Tips For Summer Dirt Bike Riding

With summer comes a whole range of outdoor activities that adrenaline junkies live for. One of these heart-pounding and fun-filled activities is dirt biking. However, to have a good time and stay safe, there are some things to keep in mind before you head out to the dirt track.

At Road Track & Trail, we want you to get the best performance out of your dirt bike. For that, not only do you need a good machine, you also need to know some tips to improve both rider and bike performance. To check out our collection of dirt bikes for sale, come to our dealership in Big Bend, Wisconsin.

The Terrain

The best kind of dirt track has soil that can hold water and doesn’t become like clay. The more clay in the soil, the harder it’ll be for you to stay upright. Blue groove soil is essentially hard-pack clay, which eats away at your tires; it’s the rubber worn off from your tires that turns the soil blue. This terrain offers little to no traction.

Loam tracks are a favorite with dirt bike riders. Loam is a mixture of silt, sand and clay, which creates a really stable track. The soil has proper drainage, offers good traction and if you fall on it, it’s less painful than any other track.

While most off-road bikes are built to handle any terrain, sand tracks are a bit of an issue for many riders. Sand is very slippery, so you need to keep the throttle going if you want to stay upright. Sand is hard to get across and requires a different set of tires. 

Chalky soil is used on motocross tracks and is also the most common soil for backyard tracks. Chalky soil is usually combined with other soils to give it a better texture for riding. It dries out rather quickly so it needs to be watered down frequently. 

Staying Safe

Since dirt biking is a fast-paced and high-risk activity, there are cases of riders injuring themselves. Some of the most common injuries are a broken collarbone, broken wrists, broken ankles, dislocated shoulders and ACL ruptures. There are some precautions you can take to avoid these happening to you.

Most trail bike riders break their collarbones because they try to stop themselves from falling by using their hands. This is a natural reaction while falling, but the faster your speed, the greater the force that your arms (and collarbone) will face. Try to avoid collision with other riders and keep your dirt bike upright. You can wear a neck brace for added protection. 

You can avoid broken wrists and ankles by studying the course beforehand to see the problem areas and have a strategy in place for them. Despite that, you may still fall, so protect yourself by wearing wrist and ankle braces. Motocross boots give your feet and ankles added protection. 

Your ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) connects the thigh to the shinbone; these get ruptured when you perform jumps with knees bent. Both shoulder dislocation and ACL rupture are intensely painful and can require extended physiotherapy. Wear shoulder supports and knee braces to protect yourself from these injuries.

Keeping Cool

Being out on your dirt bike on a hot summer day is sure to get you sweaty. To replenish your fluids, drink water before you start and place a hydration pack in your backpack. These packs let you sip water without stopping your bike. Take short breaks to keep cool and away from the sun. You can use this time to eat light snacks, drink water and rest your body. Know the limits of your body and do not exert yourself to a breaking point. 

Place a heat shield on your trail bike to keep the heat of the engine away from your legs. Your bike will be feeling the effects of the summer sun so give it a rest, too. Always use fresh coolant in dirt bikes. A common motocross trick is to remove a full gas tank and place it on ice before the gate drop. While you don’t have to do this, it lets you ride your bike for a longer time. 

We hope these tips will help you dominate whatever track comes across your way. Check out our dirt bikes for sale at Road Track & Trail in Big Bend, Wisconsin. Tell us what you want to do and we’ll recommend the best models for you. We proudly serve the cities of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois.