repetitive impact activities as well as overtraining can increase the risk of developing this condition.

How an Arm Pump Feels?

You would think that it would be great to be in a career that gives you rock hard forearms. However, this condition has been responsible for countless race track crashes because it causes a racers arms to feel like a concrete block, making it impossible for them to pull the brake or clutch lever.

The rest as you can imagine goes downhill quickly because if your ability to hold on to the grips and most importantly shut the throttle off is compromised in any way, no amount of protective gear can prepare you for what comes next.

Muscles Used in Motocross

The core muscles, which provide support for the whole body are the most important to concentrate on because inadequate strength on the obliques, abdominal muscles, hip flexors and spinal erectors will make it challenging for a rider to maintain a good riding posture and prevent lower back injury.

Additionally, having strong arms and shoulder muscles as well sufficient wrist and hand strength is important because they enable a rider to be in control of the bike while performing cringe-worthy and sometimes emergency maneuvers and stunts at high speed and over challenging terrain.

Signs of Dirt Bike Arm Pump

Due to the physical demands of riding that place enormous stress on a rider’s fingers, hands, wrists, and forearms, the obvious and most common symptoms to be expected with Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome will include but not limited to the following:

• A momentary tightness, tingling, numbness or weakness of the hand or arm
• An arm pain that starts within minutes of riding and then goes away 10 or 20 minutes or so afterward
• Forearm muscle swelling as a result of strenuous exertion or herniation

Causes of Arm Pump

Arm pump is sometimes confused with less serious injuries such as tendonitis, which makes it hard to diagnose even miss it in entirety. Being used to extreme sporting activities may cause an athlete to exercise through the pain as a coping mechanism. However, this has been shown to exasperate the condition, lessen recovery time after exercise over time and even lead to permanent muscle or nerve damage – which is every extreme sports enthusiast worst nightmare.

Arm pump is brought on by the blood’s inability to leave your forearm as it normally should, which often leads to a back-pressure build-up that compresses nerves and muscles and consequently causes a loss of elasticity to the forearm compartment. The inability to fully contract your muscles can happen to anyone, however, because every extreme rider is susceptible to arm pump at one point in their career, the condition can be prevented with a few of the following remedies:

1. Warm up Before a Race

The importance of a good warm-up before any workout, let alone before a race cannot be overstated enough. Not only does performing pre and post workout exercises play an important role in prepping the body for activity, even a five to ten-minute warm-up has been shown to be the most effective ways to help athletes maximize their athletic performance and aid in post-workout muscle recovery.

Warming up increases oxygen delivery to muscle tissue and aids in the removal of carbon dioxide, which is a harmful toxin especially when it comes to muscle performance.

A regular warm up before a race will also raise your core temperature for optimal flexibility, which will, in turn, lessens stress on the joint and tendons while riding. It also increases your heart rate to not only minimize stress on your cardiovascular system but to also allow in an increase of adrenaline, an important hormone that helps with a healthy heart rate and blood flow throughout your body.

The immediate impact of an adrenaline surge will lead to various responses in your body, such as an increase of glucose production that you need for energy. Adrenaline also heightens our fight-or-flight response to situations that are high-stress, dangerous or physically exhilarating – an important adaptation mechanism that is beneficial to extreme sports athletes that allows them to better cope with various situations during their performances.

2. Performing Regular Supplementary Workouts

When done in combination with regular endurance sessions, supplementary training such as HIIT workouts, mobility exercises, cross and strength training will all contribute to your aerobic fitness without any additional pounding to your muscles and joints. Research shows that an upward of 75% of athletic injuries are the result of overuse, which applies to all endurance sports such as dirt biking.

High-intensity interval training workouts can improve athletic endurance and performance because not only are they generally short and hard bouts of exercises but they also include periods of recovery in between.

Mobility exercises, on the other hand, promote efficient and economical movements in workouts and are beneficial for racers who are required to have adequate mobility through a particular range of motion without any major hindrances.

Building strength by following a regular strength training routine will also reinforce your risk of developing injuries, such as those caused by muscular imbalances during dirt biking performances.

