Kawasaki Shows Us How to Ride Dirt Bikes

June 8, 2015
Story By
Jonathan Wong

Admittedly, I’ve never really attempted to ride a motorcycle in all my life before placing my butt on top of a Kawasaki dirt bike. Not counting a lightly modified Honda Ruckus that I used to circle a small parking lot at about 1-2mph (tops), I’ve largely avoided most two-wheeled maneuvers unless my own legs happen to be the motor. Heard too many horror stories and too many close calls with riders on fast moving highways. But out at Perris Raceway with nothing but mountains of loose dirt constructed into various racing configurations surrounding me (not to mention that newfound power between my legs,) what could go wrong? Time to stop worrying and put my big kid pants on…

Kawasaki was kind enough to show us a thing or two about riding dirt bikes on their KLX model; they come with either a 110 or 140cc engine and in two height options, regular and L. Featuring an electric start with kick start as a backup, we’re told these are great starter bikes, and really, they are. Provided with quick and easy instruction on how to get the KLX started, our small group of first-time riders cycled through a couple short courses designed to put the basics to the test. Getting the bike moving isn’t all too difficult if you’re used to driving a car with a manual transmission. However, getting the bike into second gear is, and unlike a manual car, the feeling of kicking it into the next gear actually takes a few tries to get it just right – and just when you think you’ve gotten the hang of it, you really wind up fidgeting with it so much that it’s any wonder you’ve made it this far in your motorcycle riding career.

Once riding the bike starts to feel more comfortable, you’re then placed onto an oval dirt track to practice straight-line acceleration and upshifting. Then, as you enter a corner, you’re to slow down and practice downshifting. Run a few of those laps and they motion for you to stand up while riding, continuing much of the same up/downshifting as before. There is where people start getting brave; this is also where some people start eating shit. All in all, the fun factor continues to turn up a notch; you can’t help but look around for the next closest driver and try to outrun them. With each break between instruction and practice, there are high-fives thrown all around. For those seeking a little extra practice time, you’re redirected to the infield portion of the dirt track, which has you circling in figure-8s – it’s a little tighter to navigate than the standard oval and has you going up small hills; think of this as being the bunny slopes to the much bigger, ‘black diamond’-type course you’re to attempt last.

Feeling brave is just about the only way one should feel once it’s time to get on the big course. Riding the bike actually feels the most comfortable (once you pull off a few laps) and all the little tricks you’ve been shown up until this point finally start making sense. Naturally, I drop the bike before I can even get it started; hilarity ensues. That finessing of clutch and gas does eventually kick in, and off you go. A little more power, you’re moving along; lean in to the turn, push your elbows out and the KLX corners through like a knife cuts butter. Stand as you climb uphill and you might even get a little air as you go over it.

Dirt biking can be draining, and coupled with the sun we end our day by mid-afternoon. We’re no biking pros by any means but we’re far ahead of where we were – we could even attempt a M1 license with a second round of instruction (and you can bet we will). For sure it was a little bit of sunburn, a face lightly covered with dust, and one hell of a time conquering what almost seemed impossible. View all photos from our Kawasaki Learn 2 Ride event in the gallery below:

(Images: courtesy of Kawasaki/iD Agency) Special thanks to Victor Carillo and Greg Emmerson at the iD Agency and Kawasaki for a day at the dirt and our custom jerseys!

Kawasaki Shows Us How to Ride Dirt Bikes

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