How to Ride a Motorcycle on Dirt and Gravel Roads for Beginners - Easy Basic Techniques for Learning

If you want to learn to ride your motorcycle on dirt and gravel roads, this video is for you! Most of the world's roads are not paved! Professional #motorcycle instructor Dusty Wessels teaches you the basic riding techniques you'll need to #explore #off-road on your motorcycle safely.
Dusty at West38Moto west38moto.com
#adventure #bmwmotorrad
#gsadventure #beginner #novice #learning
00:00 Street Riders
01:20 Stand on the Pegs
03:06 Relax
04:18 Counterbalance
05:44 Trail Drumming Outro

[@MOTOTREK]

Re: THE DRUMMER - Matt Jorgensen has been creating all of MOTOTREK's music since we started in 2017. For the first few years it's been just Matt's drums, but lately he's been adding a few more instruments to the mix. It was a blast finally getting Matt and his drum kit out in the forest for this cameo!

[@jepomer]

Matt Jorgensen's drumming caught my attention before the MOTOTREK's lesson part began on the first video I watched. A motorcycle channel without metal music. Great content, too! Great to see Matt injected into the video playing along with Dusty's low key comforting presentation.

[@earthwormandruw]

epic!

[@edmrocks2736]

I love this vid. Matt’s drums in the dirt is fk’n rad.

[@Opposable_Thumb]

Live band during your video is awesome! 😂

[@happygilmorides7353]

Quality. Effort for a couple seconds show! Dedication right there 👏

[@michaelangeloonassis2427]

Okay but the bit with the drummer was hilarious and perfect, I thought it was an editing mistake at first!

[@victorkelley5097]

Haha I thought the same thing, absolutely hilarious.

[@theoldleafybeard]

Absolutely got me! Hahahaha

[@Tomix1980]

same here. totaly same. found that soooo good and it toally got me :D

[@richardscott982]

Got me too

[@Mycatz]

Same drum set I’ve got. Good stuff!

[@wipperwil]

How classy is that - to invite the drummer to actually BE there? Rock on captain!

[@perrycalabrese3475]

I ride Capitol Forest all the time. Here's the best tip: Slow down and enjoy the moment. Life is fast enough.

[@Mickey_Bauer]

1:04 I was just about to say: "What's with the f@&$# music" and then there was a drummer on the trail 😂😂😂 Well done 👍

[@genxlibertarian9656]

Drum solo at 1:15 alone earned you my like.

[@kkhalifah1019]

Never really paid any attention to standing up while riding until I got my first ADV motorcycle late last year. It wasn't a comfortable thing to do on the naked streetbikes and sportsbikes I had owned previously, but on an ADV it feels very natural. It's counter-intuitive somehow -- you think you're raising the center of gravity by standing up, but since you're actually shifting your weight from the seat down to the pegs, it feels more stable and you feel you have a hell lot more control in the pegs.

[@mahsikb]

Thank you drummer for all the wonderful music

[@wallieshere]

off-stage drumming.. a whole new world of drumming!

[@That_Paul_Guy]

The drummer in the wilderness had me rolling. As usual, very helpful content.

[@OperatorDrewski]

1:05 hahaha i legitimately thought this was an editing error... then camera paaaannnsss left...

[@TimRHillard]

Just be like water brother! Almost every physical endeavor, like sports, motorcycling, scuba diving, driving, etc. You can usually improve your performance, and especially speed if you just relax.

[@csgodenver]

DUSTY!! And yeah the drum interruption was awesome

[@DatBikerDude]

Great video for beginners and those who think they're good riders alike.

[@jmsask]

I like the live drummer in this video. Great information on off road adventure riding 🍻

[@gerokron3412]

Matt´s groove is great!

[@peterharrison-edge6493]

I've watched them all, and this is my favorite. Love Matt, sweet kit!

[@Porsche996driver]

Good starter coaching. The drummer rocks!

[@Davidlouis3]

Brilliant Loved the drums 😂

[@justbeingmybestbob]

Panning to the drummer.... effing AWESOME!! That alone got me to subscribe, and the content is great too. Thanks.

[@MOTOTREK]

Thanks for the sub!

[@carvalhonj]

Best off road instructor ever👏🏼👏🏼 thank you…I learn a lot💪🏼

[@rbrown1339]

Great video; thanks Dusty! Great to see you back on the channel. Looking forward to seeing you soon at your coming W38 COBDR tour. You guys always do a great job!

[@ericsushi5320]

Got a sub coz of the drummer. Best thing

[@Lemmingadventures]

Good info. Out here in the desert you run into a few miles of washboard, then a few miles of deep sand and then a few miles of rocky, baby head stuff and so on. Desert roads are not at all consistent and riding in all these different terrains means mastering these skills is really important.

