Dirt Bike FAQ

If your first qualification is used, that will depend on the bikes available for sale in your area. Couple of general points, though. At 5-11 you will need a bike with a full size frame. Tiny won't cut it, 125-250cc, but check it first, even at those displacements have seen 3/4 size frames .(kind for kids). Have you ever ridden before? If no, lightest bike you can find, you'll be picking it up a lot. Can't even tell you the number of times I've fallen! Check where you will be riding. Some sites have specific equipment rules. Don't spend everything you have, you will need some equipment. Minimum: Helmet, Gloves, Boots. Ever caught a lace in the foot peg in 5th gear so you could not shift? (not a lot of fun) Worry about weight, not displacement. You always have one piece of equipment that will keep you from getting in trouble by going too fast. (Hint, it's the place between your ears.) On Bike condition: does chain shift a lot side to side? Do tires show "age cracks"? Shake steering head, do top of forks rattle back and forth? On rear sprocket, are holes even or"dished" on side? All signs of wear, going to be medium to very expensive. If the bike won't start when you goto look at it, something is very(!) wrong. Get a mechanical friend to go with you to look at bikes to begin with. Ask what he is looking for, so you can do the same later. Best wishes, dirt down and sky up!

You have not stated how old you are or how tall so I cannot suggest a bike. But firstly you have to a have a bike suitable for mx.

Go onto www.dirtwerkz.com and find tracks close to you and go along to a race day to ask a few questions and get to meet a few people. Speak to the race secretary to find out about joining the club. They will tell you what things you need to do. you will also need to join the governing body of motocross in the country you are in. In America that is the AMA and where I am it is Motorcycling Australia.

Make sure you have all the relevant gear helmet, boots, gloves, jersey, pants, shin guards, elbow guards,goggles, chest protection,kidney belt and if you can afford it a neck brace.

Go along to the track for practise days and get used to mixing it with the other bikes and find out any club rules and what all the flags means so you know what to do when one is waved you. It is important to know how to react when you have faster bikes coming up from behind. Never alter your line into the path of another bike.

When you have had time to get used to the bike you can then think about racing.

The favorite answer is a Kawasaki Ninja 250. Brand new the list price is $3500. If that is too steep, then consider a used, "naked" bike.

Naked bikes come without the tupperware (plastic body parts), and are usually cheaper to buy and insure, and considering that you are new, plan on having several learning experiences, over the first year of riding,

You may have to hunt around for a specially lowered bike, considering your height. In that case, look for a used small displacement cruiser, honda rebel is good. Most cruisers have lower seat heights than standards or sport bikes. You can help your self by wearing thick soled boots, but if you once start, then keep on wearing the same boots, since the ability to stand upright over your bike's seat becomes habitual, and you may find your self doing something less than graceful.

Imagine a stop sign, and you are approaching at a normal speed, with cross trainers on, and you have heretofore worn boots. So as the bike come to a halt, you stand up, but your feet slip [Leaves?Wet pavement? A depression between a couple of high points?] All of us have slipped on some sort of surface, and you have to be aware of the surface immediately around the stop sign in a fraction of a second. or splat! Down you both go. The best that can happen is you are still moving sufficiently fast to make an upright stop, but anything can happen.

You may want to lower the seat height by trimming the seat foam down to be lower/narrower, on even a specially adapted low height motorcycle.

First off,I'd like to start by saying,yes,the potential for injury does exist.However,what sport doesn't have risks?You must realize,that you are starting at a relatively,late time in your life.That fact alone means,you simply,take longer to heal.You WILL hit the ground!Accept this fact and use it to your best advantage.It doesn't matter how well a person masters this sport,just ask any professional rider,and you will find that even they have done plenty of soil sampling when they were doing some relatively slow maneuvers and have hurt themselves.The question you truly need to ask yourself is,"IF I GET INJURED,DO I HAVE THE PROPER MEDICAL INSURANCE TO COVER MY ASS,AND IF I DON'T HOW AM I GOING TO PAY MY BILLS?" I personnally,have ridden since the age of 9 and I am 41 now.I broke my back at the age of 25,I was about 1/16th of an inch from being a qudraplegic.I was very,very fortunate to have come out of that pretty much unscathed.I MUST TELL YOU!!! I STILL RIDE TO THIS DAY!! PEIOD!! Once,a person has ridden and realizes the adrenaline rush of pushing a machine to one's limits,you simply cannot stop.It is addictive!USE YOUR HEAD!The times I have seen people get hurt,it was simply,"Ohh,I am just going down the road,or just ride around the campsite so I don't need my helmet."BULLSH%T!!! Wear your helmet,goggles(not sunglasses),and bare minimum,a good pair of riding boots!Gloves are also recommended!!And most of all,RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE"S PROPERTIES AND USE YOUR BETTER JUDGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO NOISE POLLUTION!!!THIS SPORT DOESN'T NEED ANOTHER BOZO WITH NO RESPECT FOR OTHERS.TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!!!!!! If you ride in a public riding area,where other people are camping,don't go blasting by their campsite or if you are at your local track,slow down in the pit area!Unfortunately,most accidents are caused by inexperienced riders!Be aware of your surroundings!!! It is a sport which has a lot of good people who do their best to keep your riding areas open for you,so support you local dealer.Oh,by the way,if you see somebody that isn't giving the proper respect to others,feel free to tell them what negative effects it can have in this sport,and set them straight.I truly encourage you and welcome you to this truly awesome sport.You may also consider taking riding classes,check with your local dealer for more info.Enjoy!!!

You need a pair of boots with shinguards on them, that buckles across the front or side. Get thes early and work on softening them. A helmet for off road use, a set of armor that is adjustable, to your size, with shoulder pads, elbows, back armor, and chest armor (to protect against thrown rocks and dirtclods – "roost") . (the off road helmet helmet is a full face helmet, and there is a vented part that wraps around and protects your nose)

Also you need a full face shield on your helmet or goggles and tear-offs (transparent sheets that get muddy and then you TEAR OFF a layer as mud and crud accumulate). Tear-offs are not required for non-competitive riding. Oh and a jersey/shirt to cover up the armor.