The Mental Game

There are psychological factors that should be considered before picking up riding a dirt bike as a new hobby.

Your state of mind can have a huge impact on how you ride. Fear and doubt are natural feelings. Learning to ride a dirt bike can be a scary undertaking. However; it is important to develop a balance between the fear, and confidence in your skill. If fear gets the best of you, you will constantly feel uncomfortable. You will be too focused on the wrong things. On the other hand, overconfidence and a lack of respect for the danger involved with riding could lead to complacency which is equally dangerous. So let’s talk about some keys to finding a balance between fear and overconfidence.

 

Seat Height

One of the first things that new riders get intimidated by, especially those under 6 feet tall, is the height of most dirt bikes. The inability to reach the ground flat footed with both feet reduces confidence and puts a lot of first time riders off.It is normal to feel this way, however, don’t let this discourage you. When the bike is in motion and you are balanced, the height should not hinder your ability to control it. However; the height of the bike will pose challenges when stopping and starting, especially for shorter riders. On uneven and off camber terrain, you may find yourself tipping the bike over. When you try to put a foot down, the ground might be too far away, and as the bike teeters over to the side, gravity does its thing. The weight of the bike becomes too difficult to overcome and you drop it. These challenges can often be handled with experience and good techniques. For instance, when you need to stop and take a break, stop the bike on even terrain. Better yet, stop adjacent to a berm, rock, log or something else you can put your foot on. In some cases, like after a stall, you don’t have the opportunity to select an appropriate spot to stop. In that situation you can attempt to shift your weight in the opposite direction that the bike is tipping in. As you slide further to the opposite direction, try to get your foot down and reverse the lean of the bike toward the leg that you have planted on the ground. When the situation is obviously going to end up with the bike falling over, bail out. Hop off the bike to avoid being injured by the bike falling on your leg. Most true dirt bikes are durable. A tip over at a standstill will usually result in minimal damage to the bike, but if it falls on your leg, you could end up with some painful injuries.

 

I am 5’9 ½” and I ride a KTM 500 EXC with a seat height of over 38”. I experienced the same doubt and fear that many of you may feel on a tall bike. As you gain valuable riding time you will gain the confidence and skill to overcome any concern over the height of the bike. If you are considerably short or just can’t get comfortable, there are options out there to reduce the height of the bike as well. You can consult your local dealership to explore these options. Choosing a light bike will reduce the difficulty of avoiding tip overs as well.

UNLIMITED POOOWWWWWEEEERRRRR!!!!!!!

Next, let’s talk about power. Power can be intimidating as well. Many other riders have different opinions, but I believe if you have the right attitude, respect and mindset, you can learn on any size dirt bike. For starters, you need to respect the bike. In addition, you must possess a healthy level of maturity and judgement. Know your limitations, and avoid the temptation to ride beyond your limits. Avoid the temptation of the dark side.

Later, as you gain skill, you will begin to push your limits ever so slightly as you get better and better. If you are impatient and foolhardy, don’t be surprised if you hurt yourself and damage your bike regardless of engine size. Take the time to learn and master the basics, of clutch and throttle control. I subscribe to the theory that motorcycles come with controls for a reason. Learn to use them and the bike will be no more powerful, than you allow it to be through proper throttle and clutch inputs.

Also, It isn’t necessarily true that larger CC bikes are harder to ride. It depends on the bike design. For a beginner, a 450cc motocross race bike like the YZ450F, will actually feel more powerful, more responsive and difficult to handle than a 650cc Dual Sport like the DR 650. A highly tuned 2 stroke 250 will feel very snappy and powerful compared to a KLR 650. This contradiction is due to the way these bikes are designed. A race bike is designed to provide quick acceleration and throttle response, but will start to lose responsiveness and power at highway speeds. Whereas a larger dual sport is designed for highway and off-road use. They have less touchy throttles, but can reach higher top speeds.

Heavy Bikes Make Tired Riders

Another issue for beginners trying to ride enduro on a bigger bike will more than likely involve the increased weight of a bigger bike. A heavy bike is not as nimble and easy to turn as a smaller bike. Constantly wrestling with your big bike to keep it upright and on the trail can quickly exhaust a rider. Drop it, and you will be spending the remainder of what little energy you have left on picking it back up. With fatigue comes complacency and mental errors and riding while exhausted can lead to trouble. Big bikes will offer more challenge for a beginner at first, but with physical conditioning and experience, it won’t be long before you settle into it. That being said, if you have the opportunity to learn on a smaller bike to start out, you should take it. It will take some of the edge off the learning curve, but always remember, the wrong attitude on any bike can get a rider into trouble and that brings me to my next point.

