5 things you were taught wrong in your motorcycle class
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ม.ค. 2025
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This video discusses 5 common things taught to adventure riders by instructors that are wrong. Let's talk about keeping those elbows up, riding on the balls of your feet, squeezing with the knees, keeping your eyes up and steering with the footpegs.
Gear used in this video:
Gaerne Fastback Enduro boots: imp.i105279.ne...
Shoei Hornet X2 helmet: imp.i105279.ne...
Rev'It! Dominator 3 suit: imp.i105279.ne...
ArcLite Optics: arcliteoptics....
Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX41 tires: imp.i105279.ne...
Nice to see you back Bret! And set in Moab no less =) Heading there in May/June for a couple weeks.
Just a comment on the best thing I have done for my ADV and dualsport riding: bought an E-MTB. Purchased in October 23, I now have nearly 2000 miles on it. I''m 68, retired, have access to hundreds of miles of trails nearby, and ride 30-40 miles a week. The obvious physical effects are well, obvious, but it has done wonders for my confidence on the trail. Balance, vision, reflexes, strength have all improved and made a noticeable difference in my off-road motorcycle riding. I recently rode with a group I had not been out with in a year, and I not only comfortably kept up with the more experienced riders (not a race, just maintaining good momentum and pace), but able to ride longer with less effort. Just the gain in leg strength now allows me to spend more time standing when I need to. Much more confident and focused.
I picked up a e-mtb too
That video was sharp and clear, with a fantastic backdrop. New video equipment? Well done. Thanks for the refresher on basic body mechanics.
Actually main mic discharged on the way to the trail so I had to shoot all the lessons on my phone with a lapel mic
Just last night, I watched a video where the instructor said to clamp the bike with your knees. Granted he was riding a full on motocross bike and it seems like every situation is different but your instructions Bret, seem to make the most sense to me. There’s certainly a lot of information out there, but I’m mindful of yours, the most. Keep up the great work and thank you!
One difference between dirtbikes and ADV bikes is that with 500-600lbs you can't cheat technique
@ I guess that would make sense. Thanks again, Bret 👍🏻
Good to see you back, as usual an informative vid.
Thanks Bret, as always you deliver great advice with carefully chosen words, backed by years of experience and wisdom. You've helped me be a better more confident rider.
FYI I never get tired of watching your super slick dismounts, with the amazing transition of helmet to cap almost seamlessly. At one point I thought you wore the cap under your helmet.
🤣... It's amazing how some people love the hat swap and others hate it.
Doing my part to keep the workd divided 🤣
Great video as always Bret, I've taken and applied your various lessons over the years and it's made me very confident riding an adventure bike on dirt!
I was really missing this great videos from Bret.
Directly from TH-camLand tanks for once again clarifying that the techniques from a dirt bikes are not the best to a (big) adv big.
Keep up the good work 💪🏻💪🏻
I think a LOT of riders fail to make good intentional use of their peripheral vision. Keith Code talked about this in one of his Twist of the Wrist books. It takes a lot of time to move your center vision from one spot to another, focus and process, then move it back to the original spot, focus and begin processing again. This is really critical at higher speeds, but I find it also helps a lot in the lower speed technical stuff. He had an exercise where you would focus your vision on a spot, then sit and try to notice as much detail in your peripheral vision as possible without moving the eyes. It seems awkward at first, but with just a little practice you can get quite good at it. The mental attention needed to do this is far less and much faster than actually moving the eyes. I often find that on group rides where we might be talking during a break, I will ask people if they saw this or that along the way and almost universally the answer is no. They never saw anything other than right where they were riding. I've been asked how I notice so much stuff. It is the direct result of practicing using that peripheral vision.
As for all that other stuff, I've never found any techniques to be an ALWAYS thing, other than stay relaxed and remember to breathe! Everything is is 100% context dependent. At best, there might be a default set of techniques to use for general situations, that are then modified on the fly as needed, and then you reset back to the default until the next time you need to deviate. Situational awareness and the ability to adapt on the fly is key.
Vision deserves it's own video
@@BretTkacs I look forward to that ;-)
Finally, somebody pushed back on the BS - especially peg-weighting-as-steering - Thank you Bret!!
