RUTS - Pro Techniques and Instruction for Safely Riding in Ruts on Dirt and Gravel Roads and Trails

Nobody likes riding in ruts, but once you understand the proper techniques for riding a heavy, loaded adventure bike in ruts, you'll no longer fear ruts. Professional adventure motorcycle instructor Dusty Wessels shows you how to ride your motorcycle in ruts.
Learn even more @ MOTOTREK.net/
Produced by Tim Tyler TimTyler.com
Dusty Wessels west38moto.com
Thanks to Bill Dragoo for the cameo! billdragoo.com
00:00 Ruts Intro
01:00 Make the Rut Your Road
02:00 Sitting
02:40 Standing
03:50 Vision
04:45 Traction
05:50 Hills
07:20 Crossing
09:36 Summary
#motorcycle #ruts #dualsport #motorrad #gsadventure #bmwmotorrad #findMOTOTREK #Tim.Tyler.Cine #billDragoo #west38moto

[@laurentmoreau3115]

Great tuto, but misses the case - often encountered - where center of gravity bike and pilot goes one way and rut goes another way

[@leesuschrist]

I discovered the danger of hitting a large rock in a rut that I wasn't prepared for, last year. Damn thing bucked me off my seat and caused me to give more throttle. Ended up going off right into some thick vegetation with my pannier pinning my leg down to the ground. Luckily was wearing MX boots, so no injury, but man, that really scared me.

[@DuncanJimmy]

Hearing about turning off the engine and working the clutch while in first gear was like an epiphany (6:50). Means you don't sacrifice a foot to the rear brake and can instead use it for stability. Also ensures no issues with the bike if you accidentally dump it. Making your shocks bounce you from one rut to the next was also a great technique.

[@EastCoastLtd]

Most importantly it eliminates all possibility of whiskey throttle in a panic situation

[@DaveZee01]

@@EastCoastLtd I understand the term "whiskey throttle" but please explain why/how you think it originates?

[@Matt43]

Another benefit of engine off on steep downhills is being able to hear your tires on the terrain... gives you a little more info on when/if you are sliding or, if it has really big rocks, if the rocks are shifting under you.

[@PigeonSpeaks]

@@DaveZee01 When the bike loses traction and feels like it is going out of control sometimes the rider just grabs the handle to hold on and may accidentally apply a whiskey throttle in doing so.

[@Mikt25]

This video has been helpful because I've been in a rut for around 50 years now.

[@jayski9410]

I face a V shaped rut a little deeper than you showed at 6:29 going uphill and I should have turned around. But I tried to ride the side of the rut and stay up on the flatter side of the V. However my wheels kept sliding down to the bottom of the rut and trapping my front wheel so I couldn't steer. Eventually I go into one of those "death wobbles" and the bike thru me off. After catching my breath, I had to self rescue, ride 5 more miles of dirt, and 10 miles of pavement to get home. Decided maybe I ought to get checked out at the emergency room. Found out that I had 4 broken ribs and a popped lung (pneumothorax). Spent 3 days in the hospital. I wish I had your advice back then.

[@MOTOTREK]

Glad you made it out in one piece, Jay!

[@Ghryst]

thanks, i've been stuck in a rut and this video put me on a new path.

[@jepomer]

Your instructions and manner of presentations are so low keyed that keeps us newbies to big off-road bikes comfortable and reassured that we can do it. Thank you!

[@MOTOTREK]

Thanks, John!

[@surlyfan]

I’ve taken one of his ADV courses, what you see is what you get - great human and great teacher.

[@Chance-ry1hq]

I bounced my nose off the top of my windshield doing this. 7 stitches and a wicked scar.

[@rayzimmerman6740]

Wear it with pride!

[@igorgoryunov5616]

Asked teammates why they remove windshields before offroad rides. That was the answer. Hope you weren't riding solo!

[@fightswithspirits915]

Love it! I got a cut under my nose going too slow in Nevada bug dust turned mud. No idea what my face hit when crashed. 6 inches of goey muck, 2 miles from my property. Had to blast through it 25-30 MPH and let the front wheel counter steer all by itself. It was that moment I realize the bike gonna do what the bike gonna do. I just need to let the bike be the bike and trust these training videos.

[@0HARE]

Yep, I’ve been afraid of bashing my face into the top of my windshield while riding standing up lately. It seems all too easy to do.

[@0HARE]

Great advise, sir.

[@Porsche996driver]

Such a good point about ruts getting deeper as you ride higher! So if you don’t like the ruts you might not want to try and ride them up a hill. I know this as a kid with my cousins in Lancaster from riding 125s and 250s lol.

