OFTR | Just Bought a Dirtbike

Ontario Federation of Trail Riders 2783 Contau Lake Road, P.O. Box 257, Gooderham Ontario. K0M 1R0.

TO:

“So... you’ve just bought a dirt bike!”

…..www.oftr.ca Join O.F.T.R…... 32

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” “So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

“SO … YOU ’VE JUST BOUGHT A DIRT BIKE”, booklet has been prepared and brought to you by the; Ontario Federation of Trail Riders, 2783 Contau Lake Road, P.O. Box 257, Gooderham Ontario. K0M 1R0. www.oftr.ca

Niagara Timberline Riders www.timberlineriders.ca

John Gregoire - 905 227 0686

Northumberland Trail Riders www.oftr.org Barry Ferguson - 905 753 2776

Ontario Dual-Sport Club www.odsc.on.ca

Al Buck

Oshawa Competition Motorcycle Club

The OFTR wishes to gratefully acknowledge that the major funding to make this booklet possible was generously provided by: * Ministry of Transportation Ontario * Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council * Motorcycle & Moped Industry Council O.F.T.R. Mandate To source, create and maintain a trail network in Ontario for safe, family use by offroad motorcyclists as well as any other good intentioned users. To provide a strong voice supported by a substantial membership to represent trail users to ensure, to our best ability, that these trails continue to be available .

www.ocmc-racing.ca

Dan Holmes: 905-987-1719

Otter Ridge Dirt Riders Inc. www.oftr.org Chris: 519 -874- 4278

Simcoe County Off Road Riders www.scorra.ca

Wayne Ricketts:

Steel City Riders MC www.steelcityriders.ca Albert Beamer: 905 772 5516

Thames Valley Riders www.tvrmx.com

Welland County Motorcycle Club Inc.

DIRT B IKE SCHOOLS AND T RAINING F ACILITES Ganaraska Trail Tours & School: www.trailtour.com Canadian Motorcycle Training: Tracks Offroad :

2

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

www.cmts.org

www.tracksoffroad.ca

31

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

a slow moving bike with their eyes up, stop it using the brakes, and hold it up, then try the engine. Starting the engine is easier for them if

Table of Contents

you have warmed it up.

Riding Groups and Clubs in Ontario Ausable River Riders www.Ausableriverriders.com

Tyson Howarth: 519 898 5346

Blue Sky Riders www.blueskyriders.com

Doug Bies:

Bytown Motorcycle Association www.bytown-motorcycle-assoc.ca Woody Percival: 613 267 6861

Erie Ramblers Motorcycle Club www.erieramblers.tripod.com

John Bartel:

Great Pine Trail Riders www.greatpinetrailriders.com

Paul Mooney: 905 697 3646

Haliburton Highlands Trail Riders www.hhtra.ca

Ken Hoeverman: 705 447 3110

4 6 10 12 14 18 24 26 282930 31 -

The legality of it all The sport of motorcycling The right tool for the job Women in trail riding Trail etiquette Tips, tricks and accepted practices Get involved Children and motorcycles Forming a motorcycle club Where to ride your dirt bike Riding group/club contacts Motorcycle Training

Halton Off Road Riders Association www.horra.ca

Tim Middlehurst - 519-942-0633

Huron Recreational Riders Association www.hrrasarnia.com/hrra

Tom Schleihauf - 519-542-7680

KW Cyclesport Association www.kwcyclesport.ca

Steve Topham: 519 742 7294

Lakeshore Dirt Riders www.ldrmc.ca

This booklet, edition # 3, is edited and authorized for print by the original editors and writers; Warren Thaxter, Rick Currah, Meg Thorburn, Clinton Smout and Ken Gardner. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily the opinions of the OFTR or the sponsors of the booklet.