[@ty5642]

Loved the drummer bit!

[@jayfuller2323]

Thank you, Dusty. I'm learning one video at a time. It's nice to see Matt, great background instrumentals.

[@enduromotorradtouren]

Finally a new video. I love the drummer, also the no-nonsense talk of Dusty. Lots of useful information in a short time. Thanks a lot, Günter, Nürnberg/Germany (just back from the Italian Alps on a small Beta Alp 200)

[@VmanJeff]

As an ole’ motorcrosser I was vaguely familiar with standing on my bike. Haven’t ridden off-road or raced since I was a indestructible teen. So this lesson came hard and fast as we went on the Colorado BDR recently. Riding a T7 felt like a big heavy dirtbike to me and I was WAYYYY more comfortable doing what you describe in this video! I felt much more in control and agile as we crossed Cinnamon Pass on the rocky, snowy, water funnel they call trails. Every tip you speak about came flooding back and as I gained confidence in the bike and my ability the terror or injury sank back and I could actually maintain the illusion of control. Cudos for your easily understandable explanations and props to the drummer lol I only post to hopefully reinforce to some other reader that standing, knee flex, body position and grip on the tank and bars are the way to go on many off-road surfaces so don’t get discouraged!

[@darko714]

I learned to ride on a dirt bike, and I feel ya. As a young adult I would ride the shoulder to hack traffic jams on my Honda CB 550, and sometimes irate truckers or motorists would try to cut me off. I would respond by riding down the embankment into the drainage ditch simply because I knew I could. All the skills were still there, the only difference was that I was on a 500 lb. street machine with slippery tires, limited suspension travel, and minimal ground clearance. The beast still had awesome torque, balance, and the foot pegs were located perfectly at the center of gravity. Once I got used to the performance envelope, I had a good enough idea of where it would and would not go so that I never got into trouble.

[@scottlazar9731]

what a great and simply put lesson. Totally broke it down, took the intimidation out of it, and I'm ready to start practicing on the miles of dirt roads in my area!!!!!

[@VeVeDegen]

Thanks for the tips! Super excited to learn and experience these offroad riding techniques!

[@advmotoskillz]

Another great video! I like the emphasis on being “active” while riding. This really allows the bike to be more stable as you ride 👍🏻.

[@MOTOTREK]

Well said!

[@kuhndj67]

Standing is a great tool when riding offroad to tackle challenging sections at modest speeds... I find it helps with uneven/loose surfaces or loose rocks A LOT. I do think some folks overuse it (If I had a nickle for every guy I saw prariedogging on a perfectly smooth dirt road) and it does reduce your ability to execute emergency maneuvers (stop especially... can't hammer the brakes when standing) so should be used when appropriate and at modest speeds imo (I'm always under 20mph when standing unless I'm standing just to stretch for a few seconds). I also tend to avoid it on steep climbs... it just doesn't work as well for me as sitting for riding challenging climbs like Corkscrew Gulch in Colorado (very steep with switchbacks).

[@MOTOTREK]

Great observations! We recommend standing anytime the terrain gets technical.

[@steampunknord]

I was thinking about the fact that I do much the same. I've gotten to a point of a 100kph+ on gravel and standing feels sketch af above 60. But I always thought it was because I was riding a street bike that made it feel sketch.

[@diegopescia9602]

I think this should have been pointed out in the video. If you are standing when it is not needed, you will be more tired by that moment when it really matters

[@321-Gone]

Mostly a street rider at the time, I hit a gravel road after a long day on a lowered and loaded Harley at 50mph. Basically a hard tail. It was at that moment I puckered since there was ruts. I had mounted mid pegs along with my forward feet mounts to use the mid mounts when crossing xx tracks and other bumps. I stood up on them and it saved my behind.

[@MOTOTREK]

Excellent!

[@silviazencich6862]

love this video. the explanation and finally the Drummer so GREAT!!!!

[@scoutadv4568]

Nice! Thank you, Mr. D!!!

[@adrianm.1910]

Great video and drums! Thanks for sharing.

[@gregoryprice2593]

Normally I really hate any and all music in car/motorcycle videos, but the live drumming by Matt Jorgensen is definitely the exception!

[@detansinn9882]

Solid and useful advice. Well done.

[@mikemerrill175]

Good stuff presented well. Hope to see the drummer at your next training session.

[@stibosis]

Standard style bikes do surprisingly well off road as long as you don't go crazy even a sport bike with the right line does alright and half decent with the right tires

[@garethjones1827]

Very good teacher. Lot of skill needed though, which comes with practice...

[@robertbarel896]

Great video. the drum part is so much FUN

[@jmoscosop]

Great as usual

[@alvarosolis7837]

I love the drums!