[@Matt43]

I ride tons of single track on the dirt bike, but ruts/tracks of similar size on the Adv bike are always challenging!

[@strifehellsing]

Few years ago I had crummy tires on and the rear tire got into a different rut then then front in some mud and made the bike go sideways and throw me over. Broke a rib and had to ride home with a broken rib. No fun. Lesson is good tires and pay attention in ruts.

[@QuentinsMotoVlog]

Thank you for this video! I watched it and the following day found myself on a muddy dirt road that was nothing but ruts. And I had nowhere to go except forward. I gripped the tank with my knees, relaxed my arms and several tense minutes later the ordeal was over. Pretty sure I would have been swimming in that mud with the bike on top of me if not for your video. Thanks again!

[@MOTOTREK]

That is awesome!

[@donparker1823]

I've been riding my KTM 790 Adventure off road for a few years now but I still feel like a beginner sometimes. Great instruction here.

[@flangesprocket100]

I used to hate ruts until I accepted that they're not going to go away so now I see them as a learning opportunity.

[@Avensur]

Excellent tutorial my friend. If we find a rut, lets stay in it and move accordingly safe

[@martinseel2837]

Again a nice one. The biggest problems i have, is on wet gras, especialy when the ground is muddy. I think this is more difficult than riding on ice.

[@michaelsupple6081]

Love your instructional videos but had to smile at your ruts compared to our ruts back here in the Northeast US. We would hardly consider most of those ruts. Our ruts are usually way more narrow/deeper, much muddier and often hidden in grass. More often than not I'm taken completely by surprise and immediately thrown into panic mode! I have used the clutch with motor off while descending a steep rocky section more than once and it works fantastically. Pretty sure I learned that from Brett before you took over. Love your videos.

[@TwoWheeledBooBear]

In fairness, a lot of our ruts on the West Coast are feet deep - in fact I'd say that's more common than the alternative. I suspect for the purpose of teaching, they're showing a tame setting so the focus is on technique/finesse as opposed to simply showing Dusty's absolute limits.

[@pollepost]

Deep and wet ruts in the woods is challenging. Especially when the footpegs hit the banks. Cross country wet grass and suddenly you find deep ruts from a 4x4 driven by a drunk uncle. Good luck

[@northislander4evasir107]

and random tree roots thrown in for fun as if the muddy ruts weren't enough to contend with. 😁

[@tomford5495]

"Don't forsake the Rut, who had felt in love with you" 😃

[@bradleygordon5973]

Super helpful! I get in a rut and focus way to much trying to get out, not looking ahead and...well not good. Make it your road with the rest sounds much better. We'll see. Thanks Dusty

[@solomoto4706]

Nice presentation! Thanks!

[@MOTOTREK]

Glad you liked it!

[@foraride4369]

Thanks a lot Dusty for yet another informative video

[@cyclopathic998]

Tire selection also has a great impact on the rideability of ruts. Out of many tires I tried, K60 Ranger front was the best for ruts. When it touches rut's wall, it doesn't try to grab and climb out of it, unlike most others.

[@rbrown1339]

Well done; good video! Thanks Dusty!

[@CrashOrFly]

Priceless! Should have watched this before I actually managed to drop my CB500X into an abyss while riding uphill, slipping into a nasty rut and overreacting when trying to get out of it. The bike went to sleep three meters down the side of a steep mountain road, burying me underneath.

[@gmrecneps]

Great video once again Dusty. Thanks for the wisdom!

[@skannal]

😖 I was once stuck in a succession of criss-cross ruts ❄ the problem was the ruts were solid ice under 8" of wet caliche mud. It took me 45 minutes to methodically turn my machine around without dropping it or falling down myself. If I would've dropped it I don't think I would've been able to get it back up due to the icy ruts under the mud. Oh yeah as I was working thru it a jeep rolled up and threw his hands in the air because I was in his way LOL.

[@BlackThor15]

Amazing video, thanks for sharing!! 👍👍

[@frankgonzalez1378]

Great video, great lesson!!

[@MeerkatADV]

Single and Two-Track can be so much fun. Sand in the tracks present a very unique challenge to riding.

[@MOTOTREK]

Totally agree!

[@mountainlife1165]

Great tips!

[@BongCajes-BISDAK]

Thanks for the tips..

[@edwardburd6900]

Excellent and comprehensive step by step explanation with examples. Well done!