3. Staying Hydrated

Electrolytes such as sodium, calcium, and potassium play a critical role in allowing cells to generate energy and they move water and fluids within the body to improve muscle contractions and a host of other activities from the lung, brain and heart. Keeping electrolyte concentrations within the normal limits involves stimulating the thirst mechanism when the body gets dehydrated.

Proper hydration, during training and race days for dirt bike riders, will prevent a sodium imbalance that can cause cells to malfunction during a race and lead to confusion, weakness or lathery. Hydration will also ensure that calcium levels are controlled and keep hypocalcemia-related symptoms such as weakness, muscle spasms, and heart rhythm disturbance at bay during races.

Hydration also ensures that riders do not experience the most common symptom of dehydration, which is cramping due to a lack of electrolyte and exasperated by excessive water loss from sweating. While there isn’t much an athlete can do in terms of how much sweat they lose during races, however, regardless of the temperature and activity levels, it is recommended to drink between 16 to 20 Oz of water to replenish the water lost during training and to keep the body’s electrolytes balanced.

Also, avoiding coffee, sugar, including a few well-known energy drinks that have dehydrating ingredients on race day will go a long way to minimize your risks of experiencing dehydration-induced arm pump.

4. Nutrition

Arm pump is mainly caused by a backup of blood coming from the heart into the forearms. A heart-healthy diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, 100% whole grains, healthy oils, low-fat milk products, and healthy proteins will keep you and most importantly, your blood healthy.

Food such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, mackerel, salmon, avocados, and almonds or drinks like green tea, grape, cranberry, and pineapple juice have been shown to be natural blood thinners. On the other hand, while vitamin K-rich foods such as leafy greens, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, eggs, and liver are great for bone health, this vitamin is stored in the body because it is fat-soluble and helps with blood coagulation.

Too much of VK may lead to various complications such as causing a further backup of blood to your forearms thus leading to arm pump.

5. Avoid a Sedentary Life

The human body is designed to be in constant motion so as to get our nervous systems fired up and we need to move our bones and muscles as frequently as possible to keep our body functioning at its optimal capacity. Being a sedentary athlete poses a lot of harmful health and physical risks, especially for someone who takes up a physically demanding sport such as dirt bike racing.

Aside from the obvious health-related risks of inactivity, such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and heart disease, athletes are also susceptible to loss of flexibility in the arms, hip flexors, and low back. A sedentary lifestyle is also bad news for an avid athlete because it can also lower their metabolism, which in essence means that your body’s ability to break down fat slows down significantly or shuts down.

Inadequate exercising may also lead to muscle weakness, atrophy, and poor grip strength, especially in athletes whose main aim is to boost their overall performance. Exercising even when your body is screaming for you not to will improve overall circulation and consequently keep your heart healthy consequently alleviate arm pump.

6. Find the Right Bike

It’s recommended that in order to enjoy your riding experience, looking for a bike that is compatible with your height, for starters, will ensure that you don’t experience pain and discomfort on your legs, back, neck, wrists, and forearms.

7. Get Regular Riding Lessons

Whether you are a professional or a novice at dirt biking, it’s important to have all your maneuvers on point in order to minimize your risks of suffering from arm pump. Getting a few pointers from a skillful riding coach on a few and important bike handling skills will ensure that you are always in control of your motorcycle.

After all, the best way to react to any given situation during racing is through anticipating what’s ahead of you and knowing how you and your bike are going to respond. Launching a 200-plus pound bike and then coming back down unscathed calls for courage, a whole lot of arm and leg strength as well as proper body position, which takes years of practice. Therefore, in addition to learning from your favorite pro-riders, getting a few coaching lessons will go a long way in terms of perfecting your skills and as you get better, your risks of suffering from arm pump will decrease significantly.

8. Ride More Often

The best way to prevent arm pump is to improve your overall physical performance, including your bike handling skills by making it a habit of riding as often as you can.