[@jimtokheim1422]

Great video. I don't mind dirt so much, but loose gravel does induce a bit of anxiety. This helps.

[@CarlosUzdinet]

Excelente vídeo, buenas tomas para ver la posición y detalladamente explicado, gracias por el esfuerzo, seguimos aprendiendo.

[@ShineBright__]

Yes you opened a new word to me with this basics tricks to start off roadind Thank you Man !!

[@MOTOTREK]

You bet!

[@UnalFurkan]

amazing drum solo! I mean riding instructions...

[@williamwilson2748]

Okay... The drum's were awesome.

[@uninterestingandmeh]

Great tips, thanks. As a newbie I'll try to make most out them 👍

[@paulchambers2296]

Great review, thanks, just looking at starting some off roading for the first time, and yes, a little nervous!

[@pinchas9589]

Thank you very helpful

[@Scootir185]

I just moved to Mexico and have been forced to transition from a street/track rider to off road. Your vids have been extremely helpful though it's still very anxiety provoking when I'm in deep sand. More practice and time and things are slowly getting better. Thanks so much for the great beginner vids - priceless!

[@LukeLifeCharms]

I live in Mexico as well and I know what you mean!!! Take it slow and you will be good

[@Scootir185]

@@LukeLifeCharms Hey thanks!

[@Piracanto]

Where in México? I’m in Guadalajara

[@Scootir185]

Close to Cabo San Lucas@@Piracanto

[@Piracanto]

@@Scootir185 Oh, pretty far. Let me know if you come down to Jalisco!

[@evanvancamp2781]

Thank you!

[@Yowzoe]

1:08 that was *hilarious* and totally worth the effort 😂 thanks!

[@JulianSloman]

Ha, when he said "Your bike" I was like... "My bike? My 2015 Honda CB300F is capable of this?" - And then I thought of the road I rode up a couple days ago - it was a city road under construction but I guess in a stable enough state that it was open to traffic? It was loose gravel on hard material (guess the layer below the paved part of the road) and it was a pretty steep uphill but I managed. had some potholes and it also made me spontaneously stand up a little for one of the bits. Pretty cool to think that with practice I could possibly handle more tretcherous terrain than that.

[@chrisblenkinsopp8588]

Excellent...er...drumming...

[@LittleRock_wunderer]

Wow! Is he the guy who does the drumming since the beginning? I feel like the emphasis on percussion as the background music is one of the unique style of this channel! Glad to see things are moving forward!

[@MOTOTREK]

Yes! Matt's been doing the music since Day One!

[@scottkirejczyk1544]

Great training video your videos are awesome thank you

[@MadChalet]

Thanks! I've found myself unexpectedly doing dirt roads (maps didn't indicate what was coming) on my sport-touring and not knowing how to deal with them. Standing on the pegs isn't great on an ST, but I'll give it a try next time I run out of pavement. 👍

[@JS-gb2tc]

Cool video, thanks. You seem very skilled.:-) Now, "Be smooth in the knees, in the arms, in the hands, look far in front, etc." I think we´ve heard that a 1000 times. But I´m quite sure many people have THESE questions in mind : How to place your feet on the footpegs? Tip/middle part of the foot? Where is the wheight on the foot? Heels : Neutral? Low? Should you put pressure with the calves on the bike (keep it tight between your legs), or not? How to manage: - Rear breaking? - Shifting? Move the feet on the footpegs forth and back to do it? Sit down to do it? Not do it at all while riding standing? All fingers holding the bar? Or one or two fingers staying on front break and clutch? I think you should incorporate those infos in a video about offload riding. BTW, could you plz answer those questions ? You seem like the right person to ask! :-D

[@user-yq5vx1qf3z]

Great video!!!!

[@firecharger]

The drummer in the wilderness was rad

[@roverroko306]

Awesome video, cool drums😊

[@davidmaynard1422]

Great (music) video! Extremely helpful.

[@obstinatejack]

drum guy is too dope

[@johnfitzgerald4274]

Thank you.

[@caioo82]

Oh my, laughed really hard with Matt’s appearance on the end of first section hahahaha

[@AllTheOthers]

This is what the motorcycle was designed for, after all!

[@anesthetized7053]

this was a great vid. i like the standing segment, you explained it better than a lot of people that ive seen. theres a gnarly dip around a manhole cover on my daily commute, its in the middle of a downhill paved road on a curve and every time i hit that part i stand up as my bike dips down into the divot. it feels so much less sketchy and i can load the suspention at the perfect time so i dont feel like im about to lose grip. ive hit it the same speed sitting down and i did not like that method. felt way more loose

[@deepakshirali]

Great seeing you again, Dusty. May there always be juice in your tank. "...the way you ride your motorcycle makes the biggest difference..." I doubt any riding-guru has said that, but that's the truth! You've nailed it.