[@trakyboy5128]

MY personal fave -- standing up. Let bike do what it wants for the most part ,, it's almost like if you let go the bike will know what to do you just need to keep her upright. Follow the bikes lead so to say. Gently roll on some throttle to the point I don't feel the need to put feet down. Make the rut my fun ride !!! But that's me 🙃😃 Challenge yourself see how much distance you can go before you have to put your foot down versus wanting to put your foot down when you can get through a nice long deep wicked rut without putting your foot down then you know you're working with the bike and the two of you are together kind of a symbiotic relationship 👍🏽😂👍🏽

[@hall2168]

Excellent instruction! Learned something new!

[@MOTOTREK]

Glad it was helpful, Hall.

[@__Yannick__]

Amazing, thank you :)

[@abdulazizsaleh8650]

Thank you I'm learning from you 🙏🏻👍🏻🙂 Have Fun😁

[@scottmiller4516]

Hey Dusty, looking forward to the 2023 Calif. training schedule and tours

[@ferkuzuel]

Thanks for this useful information, I was in a position where the rut was getting worse as I was going downhill, I decided to stop and at that very moment my foot got cut up in between an imbedded rock and the foot peg, fortunately it wasn't too bad, but it would have been much worse if didn't decide to stop the bike and walk it out .

[@corychartier7961]

Down heal suggestion was helpful here in India I have overheated my bike brakes on the rear. Also here sometimes no choice but to go through up to 2ft deep ruts. Maybe also discuss when to get off and walk it in narrow ones.

[@bradb2514]

Great stuff as always. I’ve learned so much here on this channel. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@MOTOTREK]

Glad to hear it!

[@igorgoryunov5616]

Very helpful video! It's very good to hear that you don't make difference between sit ang go slow and stand and go fast. Usually teammates show less respect to slow "crab" racers.

[@Washoejim]

Great information, ruts can be challenging but it is something we are very likely to encounter if we ride off-road.

[@veiledallegory]

It’s funny you mentioned Dragoo. I was at Dragoo’s training and was in a rut on an extremely sandy trail. I did as you said and relaxed like your supposed to do expecting my tire to bounce off the edge like it’s supposed to. Suddenly when the front wheel touched the edge of the rut, the bike stopped like I hit a wall. I flew forward off the bike through my windshield. Worst part was it was the last hour of the class and I destroyed my windshield!

[@MOTOTREK]

Good story. Better to make those mistakes during a training event than when you're on your own!

[@Kogirius]

why did that happen??

[@samisbk9975]

So nice

[@Kobe29261]

Lawd - that open vista! Can't wait to get out on a trail! Viva la revolucion!

[@user-vf3gf4xq3v]

Try riding down a deep steep rut that has about 6” of leaf accumulation. You can brake all you want and you still won’t stop the down hill slide. Avoid those ruts on a heavy adventure bike if possible.

[@MOTOTREK]

Great advice.

[@TictacAddict1]

Excellent video. Going downhill lesson is burned into brain. Thanks.

[@MOTOTREK]

Excellent!

[@peterharrison-edge6493]

Great tips. Great music!

[@MOTOTREK]

Glad you liked it, Peter!

[@l.d]

May I ask whos the artist of the last track with the sax solo?

[@frankiemaserati4669]

Best 'rut' video out there, I could have done with finding this last year. I had to cross a pretty tall rut in France this summer. I used the sitting technique and got the front wheel over but no matter how hard I tried the back wheel kept spinning me out and sending me sideways. In the end I had no option other than to pull the front wheel back into the original rut and keep going in that one. I have since discovered that one way to stop the back spinning out is to turn the handlebars fully into the centre of the rut THEN start feathering the clutch to bring the rear wheel over. Great video though, nice clear explanations.

[@MOTOTREK]

Cheers, Frankie!

[@skytower309]

2nd gear, downhill, engine off, also lessens the abruptness of the engine braking. Just don't do it for extended periods. There's no coolant circulating, and you're creating lots of friction with the clutch and engine

[@rfiskillingussoftly6568]

Ruts are a bummer" but that was a great video! Thanks!

[@SouthernOregonRiding]

The rut problem that used to knock me down was getting too close to the side while going straight. I would be leaning a little left and get against the left side and go down. Now I turn to the other side or cross over if the bike gets too close to one side. Thanks for the video.

[@masoodrowshan4910]

👏👏👏👏thanks

[@MOTOTREK]

Welcome!

[@brandonsteinle4138]

Awesome! I’m loving your videos. Also, what tires are on your bike?

