Good idea to start on a dirtbike?

[IdRatherDrum]

So basically my friend up the street has a few dirtbikes and he said we could ride them up and down the couldasac and he could teach me the basics. Do you think this is a good idea to start on a bike? Not for street riding or transportation, but just for a motorcycle feel?

[krolinked]

Sounds like a plan as long as you can flat foot. Everything is much easier to learn when your not balancing on your tippy toes.
I'd be happy to help you out as well if your up for it.

[thurt88]

Good idea kinda but I'd go on dirt with the dirtbike. Mud and dirt hurt a lot less than pavement if you have to kiss it.

[EthioKnight]

Better a dirt bike than nothing at all, is what I say. Personally I started on a 50cc scooter where, devoid of shifting, I concentrated on throttle control and basics of riding. I say go for it

[krolinked]

Originally Posted by thurt88

Good idea kinda but I'd go on dirt with the dirtbike. Mud and dirt hurt a lot less than pavement if you have to kiss it.

So True!

[Jiggles]

Take the MSF, then practice on the dirt bikes

[krolinked]

I think the issue was his parents would not be too happy with the idea.
I actually showed my sister everything in the MSF in my driveway and then at a huge open parking lot.
My parents are now much more receptive of the idea. She is barely turning 16.

[csmith12]

You can't go wrong taking the 1st riding baby steps on a small dirt bike in the grass. Just remember to gear up as best you can and have fun.

[dubojr1]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Take the MSF, then practice on the dirt bikes

Aww.... don't listen to this guy. He is still buzzing on his crash pills.

I taught my wife on a dirt bike and then she breezed right thru the MSF. Go for it!

[IdRatherDrum]

Thanks for the responses guys! I think he might teach me today!!!!!

[alex.s]

do it. be careful, dont mess up someone elses bike.

[csmith12]

Lol, your not doing it right if you don't crash a dirt bike.

[Ninjedi]

Dirt bikes are where its at, the ninja is awesome but it just fills the gap between dirt rides

[Toper]

the 3 "best" students in my msf class had dirtbike experience, so i would think that starting on them and learning the basics such as throttle/clutch control (without the dangers of "cager traffic") is a good intro to two-wheeling.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by IdRatherDrum

So basically my friend up the street has a few dirtbikes and he said we could ride them up and down the couldasac and he could teach me the basics. Do you think this is a good idea to start on a bike? Not for street riding or transportation, but just for a motorcycle feel?

Yes and no.

As far as basic handling of motorcycles, they are a good tool to learn on. You can use them to practice a lot of stuff that is on the final exam in the MSF course (tight cornering and figure 8's and such).

But beyond that, they bring a lot of bad habits to the street when you finally start riding Ninjas. The skill sets for dirt and street are different. For example, its perfectly acceptable to put your foot down in a tight corner on a dirt bike, but if you do that on your street riding test, its a fail.

My advice for you: Learn the basics with the dirt bikes, then take the MSF and get a Ninja.

[Miles_Prower]

Originally Posted by krolinked

Sounds like a plan as long as you can flat foot. Everything is much easier to learn when your not balancing on your tippy toes.
I'd be happy to help you out as well if your up for it.

lol i nearly have to tippy toe my ninja. i haven't found it to be an issue yet. the only place i wasn't able to touch the ground was a spot where the space below my two wheels was a dip..i had to use my ninja balance skills to keep my ninja upright, and then try to ninja my way back onto the street.

[IdRatherDrum]

I really want a Ninja 250 but I can't convince my parents. Any tips guys?

[Jono]

Get better at convincing them. Duh.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by IdRatherDrum

Any tips guys?

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by IdRatherDrum

I really want a Ninja 250 but I can't convince my parents. Any tips guys?

Tell them if you don't get a motorcycle you're going to become gay, and a racist, and a baby serial killer. Do your parents support the death of babies? Well that's exactly what they are doing if they don't buy you a bike

[Mountain Dew]

Depends on what bike it is. If it's something crazy like a crf450r then NO WAY. That's like learning/starting on a 1000cc RR. If it's something like a 125 two stroke or a non-race 250 four stroke, then go for it.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

Depends on what bike it is. If it's something crazy like a crf450r then NO WAY. That's like learning/starting on a 1000cc RR. If it's something like a 125 two stroke or a non-race 250 four stroke, then go for it.

