Many new riders to dirt biking will make mistakes that can lead to injuries. When you are just learning the sport, learning about the common ways that beginners get hurt is just part of being smart and safe. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by new riders:
1. Riding Off-Road Without the Proper Gear
Riding off-road can be very dangerous if you are not properly prepared for it. If you choose to ride in an area that is not maintained, then any injuries sustained will be your own fault since you should have known better than to take risks without proper equipment. It is vital that you ensure that you have the proper dirt biking gear before heading out on an off-road ride.
2. Riding at Excessive Speeds
Many riders, especially new ones, like to go as fast as possible and end up going faster than they should. Often this leads to crashes and injuries. New riders should attempt to keep their speed at about 20 miles per hour to avoid the possibility of crashes.
3. Being Too Aggressive
Many new riders want to do as many tricks as they can as quickly as possible, but this leads to poor decision making and bad technique which often results in injury. A better approach is to take it slow and keep the stunts simple until you know the tricks well enough not to injure yourself.
4. Not Knowing How to Recoil
Recoil is necessary for dirt biking, but many new riders do not realize that they need to stay in control of their bike while doing it. If you are unable to maintain your balance and ride through the recoil properly, then you should avoid these jumps until you are more comfortable riding.
5. Riding Without the Proper Skills
Any type of bike riding is dangerous, so it is important to know how to operate your bike properly. New riders often do not understand the basics of dirt biking and this leads to them crashing or losing control of their bike when trying to perform tricks. The best way to avoid this is to take motorcycle lessons with your bike before trying any stunts.
6. Sliding Out on Turns
A common error made by new riders is starting their turn too early or leaning in too far which makes the back end slide out and results in a crash. Correcting this error will involve learning how to properly shift your weight when cornering. You will need to shift your body weight outwards while pushing down on the handlebars in order to maintain proper traction during the corner.
7. Not Throttling Out on Jumps
Another common mistake is not throttling out after landing a jump, which may cause you to crash again once you land. This is due to the fact that you will land with speed and not be prepared for it, so hitting the throttle as soon as possible after landing a jump will help you avoid this.
8. Not Braking Before Bumps
Not using your brakes on bumps can result in your front tire popping up which leads to loss of control and a fall. This is caused by under-braking and can be avoided by simply braking as you approach the bump which will keep your front tire from popping up so much.
9. Leaning Too Far Forward on Turns
Another common mistake is leaning too far forward when cornering, especially if you have a rigid frame bike. When this happens, your rear tire can lift up and you will lose traction. To avoid this, you should lean back slightly so that the front wheel can remain firmly planted on the ground during a turn.
10. Riding Unsupervised
Finally, it is vital to always ride with an experienced rider or instructor when taking dirt biking lessons for beginners. This is because you will have a better understanding of how to handle your bike and avoid mistakes. Riding without a guide can often lead to injury from crashing which could have been avoided if proper precautions were taken.
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