It is exciting to get your first motocross bike in. The first thing we will want to do is take it out for a ride on the course. If you do not have prior experience with driving these types of bikes than you might be in for a rude awakening. These are built differently than the average motorbike. You have to learn the right way to control it. If you don’t than you will find yourself wiping out at every curve and jump.
Wiping out is going to happen a few times and the best way to safeguard against injuries is to wear the necessary gear. Make sure that before you go out you put on your helmet, gloves, boots, knee and elbow pads, and a chest protector. It would also be helpful to wear the special motocross pants.
Get a feel for each of the gears. Try to understand how the clutch works and what type of acceleration you need in order to shift. You want the bike to shift smoothly with each gear and without having to accelerate unnecessarily. Remember not to shift through more than one gear at a time or you will burn it out.
Keep your feet firmly on the pegs. Most people will want to put their foot down to feel more secure and to keep from tipping over. This is a bad habit that you need to break early on. Your feet should only be touching the ground when you are stopped.
Slide forward on the gas tank and position your weight over the front wheel. This will help you to gain more control over the bike. Where the front wheel goes so should your body and the rest of the bike. Make sure you learn to control that front wheel.
Squeeze the tank with your knees and sit loosely on the seat. You don’t need to be sliding and bumping when driving on the rough track. You need to build up your muscles and train them to be hugging the bike at all times.
Try to stand up when you are comfortable with the track. Most people prefer to stand up on the straight parts and sit around the curves. Try to lean slightly forward and concentrate on the path ahead. Allow your knees to bend slightly and learn to absorb the shock of the road.