Australia is great for off-road motorcycling and one form of this is called motocross, which is a very demanding sport that brings out the best in you as a rider, and with the right bike, clothing and attitude, you can challenge the rough terrain course. If you fancy taking up motocross riding, here are a few important aspects to take into account.
- Choosing the Bike – Motocross demands a special kind of bike, and when you look at motocross Yamaha motorcycles in Sydney, you will notice the knobbly tyres and the high wheelbase, which is critical for negotiating bumpy and uneven terrain, and to begin with, a small engine like 250-500cc is all you need. Of course, you will have to learn how to off-road ride, and unfortunately, there’s no short cut to mastering a motocross bike. The Yamaha YZ range offer motocross bikes ranging from 125 – 450cc, so there will be one that is right for you.
- Protective Clothing – As you would expect, motocross riding is very dangerous, and in order to minimise the risk of injury, you will need the following; A good helmet and goggles, gloves, good boots that offer ankle support, plus a jacket and trousers made from think material to protect you in the event of a tumble. Great foot grip is essential, as you want to keep your feet firmly on the pegs at all times, especially when you leave the ground, and with boots, you have ankle and lower leg protection.
- Learning How to Ride – You could probably find a school that teaches off-road riding, and some of the principles include learning how to slide the rear end, where the power is delivered, and using your legs is very important. Weight distribution is another must have skill, and cornering is all about controlling the drift, while maintain the front wheel direction and dragging a leg to provide another pivot point. Start slowly and master the art of balancing on two wheels while moving very slowly, and become accustomed with subtle clutch release, which is a valuable tool.
- Joining a Club – This is recommended, as you will get to meet other like-minded folk who wish to get into off-road riding in a competitive way. If you are a novice bike rider, then it will take a while to pick up the skills you’ll need to compete, particularly the difference between road and off-road riding. An instructor can help you with the basics, and when you have an acceptable level of machine control, you can be introduced to tracks and begin to challenge the prepared trails that are ideal for motocross.
- Insurance – You are strongly advised to take out insurance for yourself and your bike, as motocross riding is very dangerous, with frequent injuries as riders leave their machine and make contact with the ground.
If, after a few months, you think you are ready for competitions, your local club would enrol you in a beginner’s group and you can start to race against the clock, as well as the other riders.
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