10 Dirt Bike Riding Tips for Your Kids

The time has finally come, your kid has finally taken interest in dirt bike riding or maybe, they’ve finally reached the appropriate age to ride a dirt bike (which can be as young as 3-4 years old). Do you remember your first time riding a dirt bike? Pretty sure it wasn’t flawless, but you still managed to have fun and be confident.

Save your kid some mistakes and share these lessons with them:

1. Don’t start with the wrong bike

Like we mentioned in the 11 Dirt Bike Riding Tips for Newbies, you shouldn’t start with the wrong bike. We’re talking about the engine size here, as well as the bike’s height.

An adult beginner may start with a 250cc dirt bike, however, it’s different with kids. It would be more appropriate to have a kid start with a 50cc dirt bike because it’s smaller, lighter, and less intimidating. However, if you think that a 50cc is too small for your kid — go with your guts. Your kid will eventually outgrow a 50cc after a few rides too anyway.

For the bike’s size, the general rule here is to ensure that their feet touch the ground. Dirt bikes are not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing, buy the dirt bike that fits the size of your child to make riding easier.

2. Staying fit and exercising

Riding a dirt bike is not all fun and games. It requires a lot of strength in the hands and in the legs. Controlling a heavy dirt bike is difficult if you don’t have the strength, stamina, and stability.

One of the ways your kid could keep up with their dirt bike and not tire themselves out is to exercise and strengthen their muscles. Riding a mountain bike or bmx is great for fitness and regular stretching is good to help avoid injuries. However ultimately the best training is putting in the extra hours on the dirt bike.

3. Ditch the training wheels

If you’re teaching someone older than 5 years old, you might want to ditch the training wheels already. If you start someone with training wheels at this age, they might end up scared of taking them off or riding without them. Letting them ride without training wheels will also help them be confident in riding at a young age.

4. Practice in a large, flat, open field

Don’t pick the first spot you find when you search for where to ride your dirt bikes. Remember, you are riding with a beginner. Taking them to an overwhelming riding spot could hurt and scare them.

When it comes to training for turns and tricks, like the 180-degree turn, you’re going to need a wide, open field to practice at. This is a huge advantage since they’re going to have the space they need to perform the turns they want to learn, and you can work with them closely.

This is also a great opportunity for you to encourage them after a good action, and correct any mistakes they’ve made. By doing this, it will help them build their confidence and be better in the future.

5. Teach one thing at a time

One of the most common mistakes you can make is to overload your kid with information. Make it a point that you only teach them one thing during each trip.

You can start teaching them the basics, such as starting their dirt bike and introducing them to the throttle, brakes, and clutch.

After that, you can let them ride their dirt bike straight without turning, and start gradually increasing the speed, and allow them to practise when to slow down.

On their first week of training, you should be able to show them the proper riding position and form. This way, they can start early at getting comfortable behind the wheels.

6. Don’t go too fast too soon

Learning when to increase the speed of the dirt bike and when to slow it down is essential. At the beginning of training, they shouldn’t go too fast. Going too fast can be dangerous for your kid’s safety especially if they are not familiar with the controls of the bike. They need to know how turn brake and turn to avoid obstacles like rocks, a tree or fence.

You can reiterate to them that it’s not about the speed at first, but it’s about getting stability and balance. Build a solid base of basic skills from the start and it will help them gain confidence and avoid regular falls and crashes.

7. Research on how to keep kids safe on a dirt bike

You’d be surprised as to how many articles there are out there regarding kids’ safety when it comes to dirt bikes. When it comes to safety, we wrote about the gears and accessories you must-have for your little ripper. And if you’re planning to buy your kid a dirt bike, we’ve also written an article about the 6 Things You Need to Consider Before Buying.

Your kid will experience countless crashes before they can actually be great at dirt bike riding, and that’s normal (you already know that of course). The best thing you can do as their parent is to ensure they’re having fun at what they do, and that they’re safe while they do it.

8. Teach them the parts

This is a great opportunity for you to show your little junior the parts of a dirt bike. You can show them how dirt bikes are built, the names of important parts, what they do and the importance of keeping them well maintained. You can also have them observe you when you’re rebuilding your dirt bike’s engine, or when you’re doing dirt bike maintenance. This better and deeper understanding of a dirt bike will help them through life with general maintenance and all things related to a motorbike.

9. Staying hydrated

When we’re out in the sun and having fun, we tend to forget the necessities, such as staying hydrated. When your little kid is riding, their bodies sweat excessively due to handling the heavy bike, the heat, the adrenaline, and the clothing or the gear. Getting dehydrated could affect your child's whole mood during the ride, and we don’t want that. So, a 15-20 minute water break could really help a lot. In addition, wearing a hydration pack such as a camelbak is a must for longer rides.

10. Don’t show frustration

As the parent, you probably knew it was going to be a long term commitment when you chose to teach them how to ride a dirt bike. Never show your kid any signs of frustration when you’re teaching them. The dirt bike alone is intimidating and overwhelming enough for them. If you keep putting pressure on them, and not encouraging them, they might give dirt bikes a second thought or worse — it could turn into something they’d hate in the future. Don’t become that soccer dad yelling from the sideline.

Assure them that it’s totally okay if they crash. In fact, tell them that they WILL definitely crash. Perhaps share with them your stories when you were still trying to learn how to ride a dirt bike. The important thing at the end of the day is that they’re safe from injuries, and they had fun! So when they do crash, make sure they’re okay and let them learn how to laugh it off. There are still more crashes to go, and they shouldn’t fear that.

Conclusion

In conclusion, firstly, it’s a no-brainer to prioritise the safety of your little man or woman when they’re behind the bars. Secondly, it’s important that they have fun, and you shouldn’t pressure them into doing anything that they’re uncomfortable with. Don’t teach your kid things you don’t know yourself. As they progress it is a great idea to get a dirt bike coach to help with the training. It will drastically improve their skills. And lastly, allow riding to be fun and relaxing by having a good attitude (it starts at the top) and also encourage your little one to get back up and try again.