Thread: Motorcycles

I'm a a dedicated dirtbiker. I live in one of the top destinations in the world for mountain riding and I've been riding for almost 10 years (I started when I was about 7),

Last year I bought a brand new '07 YZ450F and have put hundreds of hours on it. I've taken it to paradise valley, hagerman, Overton Nevada, and of course the Big hole mountains where I live.

I'll be getting my drivers license in September and then I'm on the lookout for a street bike. I can't wait, I just hope you can apply dirtbiking skills to street riding.

Too bad you can't jump em like a dirtbike. I will post pictures later!

Some dirtbiking skills do apply, but there are some key areas like steering that are totally different (you do it backwards). The main thing that is the same is being vigilant and aware of everything.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

Some dirtbiking skills do apply, but there are some key areas like steering that are totally different (you do it backwards). The main thing that is the same is being vigilant and aware of everything.

I heard that, that it's kind of like snowmobiling, you press right to go left, left to go right.

Didn't know that you biked, that's pretty cool.

Who doesn't like going almost 50 miles an hour on an 8 inch wide track covered in logs on the side of a cliff?

Yeah, I raced motocross up until about January of 09 when I bought a Buell Blast. It's a great little cafe racer, especially to learn how to ride the streets. I really miss racing in the dirt though- there's just something about hauling ass up to a jump and experiencing zero gravity for a few seconds.

Technically you'd pull right to go left, pull left to go right. Whatever side you push on, you'll turn in that direction.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

Some dirtbiking skills do apply, but there are some key areas like steering that are totally different (you do it backwards). The main thing that is the same is being vigilant and aware of everything.

Countersteering is a natural thing, you probably do it dirtbiking as well. To be honest, you do it on everything with two wheels from the heaviest slowest pushbike to the fastest and lightest motorcycles, I wouldn't think about it too much.

I really need to get my bike on the road again.

Originally Posted by gregs656

Countersteering is a natural thing, you probably do it dirtbiking as well. To be honest, you do it on everything with two wheels from the heaviest slowest pushbike to the fastest and lightest motorcycles, I wouldn't think about it too much.

I really need to get my bike on the road again.

Not in motocross/supercross. You point the front wheel in the direction you want to go and hang on for dear life.

EDIT: In fact, you can see proof of it in my avatar. That was a hairpin corner and I am definitely not countersteering. I was also one of the fastest through the corner.

I promised pictures!


The first pictures of the white bike are me, the red and yellow bikes are friends, and the last two are me . (last one is to make sure you only look at the pictures once xd)

Don't get any ideas about the guys on the red and yellow bikes, they've been riding bikes for many many more years then me and I consider them to be some of the best riders and guys I know, and I know alot of both! I'm probably making upwards of 30 feet distance and 8-12 feet air, hard to tell when you're up there. the other guys' jumps are respectable seen in person, besides, how well can you expect a 40 year old to jump?


Wow, ffs.

I went over the upload limit, hang on i'll link to photobucket lol.


By the way, I made this jump hundreds (literally) of times to get these pictures, so you better enjoy them!

Originally Posted by JokiJo

I promised pictures!


The first pictures of the white bike are me, the red and yellow bikes are friends, and the last two are me . (last one is to make sure you only look at the pictures once xd)

Don't get any ideas about the guys on the red and yellow bikes, they've been riding bikes for many many more years then me and I consider them to be some of the best riders and guys I know, and I know alot of both! I'm probably making upwards of 30 feet distance and 8-12 feet air, hard to tell when you're up there. the other guys' jumps are respectable seen in person, besides, how well can you expect a 40 year old to jump?

Looking good! You'd be surprised about the 40 year olds. Ever seen Guy Cooper? I used to live down the street from him, and I've seen that dude do some wild and crazy stuff. Backflips, X-Games style kickers, and just generally going way too fast and too high.

I've got a cousin that used to race pro, and he's pushing 40. He used to take massive triples like they were nothing. He's now moved on to racing superbikes.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

Not in motocross/supercross. You point the front wheel in the direction you want to go and hang on for dear life.

EDIT: In fact, you can see proof of it in my avatar. That was a hairpin corner and I am definitely not countersteering. I was also one of the fastest through the corner.

Yes in Motorcross.

Countersteering is part of initiating the turn, just because you turn the wheel to face the direction of turn eventually, does NOT mean you didn't countersteer to begin with. It's physics, a motorcycle is an inverted pendulum, you can't not countersteer. You certainly do countersteer in motorcross.

A postage size stamp of a photo proof, I think it would be very difficult to actually photograph it at all to be honest.

Yes, physics is physics, and you certainly can countersteer on a dirt bike, but just because you can do something doesn't mean you have to or even should. In fact, it's probably a bad idea. Back to physics, most tracks will have ruts made in which you ride the bike into. It acts as a rail, and as long as you track through it, you'll be fine. If you attempted counter steering in these ruts, your front wheel would break out and you'd be on your face. I know this from personal experience, trying to get the bike to lean a little more.

I've raced dirt bikes for almost 13 years now, and have been trained in one of the best racing schools in the world. I've raced with pros and watched pros live. People that make millions off racing motocross, hare scrambles, enduro, and supercross don't do it, so there must be something there.

Once again, I'm not saying it's impossible to countersteer on a dirt bike. If you watch supermoto (mix of dirt and street), they do it there. However, you'll notice the tracks are made different and the turns they countersteer into typically aren't big berms. What I am saying is that in all-dirt, knobbie tire situations, countersteering isn't done.

That's all I have to say about that...