[@MOTOTREK]

Right on!

[@victorkelley5097]

I hope you guys plan on posting more! Great content!

[@MOTOTREK]

We will!

[@lincolnkaden7758]

Just found this channel… Love it!

[@MOTOTREK]

Welcome aboard!

[@yojstamaria]

you look like you're starting a new trend -- adventure drumming. 🤣🤣

[@rokhimfauzami8578]

Love the drums 😂😂😂

[@ritchieok29]

Thanks for a great video.

[@MOTOTREK]

Glad you liked it!

[@got2kittys]

I grew up riding enduro, and trials. I now have a big cruiser, and every time I go on a dirt road, I'm reminded how Unsuitable my motorcycle is for even a gravel road. Best choice, get a good dirt capable bike, and not too big.

[@msims-yq3yd]

Great video! The drum stuff was cool!

[@MOTOTREK]

Thanks a lot!

[@slept-on_SP]

Love Capital forest! This makes me want to fabricate a skid plate and get some rubber more suitable for loose gravel for my bike.. I ride a naked 600 lol so the bike would be a bit out of its element on that terrain but with a decent skid plate I think it'd be manageable, id just have to be careful not to upset the suspension too much.

[@scottrineer4776]

Awesome video (and music) 😊

[@ashoksinghnegi5415]

Hello Dear Dusty, I really enjoyed watching your video on your KZbin Channel. Can we do such types of activities on 110 CC Honda Activa Scooter???

[@johnnya390]

I agree standing gives you another layer of shock absorption. But i have to say after 40 years on and offroad its hard on the knees. And you're not racing. I see a lot of the motocross guys teaching kids to stand up. But i see a lot of the top riders still all over the bike and putting a foot down in the corner. I think ricky carmichael said it best at southwick a couple weeks ago. The bike will let you know when to stand up. It almost gives you a little shove with the seat. And this is at race speed. So i agree standing is a good thing. But It has its pros and cons

[@taz473]

Excellent channel

[@MOTOTREK]

Thank you very much!

[@nkwd007]

Great video guys. Drummer 1st class, well done for creativity and very good tips of course.

[@MOTOTREK]

Thanks so much!

[@robdotcom71]

Dusty.... fitting name for an offroad rider......

[@RiderRescue]

Come for the motorcycling tips... stay for the drumming!

[@vladzet_jedi3942]

Bravo

[@TheElrocker]

Cool video thank you just got bmw 310gs to learn off road 👍

[@MOTOTREK]

Have fun!

[@NobodyWhatsoever]

"Changing to an offroad tire ..." Yeahhhh, that ain't gonna happen for a lot of us lol ... And following up with technique is why I stuck around. I just bought my first motorcycle -- a naked bike -- and it has street tires with seemingly plenty of life left. A buddy happens to live down dirt and/or gravel roads. This video should help me, a new rider, with those trips out.

[@chema1546]

Ok 👍👌 super

[@williammahaffy4642]

Fantastic! Instant sub. I did a couple of intentional off-road segments (and 2 "holy-crap-where-TF-am I? adventures) on a road-biased 500cc last year. Totally fun and want to do more. These tips are awesome since the Yamaha Champions Riding School techniques aren't really going to help off-pavement. A challenge I run into is trying to locate off-road/off-pavement sections that allow me to work up the difficulty level. All the info out there says to avoid a BDR if you're an inexperience off-road rider, riding alone and have a heavy bike... that's 3 strikes in a row for me. Looking for the "novice level" pieces of dirt and gravel in the region is quite an exercise. Even considered just going out to find them myself and then provide some GPX for other old-farts like me trying to push the envelope a bit. And... I only want to find the sections that have a drummer!🤣😂🤣

[@MOTOTREK]

Definitely try a BDR, William. Just be prepared to turn around if you reach a track that's beyond your skill limits. 90% of most BDR's are easy going roads like the ones in this video. Good luck finding a drummer in the wild though :)

[@jarleabelhaugeek1217]

Very good video

[@pnwflyfisher7699]

2 Words...Thank You.

[@heimvegen5295]

Great vid! Thanks! It would help the knee grip if more ADV bike producers considered that in the tank shape/design ;-)

[@jarleabelhaugeek1217]

The drummer was so good! 😂😂😂

[@MaxVliet]

1:10 not me looking through the ten hundred million tabs i had open to find the drum sounds 😂

[@domanhha4587]

love music!

[@pekutko]

I'm riding off road sitting. Making turns with handlebars. And no counter weight.

[@AltRiderLLC]

Yewwww dusty!

[@advmike]

GS cases are so big you can fit a whole drum kit in there! 😂

[@MOTOTREK]

LOL