Learning to ride an enduro motorcycle for beginners from scratch. #1

Motocross for children is not as dangerous as many parents think. This sport has a lot of benefits and minimal harm. Children are accepted into the section from the age of 5, and by the age of 10, children participate in international competitions.

Let's look at all the pros and cons of motocross and where to start a sports career.

At what age should a child start motocross?

Officially in Russia, motocross is available for children from 5 years old. At this age, young athletes become familiar with the rules of the sport, learn safety techniques, learn mindfulness, and work to improve physical strength. Interestingly, in countries such as Spain and Italy there are motocross sections for children from 3 years old, and many world champions began training at this young age.

In our country, children most often start motocross at the age of 10. Many people switch to this sport from children's karting, but there are also those who first get acquainted with motorsports in adolescence. One of the advantages of motocross is the absence of age restrictions, because at the amateur level you can start practicing at any age.

Practice

Theory is theory, but without practice there is nowhere. And the very first thing you need to learn is, oddly enough, to brake and turn))) In a difficult or, especially, emergency situation, young riders make a bunch of critical mistakes due to the manifestation of self-preservation instincts. Starting from overbraking and blocking the front wheel, to the inability to turn due to fear. This is precisely why you need to hone your skills to the point of automaticity, so that in difficult situations it is the right skills that come to the fore.

Warm-up

Before each workout, take 5-10 minutes to warm up. By warming up the muscles well, the likelihood of injury is reduced. In addition, a warm body works more efficiently.

Basics of brake operation

I think no one will argue that the ability to brake is an important skill. The rider, at the level of reflexes, must know the exact force for maximum effective braking, to the point of locking up. This skill can be acquired through regular exercise.

The exercise itself looks like this: start - acceleration - braking. And so several times in a row, increasing the intensity of braking each time. You can start training from a sitting position on a motorcycle. After some time, it’s worth moving to a stance, with a pull forward/backward when accelerating and braking.

Motocross for boys and girls

Motocross, like other types of auto-moto sports, is considered a male hobby. But despite this, today you can often find girls in sections. Most often, girls come to this sport following the example of their father or following their older brother.

The coaches note that the girls who come to the sections have a truly masculine character. They have no fear of speed, they are resilient and persistent and are in no way inferior to the guys. But most often, after several years of training, girls still leave motocross, because other tasks come first, such as studying, starting a family and career.

What you need to start classes - security organization

Considering that motocross is one of the injury-dangerous sports, before starting classes it is necessary to pay special attention to organizing safety. First of all, the child must understand that safety comes first, and it is much more important than winning competitions, the admiration of peers, or a sense of personal greatness. These simple truths, of course, will be taught at a motocross school, but parents should also convey to their child the importance of following the rules. Insurance for the child is also important; the policy must indicate that this insurance is specifically for motocross activities, and the insured amount must be at least 100,000 rubles. You will also need medical clearance, which can be obtained from your local doctor if there are no contraindications, and the consent of both parents to enroll the child in the section. When all the documents have been collected, you can begin choosing equipment.

Equipment

Safety in enduro, of course, starts with equipment. In addition to a helmet, an endurist desperately needs tough motocross or enduro motorcycle boots. There are two types of endurists. The first ones buy motorcycle boots before the injury, the second ones after the injury. Oh, it doesn't roll. You can fall even at about zero speed, and most likely the motorcycle will fall on your leg. In this case, the likelihood of injury is extremely high and it does not matter whether you are wearing ankle boots or sneakers. Turtle, knee pads and “armored underpants” will also not hurt at all.

Motocross equipment for children

Motocross equipment for a child must meet all safety standards. You need to choose equipment not by price, but by quality. Alpinestars, Acerbis, MadBull, BLAUER and SPYKE are recognized as the best brands of motorcycle equipment.

To start classes, your child must purchase:

• Helmet;
• Motorcycle glasses;
• Body protection;
• Lumbar belt;
• Knee pads;
• Motorcycle boots;
• Jersey and trousers;
• Gloves.