Good line of thought. Not all dirtbike are the same. Although, if you can successfully operate (read: don't stall) something peaky and MX-based, like a YZ450F (pre-EFI), there is little else to learn in terms of basics. Run about on such a dirtbike for an afternoon, you will know the meaning of the words "friction zone"

[Monkeytofu]

Originally Posted by IdRatherDrum

I really want a Ninja 250 but I can't convince my parents. Any tips guys?

Pay for the MSF course yourself and your parents will usually feel a lot better about you getting a bike.

If you still can't get them to help you buy one, start saving up for a pregen.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by IdRatherDrum

I really want a Ninja 250 but I can't convince my parents. Any tips guys?

The first thing you need to worry about is to get your endorsement. You need to read up on what's required where you live. The MSF course is free to minors in some states and about $250 in others. Generally you get that before you get your endorsement although laws in different states differ.

Once you have your endorsement and have taken the MSF course, you will have a better chance at convincing your parents to let you buy one.

[subxero]

I think a dirtbike is a great starting point but be very careful

will be great to learn basic mechanics of riding, throttle control, location of brakes, and getting comfortable using them.

Down side to a dirt bike and to go completely against what someone said already.

Keep this in mind, this and i have seen it 100 times!! There is no lip on the back of the seat to help keep you on the bike when it takes off and if you do not have at least one foot on a peg you are not truly on the bike. Scenario is you stand flat foot, give throttle, pop clutch, bike goes.....Oh you were standing never really on the bike so the bike goes and you stay behind, now the problem... you are still holding on to the throttle. Now you are hanging on giving the bike uncontrolled WOT with nothing to help you. At this point as a beginner you have to just let go and dump the bike cuz you will most likely never get back on the bike or get it undercontrol. If you have some experience, you can hold the clutch and ride out the speed but that is a bit much to ask from a terrified beginner with their life flashing before their eyes.

On that note, DO IT!! don't be stupid, a dirt bike is just as dangerous wear all the proper gear, helmet, boots, gloves, pants and some form of a jacket no matter how small the bike. And do it somewhere safe!!!, a large field is ideal, a large dirt parking lot can be fine as long as it is LARGE and no vehicles in it and or ledges, concrete walls. Do not under any circumstances try it on a street.... you will most likely hit a parked vehicle, and since the dirt bike is not licensed or insured you are EF'ed

I watched my good friend do just what i described on my wifes little KLX125 after 15 minutes of instruction, and going through practice scenarios where i specifically said, KEEP YOUR DAMN FEET ON THE PEGS!!

He was lucky, i made him suit up with gear, he escaped with much pain and soreness and some stitches but nothing life threatening. We tease him to this day about the day he wrecked my wifes dirtbike (my wife is like 5'4" 115 lol) insult to injury

Just my 2 cents

oh yeah, check out youtube vides of people wrecking dirtbikes and you will see exactly what i described.

cheers

Just found this one, this is prime example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWNEj...eature=related

[dirty nasty]

Yes, it is a great idea to start your motorcycling career on a dirt bike. I started on one when I was seven years old and it has helped my street riding skills tremendously. I notice that I and other riders that started in the dirt react to the bike a lot more naturally than riders that learned on the street. With proper gear, the learning curve is a lot less steep for motocross. MX is still a high risk activity, but when you crash on a trail or track there is no cars to run you over and you are crashing into the dirt. Yes, it still hurts, but you'll learn a lot more about motorcycle control in the dirt than anywhere else.

I'd recommend riding in all conditions to learn the most. Sand, hard pack, mud, rocks, grass, mid pack, winter. The bike handles differently in all these conditions and each one has something to teach you.

Is it a good idea to ride one on the pavement? You're really not learning anything that way. Just controls. Take it off road, where it belongs. By riding a dirt bike on pavement all you're doing is damage to the tires and power train and it's dangerous. The dirt is much more forgiving and will teach you much more about total bike control.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by dirty nasty

...Is it a good idea to ride one on the pavement? You're really not learning anything that way. Just controls. Take it off road, where it belongs. By riding a dirt bike on pavement all you're doing is damage to the tires and power train and it's dangerous. The dirt is much more forgiving and will teach you much more about total bike control.

