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Just wondering if any older Stw contributors with a lot of road/race motorcycling under there belts have successfully made the transition to off-road riding?
I had a go a few years ago and although I could get around the local practice tracks and managed a couple of enduros I was, quite frankly, crap!
Now no.2 son has a rm125 and my Sunday's are spent watching him ride I'm starting to get the itch again. Thing is, I am almost certain it will be a waste of time and money as before. The main issues are a. Age, and b. The seemingly insurmountable problem that my brain is hard wired in such a way that I'm always trying to force the bike to go where I want it to go and that just doesn't work off road, it also buggers up the mountain biking to a degree, ruts being the biggest problem. Hitting the rhs of a rut promotes a reflex action of trying to lean left by counter steering right, and that never end well.
Anyone have any wonder ideas/cures or should I just give it up as a bad idea?
You know it won't end well..
If you have to think about it dont bother - itll not end well ...
Most of the lads I know started off with dirt, so the transition was back to dirt, rather than just 'to' dirt.
There are a few lads who've done it your proposed way though
Have an ask on www.therevcounter.com
Thanks chaps, and thanks for the link Weeksy, think deep down I know it would be a mistake, getting old is a bastard!!!
Maybe a mtb skill course would be more appropriate .
Are you the Weeksy who used to pop up on the ngrrc website ?
I gave it a half-assed try but I couldn't get over freaking out every time something slid... I spat the dummy basically and never tried again, because I'm a loser 😆
The main issues are a. Age
You're ****ed
It's close to impossible to unlearn all the survival skills you've acquired.
I raced at school boy and national level but still couldn't get back into it 20 years later.
Rossi has his ranch, Marquez has his dirt oval. If you find riding in the dirt hard you were riding road bikes wrong in the first place 😈
Just get on with it. You'll get faster. Or do a days training, the main lesson that will make a world of difference is making the bikes suspension do the work, and don't use your legs.
Yes mate, I raced with them badly back in 2004 I think it was.
Doesn't always work out that well.Problem starts with the fact a lot of road motorcyclist think that because they can ride on the road its simple of road.They rev the bikes to much they don't stand up enough off road and get their self into a lot of trouble.Once you teach them a few things and they get it right they love it.But most say its way harder than they thought it would be.Give it ago just take it easy your love it.
Thanks again, guess the best bet is to jump on the boys 125 just to remind myself that off road riding is an impossible black art!
5thElephant, when I was racing you rode to the limits of tyre adhesion and then you crashed, the only sliding we did was straight into the gravel traps. 😀
Ive raced motorcycles on the track for several years. I still roadride, and my job means im trained to a high standard, but family means i dont race motorcycles any more.
I raced motorcycle enduro for several yesrs too. When my daughters turned 16 they wanted motorcycles. I said no, and was accused of hypocrisy. So we compromised and bought 2 trials bikes. Have a go, its brilliant and cheap, and really improves your skill set.
Started on the road but got into enduros which I loved but was never as quick off road as on. Of course when I got into mtbs it took a while to stop trying to twist the right grip in an attempt to go faster.