The cost of equipment for bike-cross training can vary from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles. From the age of 11-12, children begin to take part in serious competitions and at this time they will also need to purchase a motocross motorcycle, its cost is from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles, depending on the condition and technical indicators. The best brands of motocross motorcycles KTM, Yamaha, Husqvarna and Kawasaki.

Customizing the Motorcycle and Controls

But before you start learning to ride an enduro motorcycle, you need to at least slightly adjust the motorcycle to suit you.

Steering spacers

Many beginners rush to install steering wheel spacers to make it taller. But I assure you, if you are not Uncle Styopa, height 1.90 or more, then spacers are not needed!

Brake and clutch levers

The brake and clutch levers should be installed slightly below the horizon, along the line of the forearm. Also, these levers should be shifted as far as possible to the center of the steering wheel, firstly, to reduce the pressing force, due to the increased leverage, and secondly, this way there is less chance of breaking them. And if you don’t use handle protection, then you should wrap fum tape under the levers so that when you fall, the levers rotate on the steering wheel and don’t break off.

Brake pedals and gearbox

The gearshift pedal is installed slightly higher than the footrest, primarily for ease of shifting in the stance. The rear brake pedal is set level or slightly above the footrest.

Setting the rear suspension spring preload

You also need to at least slightly adjust the suspension to the rider's weight. If you are a beginner, you are unlikely to change springs to suit your weight. But at least it’s worth adjusting the shock absorber spring preload. It's not difficult to do this. Measure the distance, for example, from the rear wheel axle to the fender on an empty motorcycle. Then, stand on the footrests and ask a friend to measure there. The difference between the empty motorcycle and the weight of the rider in the equipment should be within 8-10 cm. This is how the motorcycle suspension will work best.

How to choose a motorsports school for children

In our country, motorcycling is not a popular sport, which means that all schools and clubs are self-sufficient. There are only two types of schools, you can find them in our catalog - private with their own material and technical base and public - with minimal fees, but do not have their own cars.

When choosing a motocross school for a child, it is better to give preference to a private club, because here the child will practice on good tracks, and you will not have to spend money on a motorcycle, its repair, renting a garage space, fuel, etc. One of the disadvantages of classes in a private school is the high cost, on average 3500-5000 rubles. per lesson.

Classes in public clubs will cost less. Typically, the monthly contribution amount is on average 1000-2000 rubles. But in this case, be prepared for additional expenses on the purchase and maintenance of a motorcycle.

Regardless of which club you choose, collect detailed information about the coach. He must have sufficient experience working with children and appropriate education.

I took my first endurocross training course a couple of years ago. Friends advised me and said that without this there is nothing to do in the city. Of course, I laughed, at that time we were more and more interested in “sports”, we dreamed of making turns “with a kick,” but I came to training. I skated for an hour, then lay on the sofa for the same amount of time - I was exhausted! A week later I tried again, and so on all summer... What they taught me, I didn’t immediately understand. And when I understood, I just said thank you. I’ll try to tell you a little, and the Russian motocross champion, winner of the Ural Enduro Cup, Ivan Pushkarev, will help me with this. One hour. Back to school. Experience on classic motorcycles is poorly suited to endurocross. The controls are the same, but the seating position is unusual, the saddle is narrow, and the suspension travel is huge. And most importantly, it does not feel frivolous on the road, it seems like there is a “bicycle” under you, but tall and with a very angry character. When one of my friends unscrewed the excess on a 500 cc KTM, the motorcycle drove away from under him. And the boy remained hanging in the air, like a cat named Tom from a foreign cartoon, though not for long. Thanks to powerful cross-country equipment, there were no consequences. We also picked up the motorcycle and drove on. During the first training session, you need to get used to the correct cross-country position and control the throttle. Use the front brake with extreme caution. Pictured: basic riding position on a cross-country and enduro motorcycle.