One hyphenate: Dual-Purpose. There are at least four* on the market that are cheaper and more practical than a dirt-only machine. There are just some things that don't translate between dirt and asphalt. A half-inch dry mud puddle in clay or loam doesn't have the same effect on the bike as a similarly sunken manhole cover in a street.

Plus it is really fun riding up over medians in parking lots. Civil disobedience is




*Hopefully five soon. Come on, Husky

[subxero]

Originally Posted by tapdiggy

One hyphenate: Dual-Purpose. There are at least four* on the market that are cheaper and more practical than a dirt-only machine. There are just some things that don't translate between dirt and asphalt. A half-inch dry mud puddle in clay or loam doesn't have the same effect on the bike as a similarly sunken manhole cover in a street.

Plus it is really fun riding up over medians in parking lots. Civil disobedience is




*Hopefully five soon. Come on, Husky

I don't think i could ever ride a dual purpose bike off road hard, i would have to just putt around on it otherwise i would be replacing mirrors constantly

[n4mwd]

In addition to some dissimilar ways the two bike types handle, the main thing about street riding is accident avoidance. When you are riding out in the woods, there aren't too many cars pulling in front of you. On the street, if you aren't prepared for that, you're dead.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by subxero

I don't think i could ever ride a dual purpose bike off road hard, i would have to just putt around on it otherwise i would be replacing mirrors constantly

Eh, kinda depends on the bike. My XT has round mirrors on stout mirror stocks (as mirror stocks go) and they are mounted inboard and, most importantly, don't extend out toward the bar end any more than needed. Also, the mirror mounts to the stock at the bottom instead of the side. The KLX's pointy, direct-from-a-streetbike mirrors would be toast as soon as bar meets ground.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

In addition to some dissimilar ways the two bike types handle, the main thing about street riding is accident avoidance. When you are riding out in the woods, there aren't too many cars pulling in front of you. On the street, if you aren't prepared for that, you're dead.

So I assume you never had a turkey suddenly fly across your path? Day Ruiner

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by tapdiggy

So I assume you never had a turkey suddenly fly across your path? Day Ruiner

Well today actually. Turkey Buzzard that is. About the size of a big chicken. He came within about a foot of the bike and decided to go the other way. We have lots of birds around here. So bird strikes are common. Hitting one at 60 isn't exactly fun. Best to avoid them.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

Well today actually. Turkey Buzzard that is. About the size of a big chicken. He came within about a foot of the bike and decided to go the other way. We have lots of birds around here. So bird strikes are common. Hitting one at 60 isn't exactly fun. Best to avoid them.

Had birds cross my path a couple times. Last time it was a thanksgiving feast of a gobbler while I was test-riding a Tiger 800. Potentially dumping a $10K bike I don't own is a sobering thought.

[IdRatherDrum]

Thanks for the responses guys. I talked to my friend today and he is going to teach me how to dirtbike when it gets cooler in california! So probably end of october into november.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by IdRatherDrum

Thanks for the responses guys. I talked to my friend today and he is going to teach me how to dirtbike when it gets cooler in california! So probably end of october into november.

Sounds like a plan, i can't remember if you said or not, what kind of dirtbike will you be riding?

If it is MX type bike, 250f, 450f, or 125/250 two stroke, keep in mind that the power to weight ratio compared to say a ninja 250r is very much in the favor of one of those dirtbikes.

The 250fs will make in the mid 30's HP and from a bike that weights a little over 200lbs

the 450f's peak can be in the 50hp range, again on a bike that weights just under 250lbs

http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/N...9558bb043.aspx

So in all honesty, learning on something like the cbr250, or ninja 250 in a big open, no vehicle parking lot, might be safer, better, easier than jumping on a full MX bike on top of learning on an actual street bike

Keep that in mind

have fun

[dirty nasty]

Originally Posted by tapdiggy

One hyphenate: Dual-Purpose. There are at least four* on the market that are cheaper and more practical than a dirt-only machine. There are just some things that don't translate between dirt and asphalt. A half-inch dry mud puddle in clay or loam doesn't have the same effect on the bike as a similarly sunken manhole cover in a street.