Dan Holmes

Lynn Valley Dirt Riders www.execulink.com

Doug Kent - 519-582-1074 30

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

3

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” 

THE LEGALITY OF IT ALL. By Warren Thaxter

In Ontario we have a set of laws called the Off-Road Vehicle Act. Copies of the Off-Road Vehicle Handbook are available for about $8.00 from the MTO office where you buy your license plates. This act or law governs off road motorcycles, three and four wheel ATVs and dune buggies. Powered wheel chairs are exempt but might not be if they are powered by a performance two-stroke engine and equipped with knobby tires. The act is specific in that every vehicle must be registered and carry a license plate if it is to be used other than the registered owners property. The license plate is the green one, costs $35.00, attaches to

How to start your own club:  Find some riders that have a common interest  Get them communicating in some fashion (Internet is easiest) Get a consensus on what your goals are and just how much you want to develop your new club  Elect (or appoint) an executive to operate the club. If you want it to last more than one season, your going to need help.  Get financial support from an umbrella group to help get you going. We got help from OFTR to fund our first trail repair, which helped set us up as contenders within the Ganaraska Forest.  Delegate. Try and do it all on your own and you will burn out.  Sell your club; get out to bike shows, swap meets, etc and setup a table to show off your club, so you can build membership.  Talk to other clubs and let them know who you are, and what your about  Never, never, never forget what your goals; Stay focused  Lastly, ride lots and have fun! I truly enjoyed helping found the GPTR. It is a small club, but one with a strong voice.

Where to ride your dirt bike ; by Warren Thaxter

Although Ontario is a very large province with thousands of kilometres of forest road, back road and trail scattered throughout, at this time there is no comprehensive catalogue of available trails or trail networks. Don’t despair though, because we do have an abundance of dirt oriented motorcycle clubs in Ontario and all of them can suggest and guide a novice to acceptable places to ride. Some clubs actually own their own property, some have agreements to use public land and most all of the clubs promote riding events for club members and the public at large.

4

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

29

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

Practice moving very short distances so the child has a chance to master the throttle while still practicing the skills they learned while you were pushing them. Gradually back up (you are always in front of them) and have them ride towards you. Learning in small steps instils confidence, promotes efficiency and safety. Safety: Make sure the area is safe. Stopping the engine should always be with the engine kill switch and then the ignition key if there is one. They will go where they look. Try and minimize distractions and don’t yell out instructions as they ride past. Fun! Set easy to attain goals, keep your patience and sense of humour, watch for fatigue and frustration and let them ride.

B UILDING AN OFF ROAD CLUB

the front of the vehicle and does not require a yearly renewal sticker. At this time it’s not necessary to have any kind of operators permit or license to ride a bike or ATV offroad. To operate a motorcycle on the street, or a dirt road, an M, M2 or M1 endorsement is mandatory. The next requirement is insurance, which is also mandatory when the vehicle leaves the registered owners property. The basic insurance requirements are Third Party PL & PD, and costs will vary

ass on private Do not tresp e on e xisting property. Rid trails.

significantly from company to company. Some insurance companies will not even offer such a policy. Many agents want you to bring all your other insurance requirements to them before they will sell the Offroad Policy. Primmum, through the MMIC offers reasonable, stand alone insurance rates for off-road vehicles. State Farm is an-

By Ken Gardner The concept and development of the Great Pine Trail Riders.

other company which offers decent rates for these vehicles. The best option is to ask, and shop around.

In 2002 a small group of recreational off road riders in Durham Region decided to form a non competitive club to support Off Road Motorcycle use within the Ganaraska Forest. Our goals were to encourage families

I wonder how many people realize the penalty for operating a vehicle without insurance is presently $5000.00. This is not a misprint. The fine is equal to the price of a good used motorcycle. An

to come out and ride, to educate all forest users on proper behavior within the forest, to preserve and enhance the dirt bike image within the

exception to the license plate and insurance rule is, if the owner belongs to an organization and engages in sanctioned, closed course

community by being ambassadors of our sport, to maintain and improve the trail network and create a strong working relationship with the Forest Authority.

competition, (motocross / hare scrambles) This however doesn’t allow the owner to use the vehicle except at that sanctioned event. Some offroad or dual sport motorcycles carry street plates and are

To date, we have achieved our goals, and continue to build on this foundation.

then automatically governed by the Highway Traffic Act. When possible a motorcycle should be licensed in this manner as it opens doors

Was it easy? Yes….and no. Volunteers have to give up a lot of personal time, which is difficult in today’s society. Was it worth it? Was it satisfying? “Yes!”

to a lot of country that a rider with a strictly offroad plate couldn’t legally encounter.