You Will Crash and Drop Your Bike

Just accept that as a fact. If it doesn’t happen to you, consider yourself lucky. From beginners to professionals, crashing is a part of riding. If you cannot accept this inevitable fact, than you should reconsider whether or not riding is for you. You can’t effectively enjoy riding if you are constantly terrified of crashing. If you can accept the fact that you will crash, make peace with it, and be prepared for it. No one plans to have an accident, otherwise it would not be called an accident. Acquiring the protective gear that will reduce the likelihood of severe injury is a no brainer. The correct riding gear can mean the difference between serious injuries such as broken bones, concussions, ligament tears, stiches or even death, and minor injuries like scrapes and bruises.

Be Prepared!

First and foremost buy a helmet that fits snug. www.helmetcheck.org is a great source of information on selecting a proper helmet and fit. Next proper riding boots are a must to protect your feet, shins and ankles. They are essential and will protect you from the occasional rock that jumps off the trail like a fastball aimed right at your toes. They can also prevent twisted ankles, hurting your shins on foot pegs, as well as burns from the heat of the engine or header pipe. Gloves are a must as well. Get gloves with good thick palms. When you go down, you will instinctively try to catch yourself with your hands. Thick palms made of leather can help you keep your skin intact. Goggles will not only keep the dust out of your eyes, they can keep bugs, rocks and the occasional tree branch from taking out your eyeballs. These are the absolute minimums, however I would advise against stopping here. Knees and elbows are the most common areas to come in contact with the ground when you crash. You would do well to get some protection here. Simple elbow pads and knee pads have kept me from getting a single injury in those areas. Looking at the damage to my elbow pads and knee pads, it is scary to think how badly I would have suffered had I had not been wearing them. I will not ride without elbow and knee protection. While knee pads are great, if you can afford it, knee braces are the best investment to prevent the major knee injuries like MCL and ACL tears. Chest protectors will prevent injury from rocks thrown by other riders in front of you. This is called roost, and most chest protectors are called “Roost” protectors. Lastly a neck brace can reduce your risk of neck injury. Good riding pants are thick and tear resistant. They will save your legs from a good skinning during a slide. Wearing protective gear does more than just provide protection, it provides reassurance. Reassurance breeds confidence.

Aside from getting injured, crashing will take its toll on the bike. Fear of damaging your expensive and beloved ride can be a source of intimidation. There are many aftermarket protective add-ons you can buy and install to protect the bike. Hand guards protect your clutch and front brake lever. Radiator guards, brake disc guards, skid plates to protect the engine, are all wise investments for a new bike. You can usually have these installed at the dealership when you buy the bike. In general, they are easy to install on your own as well. When you’re out riding, you should also carry a small set of tools that are compatible with your bike. On trail rides, you aren’t going to be comfortable with an entire mechanics set of tools on your back, but a few critical tools can come in handy when you’re miles away from help. Bring along pliers, a screwdriver, open end wrenches, a few sockets and a socket wrench. In addition throw some duct tape and zip ties in for quick fixes. An extra inner tube, a small bicycle pump, or Co2 inflators will come in handy in case of flats. Don’t forget a set of tire spoons, and above all, learn how to fix your bike. The confidence you will gain from learning to do your own repairs is huge.

Speaking of being miles away on the trail, carry a backpack and bring water. A camel back is an excellent way to stay hydrated while you ride. An extra water bottle and an emergency granola bar or two are a good idea in case you are stranded with a broken bike or leg. Lastly, don’t forget a small first aid kit.
While there are several things that can help a beginner feel safer and more confident, the greatest boost of confidence can only come from riding experience. It is all about seat time. The more time you spend riding, the more you will start to overcome much of the apprehension a beginner feels.

Verdict:

Fear can be healthy and should always be there. For me it is the fear and adrenaline that make the ride that much better. A healthy dose of fear, may just keep you out of the hospital, but you should never let it paralyze you, or overcome your desire to ride.