9. Adopt the Standing Position

How you position your body when riding a dirt bike will determine how well you soak-up hits from rough terrains. It’s recommended that you place more weight on your legs than your arms by adopting the standing position, which granted can be challenging, but it’s the easiest way to not only prevent losing control of the bike, but this position will also take the pressure off your forearms and consequently mitigate arm pump.

Also, it’s very common to see beginners keeping a death grip on the bars or straighten their arms while riding a dirt bike. Doing this not only restricts blood flow to the forearms, but it’s during this process that you are starving your extremities of oxygen and will consequently lead to arm pump.

Additionally, the more relaxed you are, the easier it will be for you to be in control of your bike and you may also avoid crashing and injuring yourself and fellow riders.

10. Adequate Rest and Sleep

Dirt bike racing is one of the most physically and mentally exhausting sport there is. It requires you to be at your best in regards to your muscle tone and strength, which also includes being in a good head space in order to prepare yourself for the pressures of a race track not to mention the physical agility needed to maneuver and handle a heavy piece of machinery with finesse.

A lot of things are working against you while riding and physical and mental exhaustion is to be expected after the beating your body receives. Therefore, in addition to a nutritious diet, you need to get some much-needed rest both before and after a race not only as part of your recovery plan, but also to reduce your chances of suffering from arm pump and to prepare your body for future training.

11. Massage

A good head-to-toe body massage is one of the most effective ways to relieve delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) that occurs after you overloaded the muscles during your quest to get fitter and stronger. Nothing relaxes a sore body after a rigorous activity such as dirt bike riding like a good massage. It not only improves blood flow and reduces muscle tightness, but it also reduces the production of cytokines in the body, which play a critical role in inflammation and stimulates mitochondria cells that are vital for energy production and essential for cell function and repair.

12. Bike Maintenance

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s one aspect that’s often overlooked by many dirt bike beginners. Perform routine maintenance after every ride will not only keep your dirt bike running at its potential, but a finely tuned bike is less likely to cause accidents and goes a long way to ensure its safety and longevity.

Cleaning and lubing the most important controls of your bike such as the throttle and clutch, chains and sprockets as well as the suspension will not only protect them from wear and tear but will also ensure that your machine is equipped to handle both your weight and skill level.

13. Wearing the Appropriate Protective Gear for Motorcycle Riders

The key words here being “protective gear for motorcycle riders.” While wearing protective gear may not prevent the obvious bruising you may get from the impact of taking a tumble while riding, taking preventative steps of wearing safety gear including proper clothing, helmet, and protective padding is arguably the most effective ways that can help you keep severe injuries at arm’s length.

Your dirt bike clothing should have adequate padding that will ensure the safety of your entire torso. The gloves should be lightweight, provide an excellent grip of your bike, and most importantly, allow for a great amount of flexibility in your hand and fingers to ensure that you can safely hit the brakes and the clutch too and prevent you from slipping off as well.

Adequate padding is your body’s first line of defense for any impact that it sustains. An ideal setup should include knee and elbow pads, knee braces, and a chest protector too. You should also invest in a pair of goggles to protect your eyes from the dirt and debris while riding.

14. Stay Focused

It’s very easy to get distracted or lose focus while on a dirt bike trail. Keeping your head in the game is essential not only for your safety and those around you, but having the ability to concentrate by adopting certain pre-ride techniques will ensure that you are fully in tune with your bike, which will also help you anticipate various surprises on the track. You will also stay engaged and perfect your clutch, shift or braking skills, prevent injury and have fun while at it.

