Riding dirt bikes is a lot of fun. Getting on a dirt bike and riding on a trail can be quite addicting, to be honest. There’s just something about the sport that gets our blood going as men. That’s not to say that it’s exclusively man’s sport. In fact, there are several bad-ass ladies in the sport.
It’s actually a great extreme sport for anyone to get involved in, even kids. Kids as young as 3-years-old can be seen learning how to ride on dirt bikes. Here are some tips to get them started young:
Tip #1: Safety first!
The very first thing you need to do with motocross racing is to read up on safety measures, whether you’re working with adults or kids. Being knowledgeable about dirt bike safety can help prevent accidents from happening and reduce the rate of getting injured.
It’s also important to ensure that the bike is in great working order and is road-worthy. Any sport that involves machines and wheels needs to be mindful of this. If the bike or UTV is broken or there’s something wrong, immediately take it in for bike or UTV and ATV repair services to keep the rider safe.
Tip #2: Show them some cool safety gear to excite them to wear it
In keeping with safety, wearing the proper gear is also very crucial to the sport. No rider should ever get on the trail without the proper gear and equipment, most especially beginners and kids.
Show them some pictures of cool gears and even photos of kid riders in full-gear and show them how cool they look. This will make them look forward to getting their own gear and wearing it.
Tip #3: Start on an even and straight trail
Let their first few rides be on a flat and straight road. This way, they get to a hang of the machine and stay on the bike longer as opposed to going on a hilly and winding trail where they are prone to crashing. The longer they get to stay on the bike the more excited they are for the next trip.
Tip #4: Get rid of the training wheels
Training wheels are essential in learning how to ride any two-wheeled vehicle like a bike or a pocket bike. But these are only good if you’re teaching 3 or 4-year-olds. As they improve their balance, those training wheels have got to go. You don’t want them dependent on training wheels and get scared to take them off eventually.
Tip #5: Get them started on a bike that’s just the right size for them
Just like riding a mountain or trail bike, the size of the bike matters. Have them the right-sized bikes so they are comfortable when they hit the road. We recommend a 50cc bike because it’s smaller, lighter, and a lot less intimidating. Once they’ve gotten the hang of it, you can then upgrade to a 110cc dirt bike.
Tip #6: Only teach one fundamental thing on each trip
Make sure that when you do teach them to ride, don’t overwhelm them with too many things at once. Make each trip about one or two important fundamentals and make it the whole focus of the session. Doing this allows them to better process and absorb the information they get.
Tip #7: Look for a wide and open area to practice their turns
Turns can be quite tricky, especially at top speeds. Once they’re already comfortable on a bike and are doing quite well on straight roads, you can then move on to working on their turns. Make sure to choose a wide area where there’s plenty of room to practice those turns until they can do a 180.
Tip #8: Let them take frequent water breaks
Being on a bike, as we said earlier, can be loads of fun. However, it’s important to take note that dehydration happens when you’re on the road and having fun. When you ride, you’re still prone to sweating because of the sun and all the gear you have on. Even if you don’t feel warm, taking frequent water breaks will help you prevent dehydration from taking place so this is an important lesson that kids need to learn, too.
Tip #9: Teach them that crashing and falling are normal so they don’t get frustrated
Just like learning how to ride a bicycle, kids are bound to crash and fall a few times. Don’t allow them to get frustrated by it and instead, help them acknowledge that it’s an important part of the learning process. You can even take this time to teach them how to fall properly to minimize injuries.
Dirt bike racing is a great sport for kids to learn. The key is to make sure that safety is observed at all times and the kids are taught to ride properly.