5 Top ADV Riding Techniques for Improved Off-Roading

There is nothing more satisfying for a motorcyclist than becoming a pro at off-roading. It is more like a dream for ADV riders to become as good off-road riders as they are on the road. For those who haven’t been off-roading on an ADV bike, it is not as easy as shown in the videos. ADV bikes are not as superlight and maneuverable as lightweight dirt bikes unless the rider is skilled enough.

If it is the start of your ADV motorbiking career or you are somewhere in the middle, this article is for you. We aim to make your ADV rides more adventurous and fun. Learn the 5 top ADV riding techniques or skills to become a pro off-road rider. Never settle for less fun and thrill while riding your ADV bike on dirt tracks and gravel.

Continue reading this blog post to discover the 5 top ADV riding techniques for improved off-road performance.

If you are an experienced ADV rider, you are most likely to know about this off-roading skill already. By far, steering the bike with the rear wheel while off-roading is the most crucial skill that can differentiate between a professional and a novice ADV rider.

Remember! Steering through the handlebars while off-roading on an ADV bike is not the only option. If you want to be good at steering tight turns while off-roading or changing the direction of the bike immediately, you need to learn to steer through the rear wheel.

Most skilled ADV off-road riders know how to steer the rear end of the bike. Apparently, it looks like the rider is steering through the rear wheel, but it involves clutch slip, throttle control, braking, and weight shifting.

Sometimes, when the turn is too sharp, and you are at good speed while off-roading, there is only one way you can take such a sharp turn. You can do it by sliding your rear wheel while applying the rear brake, leaning your bike in the direction of the turn, and tilting your handlebars towards the right for bike balancing.

In certain cases, you will also need to tap the ground with your feet to avoid falling off the bike. As soon as you take the sharp turn, open the throttle again to ensure you don’t break the momentum.

This skill can be very useful for extreme off-roading on an ADV bike. However, you must start to learn it on a simple gravel surface. Start by moving in small circles by moving the rear wheel of your bike.

You must be wondering how to move the rear wheel of an ADV bike while off-roading. Well, it can be done simply by twisting the throttle abruptly, slipping the clutch, and shifting the body weight. However, you must also be familiar with how to regain control of the bike after the rear wheel slippage to continue riding.

To balance the bike while slipping the rear wheel, slightly push the handlebars in the opposite direction of the slip.

Though it is a very common one, it is still a major ADV riding technique taught by every ADV riding instructor. ADV riders usually look only at obstacles while off-roading. It is a sign of a new rider who just started off-roading on an ADV bike. It is also a sign of nervousness and low confidence.

According to most ADV off-roading experts, target fixation has to do with psychology. If you keep looking at the obstacles while off-roading, you are likely to hit them. The best way to avoid certain obstacles while off-roading is to look at where you want to go. This is often termed target fixation.

Train your body and mind to look at the clear path where you want to go. This helps develop a strong muscle memory. Once you are trained enough to avoid obstacles while off-roading on an ADV bike, you naturally become a pro off-road rider.

Simply said, “Look where you want to go, don’t look at what you want to avoid.” This is true when it comes to off-roading. Don’t make it too complex for you while off-roading on an ADV bike. Keep it simple. If you try to scan each and everything on the dirt track, it will make things a little overtiring for you.

So, it is better to stay relaxed and flexible so you can be responsive to any challenge while off-roading on an ADV bike.

Never compromise on your riding techniques and abilities, even while riding on less challenging off-road terrains. It will help you develop strong muscle memory for an improved off-road performance. Don’t be easy, and practice harder even if the off-road track is not challenging.

The best piece of advice an expert ADV bike rider can offer is to practice a lot. Don’t restrict yourself to watching online video tutorials and training lessons. Find yourself a perfect off-roading spot where you can easily go and practice riding your adventure motorbike. Also, keep changing the dirt tracks and off-road challenges where you practice. Increase the level of off-road challenge.

However, in the beginning, when you are learning the basic off-road maneuvers on your ADV bike, make sure to repeat a single dirt track. The unexpected off-road challenges can be very tricky for a beginner ADV rider. Once your muscle memory starts building, then you can move on to the advanced level.

Another essential technique or skill to overcome the most challenging off-road obstacles, bumps, rocks, and logs is to stand up on the footpegs. However, it is not that simple. When you tell a beginner ADV rider that he must stand on the pegs while off-roading on an adventure bike, he will simply stand up.

The point is ADV riders need to learn when to stand on the footpegs and how to do it the right way.

Don’t tire yourself by standing on the footpegs as soon as you hit the off-road terrain on your ADV bike. Whenever you think that hitting the bump while off-roading may send you to the sky, stand on the pegs.

Don’t overcomplicate it by standing straight on the footpegs. Make sure to keep a bend while standing on the pegs. This way, your legs basically act as a spring or suspension that dampens the impact of hitting a pothole or a bump.

Standing on the footpegs while adventure riding keeps your back pain-free as the impact of hitting the bump isn’t transferred to your back. It is the best way of tackling extreme off-road conditions.

For advanced training, you must also learn other techniques while standing on the pegs during off-roading. ADV off-road riders must also know how to shift their weight and adjust the pressure on the foot pegs while standing on the pegs.

If you learn how to adjust body weight and pressure on the foot pegs while standing, you will be one of the skilled off-road ADV riders. It will not only help you overcome difficult off-road terrains and challenges, but it will also help you maneuver extreme dirt riding tracks smoothly like a pro.

Some inexperienced ADV riders instinctively slow down or stop while approaching a pothole or bump. Meanwhile, an experienced off-road ADV rider will stand up on the pegs with a bent knee to overcome the off-road obstacles at the same speed. This is what you call the real adventure and off-road fun.

It is usually not easier to make a beginner ADV rider understand to stay calm and flexible. Instead, new off-road riders lock their bodies while stiffing their muscles as soon as they hit an off-road obstacle. Even a small bump or an obstacle while off-roading will have a greater impact if your body is locked.

Never do that. Adventure off-road riding is all about flexibility. The more flexible your body is, the more responsive it will be to any off-road challenge. More flexibility means more responsiveness. When you stay flexible while off-roading on your ADV bike, your body will naturally tell you how to behave while tackling the off-road terrain.

Don’t panic! You will eventually make a bad decision if you panic. The more responsive you are while off-roading, the better the maneuverability is. You will look like a more professional ADV rider if you can maneuver all off-road terrains smoothly with ease.

Most beginner off-road ADV riders prefer to stay rigid and stiff because they are afraid of losing control of the bike and falling off. Remember! It is common with almost every off-road or adventure rider to drop their bikes at some point in their lives while maneuvering on off-road terrains.

You haven’t learned off-roading effectively if you have never dropped your ADV bike while off-roading.

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