Dirt Hammers - Beginners Guide

Whether you’re following the lead of your friends, or your own interest in the sport, Motocrossoffers a great opportunity for everything from friendly fun to serious competition. But beforeyou jump on a bike, there are some things to take into consideration.

Gear Up

The most important thing to keep in mind is that motocross can be just as dangerous as it is fun. Protective equipment is a must. Some items are mandatory, some personal preference but you should make sure that you take the minimum steps in protecting yourself. Among the options: a helmet; motocross boots, jersey and pants; knee, elbow and wrist pads; a chest protector; gloves; a good pair of goggles.

Moto Gear

Helmet. Protecting your head is the most important thing you can do.
Googles. Consider googles with a "Tear Off" system for clearer vision while riding.
Riding Boots. Are very important to protecting your toes, ankles, and shin bone. I use a mid level boot with a price range of $150-$250
Neck Brace. Reduce your chances of a neck injury by investing in a "neck brace" system. Do your research.
Riding Gear. Pants, Jersey, Gloves can be purchased as a combo set and in most cases it's the cheapest.

Here are some other items that could enhance your riding experience

Under Shorts
Hydration System
Chest Protector
Moto Socks

Get Advice

Visit local bike shops and ask the experts about the best bike for beginners. Also ask around with other riders to find out what bikes they recommend. Remember, it isn’t necessary to go all out on your first bike. Pick a bike that will be manageable and easy to learn on.

Get Comfortable on Your Bike

If you’ve never ridden, get the basics down before trying to hit the track. Ride your bike around the track, keeping a good body position (leaning forward; shoulders and head forward; arms in a comfortable, relaxed position). Once you can ride comfortably while seated, try standing up. Still keeping your arms and head forward, bend your legs slightly to absorb the shock of the bumps, and your knees presses in toward the tank.

Progress Slowly

Going straight is easy and you may be tempted to increase your speed. But, you’ll soon find that turning is a little more complicated and your speed will affect your turning width. Practice turns, both directions and, at gradually increasing speeds. It may seem boring but turning is a valuable skill to have as you can lose speed on a turn and fall behind the pack in competition. If you feel that you need professional instructions do some reaserch and see what kind of training fits your needs. Try this site www.dirtbikeschool.com You'll find some very useful information.

Get Involved

Get involved with your local Motocross scene or riding group. Learn from others. Establish a relationship with riders, and shops. You’ll learn what’s going on in the industry, how to improve your riding and you’ll be establishing a network of your own which will be important if competing is your ultimate goal.

Be Prepared to Get Hurt

The best riders in the world get hurt. Even if you aren’t doing the big tricks, Motocross can be a dangerous sport. Always make sure you and your family wear the proper protective gear.

And finally, take care of yourself. Motocross is tough on the body and a strong, active lifestyle will make it easier on you and improve your overall performance.

Protect Your Investment

Every year many dirt bikes are stolen and never recovered. It's easy to see why. They are light weight and easy to push down a street to a waiting truck or trailer. Most don't have any way to lock them up unlike some street machines. Most don't even need a key to start them and they are easy to hide.

So if you don't want to be the next victim,you may want to think about how to keep your dirt bike safe and secure. With a little bit of thought and effort I'm sure you can come up ideas of your own, but here are some suggestions to have a secure dirt bike.

You might want to start with where you are going to store your bike. If that is a garage or shed what kind of locks do you have on the doors. You may want to install or have installed better, heavier duty locks, something with high security cylinders. Something that can't be duplicated at a local hardware store.

Few extra things that you might be interested in.