The Benefit's of riding dirt

[636blurr]

Originally Posted by SPOOLN GSXR

Another element that isn't talked about much, nor do I recommend to anyone that cares about their bike is riding a streetbike off road. It's best if you have an old beater bike laying around. It doesn't matter if its dirt or a big grassy field. That really taught me to make smaller movements and not to work so hard to make the bike respond. It also taught me how to become a safer rider in dangerous conditions. It saved my ass when I was riding a fast sweeper in Georgia and all of a sudden the road went from paved to dirt and gravel.

Yup I agree, its one of the reasons why I have been able to ride during the winter around here on slick roads (I dont make that so much of a habbit anymore) but you will find slick spots on occassion and being aware of that and understanding how to deal with em is huge plus.


Great thought keep em comming.

[bodydropcbr6]

spooln they call that supermoto now all you need is one of these

[SloppyJoseph]

I can't wait until we get some other people in this biznatch that totally disagree with us because I know they're out there.

But yes riding conditions vs. how your bike will react is another great example. But i've found that dirtbikes are much more violent in the way they act. ie. They slide out harder, wash out harder. And this makes sense to me because of the weight difference.

[SPOOLN GSXR]

Originally Posted by bodydropcbr6

spooln they call that supermoto now all you need is one of these

I love your SM.

I currently have a DRZ SM and soon to be modded, but I'm also interested in the Aprilia Dorsoduro. I feel like i'm cheating when i'm doing manuvers on the SM because they do everything with ease.

[SloppyJoseph]

That's yours Bodydrop? Fuckin sweet man!! I used to race one of those in the woods. They are nasty machines man. They will run like a raped ape son.

[bodydropcbr6]

ya its converted back to dirt and is all black now but havent been able to afford any track time

but you seem to fall faster / harder on dirt because your usually riding over your head chasing your buddy whos faster or showing off for someone elses gf whos watching you

[Farmpunk]

I started on a CR80 when I was 13. Fun as hell. I never did race, but I rode a lot, having basically unlimited trail access. I can't see why anyone would discount dirt bike experience, unless it's a dirt rider wanting to straight to a serious machine with no experience on pavement (I rode\raced a 250 crosser, etc....). Then I got into four wheelers and started hurting myself. Which in itself was useful, because you quickly learn to recognize the signs of an impending high side when drifting through a fast bender on a quad.

I agree with most of the benefits listed on this thread so far. The front brake issue came up in another thread I skimmed, and I didn't understand it. You can't ride a dirt bike properly without using the front brake.

One benefit not listed is being able to ride with bent handlebars. I doubt any of my crossers ever had a clean pair of bars.

[User Name]

Originally Posted by SloppyJoseph

But yes riding conditions vs. how your bike will react is another great example.

Aside from learning the basic mechanics of how to ride (braking, clutch, throttle control, etc.) I think varying surface conditions provides the single biggest advantage. Dirt, gravel and just low-traction conditions in general is an inherent part of off-road riding. You learn to read the machine - the traction it has, the feedback it gives when traction is lost and/or about to be lost.

I've had both my front and rear tires slide on the street, and I've felt what was happening immediately and it never spooked me. Stay smooth, don't overreact and most times you can ride it out. I'm not sure I'd have the sensitivity to feel it and the composure to deal with it had I not learned to ride off-road.

[jiffy]

I had a friend who recently passed away while riding well maintained dirt trails. He wore full gear and helmet every ride. He had been riding for over 20 years. Hit one of the few trees and that was all it took. Dirt riding can be as dangerous as the street sometimes.

[bodydropcbr6]

thats very true that it is just as dangerous . no one has argued that it is not any form of motor sport is dangerous

[PhilB]

Originally Posted by 636blurr

On sticking your leg out, I actually did it on my old ninja 250, went around a street corner to fast, some sand on the road and the bike washed out, dropped my leg and saved myself from going under a car. Not sure if it would work on current SS but it did then. But my damn hip hurt for a year but better than the alternative.

I've done that more than once on my Ducati Monster, most recently (with full camping gear load on board) on the way to Laguna Seca up Hwy 1 a couple weeks ago, when there was a roadwork section that was unpaved. The dirt was fine, but then there was a sudden section of deep gravel within the dirt section that washed out both tires; only a good strong stomp kept me up and going. I'm actually not sure where I learned that since I've basically never ridden dirtbikes (although I did a lot of bicycle moto when I was a kid).

I do believe in the power of learning in the dirt; the fact that my wife did a lot of dirtbiking as a kid makes me more comfortable about her getting into road riding (she's taking the MSF course next week, already has full gear, and is starting on a 250, just like a sensible person).

When we have kids of our own, I very much expect that a passle of dirtbikes will be involved at a young age.

PhilB

[bodydropcbr6]

thats great philb crf 50s are fun for all ages and i just hope to have places to ride when our kids are old enough to enjoy it . ive already got my 2 year old out on my z50

[SloppyJoseph]

Originally Posted by bodydropcbr6

thats great philb crf 50s are fun for all ages and i just hope to have places to ride when our kids are old enough to enjoy it . ive already got my 2 year old out on my z50

Yeah man i'd love a fifty today even though im WAY to big for it. Oh well thats why they make big bore kits Just be careful not to throw em on too much of a machine when they first start out. I remember my first bike was an 85 2smoke when I was tiny. I couldn't even touch the ground but I rode the shit out of it. But oh well I love the dirt and im glad I grew up on it. I know im a safer rider because of it.

I sold my crf450 to my best friend. And he's moving in with me next week so I will get to ride it all the time. I like it more than my RM250 for just dicking around.

BTW, great thread.

[jasonn]

I've always felt that "dirt experience" has been under-rated. It's kinda funny, but the throttle control issue to me, is certainly something to consider. I can remember back when I was a kid getting to ride a yamaha 125 for the first time (I'd been riding a honda 50 and my buddy's KE 175 streetbike). Man it was crazy. That yamaha stood up for the first 3 gear changes!

Then, years later, my cousin got into racing. He had a modded 80 that he used to run. I can remember one thanksgiving my uncle looking at me with a grin and saying "go ahead J, take it for a spin." - Same thing - straight up for the first 3 gear changes.

To me, the toughest thing about converting to street riding wasn't throttle control or handling the bike. But honest to god, the other people on the road.

I think that if you split up riding into two major things, handling the bike would be on one hand, and dealing with the street environment would be on the other. Dirt experience most definately gives you an advantage.

Great post Blurry. Have a 1000 Casino points bro.

[cmayer31]

I'm new to street riding, but have been riding dirt for years. So far the throttle, clutch, and rear braking that I learned from dirt has helped me transition into riding. I need to learn to use much more front brake, but hey it makes using both at the same time easy when my foot instinctively brakes and my mind forces my hand to grab as well.

Another thing that I learned in the dirt was bump starting. Especially after grabbing too much rear brake, stalling, coasting for a while with the clutch in then just pop and go. I had the joy of bump starting the street bike all day yesterday until I could get it wired for my battery tender and get a good charge on it.

A lot of these things could have been learned on the street, but I just had the joy of learning in the dirt.

There's also nothing quite as fun as hitting the power band on a little YZ or Honda.