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Jul 08, 2023

10 Tips For Beginner Adventure Riders

A little bit of off-road knowledge can make a world of a difference One of the

A little bit of off-road knowledge can make a world of a difference

One of the worst things you can do as a beginner adventure rider is hit the road without any preparation. You see, adventure riding is much more diverse and technical compared to any other form of riding. It requires you to be a jack of all trades because you will be on the highway for long hours, encounter innumerous dirt roads, and will have to deal with the city traffic more often than not, all the while managing a heavy adventure motorcycle.

As much as it sounds daunting though, adventure riding can prove to be thoroughly enjoyable, provided you follow a few crucial steps. These 10 tips for beginner adventure riders will help you acclimatize to the fun and equally challenging world of adventure motorcycling.

Related: 10 Motorcycle Safety Tips That Will Take Your Riding To The Next Level

First things first. For any task, one should have the right gear. There are fine differences in motorcycle gear depending on the kind of riding you do and the kind of bike you have. So before investing in any kind of gear, give enough thought to what you need the gear for in hindsight.

Beginner adventure riding gear includes a dual sport helmet, although a normal street helmet will do as well. Further, a breathable waterproof riding jacket and pants, dual-purpose gloves and a pair of high-protection boots to safeguard you from the surrounding environment. These are bare essentials, but there is much more you can add on top like a balaclava and a hydration backpack, that will do wonders for you as you are starting out.

It is a golden rule that you do not use your front brakes much. But that only applies to certain surfaces. When it comes to adventure riding and more specifically, when it comes to riding on loose gravel and all that backcountry roads can throw at you, front-braking is often the way to go. This is because you will have less control over your traction on such surfaces. And just jamming the rear brake off-road, especially when you are going downhill isn't just bad technique - it's just as dangerous a situation. Instead, rely on the front brake with gentle touches.

Beginner riders often make one common mistake. In crucial situations, they end up looking right in front of their fender rather than looking up ahead. It is a rookie mistake that needs to be corrected and one that can be easily worked on with practice. You see, our hands on the clutch will always follow the direction of our eyes. If you look left, you steer left. If you look right, you’ll go right, and if you look right at that oncoming car, you will most probably bump into it. The golden rule is to look as far ahead as you can so that you have a better reaction time while steering your bike.

Related: Off-Roading Tips You Need To Know

Now while it's an unsaid rule to have a well-serviced motorcycle before leaving on any adventure. But let's face it, anything can go wrong when you are adventure-riding. So, in such situations, you need to know how to fix small issues on your motorcycle.

Help may not always be around and that is why every beginner adventure rider should have a basic understanding of their motorcycles. On top of this, carry suitable tools suited for your particular motorcycle because tools are what will help you out in such tricky situations. This should enable you to change a flat tire or repair a broken chain link on a remote countryside road.

Fatigue is the number one enemy of motorcycle riders. Especially when you are out on the highway or far out exploring unpaved roads, you might lose track of time in order to make it to your next stop. This poses a serious problem where fatigue kicks in. Over time, you might slowly start having less control over your motorcycle. And before you know it, your body is completely dehydrated and drained. Hence, it is recommended to take regular stops and hydrate yourself well so that even if the day gets long on the saddle, your body is still able to cope with it well.

The year-old debate of soft versus hard luggage is endless. But when it comes to adventure motorcycling, the debate tips in favor of soft luggage. That's because it gives you the flexibility to carry more while weighing less. And at the same time, it is a whole lot more durable and can take a fair amount of beating.

Hard panniers and cases are undoubtedly more convenient and in most cases, safer. But you best stay away from them if you want your bike to feel more agile. And especially now when even the most affordable soft luggage systems are waterproof, you do not have to worry about getting your gear wet.

Related: Best Luggage Options For Adventure Riders

Adventure riders, meet your best friend. The technique of standing on a bike, or saddling, is one that will come in more handy than you can ever make of it. It's not just about alleviating that butt pain on long stretches of tarmac, but it has to do more with steering more efficiently on dirt roads.

Thus, it might be a priceless investment to enroll yourself in some kind of adventure riding class over the weekend. This can be a great way to learn about the techniques of gripping the tank, holding the bike and having the right posture while standing on the pegs.

Yes, yes, we all know that adventure riding should be about minimal planning. That should be okay as long as there is some kind of planning involved. So, having a rough plan of what you intend to do for the next day of riding should be a good place to start.

Ideally, you should have some knowledge about the route you intend to take, the available gas stations on the way, and places where you can take a pit stop. Carrying a map of the area you are in can be a great decision if you are into old-school navigation. Not knowing your destination is only fun when you have some knowledge about the journey itself.

Perhaps one of the most important of all the 10 tips for adventure riders. Let's face it - your bike will tip over on every trip you take. It's an inseparable part of adventure riding, and you have to learn to enjoy it rather than get demotivated by it.

There is no rider who does not end up struggling to lift their adventure bike after a fall or a crash. So, learn to live with the heft of your ADV. There are many techniques to go about picking up your bike. Learn one that suits you and master it, and then just go about practicing picking up your fallen companion.

As much as you try to shed weight, you are invariably prone to over pack on your first adventure ride. That's just something all beginner riders go through when they are starting out. Over a period of time, you will learn what you need and what you don't. Hence, learn to make peace with the learning curve.

Different things work for different people, so there is no one perfect way to pack light. Some people ditch carrying a lot of clothes to make space for their electronics. Some folks travel with their camping equipment and decide to leave their gizmo behind. Pack as per your ride and take the weather into consideration - you might not end up needing that hefty fur jacket after all.

Utkarsh has over a decade of experience traveling and documenting his adventures through photographs and films.He has a YouTube channel where he shows his motorcycle adventures through India. On days when he is not writing about motorcycles, he's riding one.