Teaching yourself to ride a dirtbike

You selfish man, you...."I got Julie a Honda CRF 230 F so that I can improve my riding skill and learn some advanced tricks.".....I envy you...enjoy!!

If you want to lead a balanced life, don't rush around trying to do leisure/work/sport/family etc.  Rather find fewer things to do but make sure they cover more than one base (e.g. do sport with the family, do a job that is part of your leisure etc).

So, I bought a bike that is dual-purpose - isn't that what all GS owners have done?

Nice video and good luck!

Today I tried sitting slow wheelies on the patch of grass around the flyover where the M3 joins Steenberg road.  Woohoot!  I slow wheelied for 15m!  A few things I noticed about the learning process:

1. Be patient with yourself
2. Practise just a little every day.  Regular practice is more important than long sessions, because it is during the breaks that your body assimilates learning.  During the actual process your body gets tired and starts unlearning.
3. Even if you think you are getting nowhere, your body is learning and developing.

of practising for about 45 minutes most days:

1. I can loft the bike practically at will
2. Sometimes if things come together and I am centered, I can wheelie for about 5m slowly
3. If I set myself a target (a clump of grass or molehill ahead of me), I find I end up putting the front wheel down on the target.

Mostly my difficulty now is maintaining my balance while aloft.  Practising on the path that we walk the dogs on is hard, because there is a river on one side and a marsh on the other, so if I veer either way I need to stop.  What I have noticed is that:

1. I don't panic anymore when I get the bike right up to balance point,
2. Things seem to be slower when I get the front wheel up - i.e. I feel more in control.
3. It is damn good exercise!  I am quite exhausted after a session, and seem to developing muscles in my arms and legs.  This has got to be the most enjoyable gym machine I have ever invested in!

What I feel I need to work on more is:

1. Using the back brake to modulate the bike around the balance point, and
2. staying up.

Perhaps I should have a session on the wheelie machine to help me develop that part of the skill.

I got some real time on Nat's bike yesterday by making her ride about 30 laps of a track I had laid out at the quarry, thus she was tired, thus I got some play time on the CRF. I had watched this video on Friday afternoon again and put the advise given to into practise. I eventually managed to wheelie about 45 meters (sitting) and was able to change from 2nd to 3rd, after about 15 minutes of trying.

But Charles I have to say I think the CRF230 gives one a huge advantage in this respect, it is just such an easy and lekker bike to ride. My KDX I can lift and hold for only short distances and I reckon I have had more flips than good wheelies on it. It is very good at chucking one off. Yesterday however was the first non fall day after 4 hours of riding and practising.  

CRF230F   

Quarry 

I am not sure if I will be able to to continue the learning curve though as time on the CRF will seemingly be scarce in the future.......

That little 230F is a fantastic fun bike.

Julie did the Honda Adventure Academy training at Riverside on Saturday, and for the outride they lent me a CRF 250X so I could go with.  What a difference - the 250X is a lot harder to ride and I got a pretty good workout.

Now I need to do some Enduro-style time in the saddle.  What would be the best place to start?

Last weekend I was thinking about going to Zone 7, but on Sunday morning after riding with the dogs had somehow pulled a muscle in my back.  It may have been the work around the house on Saturday (rather ride, chores can be bad for your health!).

So no riding for a week (other than the rainy commute on Mr.Badger).  Today I am relieved to find that I am able to do all my usual moves without aggravating the injury.  It was also my first ride with all my new hand-me-down enduro gear. 

whee...: yes, I know, I look like an old stick

Next weekend I am hoping to take Julie to Atlantis with the Wild Dogs Noob Sand Training day.  That should be good exercise.  I will probably ride Brenda Buttercup (650 Funduro) because we have bought her back from our son and are giving her a good home with new shoes, occasional bathes, good oil and tlc.

Well, a big hiatus in commentary on my progress.  This friday I am off to the Country Trax Dirtbike Fundamentals course, but in the meantime I have been riding a lot:

• Did the KTM social enduro at Bushman's Cave and learned a hell of a lot from non other than Toren Wing...
• Been riding every morning with the dogs (that is Skippy and Lucy) and practising wheelies and donuts and balancing.

Some mornings go better than others.  It seems the front wheel can get very heavy on some days.  But today, I popped a stonker:  got straight up to past the balance point, and controlled it there for ages using a combination of clutch, brake and throttle.  What is more, I was completely relaxed and comfortable - no panic that I might go over.  Clearly, this is the state I will eventually be in whenever and wherever I pop a wheelie, but it will take some practice to be able to get there every time.

Another tutorial on YouTube. Very similar to the original one at the top of the thread.