15. Arm Pump Remedies

Exposure to vibration, suspension shock, wrist extension from turning the throttle will inflame tendons in the palms and eventually cause a variety of forearm issues including arm pump syndrome. Early inter­vention methods include:

• Applying at least 5-minutes of cold therapy to your sore arms after riding to reduce inflammation and soft tissue damage
• Investing in quality muscle warm-up & therapy creams such as Real Time, Topricin FIBRO, Penetrex, as well as 4Arm Spray, or Biofreeze cold gel that deliver fast muscle relief, reduce stiffness and lactic acid build-up
• Taking arm pump supplements that are specifically designed to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, reduce lactic build, speed up muscle recovery, and increase strength and performance
• Additionally, using a self-therapy device known as the 4arm strong to apply pressure to key muscle groups on your forearm has been shown to be effective in stretching and training your forearm muscles to handle the strains of riding better as well as to reduce arm pump-related pain and discomfort incurred from repetitive motion

You can also mitigate arm pump by performing forearm workouts that will keep your blood flowing such as

• Biceps-and-triceps supersets
• Reverse barbell curls
• Triceps dumbbell kick-up
• Close-hands push-up
• Wrist curls etc.

Arm Pump Surgery

Maintaining adequate forearm strength and blood circulation is important if you want to avoid getting arm pump surgery. A fasciotomy may set you back between $1,000 to $6,000 without insurance and while it will improve the discomfort, it can be avoided altogether by increasing the facia elasticity through strength training exercises and performing forearm massages that promote blood flow.

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How to Downshift on a Dirt Bike Safely With or Without Clutch

In my experience with Dirt Bikes and Dirt Bike racing, I’ve come across riders of all experience levels. A debated topic among newcomers and experienced riders alike is whether or not you need to use the clutch when downshifting on a dirt bike.

You don’t, but it wouldn’t hurt. A number of riders I’ve encountered have been on bikes longer than I have and have never once used their clutch when down shifting.

Others always use the clutch when downshifting on their dirt bike.

I’m writing this article in hopes that it can give new dirt bike riders a comprehensive overview of downshifting on a dirt bike, and so that experienced riders can find some more information about whether or not it is necessary to use the clutch when downshifting on a dirt bike.

When do you shift on a dirt bike?

For new riders experienced in driving with a manual transmission car or motorcycle, downshifting should come pretty naturally to them. For those riders who have never had to shift in their life, there may be a bit of a learning curve.

To keep it as basic as possible, you shift “up”, or to higher gears, when you need to go faster but the bike isn’t accelerating with the throttle. At this point, you should see a high amount of RPMs and feel the engine working, but with no real result in acceleration. This is when you want to shift up.

Conversely, you want to downshift on your dirt bike as you gradually decrease your speed. 

To shift, you’ll pull the clutch bar on the left side of the handlebars and use your left foot to move the “stick shift” of the bike, which is on the left side. The stick shift will be just in front of the boot peg on the left side of the bike. To get into first, you’ll need to press down with your boot, and then to shift into higher gears, you’ll push the shifter up with your boot.

Then, when you downshift, you push the shifter down with your boot.

As I mentioned in my introduction, the clutch isn’t entirely necessary when downshifting a dirt bike. When shifting up into higher gears, the throttle and engine will be putting torque, or a twisting force, and pressure on the gears. This makes it necessary to release the pressure using a clutch, so you don’t damage your engine.

What is a Clutch on a Dirt Bike?

Just as in a manual transmission car, the gas and brakes are together on the right and the clutch is set off on the left. The clutch lever on a dirt bike will be on the left hand side of the handlebars, and resemble the brake bar on the right.

I don’t want to intimidate any novices with a full lesson in engine mechanics. For the sake of keeping it simple, I’ll say that a clutch is a connection between the always-rotating engine and the sometimes-rotating gears and tires.

If you want the engine to rotate faster, you give it gas, but the individual gears can each only rotate so fast. When the engine is rotating, it puts pressure and torque on the gears. If you shifted with this torque, you’d grind away at the metal. So you have two solid parts of a machine connected by the clutch, with one putting torque on the other.

Essentially, the bar on the left side of your handlebars is a clutch release lever that allows you to sever the connection between the engine and gears. Pulling the clutch bar releases the connection and you can shift to a new gear without two solids grinding away at each other.

A key difference to remember when comparing dirt bike engines and car engines is the fact that a dirt bike engine will be more well-oiled and multi plated. This means that even when you grind gears when shifting up on a dirt bike, the damage and wear you cause to the bike will be much less severe that what you’d see in a manual transmission vehicle.