Plus it is really fun riding up over medians in parking lots. Civil disobedience is




*Hopefully five soon. Come on, Husky

Ya, dual purpose bikes suck. They make half ass street machines and half ass dirt machines. I don't do compromises, so I've got an MX bike for the track and my street bike for the road. You can put street tires on a dirt bike and have an okay road bike, or dirt tires on the dirt bike and have a kick ass dirt bike. Plus dual sports get weighed down by all the street equipment. No fun when you're off road. This is my opinion on the matter anyways.

As for a good dirt bike to learn on the dirt on, look into air cooled trail type bikes. The motocross bikes aren't very easy to learn on. You can, but they're not as forgiving. The power on MX bikes tends to come on hard, especially the 2-stroke ones. The suspensions on them are harsh. Figuring out the clutch on an MX bike is a challenge and results in a lot of failed attempts or a rear fender and subframe replacement after you loop it. Also, they are tall. There's many other reasons too I can't think of right now. Remember, the potential for injury in the dirt is still very high. I did this last year. Probably could've avoided a lot of that if I decided to wear a long sleeve instead of the t-shirt I was wearing. Gear up! And don't ride on 100 degree days in a t-shirt because it's too hot lol. Either suck it up and wear all the gear or don't ride.

[IdRatherDrum]

Originally Posted by subxero

Sounds like a plan, i can't remember if you said or not, what kind of dirtbike will you be riding?

If it is MX type bike, 250f, 450f, or 125/250 two stroke, keep in mind that the power to weight ratio compared to say a ninja 250r is very much in the favor of one of those dirtbikes.

The 250fs will make in the mid 30's HP and from a bike that weights a little over 200lbs

the 450f's peak can be in the 50hp range, again on a bike that weights just under 250lbs

http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/N...9558bb043.aspx

So in all honesty, learning on something like the cbr250, or ninja 250 in a big open, no vehicle parking lot, might be safer, better, easier than jumping on a full MX bike on top of learning on an actual street bike

Keep that in mind

have fun

I think the strongest one he has is a 125cc two stroke but I won't be riding that. He has 3 and is going to put me on the smallest one. So I won't be on something that's ridiculously fast. He might even start me on one with no clutch and just a shifter pedal thing. But that might be too small for me. 5'7" and 155 pounds here.

[dirty nasty]

Yeah, if it has no clutch, but you can still change the gears, chances are it's a small bike intended for a small child. I wouldn't want to ride that anywhere other than flat ground and only for the purposes of learning the throttle and brake controls.

You'll need a bike with a clutch to learn anything.

A 125cc 2-stroke I wouldn't want to ride on pavement. For a first time rider a 125cc 2-stroke MX bike could be overwhelming.

[IdRatherDrum]

Originally Posted by dirty nasty

Yeah, if it has no clutch, but you can still change the gears, chances are it's a small bike intended for a small child. I wouldn't want to ride that anywhere other than flat ground and only for the purposes of learning the throttle and brake controls.

You'll need a bike with a clutch to learn anything.

A 125cc 2-stroke I wouldn't want to ride on pavement. For a first time rider a 125cc 2-stroke MX bike could be overwhelming.

We'll be riding in a deserty area so I won't be on pavement.

[subxero]

Yeah, like dirty nasty said, if the bike doesn't have a clutch you won't be learning one of the most important mechanics of riding and will most likely lack any real acceleration so throttle control will be a joke and won't prepare you for snappier bikes.

125cc two stroke.... if you are in wide open desert you could try it, but definitely gear up, those little two strokes are not beginner bikes they are tons of fun.

My wifes KLX125 is a great learners bike, it is small so you can flat foot, 4stroke so it has some low end grunt, and 1st gear is designed to get moving with out any throttle, just release the clutch slow and steady and wait for it to grab and you are off.

Once you get good with the clutch release start working in the throttle with it for the start.