It's two o'clock. Acceleration-braking. In the second lesson, we accelerate and stop without standing on the steps. When accelerating, we load the front part of the motorcycle by tilting the body forward. We turn the gas carefully, regardless of the cubic capacity. Enduro weighs mere kilograms, so it accelerates instantly. When braking, the weight is transferred to the rear wheel. We press on the rear brake with our foot, and carefully, with one finger, on the front. In the city, standing up on the footrests and moving to the back of the seat, you can gain a meter or two in emergency braking.

It's three o'clock. Twists while sitting. The most difficult thing is to find balance. In a seated turn, you lift your leg for balance, much like a tightrope walker balances with a pole. The shoulders fall back and rotate parallel to the handlebar line. The outer elbow is raised, the inner one is down. Smooth gas. A look at the exit point of the turn. The motorcycle turns into a turn. If both wheels come off, you can use your outstretched leg to protect yourself from falling. In the city, this technique is used in slippery turns on any surface, on classic motorcycles or motards. The only thing that has to be taken into account is the insufficient protection of ordinary motorcycle shoes. If you lean on your foot while wearing a sneaker, there is a risk of injuring your ankle. In addition, urban motorcycle shoes are much lighter than protected motocross boots, which means you need to balance in city shoes a little differently.

It's four o'clock. We drive in a stand-up position. On cross-country and enduro they ride standing. The legs provide an additional shock absorber. Tucked between the legs, the narrow body of a motocross bike is controlled mostly by the legs. Standing on the footrests protects your spine from minor shaking. This is the correct standing position with a calm, straight movement. When accelerating “in a standing position,” we tilt our body forward. When braking, we pull back. The stand in the city can be used on any class of motorcycle, except for powerful cruisers, of course. Be careful with tilts when driving around the city, standing on the running boards; you can’t always see crushed stone and sand on the asphalt. When standing on tram rails, do not use the front brake.

It's five o'clock. Over the mountains, over the valleys. We're storming the hills. No jumping yet, just crawling up. And, what will be more difficult, we move down. We dose the front brake micron by micron!

It's six o'clock. On damp grass. If you're lucky, it will rain. When it poured one day, we all moved under a wooden canopy. Seryoga Monster jokingly asked: “Will you go?” I jokingly replied, “Of course.” When the jokes were over and I tried to move, the wet stones were against me for several minutes. The motorcycle stalled or happily polished the smooth cobblestones with its toothed wheels. It was impossible to jump into the saddle. The guys came out from under the canopy and took the horse by the bridle, that is, they grabbed the wide handlebars. I sat down and drove off. The next kilometer of the endury track was completed in about 15 minutes. The rear wheel was wobbling on the grass, the front brake disc was covered with clay. When I got to the base, I was up to my ears in mud, but with a satisfied smile on my face.

It's seven o'clock. All at once. Ivan, wait, we can’t do that yet! We are still small children in this matter. What is it, even your kids drive better than ours? Oh, okay, I’ll go change my shoes, don’t start without me!

In the pictures there is Ivan Pushkarev, in addition to the one with Lisa, this is her eighth motorcycle hour. Thanks to Vyacheslav Verkhoturtsev for the photo on the cover of the post.

Motocross for children - benefits and harm, advice for parents

Motocross for children is an exciting hobby and serious physical training. At school, much attention is paid to physical development, because an athlete must be strong like a cyclist, resilient like an athlete and dexterous like a gymnast.

For teenagers, motorsports often become the real meaning of life, because here they find true friends, learn to overcome obstacles and conquer their fears. In general, motocross can be called an excellent choice for a child who is not used to sitting still, wants to learn new things, has an interest in technology and is not afraid of speed.

Among the disadvantages of motocross are the high cost, especially when training for a section, and the difficulty of combining classes with studies (especially during competitions). Regarding the fears of many parents about the increased risk of injury from motocross, coaches say that this sport is practically safe for children. The risk of injury here is no higher than in any other sport, because the child will not be allowed near the bike until he has mastered safety precautions and basic motorcycle control techniques.

Coaches advise parents not to refuse to allow their child to enroll in the section if he or she wants to do so. But if a child does not show interest in technology, is afraid of speed, and prefers quiet games, it is better to choose another sport for him, where he will feel more comfortable.