Why Don’t You Need to Use the Clutch When you Downshift on a Dirt Bike?

One of the main reasons that it isn’t necessary to use a clutch to downshift on a dirt bike is because and torque will be going in the opposite direction and there isn’t a lot of pressure in the system that could cause grinding and wear.  Additionally, compared with a car, a bike’s engine will be much more well oiled and have multi plated parts.

As a result of these differences, it’s not necessary to use the clutch every time you down shift. Even when shifting to higher gears, the wear caused from not using a clutch every time will be minimal when compared with what would happen if you did the same in a car.

A lot of riders never use the clutch when downshifting on their dirt bikes. Some riders even never or barely use the clutch when shifting up on their bikes.

Is it harmful to not use the clutch when down shifting on a dirt bike?

When you shift up into a higher gear on a dirt bike, there is a lot of torque and pressure on the engine and the gears. That’s why you’re shifting up!

The torque on the gears when you upshift is what will cause any damage if you’re not releasing the pressure with the clutch. When you’re downshifting, there won’t be any real torque or pressure in the directing that you’re shifting gears, so it is less necessary to pull the clutch.

Simply put, because the throttle isn’t revved when you’re downshifting on a dirt bike, there isn’t any real pressure on the gears, so the wear you could cause is minimal.

It’s important to remember though, that even when shifting up into a higher gear, the damage that you might cause is minimal when compared with what could happen if you did the same in a car.

How Do You Put a Dirt Bike Back Into Neutral?

One of the key elements with shifting gears (Up or Down) on a dirt bike or any machine with a manual transmission is getting a feel for it over time. Once you’ve been on a bike for a while, you’ll now exactly what each gear feels like by the speed of your bike and how much the engine is working.

One of the first things that are important for new riders to understand is how neutral “feels”.

Once you’re ready to stop riding and step off the bike, you’ll need to take it from first gear to neutral. This is easy, but it’s less intuitive than down shifting. When downshifting, you were just pushing the shift pedal down with your foot. When you want to slide your dirt bike into neutral, you’ll need to shift up from first gear, but only slightly.

If you go to far, you’ll put the bike into second. This is why it’s important to understand what each gear on your bike feels like and what neutral feels like.

The post How to Downshift on a Dirt Bike Safely With or Without Clutch appeared first on Dirt Bike It.

How to Ride a Dirt Bike for Beginners (with a Clutch) – 3 EASY STEPS

This short video is an excellent introduction for beginners wanting to learn how to ride a dirt bike. It deals with the question at hand in three steps, the first teaching you all you need to know about the controls, the second teaching you how to use the clutch, a really important aspect of dirt bike riding, and the third teaching you about shifting and braking.

How to Wheelie a Dirt Bike Like a Pro in 3 Easy Steps!

This short video provides an excellent introduction for beginners who want to learn how to perform a wheelie on their dirt bikes. It does so in three simple steps, the first step dealing with the correct body position for performing a wheelie, the second step providing a basic understanding of all the controls involved and the third step dealing with the right balance and use of the read break and throttle while performing wheelies.

How to Corner on a Dirt Bike – Basic Rut Technique

This video deals with how to use the dirt bike when turning a corner. It divides its lesson into three steps also, the first step dealing with the entry, the second step dealing with the setup and the third step dealing with how to exit the turn safely and smoothly.

Top 5 Most Common Motocross Riding Mistakes – Learn Dirt Bike Skills!!

This short video highlights the 5 most common mistakes made by beginning dirt bike riders and how to correct them, including the proper foot placement, the way to keep your knees, and where to look with your eyes. This video helps you come to grips with the basics of dirt bike riding and enhance your skills.

Top 5 Jumping Mistakes on a Dirt Bike – Most Common Problems & Solutions!!

This short video highlights 5 mistakes made by dirt bike riders when jumping. These mistakes include improper throttle delivery, improper balance position and sitting or standing at the wrong time. This video is for those of you out there who have already mastered the basics of dirt bike riding and want to try jumping with it. Make sure you watch it and correct the mistakes, if you’re making any of them, listed here.