28

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

5

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”! If you have ever been to an enduro competition you will have seen street plates on a lot of questionable bikes, and may have wondered how this was possible. It is a grey area which some riders and dealers are willing to take advantage of. It requires a bike to be upgraded to receive a ‘Safety Certificate’ and requires such things as lights, brake lights, mirror, horn, road legal tires, etc. Contrary to popular belief knobby tires are not necessarily illegal for road use. Most tire companies offer a line of knobby tires with a DOT number. These tires often appear identical to tires which bear the words ‘Not For Highway Use’ but can be considered street legal. Although there is a general reluctance to register used bikes, mostly in an effort to save on the sales tax, it’s actually a good idea as an ownership certificate is absolute proof of ownership

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” they comfortably reach the ground? Are they physically and emotionally mature enough? Children often have a ‘no fear’ attitude which can enhance the learning curve, but sometimes parents must fill in the missing caution filter for better safety. What should they ride? UIE T! r bike Q roun d! u yo ep Ke or e g A child’s first bike should have mild nd = M e ss sou L power delivery and a speed governing device (throttle or exhaust). A minibike or motorcycle designed for racing will have a much steeper learning curve. Where should they ride? Check with dealerships, associations and clubs for safe, legal locations. The area should be relatively flat, without challenging terrain. Field with short grass is ideal, but check for gopher holes, rocks or any hidden obstacles. What should they wear?

THE SPORT OF MOTORCYCLING

The most important item to buy is a full face helmet (fitted by a profes-

By Warren Thaxter

Being a spectator at a motorcycle race can be a very enjoyable experience, but like going to a movie, there are many flavors of motorcycle activity. Following is a brief description of motorcycle activities which a person might find in Ontario.

sional). Other gear needs are goggles, elbow pads, jersey, knee pads, gloves, full length pants, and sturdy, above-the-ankle boots. The smallest motocross boots may be too tall for the young rider’s legs. If the boots cover and limit the knee’s rotation, then a strong hiking boot would be better. Please, no running shoes! Children grow fast and the proper gear is expensive, but buying big to economize is dumb. The proper fit is important for their performance and safety. Teaching your child to ride:

Motocross Racing: Motocross uses a special high performance, one-dimensional type of motorcycle which is specially designed for

You may be a great rider, but the worst instructor for your own children. If you are determined to teach your own, then please, consider the

this activity. The course or track used is in an open area and is comprised of jumps, bumps, hills and turns. The course is usually about

KISSF principal. Keep It Safe, Simple, Safe and Fun!

10 miters wide and a kilometer or so in length and may loop back and 6

Join O.F.T.R…...

Simple: Explain how to put the brakes on, proper body positioning and keeping the eyes up. Practice on a stationary bike without it running. The next step is to push the child slowly in a straight …..www.oftr.ca 27 line. Once they can balance

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”! the saddle and clear trail or run a checkpoint. Ride the sweep position

ordin g s only acc il tra e s U es inrm itted us t o t h e pe s ar e om e trail dicated. S . season al

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” forth in a small area of property. The course is defined with wooden stakes and caution ribbon or straw bales. Motocross tracks are usually

or shepherd the novice group on a trail ride. The only way this sport will evolve and mature is through orga-

located on rough hilly agriculture land which is too rough to cultivate. Occasionally temporary tracks are built inside stadiums or arenas and the sport is then called, Super Cross. These types of tracks offer ex-

nizing. Many of us look at the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) with awe. The Sledders have a trail system and organ-

cellent spectating as the entire track can be seen from one location.

