We are so lucky to ride in this area.
Check it out!
A very steep drop.
Rocky ground is very challenging when you first learn to ride motorbikes.
But with practice it can be surprisingly easy.
Motorbike setup?
It's very important to have fairly low tyre pressures, especially if the rocks are wet.
See our video about tyre pressures.
If you ride a lot of rocky terrain, you might buy protective items like
crankcase protectors, brake disc protectors, handguards, and so on.
See our motorbike setup video.
Body position.
Beginners will need to sit on the seat and ride quite slowly,
which makes riding over rocks quite difficult...
but it is the safest way to start.
Short rider?
See our 'short rider setup' video for suggestions
on how to place your feet on the ground when required.
As you become confident, stand on the footpegs.
Why? Your legs become extra 'suspension'.
And you can move your body rapidly to retain good balance.
This is the correct body position.
Keep your body weight to the rear so that the front wheel can 'skip' over the rocks.
It also provides extra traction at the rear wheel.
As the terrain gets rougher, move your body to the rear more.
Learn to move your body a lot!
This can dramatically improve your sense of balance when riding in rocky terrain.
See our video about balancing at a standstill.
It is an incredibly useful technique for improving your balance in tough terrain.
Stand and sit depending on your speed and the difficulty of the track.
The correct speed?
This varies depending on your skill level.
Generally the faster you ride, the smoother you will ride.
Momentum is important.
Even a slow walking speed usually prevents the motorbike getting stuck between rocks.
When you are stuck between rocks, there are various ways to move again.
You can do a 'seat bounce' with a controlled 'drop of the clutch'.
You can also throw your body weight forward at the same time.
This is possible when sitting, or standing on the footpegs
(see our 'static zap' video).
Clutch and throttle control are very important in rocky terrain.
Ride smoothly!
You can ride in a higher gear and slip the clutch.
Rapid acceleration often dislodges rocks or allows the rear wheel to spin and move unpredictably.
Relax!
There is a psychological aspect to riding over rocks.
You need to relax and not over-control your motorbike.
Don't grip the handlebars too tightly.
Let the motorbike jump around without trying to correct too much.
Look ahead.
A common problem is fixating on the rocks just before your front wheel.
Look further down the track and trust your subconscious mind
to deal with the immediate obstacles.
Water crossings?
Watch the motorbike in front
to determine the depth of water and the presence of any big underwater rocks.
If the water is deep enough to potentially drown your engine,
hit your killswitch the moment your motorbike falls over!
See our video about 'water crossings'.
This is just a very basic guide to riding in rocky terrain.
We also have training videos about riding in very difficult
'rock gardens', loose rocky hilly climbs, and rocky rutted hill climbs.