[@hwobstj]

Ruts. Huh, I love ruts. Been in one my whole life. Didn’t know there was anything but ruts 😂

[@dirkmertens6926]

I've never seen a dry rut in my life 🙂

[@enduromotorradtouren]

I should have seen your video before doing the TET UK, Dusty. At 34 degrees for weeks the ruts on single trails on Salisbury plain were as hard as concrete. And besiders, the sides were mostly hidden by grass. It was really difficult for me, especially when changing lanes. Thankfully my Beta Alp 200 is a lightweight bike. Easy to pick up wehen solo-riding. Pity we don't have such deep ruts over here in Bavaria for training. So I'll have to be back in England next year for some better understanding of riding ruts. Thanks a lot, Günter, Nürnberg/Germany

[@davidmalone9022]

Damn, Dusty - long time no see, buddy.

[@jjustj]

Good stuff old friend, for me if at a comfortable pace (standing) I will try to not only unweight the front with a throttle blip but also input to front and rear suspension as in a bunny hop. This makes rear tire get over the edge much easier on the way to the other rut or out of the entire Track. Ride on Amigo!!!

[@ivanfan890]

Hi Dusty excellent video. What tires are you using in you BMW?

[@manut_father-son_adventure]

Terimakasih atas informasi pelajaran cara mengendarai motor yang benar dan baik

[@contyracing7326]

I love the videos it's taught me so much about gs riding off road. I do have a question for you what brand and model are your pants ? I've been looking for a pair like those for ages

[@CCasyno]

I’ll take ruts over sugar sand any day lol. Great video! 💯

[@boyzjamandre7863]

Hi Dusty, thanks for the video. i like the over the boot riding pants, i'd appreciate any info where i can get them. thanks again. boyz here

[@jaredgreenstone1964]

Great channel and I tune in a lot...I really like your approach to, and style of, instruction. Say, what are the armored pants you are wearing?

[@MOTOTREK]

Thx, Jared. They're KLIM Outrider Pants www.klim.com/Outrider-Pant-3719-002

[@drew6806]

Down here in Florida we get foot deep ruts of pure deep sugar sand. really ups the pucker factor.

[@MOTOTREK]

Ruts AND soft Sand - as bad as it gets.

[@michlsei]

Got caught in a dried up tire track in a corn field yesterday with a steep ascend. I had to turn around due to fear. Seeing your video too late.

[@johnpandelaki8023]

Dusty, you left out muddy ruts! We have tons of those in March.

[@gothicov]

in wet weather it is sometimes better to avoid the ruts and the road completely and just drive across the field

[@ironhorsegladiator5034]

There are ruts like these in your video and then there are deep ruts, over 15" deep and 6"wide where a GS will have its engine dragging, these ruts can be handled a lot easier with a lighter dirt bike than a heavily loaded GS. What I am trying to say is that in this video, I saw a road that was traveled by a truck, a natural rut created by running water are the most difficult ones to tackle.

[@MOTOTREK]

Agreed

[@kloppskalli]

i like ruts :) you can easily get both feet down on the ground ;)

[@davidc1961utube]

I always pucker seeing ruts, but remind myself that every rut I have ever encountered has eventually ended.

[@fish0n2]

Some of the new bikes have traction control would that change anything with your advice thanks

[@MADDOG100ful]

Good Old Farm field service access roads and oil field access roads 6 space 8 in grass growing up through the ruts

[@justmyself1000]

I was demoing the Harley Pan America...took a wrong turn and ended up going up and down a long ruddy road similar to the one in the video but with grass. Slippery grass and moisture. Went up a steep hill...then had to come down that steep hill! And the bottom was a mud pit with just over ankle deep water. Was going down that hill nervous as can be...got to the bottom and made it about 80% through the muddy part then braked too much and dumped it! A demo bike that wasn't mine in the middle of nowhere. We went down this muddy ruddy road for quite some time thinking it was going to lead to pavement. After I dumped the Pan America...I picked it up and it wouldn't start. Next thing you know and angry dude in a pickup shows up with a Harley T-shirt (mind you) threatening to shoot us because we were on his property! Soooo...here I was just dumped a bike that wasn't mine....it wouldn't start! And some angry dude running his mouth constantly in a profane laced tirade telling us how he was justified in shooting us! Me apologizing profusely all while trying to figure out what's going on with the bike... After a couple of minutes...the bike came back on line and just about that time the angry dude (Who had the appearance of a guy who sits on his couch all day drinking beer) decided to let us go. We turned back the way we came...(going up that hill) and I don't remember the ride back!

[@hojresor]

Just remember, when drivning in ruts countersteering is your enemy. The only way to steer is by leaning the bike.