izational machine that is the envy of other motorized groups. They deserve our respect. Snowmobilers realized in the early days, the benefits of forming a provincial body to govern and guide their

petitor who can circumvent the course quickest is the winner.

sport’s future. Every fall, thousands of enthusiasts lay down their cash for an annual trail pass. No hard sell by the OFSC and no grumbling by the members. It is a recognized fact of life for a snowmobiler that to enjoy the trail system you must belong to a club and buy a pass. This mindset and the resulting success did not happen overnight. Our struggle to survive into the 21st Century will be easier when all off road motorcyclists realize the necessity of joining a club and applying themselves to the promotion and preservation of the sport. I can make you a promise. Get involved with an active club for one year and you will not regret the time given. You will enjoy yourself and feel good about the group contribution made. You will renew the second year.

CHILDREN AND MOTORCYCLES By Clinton Smout I started riding thirty five years ago on a friend’s minibike. His in-

n Re spect

ature

Motocross is most certainly a race. The comHare Scramble: Hare Scramble is a cross-country type of event encompassing every type of obstacle available such as hills, trees, rocks, logs, streams and jumps. This event is always in a wooded or bush lot area. The course is a single track of about a meters in width and 2 to 10 kilometers in length. This event has a usual duration of 2 hours. Whoever completes the most laps in the given time wins. The machinery used for this event is enduro or pleasure/trail riding motorcycles, motocross bikes and dual purpose motorcycles. Spectating at a hare scramble takes some effort and usually requires walking part of the course. Enduro: A motorcycle enduro is a competition event but it is not a race! Enduro is a timed event similar to a rally using terrain similar to Hare Scramble. The object is to circumvent a secret course, usually 100 -160 kilometers in length, at a predetermined speed schedule.

structions were, “just give her”. Well, that worked, but there is a better way.

Traveling faster (early) carries a penalty 5 times greater than traveling slow (late). The winner of this event is not determined by top speed but is the competitor who is assigned the least number of infractions

Is your child ready to ride?

or points.

Can they ride a two wheeled bicycle (without training wheels)? Can 26 Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

7

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

Enduro uses legally licensed motorcycles and traverse some public roads to go from section to section. The speed on road sections

lapse. Slowly, I met fellow riders, who like me, love riding aimlessly through the woods. Chumming around these riders re-

is much lower than the speed limit, usually 36 kilometers per hour. The machinery used for enduro is the enduro bike, pleasure/trail riding bike or the dual sport type of street bike.

sulted in me joining the OFTR. What I have coh ol or Do not use any Al learned and experienced through my ino ride. Drugs if you plan t volvement, has been more than worth the

Spectating at an enduro is usually limited to visiting fuel stops but some organizers provide directions to spectator points.

annual dues. Individuals can be passionate but achieve little. Many

Motorcycle Trial: A trial is a motorcycle contest which is absolutely not a race or speed contest. Trials is sometimes referred to as, ‘ballet on wheels’. A trial is a contest of balance, ability, timing and fitness. The course is similar to hare scramble but the optimum area would include very large rocks and boulders, ledges and near vertical

riders can work together and realize their goals. A club can host an event and raise funds for charity or the rental of riding land. New members can learn riding and maintenance tips from the veterans. Gear and machines can be traded between members and travel accommodations shared.

rock walls of which riders ride over and around. Machinery used for this type of event are quite specialized but of low performance and

Club Representatives can be sent to municipal and provincial government to protest unfair laws and legislation. Clubs can be selfpolicing. Peer pressure can modify the behaviour of unruly members

very quiet. The applause of spectators is usually louder than the motorcycles.

who antagonize authorities and land owners. It is puzzling why some riders are reluctant to join a club. Per-