Top 10 Dirt Bike Riding Tips for Off-road and Enduro Dirt Bikes – Stop Sucking!

This is a slightly longer video that provides ten tips for improving your dirt bike riding off-road and enduro. These tips will help you become more proficient and less fatigued as a dirt bike rider. They provide tips for beginners, including how to stand or sit on a dirt bike, what kind of body position to maintain at the dirt bike and what to do with your body when you’re turning. This video helps you develop the basic skills of dirt bike riding at a professional level.

Dirt Bike Trail Riding Tips

This slightly long video offers some valuable tips for riding your dirt bike on a trail, tips that improve your abilities as a dirt bike riding. It is set in North Idaho, offering tips for training off season. These tips will certainly help you learn what you need to do to train your body for dirt bike riding, how to mentally train for it, including mental exercises and the obstacles you need to face. These tips will most certainly make you a better rider.

WHEN TO STAND OR SIT ON DIRT BIKES: Cross Training Enduro Skills

This short video takes a detailed look at when it is better to stand and when you should sit on your dirt bike. It looks at and enumerates the advantages of each, analyzing them carefully, looking at variables like terrain, the rider’s ability and risk of injury. It takes you step by step through the factors you should take into account before deciding when to stand and when to sit.

Motocross Race Tips for Beginners

This shortish video focuses on providing motocross race tips for beginner. It offers some common sensical advice for beginning racers, including knowing and staying within your limits, holding your line and building up your confidence. The tips provided here aren’t overly technical. They are accessible and easy to understand. They will offer some useful encouragement to beginning racers, helping them deal with nerves and succeeding in completing their first races.

The Basic Fundamentals of Riding a Dirt bike

This relatively short video goes right back to the basics, starting from how to start your bike, how to get into gear, where to keep your feet, and how to get going. It deals with body positions while sitting, standing and jumping. It’s a great primer for those of you who have just gotten your first dirt bikes. It takes you, step by step, through everything you need to know to be comfortable on your dirt bikes. We recommend this video for beginners.

Dirt bike setup tips for motocross beginners – handlebars and levers

This video deals with tips for setting up your dirt bikes for beginners. It focuses on how to properly setup your handlebars and levers in relation to your body. It tells you the ideal place to sit on your bike (and which places to avoid sitting on), the correct elbow position and head position, the right position for your feet as well as your knees. This is a very useful video for beginners setting up their dirt bikes for motocross tracks.

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How Fast Does a 50cc Dirt Bike Go?

As parents, you may have concerns about getting 50cc dirt bikes for your kids, worrying over their safety on these vehicles, afraid that high speeds may put them at risk.

However, the vast majority of 50cc dirt bikes don’t go any faster than 25mph to 40mph. This speed may appear to be dangerously fast, considering it is meant for young riders, between 4 and 7 years of age, but it really isn’t, as the children never actually reach anywhere near the maximum speeds. As parents, you can limit the speed that your child can reach on his/her dirt bike by setting a limit on the throttle and/or by letting them go no higher than second gear. Once you take these precautions, you should really have no concerns over your child’s safety on account of speed. Other things, like jumping the bike or riding on steep hills may still be a cause for concern, but speed certainly won’t be.  

Acceptable Speeds for Children Riding Dirt Bikes

There is absolutely no question of children riding dirt bikes at any speed at all if they are not wearing protective gear. Adopt an AGATT (all the gear all the time) policy when it comes to your children (and adults, for that matter). Make sure that your kids are wearing a helmet, chest protector, gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, boots, pants and a jersey every time they go out dirt bike riding.

Dirt bikes, even ones with smaller engines, may be capable of high speeds, but make sure your kids never get close to those speeds, keeping them safe. Even if you’ve got a 50cc dirt bike for your child, keep them in second gear, not letting them go any higher at any time. Perhaps it would be a good idea to not even teach them how to get into third gear, putting a secure limit on their speeds. Even in second gear, don’t allow them to go into full throttle.

