There's nothing wrong with buying a new bike if you have the money and know what you want. The problem, I think, is when beginner or intermediate-level trail riders who haven't mastered the basic trail riding techniques think a new bike will solve their issues and "upgrade" them to the next skill level like the switch of a flip!
1991 was my first season of road racing. I started on a Kawasaki EX 250. After the first race, I was talking to my next door pit mate, A seasoned pro! I was flapping my gums about getting after market carbs, exhaust, an bore perhaps... I said to him, what do you think? He simply & nicely said, ride the bike stock until you're better than it...I was like...huh 🤔 Yeah! Why didn't I think of that...😂 Probably 99% of bike riders will NEVER out pace their machine. Best advice I ever did get. Thanks Kurt 😄
Kelley, you are spot on, in my opinion you can't buy experience. That's gotta be put into you through a proper coach (you) and lots of practicing what that coach is teaching you. I'm the 60 year old guy who follows your videos and even with having been around dirt bikes and having ridden several different types of dirt bikes since the early 70s, with some amateur motocross in the teenage days, I still pick up a lot of tips and techniques from you. I am one of those followers guilty of the new KTM thing, but I bought mine new only because I didn't have a proper trail bike. I've been riding the Gas Gas trials bike and practicing logs, rock beds, boulders and lock to lock figure 8 turns. I won't ever compete in trials because of my age and the nearest events are 5 hours away. So yeah, I bought a KTM 150 SC W to have a trail machine. I looked for used and couldn't find anything that was taken care of around here (coal country Pennsylvania) everything is beat to hell and ridden into the ground with little to no maintenance. I had an insurance policy from my Dad having passed away and I bought the KTM. I have to admit that I'm very nervous on the bike. Battling cancer like I've been has taken a lot of strength out of me and I'm not even half as strong as I was but the whole "coming back to off road dirt bike" thing makes me want to get up tomorrow. I'm weight training, light, hitting the arms and legs. I'm riding the trials bike and I already laid the KTM over right in my garage with the engine not running. I'm 5'7 and 128 pounds so your how to be short and get on and off the bike video helps me very much and your how to pick the fallen bike up video helps me tremendously. I used to pick bikes up no problem. When it fell over in the garage I couldn't pick it up because the cancer fight, the radiation and chemotherapy is saving my life but it's also taking a lot out of me. I called on my wife and we got her back up on the wheels but she said, now what would you do in the woods? So I'm not giving up buddy. Coming back to what I loved for 50 years off and on is saving my life as well as treatments because it's driving me. You've been with me since I found you. Since the crash in the garage on a bike that wasn't running nor moving lol, I've bought a low seat configuration which helps me with the inseam problem. I'm just short for these bikes. Since the 90s they get taller and taller it seems. I just thought my long boring comments might help a new rider who might be frustrated and make him/her keep pushing. Be safe you all!!
Thanks so much for sharing, John. Glad you're finding them helpful and that you still have motivation through all of your health trials! I'm sure you can be an encouragement to many other riders :)
![How To Ride A Dirt Bike In The Woods Without Crashing [For Beginners]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KAj22tDDmp4/mqdefault.jpg)
There's nothing wrong with buying a new bike if you have the money and know what you want. The problem, I think, is when beginner or intermediate-level trail riders who haven't mastered the basic trail riding techniques think a new bike will solve their issues and "upgrade" them to the next skill level like the switch of a flip!
I spent money on getting my suspension tuned in for my weight , and proper servicing , helps
Skills! ....although a push button starter would be really nice...
1991 was my first season of road racing. I started on a Kawasaki EX 250. After the first race, I was talking to my next door pit mate, A seasoned pro! I was flapping my gums about getting after market carbs, exhaust, an bore perhaps... I said to him, what do you think? He simply & nicely said, ride the bike stock until you're better than it...I was like...huh 🤔 Yeah! Why didn't I think of that...😂
Probably 99% of bike riders will NEVER out pace their machine. Best advice I ever did get. Thanks Kurt 😄
Haha, yep. Well said! Thanks for sharing :)
Kelley, you are spot on, in my opinion you can't buy experience. That's gotta be put into you through a proper coach (you) and lots of practicing what that coach is teaching you. I'm the 60 year old guy who follows your videos and even with having been around dirt bikes and having ridden several different types of dirt bikes since the early 70s, with some amateur motocross in the teenage days, I still pick up a lot of tips and techniques from you. I am one of those followers guilty of the new KTM thing, but I bought mine new only because I didn't have a proper trail bike. I've been riding the Gas Gas trials bike and practicing logs, rock beds, boulders and lock to lock figure 8 turns. I won't ever compete in trials because of my age and the nearest events are 5 hours away. So yeah, I bought a KTM 150 SC W to have a trail machine. I looked for used and couldn't find anything that was taken care of around here (coal country Pennsylvania) everything is beat to hell and ridden into the ground with little to no maintenance. I had an insurance policy from my Dad having passed away and I bought the KTM. I have to admit that I'm very nervous on the bike. Battling cancer like I've been has taken a lot of strength out of me and I'm not even half as strong as I was but the whole "coming back to off road dirt bike" thing makes me want to get up tomorrow. I'm weight training, light, hitting the arms and legs. I'm riding the trials bike and I already laid the KTM over right in my garage with the engine not running. I'm 5'7 and 128 pounds so your how to be short and get on and off the bike video helps me very much and your how to pick the fallen bike up video helps me tremendously. I used to pick bikes up no problem. When it fell over in the garage I couldn't pick it up because the cancer fight, the radiation and chemotherapy is saving my life but it's also taking a lot out of me. I called on my wife and we got her back up on the wheels but she said, now what would you do in the woods? So I'm not giving up buddy. Coming back to what I loved for 50 years off and on is saving my life as well as treatments because it's driving me. You've been with me since I found you. Since the crash in the garage on a bike that wasn't running nor moving lol, I've bought a low seat configuration which helps me with the inseam problem. I'm just short for these bikes. Since the 90s they get taller and taller it seems. I just thought my long boring comments might help a new rider who might be frustrated and make him/her keep pushing. Be safe you all!!
Thanks so much for sharing, John. Glad you're finding them helpful and that you still have motivation through all of your health trials! I'm sure you can be an encouragement to many other riders :)
Turns out I can crash just as well on my TW200 as my buddy's KTM. LOL