[@shadylane7988]

Our ruts in New England don't look as friendly as the ones in the vid and sometimes they have water in them and big rocks & sticks.

[@Propelled]

If it’s a deep steep rut on a Beemer, does it help to take the valve covers and crash bars off?

[@neillunderhill6907]

Dusty: what tires are you running in this video? Thanks and very helpful insight on ruts.

[@someguy5035]

These instructional videos always leave that out - get semi knobby tires. They all have them but never mention it. That is legit the number 1 tip to riding off road....get better tires.

[@JimmyCall]

I always worry about burning/reducing-lifespan of the clutch when feathering.

[@explorewithred]

It's an expandable item, like an oil filter or the brake seals. Use it and replace it.

[@MOTOTREK]

Yes - The clutches on these bikes can take more abuse than we typically expect.

[@Rosbif06600]

My problem is with ruts hidden in long grass. If I can't see them, I freeze up.

[@bryanreeme8584]

Which rut do I ride, the one the huge bmw just made, or the other one a huge bmw made? 😉🤙

[@davehysom2636]

"if you can stay in 2nd gear" ... what does that mean? As opposed to 1st gear or 3rd gear? 65 year old trying to figure out how to ride gravel roads for the 1st time ever. So what gear should I be in? 1st? 2nd? 3rd?

[@victoreduardoscotta5592]

Por favor agrega su títulos en español. Muchas gracias.

[@jessrumblin]

Careful with keeping your feet on the pegs when in a rut, don’t get your foot squeezed between the ground and the engine case 😖

[@emker7772]

👍

[@olegyd]

Do be honest I don't really understand why you use GS or not Atwin or Tenere 700. GS is good bike 🚲 but of road is suffer compare other two. Still very good lessons I like it. Thank you

[@MOTOTREK]

Cheers, Oleg! Dusty uses the bike he owns.

[@oosteveo315]

Bad advice with the shutting the bike off. Sometimes you need to gas it to get past an obstacle etc.

[@MOTOTREK]

No problem starting the bike up anytime you need the power.

[@oosteveo315]

@@MOTOTREK agree to disagree on that one my man ;) Everything else was sound advise.

[@h4k-d424]

Don't kill the engine when going down hill . Use the engine break. You might need throttle to get yourself out of sketchy situation

[@babar69110]

maybe more an enduro trick, but the more you look far away, the best you will let bike ride the rut, zero overcontrol, not climbing sides...

[@kuhndj67]

I'm OK with ruts... but SAND... ugh!!

[@MeerkatADV]

Ruts in sand get real fun!

[@protectork9831]

California has ruts on actual roads

[@someguy5035]

The number 1 tip for riding off road in all these tip videos that is left out. Get better tires. Notice all these guys have semi-knobby tires. That makes things infinitely easier off road. They always leave that part out. Always. I have no clue why. It should be the first thing they say, but they never do.

[@MOTOTREK]

Very true! We actually filmed a bit about that but I left it out of the video. Maybe I'll upload that as a short! - Tim

[@someguy5035]

@@MOTOTREK Easily the best level up for riding off pavement. Makes all the difference.

[@MOTOTREK]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4XSmY15ZqufjLM

[@KingFriday274]

Best way to ride ruts is be on a bike that weighs less than 300lbs.

[@MOTOTREK]

You are absolutely correct, Chris!

[@KingFriday274]

@@MOTOTREK I tried my strom offroad and it scared me into a wr250r!

[@mikebelperio2579]

Never mistake a rut for a groove…lol

[@MOTOTREK]

Ouch! :)

[@GregHassler]

What you're showing I would have never even called a rut. That's just a road.

[@MOTOTREK]

Agreed that these ruts in the video are not that bad, but the location is good for the demonstration and the techniques are the same.

[@JimmyCall]

Grrr 4x4'ers wreaking the roads...

[@MeerkatADV]

In terms of creating ruts the 4x4's and SxS's aren't the problem. Honestly bikes create the most ruts, especially when riding through the wet. Sometimes you've just got to go with it.

[@Bouldertag]

Yeah I don’t like ruts at all I hate them but they’re all created from big 4 x 4‘s once in a while but most of it is side-by-side‘s during rain they go out riding in mud and floor their fancy side by side of the turbo charged 1100s thousands whatever and just tear up the trail so they can have some fun for a weekend and no one else can ride it very good after that is what’s tearing up our trails the side-by-side’s sorry the truth but that’s the truth

[@TaskSwitcherify]

Wait I thought this was an ATV

[@BharatJusta]

Ruts are much worse when they're made of clay and wet mud.