I like it "under the bus" 😁👍
I'm so envious of your terrain there, so many trails, such open public spaces, etc - virtually none in the UK
The US West coast is a blessing
Fantastic video. Glad to see you back!!
Thanks for the recognition! I love coaching fellow riders and do it all year round, 4-7 times a month. I realize I'm very far from an amazing rider but I'm competent and I have knowledge and insights I can share while coaching students.
It's easy to criticize from the outside. I don't think riders realize how much we give up to help others out.
The good thing is that as a coach we don't have to ride as well or better than our students... Our job is to make them better than themselves!
Good video, but I've never seen such a smooth transition from helmet to hat!
Thank you for those clarifications. I am always questioning training content, and more often than I like, trainers don't have a good answer to "Why should I do it this or that way?".
I think a lot of that is down to semantics. "Don't squeeze with the knees"….instead "wedge"but wedge the bike with what? The knees🤨
Got to create that content though.
Damn this place is an absolute playground. Awesome lessons, thanks for sharing knowledge!
What a beautiful location! A lot of the points made sense to me personally, well done sir, great presentation
Elbows raised for supercross and motocross riding which is different than street, ADV or dual sport riding.
Different terrain,...
But always use your knees & feet also.
Great info as usual, thanks for all you do for us mid-life adventurers 🏍️🇨🇦
luv your seamless helmet cap swap.
It's funny but also ridiculous at the same time.
Bret ,,,, Nice to see you again after long time … hope everything was perfect at your end bro
Good to see ya! Hope you and Paul are well!
Beautiful scenery, and nice riding, Bret!
The cat in the hat is back
Welcome back!
Adults deciding to ride late in life is a mixed bag.
Good they want to ride, Bad too many people want them to ride beyond abilities.
A ride buddy had a wife injured at a MOA rally adv course trying techniques she had no business performing.
Peer pressure and low skill level is a dangerous combination.
Off roaders learn quickly and either adapt to the constant loss of control and ground contact or they do not.
A bmw gs is a bad bike for most.
Start on a 250 and move up. No need for training and risky tests of skill if you train from the bottom up.
Thanks.
I am one of the people starting very late, 60's. Been riding street bikes for years and bought a 701 last year. Enjoy riding it but am very realistic in my ability and what I want, and dont want, to do. Also, my years of experience tells me to always ride my own ride, never feel pushed or pulled. I ride with a few mid level riders and always leave the ego at home and happily ride last in the group.
Pro hat transition.
Poor bald fellow probably sleeps in the cap.
No full head of hair guy would have those skills.
So much of the video was centered around this...
There's a comment like this on every video.
The drone is out! Nic vid! I’ve enjoyed your videos over the last three years ever since I started ADV.
Thanks, glad you're enjoying the videos.
Is that a winch? Love to see a video with this in action
The goal is to NOT use the winch. It's insurance since I ride solo a lot
Happy new year Bret!!! Started as mountain biker, switch to mid size adventure, then got dirt bike and now I have big size adventure beast, 137% agreed on those points, many people just don't understand there is absolutely NO only one way how to go for every particular situation (where the most struggle comes), the most important is to have body loose and flow/balance with the machine, when to stiff balance is out of window and tiredness and panic hits..... still waiting for instructional video: helmet/hat transition, don't let me look like an amateur, cheers V!
You also made a video about bike setup too I’ve rolled my hand bars forward which is better position for riding off road , I’m one of riders that scanning the trail looking for the smoothest route to go up or down . Thanks for the tips today always look forward to seeing more 😊
I agree 100% on all. Sometimes we tend to be dogmatic and create blanket statements. One that I've heard, mostly in Mountain Biking but also for dirt bikes, it's the 70/30 braking rule. I agree for cars and street bikes, but in the dirt, especially on the lighter dirt bikes, we move our body around to shift the weight for a better braking distribution. Also, we learn to not use both brakes in perfect sync since both tires may experience different traction at any given moment. We tend to dedicate a different part of our brain to each.
