Trip planning builds excitement - who’s going, what does the motorcycle need, what to pack and of course the route. The route is a big part of the excitement and there are some very important details to consider that can easily be overlooked, in part because it’s so difficult to assess - yet it could be the factor that makes the difference between getting into trouble or avoiding it. And when you consider the route, other questions come up. How do you know if your motorcycle, your gear and your physical fitness is suitable for your desired route? All that and more on this episode of Rider Skills with Instructor Clinton Smout.
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When you think ‘road hazards’, some of the obvious come to mind. Pot holes, uneven road surfaces, debris… those are just a few of the hazards we have to watch for, but the ones that are of the most concern are the ones you may not even think of. Clinton Smout has seen the statistics that prove that the road hazards he talks about today are ones that all riders need to be aware of and paying attention to at all times. In today’s episode of Rider Skills, some eye opening moments that will make you sit up and take notice.
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Counter Weighting is simply balancing your motorcycle with your body, and learning to do it correctly will take your skills to the next level. Today on our exclusive RIDER SKILLS program we have top instructor, Clinton Smout, to walk us through the skill using tips that speed up the learning process and get you on the fast track to improving your riding skills.
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Manufacturers have to work within the constraints of a budget to keep motorcycles affordable. If you want to make your bike a serious adventure motorcycle, the trick is to understand which components need to be replaced or what needs to be added to your bike. Clinton Smout has years of experience and understanding of motorcycles and he walks us through his list of necessary modifications to make the factory adventure motorcycle a serious adventure motorcycle.
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Getting your adventure motorcycle over a log can be a daunting experience, but learning how to do it can open up a whole new world for you. On this episode of Rider Skills we have instructor Chris Birch, world famous for what he does with an adventure bike, teach us how to get our heavy motorcycles over a log in three easy steps and look like a pro while we’re doing it.
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There is no doubt that practice improves our riding skills, but sometimes life gets in the way and then throw in weekend rides, how do you find time to set up practice sessions? On this episode of our exclusive RIDER SKILLS program we’re going to set you up with a number of slow speed practice exercises that you can do just about any time you have a few minutes. Perhaps when you’re waiting to meet up with someone or maybe you can scoot outside for a few minutes before dinner, the point is these are so easy to set up that you can do them almost anywhere and practising these skills will definitely make you a better rider.
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Riding a motorcycle over rocks present all kinds of challenges for the rider and as they get bigger, so does the challenge. On this episode we have instructor Shawn Thomas and he’ll be breaking down rocks - riding rocks into manageable pieces for the average rider and hopefully changing them from what you see as obstacles to overcome in to some seriously fun riding.
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When maneuvering at low speeds, slipping the clutch on your motorcycle is an essential skill with a manual clutch. Most riders learn that if you slip the clutch too much you can wear it out quickly, so why do riding instructors tell you that you need to slip the clutch? On this episode of Rider Skills we talk with Clinton Smout about clutches, how they work, warning signs that you’re abusing your clutch and more.
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Even if you don’t ride 2-up chances are if you ride with others, or are inclined to help someone in need, you may end up having to put someone on the back off your bike at some point. Maybe while riding off-road with friends, someone’s bike breaks down and they need a ride out to get help. If you have the skills, you suddenly become a rescuer, if you don’t have those skills, well - it’s a different scenario all together.
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When you see a group of motorcyclists getting ready to ride away after a break, you can be pretty sure that in that group, in any group really, you’ll probably see a few that haven’t got the hang of ‘The Turn Around’, especially in dirt. It becomes more obvious especially if they have to change directions, but even the slightest direction change at low speed can cause problems for many riders. On this episode of our exclusive RIDER SKILLS©, mastering ‘The Turn Around’ with instructor, Clinton Smout.
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On this episode of Rider Skills you’ll learn how to corner in gravel confidently, you’ll pick up key tips like when to sit and when to stand, and how your bike design will affect that decision. Instructor, Chris Birch, also talks about why peg weighting matters and how leverage comes into play, and how the dirt and asphalt corner differ and why the two shall probably never meet.
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On this episode of ARR RIDER SKILLS, off-road instructor Bill Dragoo walks us through the ascent and descent of a dirt hill climb specifically for adventure motorcycles and then off-camber riding. How-to instruction with tips and concepts of why we do what we do when riding hills.
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Ruts can be one of the most difficult challenges for motorcyclists and although ruts are usually found when riding in dirt off-road, you may come across them in construction areas and even at the side of the road where the asphalt often has a lip and a dirt shoulder. Riding off to the side of the road over that lip is usually uneventful, but if not done correctly re-entering the roadway and crossing that rut can put a rider down. Riding ruts, tips, tricks and even a few stories from Clinton Smout of SMART Adventures.
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On this episode of RIDER SKILLS, Bill Dragoo from Dragoo Adventure Rider Training walks us through some simple steps that will help improve your cornering skills while riding your adventure motorcycle on the street, either loaded or unloaded.
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One of the most feared surfaces for riders is sand and although some riders probably hold that fear level a little too high, it stems from the level of difficulty that sand presents for most of us. But, riding in sand is second nature to former racer and now instructor, Jimmy Lewis and on this episode he shares important techniques and tips that will help make you a better rider in the sand.
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The top three riding skills that you will never master on your motorcycle, yet you should always be trying to, are the focus of this episode of Rider Skills. Why should you care about trying to master a skill - if the premise is that you can never do it? To answer that we have Shawn Thomas, a BMW certified off-road and street riding instructor and a BMW ambassador in the US.
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Getting on and off your motorcycle seems simple enough, almost so simple that it could be discounted as a riding skill, yet getting on and off a motorcycle can be difficult in certain situations. For instance, if your bike is loaded, or you have a pillion, top box or roll bag. Maybe you ride a tall bike, or you find yourself on a hill facing up or sideways, or on uneven ground. How many times have you seen someone fall while dismounting or mounting their bike? Getting a better handle on this can make you a more confident rider, and for some tips and methods we talk with riding instructor Clinton Smout from SMART Adventures.
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Our focus in motorcycling is usually about getting more traction, and rightfully so. We want tires that have good grip, we weight our pegs, we slide our bodies forward or back on our bikes. But, sometimes having less traction may actually work to your advantage. And on this episode of Rider Skills we have Bill Dragoo from DART to tell us about times when less traction is our friend and how to get comfortable in the low traction zone.
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The mind is a powerful thing and when it’s working against you while riding your bike, then you may as well just get off and walk. Most riders have experienced what’s called choking, when you get confused, lose confidence, and find yourself riding like a beginner. Commonly what riders do when this happens is to stop riding or maybe just avoid those situations that make them feel uncomfortable. On this episode of our exclusive Rider Skills program, we have instructor Clinton Smout talking about how he helps riders who have had a dramatic experience overcome their mental blocks.
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If you’re going to ride in the mud with your adventure bike you’re going to need some specific skills for it. You’ll need to approach it differently than hard packed dirt and you really should be prepping your bike for it ahead of time. Mud riding is challenging, but the with the tips and tricks that professional rider and instructor, Chris Birch, shares with us on this episode of Rider Skills, you may just learn to love it.
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