10 Tips on Teaching Kids How to Ride a Dirt Bike

If you are an avid dirt bike rider, there may be nothing better than being able to go out and ride dirt bikes with your kids. In a lot of sports, the parents are just standing on the sidelines cheering them on, but dirt bike riding is something you can do together which makes it an awesome experience! Teaching a child to ride a dirt bike can be challenging because it plays a critical role in whether or not they will like the sport. Here are some tips and tricks on how to teach a child to ride a dirt bike.

1. Proper Age

One of the great things about dirt bike riding is that children can start to ride at a very young age. A child as young as 3 years old can start to ride on a small electric dirt bike. Once they start getting comfortable riding, they can safely ride a gas-powered 50cc dirt bike with training wheels at 4 years old. The training wheels can come off at about 5-6 years old and can even be taking small jumps on real dirt bikes. It is ideal to start them young so that they can grasp all the skills they need to successfully ride a dirt bike.

Insider Tip: If you want to start teaching them at an even younger age (toddler), getting them a Strider Balance Bike to teach them to balance.

2. Have the Right Bike

One of the worst mistakes you can do when teaching a child how to ride a dirt bike is to teach them on a bike that is too big and powerful for them. It is important for the child to be confident and not fear the bike they are riding. Most kids will do well starting on a 50cc dirt bike because it is smaller, lighter, and less intimidating. Even if a larger bike is more “fit” for you your child, they are usually very heavy and can be tough for a child to handle. Stating them on a smaller bike will allow them to conquer the basic skills of dirt bike riding and build their confidence to move on to a bigger and stronger bike.

3. Young Kids Should Start with Training Wheels

If you are teaching a small child (5 years and younger), it is recommended that they learn to ride a dirt bike with training wheels. Having training wheels will allow your child to begin riding at a much younger age and it will accelerate your child’s learning curve. Using training wheels is much safer and your child will enjoy riding because they feel safer.

4. Have the Right Gear

Teaching a child to wear safety gear at a young age is extremely important for their safety. Crashes can and will happen at any speed so it is ideal for a child to be wearing the appropriate gear that will keep them free from injuries. As the adult, you need to set a good example and push the idea that wearing your gear is not only necessary but cool as well. Here is a list of essential gear a child must wear when riding a dirt bike:

Full-Face Helmet
Goggles
Gloves
Off-Road Pants and Jersey
Chest Protector
Riding Boots

5. Teach Them One Skill at a Time

One of the worse things you can do is overload a child with information. Trying to teach them everything at once will only frustrate and confuse them because you are overwhelming them with information. They will think dirt bike riding is too hard and will not want to continue learning. Instead, start with teaching them one skill at a time. Once they master that skill you can move on to the next.

6. Proper Body Position

One of the most important things to teach a child if how to properly sit on a dirt bike. There is one right way to sit on a dirt bike and a lot of wrong ways, so make sure that the child learns the correct way. Make sure they keep their head up, their shoulders relaxed, their elbows bent, their knees gripping the tank and their feet positioned to provide the best balance and most flexibility.

7. Start on a Flat Dirt Road

Trying to teach something to a child can go wrong very fast because they get frustrated when they are not getting it right. If you are teaching a child to ride for the very first time, DO NOT take them to a track that is very sandy with deep ruts. Not only will they get frustrated, but they might not want to continue learning. Instead, start teaching them on a flat and straight dirt road. The kids will be able to stay on the bike more easily and build their confidence up. They will have a blast!

8. Teach Them How to Stop

Once the child gets comfortable riding the bike around, it is time to teach them how to stop the bike. This is very important to learn because they will need to be able to stop quickly to avoid hazards. They must be comfortable with putting their foot down when braking so they can maintain their balance.

Insider Tip: Use a hand signal to tell them to stop and give them the specific direction of what you want them to do

9. Teach Them How to Fall:

Teaching them how to fall is very important in dirt bike riding because more than likely they will fall. Kids do not want to get hurt so this is something they need to be comfortable with. Teach them to relax during a fall and let the gear do its job. Many riders stiffen up trying to break the fall and it only makes their injuries worse. Have the kids dive and roll in the dirt a bit with their gear so they can see that the gear is going to protect them.

10. Be Positive!

The way you teach a child how to ride is really important because it will determine if they will like the sport or not. The worst thing you can do is get mad and frustrated when you are teaching them because there are already intimidated by the entire situation. Be patient and understanding with them and praise them when they do something right. If they fall, assure them they are okay and encourage them to practice again

Go Out and Ride!

Teaching a child how to ride a dirt bike can be tough because one wrong move can make them not want to learn at all. It is important to keep them safe by having the proper gear on at all times and the right bike. Be extremely patient with them, encourage them to continue practicing even when they fall, and praise them when they do something right. If they continue to practice their skills, they will be riding a dirt bike in no time!

- Common Beginner Dirt Bike Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

GET FINANCED!

⏰

VALUE YOUR TRADE IN
30 SECONDS!

☎️

CALL NOW:

626-974-6600
✉️

EMAIL US!

customerservice@bertsmegamall.com
📍

GET DIRECTIONS!