The best way to explain the proper vision is to say "Always look 3 to 5 seconds ahead of where your front tire is supposed to go." That means looking far away at highway speeds and looking closer to the front wheel in technical off road situations. Looking at places less than 3 seconds away gives you no time to react and make a change in the motorcycle's tire placement. Obviously it is ok to scan farther ahead, but the majority of the time off road you need to be focused on where to place the front tire.
5 seconds to 5 minutes...
Love the OM on the helmet
9.33 what beautiful scenery......just amazing....
Love the scenery! Thanks for sharing these great tips.
That shot at 10:06 - awesome!
Hat Ninja! The top of Bret's head has never seen the Sun. lol
glad your back.
Me too
Great point.👍
Aside for that would be nice pointing out also that using heavy weight adventure moto for cross isn't a good choice.
The right tool for the job of off-road is a moto cross,more easy,less fatiguing,less probability to crash because tired, for poor tequinque or even for the better and smoother escursion of the shock absorbers.
The advantage of training on a motocross track with your adventure bike is you learn the necessary skills of controlling the bike in a safe and controlled environment. You get a variety of obstacles on which to practice and when you fall, there is always someone near to assist you. And having a place to stop, rest, rehydrate, and then going back out is a great way to build the muscle strength and endurance needed .
@briangc1972 A motocross track,as the name implied,is for motocross bike don't for adventure bike.
The facts that is a controlled environment means only to be able to be rescued fast after an incident.
Same things regarding the track for sport bike.
Sure it possible use the wrong tool,but remain don't the better choice.
In the end the only reason behind the continuos push for heavy adventure bike is made by the manufactures and the many events sponsored by them,that became a big advertise.
The problem is most of us don't ride so we can ride the beat tool for the job we ride what makes us smile.
@@BretTkacs Ok but a combination of lack of tecnique,lack of pratice plus wrong tool, increase the risks of incidents especially on tracks that are not safe for definition,so motocross track or off-road track.
In comparison a sport track is a lot more "safer",despite the extreme speed.
Tip…if you have decent sized pillion pegs ..place your adventure bike helmet upside down …on chin curtain,gear lever side.
Never had it fall off or stolen yet .😊
I am a older rider & have never had a riding class. I have also never had a accident on a bike or driving. I sit in the position comfortable to me and modify handlebars to my comfort. I rarely stand up no matter the surface though I understand bike control with the feet in soft or slippery surfaces if I choose to stand. But I ride for safe enjoyment not racing or showing off and I am past looking for goat tracks and crap riding conditions. So my own riding history is enough to tell me it is better to ride safely and comfortably; keep your ears and eyes open for good advice but use that advice as it fits with how you enjoy riding. That's the short story. Use it if it fits with you. Elbows up sounds like crap from idiots. Don't fall down works better for me. Have a nice day and thanks for your wisdom.
Many great skills have been demonstrated in this video. Perhaps in the top five skills is how to take off a helmet and don a cap in one fluid motion.
It is all about efficiency
Max Biaggi was good at that 😆
I think you are right. The difference between your theories and some other off road masters is mainly, in my opinion, the fact that you actually show how to ride big adv bike off road. Some of the technics that you partially criticise are fine with small, enduro motorcycles and many of off road experts are saying to do the same with 260kg bikes, often it doesn't work.
The difference is you can't cheat on a 500-600lb bike.
Man I can't figure out how that cap ends up on your head
Thanks for this. I was wondering about squeezing the tank with my knees. I wondered how you’d be able to move or change direction specifically. Thanks for making such easy to understand videos. I’ve followed you for a while. I’ve ridden slowly off road in the past, because I didn’t know what I was doing. More specifically, I didn’t know what to do or when. I’m coming back to biking after a long break and want to learn how to ride off road properly. Not for racing, but for travel off the beaten track and for fun while learning. I don’t want to try it when I’m miles from home, so I want to practice enough to at least stay upright. I’m going to binge watch your videos when I get my bike and practice all your tips. You are a talented teacher.
I was taught to apply pressure with the knees for added stability when the terrain allows and to loosen up to let the bike "dance" when needed. Works great for me...