To summarize, we can say that parents should not be afraid to send their child to motocross. This sport will bring many benefits and develop qualities that will be useful in adulthood. But most importantly, motocross for children is not only a sport, it is a favorite activity that will help raise a real man and provide the life skills that are necessary for a successful future.

Riding a motocross motorcycle or how not to fall with Enduro

Cross-country motorcycles are considered to be sports motorcycles that can travel over rough terrain with many obstacles. It sounds quite interesting, so we decided to conduct the next impression test with our motorcycle partners, who offered us an Enduro ride.

To be honest, I had never ridden a motorcycle before in my life (except for one time on a scooter), so this trip was completely new to me. I didn’t even know if I could handle this two-wheeled beast. But as practice has shown, my fears were in vain, and after several attempts I managed to get moving and not even fall. I suggest you watch our race for disabled people in this video

Now let's look at this service in more detail.

What to wear?

• We dress according to the weather. In rainy times, the track is covered in mud and puddles, so I advise you to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
• Shoes. In rainy weather, it is better to wear waterproof boots; in summer, sneakers are suitable.
• Don't forget gloves if you'll be riding in the cold fall or spring.
• Equipment. Protective armor along with knee pads are issued on site.
• You will also receive a protective helmet before your trip.

What are the restrictions?

• This service can be used by persons over 18 years of age.
• Weight limit of 120 kg.
• You need to take your passport with you to conclude a rental agreement and a deposit (at the time of our trip it was 5,000 rubles).
• Naturally, driving while intoxicated is prohibited.

How to ride a motocross motorcycle?

This question worried me from the very beginning, because I had no idea how to shift a motorcycle gearbox. But the instructor explained and showed everything, so there were no difficulties.

1. Depress the clutch. It is located on the left handle.
2. Make sure the gear is in neutral. The gear shift lever is in front of the left pedal of the motorcycle. If you press the lever down as far as possible with your foot, first gear will engage. Neutral gear is located slightly higher. Difficulties may arise here, since on well-worn motorcycles (like the one I came across) the shift between first and neutral gears is initially poorly felt.
3. Start the engine by pressing the starter button.
4. While holding the clutch, shift from neutral to first gear with your left foot, pressing the lever fully to the floor.
5. Slowly releasing the clutch and at the same time adding a little gas, move off.
6. To shift to second gear, remove the gas, depress the clutch and pull the lever up with your foot, jumping over the neutral speed and setting it to the next higher position.
7. To stop, depress the clutch and press the brake on the right handle.
8. When stopping, do not forget to shift the gear to neutral.

Now you know how to drive a motorcycle in theory, all you have to do is try it in practice.

A few tips to avoid getting screwed up from a motorcycle

• When starting, you should not release the clutch suddenly, otherwise you will stall. The principle is the same as in a car.
• Do not pull the throttle sharply towards yourself, otherwise you risk flying forward.
• Hold the steering wheel with your knuckles pointing up. This will help you avoid giving too much gas in first gear.
• Do not apply the front brake while turning, as you risk going into an uncontrolled skid and falling.

How is it going?

First, we signed the lease agreement, left a deposit and changed into protective clothing. During the instruction, we were shown how to start the motorcycle, how to change gears and how to steer. After that, we moved in a column behind the instructor, who was riding an ATV. The route follows a forest road, with occasional bumps, but overall it is not super off-road. Therefore, such a route is quite suitable for beginners, but experienced riders may find it too smooth. Within an hour we drove the entire route, making a circle and returning to the starting point. At the finish line, our entire team was extremely inspired, emotions were high, and the mood was great! I personally really liked it, I immediately wanted to buy myself a motorcycle and get a category A license. I’ll definitely come for a ride again, but next time I’ll choose a more difficult route.

Who is it suitable for?

Of course, riding a dirt bike is primarily suitable for men. This would be a great gift for February 23rd or a birthday. If he loves extreme entertainment and active recreation, then he will definitely like this service!

Summary

• Adrenalin: 10
• Entertainment: 8
• Originality: 9

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