If your children get into higher gears, it may pose a threat to their safety. New riders, on occasion, fall prey to what is referred to as “whiskey throttle,” when they roll back the throttle too far and freeze up, too scared by the extremely fast speed, not realizing that the throttle needs to be released in order to slow down, going full speed ahead until they collide with an obstacle in their path, making them fall. This, it should go without saying, is extremely dangerous. And, as we’ve said, a good way to avoid such a situation is by keeping your child in second gear, or by limiting the throttle on their bikes.

On the Yamaha TTR50, you can set the throttle limit simply by screwing in the bolt sticking out from under the throttle, preventing you from turning the throttle as wide.

The Safety of Dirt Bike Riding for Children

Any activity you undertake is bound to entail some level of risk. Riding in cars, swimming, even climbing a monkey bar, all can be seen as risky. Yet we involve our kids in all these activities, wanting them to be healthy and to live their lives boldly. Dirt bike riding likewise exposes children to some risks, risks like breaking a bone or spraining their wrists or ankles while dirt bike riding. They will obviously also scrape their arms and perhaps their legs and get a little beat up. All of these possibilities can come to pass during dirt bike riding.

As parents, we have to decide what our threshold for risks is. Normally, one would imagine that if the risks of their children getting seriously injured are high, parents would be unwilling to accept them. The risks of serious injuries permanent in nature, or the risk of death, have to be extremely low in order for an activity to be acceptable. After all, no one wants to put their children in a situation where they are susceptible to real harm. Therefore, before getting your kids involved in an activity like dirt bike riding, you will want to do your research properly to see what the risks actually are.

At first glance, it may seem that four wheeled ATVs are safer than dirt bikes, but actually the opposite is the case. Once you do the research, you will realize that dirt bike riding actually doesn’t pose a very serious threat of injury provided that you take certain precautions.

The first of these precautions, as we’ve said, is an AGATT policy, all the gear all the time. It doesn’t matter if your kids are going for a quick ride only, all the time means even for quick rides. A second precaution is not to ride on official tracks, rather to use dirt bikes off-road only. This is because over half of the serious injuries resulting from dirt bike riding occur at official tracks, where there are big jumps. Big jumps are the biggest culprits behind serious injuries. Lastly, keep your kids in the second gear right up until they are around 10 years of age.

Once you take these precautions your kids will be pretty safe. Hopefully, your children will love the experience of going dirt bike riding and it will prove beneficial to them. It will toughen them up, as they learn from falls and getting scrapes and bruises, inevitabilities when it comes to dirt bike riding. Dirt bike riding will challenge them, stretch their abilities, helping them grow. It will also impart confidence into them, making it a fun and educational family activity.

8 Best Dirt Bikes for Kids

Here we’re going to offer you a brief overview of 8 of the best dirt bikes for kids that we have researched, most of them 50cc.

Before offering you the list, we hasten to add that most 50cc dirt bikes out there are outstanding and indeed, the differences between them are few and far between. There are a few out there which you will want to steer clear of. In the end, the decision of which dirt bike to buy for your child will be determined, in all likelihood, by which dirt bike you can find near you at a reasonable or good price.

In case you’re unsure of the right size of the dirt bike you want to get your child, we recommend, as a general rule, that children between 3 and 7 years of age get 50cc dirt bikes. At the age of 8, you will probably want to graduate them to something a bit bigger. Having said that, a lot depends upon individual circumstances, circumstances such as the child’s strength and height. A child could also, conceivably, ride the same 50cc dirt bike from about the age of 6 to the age of 10.

KTM 50 SX (aka KTM 50 SX Mini)

• The KTM 50cc tops out at 37 mph

This dirt bike is for children who are extremely serious when it comes to dirt bike riding. It is also pretty expensive, so have to be sure that you have the cash to spare. It’d doubtable whether any dirt bike for kids can compete with the KTM 50 SX Mini, an astonishing bike, but one that demands its fair share of money in return for its quality. This dirt bike is a racing bike, so make sure that that’s what you want, and it will be an investment worth its weight in gold.