Thanks... Teaching is my life
OMG.. i'm totally in with chicken wing elbows position!! Your video are absolutely Amazing!!! i found out myself some of those hints (sent by youtuber/instructor) to be wrong while riding offroad with my V-Strom 650 Xt and finding myself in trouble ... Well, using what my experience told me i managed to get out and i did somehow what you're telling here.. Top Notch Bret .. Thanks from Italy
So glad!
Excellent advice!
Unrelated, but that is one good looking GS. I think the colors and gear make your bike look fantastic!
I think so too!
Where did the Desert X go? Nice to see the big bike too. Thanks Bret!
The DDX is parked next to the Tenere and GS 👍
Balance, at slow speed improves when not fixating too close
Long time no see. It’s Mason DDX a canary from Georgia, glad to see you’re back. Are you going to show us any of your videos from Asia? I’ll take a look at your schedule and see what I can book this year. Had fun. Looking forward to doing it again.
Long time no see..!
Cannot wait to get to Moab this year.
Thanks Bert!
Awesome as always. Thanks Brett.
The elbows wide advice has always bothered me. Why wouldn't I keep my elbows flared to the exact same position I use for bench and bb rows? It's by far my strongest and most stable position, recruiting the largest muscles. Keeping your elbows wide doesn't magically let you generate more torque around the bars.
12:48 now that’s what you call a background!!! 😮
Self taught, I'm doing everything wrong 😂
🤣
Vision wise. The faster you go the further you have to gaze. Slower speed mean you have more time to scan closer upfront. You bike supposed to deal with most of the bumps as jt has a suspension, so you dont have to stare near your frint wheel. Sometimes more speed + proper stance will let you go thru most of the road difficulties.
Brett, my advice: schedule yourself on one of Chris Birch’s courses asap.
Awesome episode! Any chance you organise rider training in Australia?
3 tips that has made me a better rider. 1. Elbows up 2. Knees back 3. Squeeze with the knees. Simple and effective for a simple, slow and fat male advrider. No more arm pump or low back pain.
Totally agree with you in every way
Bret I was typing out a huge reply starting with the foot position and you just kept going in the perfect order explaining exactly what I (started) figuing out mostly on my own in spite of a lot of advise from others. Thanks so much.
Any comment on the advice to "lean to the outside". I feel like this is also a coaching cue that isn't quite right but also describes what correct might look like during a turn.
I find turning toes/knees in a bit helps keep my body where I want it... going downhill. But uphill/accelerating it does nothing: for those you're just using however-much-you-can-lean-forward to reduce how much arm-pump you're gonna have :) . Unless you have Steg Pegz or something.
Best practices evolve over time as more experiences, by more riders accumulate.
Bret, you're right and wrong.
Technique matters.
The problem is many instructors, even weekend warriors, are teaching techniques for fast desert riding which is different than motocross which is different than street riding which is different than woods riding, etc.
Your tips/techniques are correct for riding big fat ADV bikes.
The techniques you rail against are better when moving fast on light quick MX's.
Your vision tip is 100% correct, too many folks become target fixated.
I believe vision is about planning your next move, tire positioning as well as body positioning for the next obstacle, meaning get the right foot to the brake and if needed shift, go into obstacle prepped and planned. When only looking down at tire positioning at speed folks don't see the next obstacle and hit without prep.
Back in the day I rode desert racers, I don't like riding tracks, multiple mile laps are more challenging to overall skills I believe.
Now I ride a big fat ADV bike at 72yrs after a 20yr break with lots of camping gear out back.
Quite a different ride/pace/skills. I miss my CR500s power to weight, long travel suspension and lack of weight.
Now I enjoy riding for days on end at an easier less exhausting pace with the ability to make a cup of coffee and relax out on the trail, sleep under the stars and wake up to another full days ride.
I appreciate and incorporate your teaching, enjoy your videos and look forward to more.
I wish I could find that winch.....
8:40 I let "my thighs ride the high side." I can feel the seat or tank moving under my knee to let me know what the bike is doing.
Best video of the day for me. Many thanks for doing these, much appreciated. ❤️
Amazing landscape! Like a dream. One day, I'll come for a visit!
