Off-road motorcycle driving clinic: five basic tips for riding on dirt and sand

One of the reasons many people buy a motorcycle is the feeling of freedom they convey. A feeling that extends even further when they cross the line between asphalt and dirt. And more and more people are getting into off-roading or taking a trip that includes some sections of the route that feature adventure trails.

But to ride on dirt and not have the limit at the first corner, it's advisable to know some basic enduro techniques. A few days ago, the motorcycle brand Voge offered an off-road riding clinic for its users, which Clarín also attended.

The training was aimed at owners of the Voge DS900X, DS525X, 650DSX, 500DSX and 300 Rally models, the brand's trail and on/off style, which offered a good opportunity to train and get the most out of the motorcycle.

Voge is owned by Loncin, one of the world's largest motorcycle manufacturers, and has been present in the country for several years. It has gradually managed to break down the prejudices surrounding the quality of Chinese vehicles. It even spearheaded the entry of other brands.

The clinic took place at Enduro Park Argentina , a facility specifically designed for this type of practice located in San Pedro, and was led by Javier Pizzolito, a driver who has competed in the Dakar 7 times and an FIM (International Motorcycling Federation) instructor, Lucas Estuardo and Maximiliano Agüero.

What it's like to ride a motorcycle on dirt, climb a steep hill, descend without losing control, and make sharp turns without losing your balance. These and many other concepts were included in the clinic, and from them we extracted five basic tips for those thinking about going hard riding .

This is the first and most basic concept for riding a motorcycle on dirt. The riding position for comfort while still being able to fully control the vehicle is to stand with your legs slightly bent.

Starting from the bottom up, your feet should rest on the pedals with the metatarsal part, so that your ankles act as the body's first shock absorber against the unevenness of the road.

Your knees shouldn't be straight, but slightly bent, and you should "hug" the motorcycle's fuel tank with them. This will be your main point of contact with the vehicle, freeing up your arms from this task. This way, without transferring your body weight to the handlebars, you'll be lighter when turning.

At the same time, the arms are positioned in an attacking position, but bent so that the elbows act as another shock absorber. This will allow us to counteract the force of inertia when braking or accelerating.

On asphalt, especially on roads, leaning your body in line with the direction of the bike is essential for cornering well, especially at speed.

But on dirt, you have to forget about that, because everything is the other way around. If you lean your body toward the side you're trying to turn, the front wheel is likely to swerve and the bike will slide to the ground.

To avoid this, you should let the bike lean but lean your body to the opposite side . This will offset the weight and prevent the front wheel from skidding.

The most important thing is your vision. Looking ahead to anticipate what's coming is key both on asphalt and on dirt. In fact, when learning to ride a motorcycle, one of the classic pieces of advice is to avoid looking at the ground or at points too close, as this can cause us to lose balance. "The bike goes where we look" is a saying as classic as it is true.

But in off-road riding, it's not enough to just look where you want to go. To make a sharp turn, it's key to keep your shoulders parallel to the handlebars , so that your body points in the same direction as the bike.

The arms must be well flexed, and it is even advisable to exaggerate the maneuver by sticking out the elbow on the opposite side to the one you want to bend to help the body shape itself.

One of the most fun aspects of adventure trails, unlike flat terrain, is the ascents and descents. This is where the engine's torque and the control we achieve are most appreciated.

From below, a very steep climb can look like a wall, just as from above it can appear like a cliff. But with the right technique , these obstacles become just another segment of the trail.

When facing a climb, once again, you need to consider your posture. Always standing on the pedals, lean your body forward by flexing your arms. This way, you'll compensate for the bike's inertia when accelerating and the tendency of the slope to pull you backward. It will also allow you to brake quickly when the climb ends.

Another key factor here is how you place your hands on the controls. It's best to place two fingers on the brake lever and two on the clutch lever, with the rest of your fingers hugging the handlebars. This will help you achieve quick reaction times and precision.

This last point is going to be key on the descent , since we have to do it by combing the brakes a little (front and back equally) and at the same time touching the clutch if it is necessary to release the bike a little more.

The opposite of the uphill stance, you stand on the bike with your body back , extending your arms (not locked, but ready to bend) and sticking out your tail. This way, in addition to balancing the bike, you can absorb the energy of sudden braking when you reach the end of the descent.

If everything on dirt is new for someone who is only used to asphalt, other surfaces such as sand or loose stones are a real challenge.

And encountering such a situation may be more common than you think. In fact, on many rural roads, these features are likely to appear as fill in very muddy terrain.

To control the bike in a situation like this, it's essential to stay stopped so the weight is evenly distributed across both wheels. A tip that can sometimes help is tire pressure , especially in sand. Contrary to popular belief, it's not necessary to lower the pressure on both wheels, just the rear. This will give you a little more grip when accelerating, without causing the tire to spin as much.

It is not necessary to deflate the front wheel, as this could make maneuvering more difficult, making steering more difficult than it usually is on this type of terrain.

Rev control is also key to successfully traversing these types of roads. Once you've achieved the necessary traction, you should maintain the same speed without stopping unnecessarily or accelerating excessively.