It comes with front forks that are inverted, a radiator with liquid cooling, handlebars that are adjustable, disc brakes on both back and front, as well as other cool features, making this dirt bike behave as if it were higher-end, except on a scale that it smaller.

It is a 2-stroke bike, requiring the mixing of oil at a 60:1 ratio. So, be sure that a 2-stroke bike is what you’re looking for before you make a purchase. Sometimes buyers don’t want to go through the hassle of mixing fuel, and therefore prefer 4-stroke dirt bikes instead. At the same time, 2-stroke bikes have their advantages, advantages including low-end grunt. Your child will love his/her experience on this.

Honda CRF50

• The Honda CRF50 tops out at 25 mph

The CRF50 and the Yamaha TTR50 are both in the same category, both extremely popular for children. The CRF50 is $100 more expensive. It comes with a kick start. Most kids can’t kick start a bike; that’s something that’s there for the parents to help the kids out with in case the battery should fail.

It is extremely reliable, priced reasonably and its controls are set up similarly to the controls of adult bikes, making it easy for kids to make the transition to the bigger bikes when they reach the appropriate age, physical attributes and skill levels.

One noticeable difference between the CRF50 and the TTR50 is that the former doesn’t have the speed of the latter: the TTR50 reaches 30mph, whereas the CRF50 reaches 25mph. It has a seat height of 21.8 inches.

Yamaha TTR50

• The Yamaha TTR50 tops out at 32 mph

This dirt bike for kids is extremely reliable, built well and priced reasonably. It will probably cost you somewhere around $1700 after taxes and registration and fees. It runs superbly, and your child will love it. Be sure to teach your children to turn the bike off using the key and to never make use of the kill switch. Should the child stop the bike using the kill switch, it will leave the battery on. This means that the battery will have died by the next time your child is ready to use the bike, and it won’t start. This bike doesn’t come with a kick start.

Suzuki DRZ-50

• The Suzuki DRZ50 tops out at 33 mph

Suzuki’s bikes are comparable to Honda and Yamaha’s. They are every bit as good. Like Honda, Suzuki’s bikes all come with electric start. The bikes are reliable and sturdy and excellent for your children.

Yamaha PW50

• The Yamaha PW50 tops out at 28 mph

The PW50is the TTR50’s twin. The bikes are quite similar to one another in many ways. The main difference between them lies in their engines. The PW50 has a 2-stroke engine, oil-injected, not requiring the mixing of oil and gas every time. On the other hand, the TTR50 has a 4-stroke engine.

The consensus is that the better of the two is the TTR50. It is slightly more expensive ($100) than the PW50. We recommend the TTR50 for slightly older kids (5-7 years of age) while the PW50 is probably better for the slightly younger kids (3-4 years of age).

The TTR50 is a bit heavier and faster than the PW50. The PW50 lacks the foot brake, meaning it won’t accustom kids to the controls of larger bikes.

SSR 50cc

• The SSR 50cc tops out at 28 mph

This is the cheapest of all the dirt bikes available, brand new models available for only $700. However, they’re not recommended for long term use. But them if you want a fun bike that you can crash. They require a lot of work and maintenance for their upkeep.

These bikes are good for people who are accustomed to fixing thing, are on a low budget and badly want to buy a new bike.

Yamaha YZ65

This dirt bike is excellent for slightly older kids, being in the 65cc range. It has a solid 2-stroke engine. This bike is really a racing bike and should be treated as such. It is highly reliable, comfortable and stable at high speeds. It has a balanced feel, and its breaks are reported to work marvelously. It is easy to ride, very fast and a delight to youthful riders.

The Honda CRF110F

• The Honda CRF110F tops out at 55 mph

This bike is great for slightly older kids, from 8-14 years of age, with a seat height measuring 26.8 inches. It comes with both electric and kick start, usually starting very easily. It is also highly durable. It also offers great power capabilities. You may want to keep your child in 2^nd gear for this one, unless you are riding on a long stretch of flat dirt road. You can implement a throttle stop too, preventing your child from going too fast.

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