I noticed that you're wearing (new?) Gaerne boots. Just curious how you find them? I remember you liked Sidi the most.
I still love my Sidi Crossfire's but I can't talk from personal experience about different boots if I haven't used them 😉
Big fan, and was jealous of my FB friend who has done a few of your classes and recently went on a trip with you, George Karl. Cant remember the country but was indian or asian country. Which technically is the same. Big fan and some day hope to come over from Lake Stevens and take one or two of your classed. Really need help in few areas. Specially coming from the roadracing world.
Didn't know my feet had balls
🏀
3:34 helmet to cap swap. Perfection
Thank you!
I would appreciate a video on your winch set up. Are you just transporting it back there or is that it’s recovery position?
Not wrong. A stepping stone. Crawl before you walk.
11:14 You go where you're looking. Look at where you want to be, NOT what you are trying to avoid.
where are you riding?. looks amazing.
Ride with a smile!
EYES AHEAD or Skan to Plan Persistence of Vision : allow for where you are going to be soon with out looking at front of wheel , keep skanning and planning
Just for my curiosity: Did you modify your GS to have a 21" front wheel? It almost looks like that. Aside from that: Keep up the good work. My no.1 motorbike channel.
Yes I did
Most of those instructions that you’ve taken issue with are more applicable for street riders and less so for adv ones it seems.
World's fastest hat putter on-er.
Maybe a way to express where you should be looking is that you should be looking say 2 seconds ahead , I.e you look where the bilge will be in 2 seconds, so if you are riding at 80km/hr then you are looking way further ahead than at 20km/hr
2 seconds isn't far enough in my opinion but if I am riding slow on a trail 5-15 seconds can be really close
Sounds good, Nepal were there earthquakes there recently? I wish you would come to new york one day soon.
In Alaska they said stay far right side of the lane , I knew better having been pulled out in front of .
That's terrible advice
Come to the ABR festival in the uk
I have tried twice now. All I asked them for was to cover travel cost... They never have enough money. I will work for free but paying to work is tough when I am giving up classes to go 😐
Keep bugging them 👍
great readings, thank you, is that Moab, which trail was it, may i ask.
Yes it was Moab, Utah, USA... The trail was Fins and Things
Amazing scenery. Where was this shot?
Moab
Fins and Things - Moab
@@BretTkacs Thanks! I need to plan a trip out west. No riding like that out here in NH :)
interesting points made, but what's with the hat thing?
What hat? I don't wear a hat... 😉
Trademark move, man.
Conclusion: Teachers do not say something wrong in general. The question is more what they mean and what did I "hear".
My point of view: It depends, but there are some rules to get "stability" and the correct "view".
Okay, okay I get it. Armpits' shaved, elbows locked, or something like that! What I'm really interested in, is what brand & model those shades of yours are.
Arclite... Check out the video description for the link
Best technique for dancing properly on your bike is a couple of shots of tequila.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your support... That helps a lot in keeping this channel fresh
I like your video as olwes
I always giggle when I see these in-depth instructional (and necessary) videos where you try to help people who've been riding street, get their first ADV bike and want to venture off-road. So much easier going the other way, where someone learned to ride a dirt bike or dual sport on rocky, root infested single track, then upgrading to a big ADV bike.
Thank you for making everything evident . Purchased a new adv and I was so confused whenever I try to listen to someone and ride on the balls of my feet . Nope ! I never felt safe in a technical section . It's a great help .
I recognised that symbol on your helmet too . Lots of love from India .
Watch the video I linked during that section of this video lesson.
3:29 - how?
I kick out my sidestand as I roll to my stop so that I don't have to put my feet down... Energy conservation 👍
That has got to be a GS with a 21" front wheel??? ;-)
Yes it is... I don't know why BMW doesn't offer the Rallye with a 21" wheel 🤔
Which pants are these which go over the gaerne enduros?
Revit! Dominator 3
None of these things you are taught are wrong, they are fundamental steps. As you advance, beginner steps become grey areas as you build more skill and are able to manipulate the foundational skills.
I just want to enjoy riding my adventure bike
That's the point 👍