Flat Track Racing: Flat Track racing requires an oval dirt track which is similarly used for horse racing. This type of racing often accompanies country fairs. The machinery is very high performance, usually hand built and one dimensional. Viewing is usually done from a grandstand from which the entire track can be seen. The noise and high speed activity make this form of racing very exciting. Ice Racing: As the name implies this is a contest of speed on a twisty or oval course on a frozen lake or pond. The machinery used ranges from the pleasure trail bike to the high performance flat track bike and includes motocross bikes. The weather is the limiting factor to enjoy8

Join O.F.T.R…...

haps, they feel an organization would cramp their style and infringe on their riding time by insisting on participation in club activities. My reply to that is to imagine all the free time they will have when the riding areas are off-limits because no large group protested illconceived land closures. It is not just enough to join a club. Be willingly involved in the activities and recruit new riders to the cause. Volunteer for committee positions or become a director. While it may seem life is hectic already, it is time everyone gives to the sport they enjoy. We all have to earn our keep. Riders who freeload off others quickly get a bad reputation and rightly so. If you are one of those riders who always ride the events and never work one in return, you are losing out. Get off …..www.oftr.ca

25

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

pass and slow to the speed of the lower value and get straightened up and collected and then increase the speed back to the original value and motor on down the trail. Read the Manual. All of the little technical facts you would like to know about your motorcycle; things such as how much oil does the gear-box hold, what weight of fork oil should you use, what should the chain tension be, are all printed in a booklet titled, “Owners Manual.” Read it! Maybe read it twice. If you purchased a used motorcycle and didn’t get the manual, scoot down to your dealer and order one. If you are buying a used bike, insist that the owners manual and tool kit be included, or knock a hundred dollars off of the price. The manual and tool kit will usually be produced when there is some value attached.

GET INVOLVED By Rick Currah

Speedway Racing: This is a very specialized form of flat track racing and uses specialty-built motorcycles with high powered engines in lightweight frames and no brakes. Speedway is a very exciting form of racing. Road Racing: Road racing is a speed contest with a specially prepared street motorcycle. This type of racing requires a paved surface such as found in airports, parking lots and temporarily closed streets of a town or city. Drag Racing: Motorcycle drag racing is usually held in conjunction with automobile drag racing. Drag racing is preformed on a straight, smooth and level strip of pavement usually 1/4 mile in length. This is simply an acceleration contest between two competitors at a time. The fastest competitor from each race moves on to the next competitor etc.

I left trail riding in the late seventies, caught in the scramble to establish myself in career and marriage. I returned in 1990 to find a sport that has not matured. Land has been lost due to urban growth and questionable court decisions. Legal issues have every landowner quaking in their boots and the sale of NO TRESPASSING signs has never been better. I was fairly shocked. I knew things were tough but I had no idea it was so bad. The closest legal riding area was over an hour from home. Looking for a support group to aid me in my quest for knowledge and riding areas, I joined a club. It was heavily focused on competition and since I am not a racer, after a year I let my membership 24

ing this type of motorcycle racing.

Join O.F.T.R…...

Trail Riding: Trail riding on a motorcycle is no different than doing so on a horse or mountain bicycle. Trail riding is done all over the province wherever trails are found. In Ontario we are very fortunate to have a sponsored series of organized trail rides which consists of more than a dozen organized events across the province each year. Trail riding is done with pleasure/trail bikes or dual sport motorcycles and are not races. Learning: In order to speed up the learning process many affiliated clubs offer rider training and Ontario has three commercial trail riding schools. (See page # 31) …..www.oftr.ca

9

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB. By Warren Thaxter

First time trail bike buyers almost always ask, "What’s the best bike to buy? This question is like asking which flavor of ice cream is best. Even asking which is the most popular, is somewhat misleading. Vanilla in the case of ice cream, and motocross in the case of motorcycles are unquestionably the most popular. A quick check of for-sale ads always show an abundance of MX bikes for sale. Does this mean motocross bikes are best? No, it just means there

12 PSI to keep from getting punctures. Keep it clean. Who said cleanliness was next to godliness? We don’t know either, but we do know the value of keeping a dirt bike clean. When cleaning your bike loose fittings are noted before they are lost. Bent or damaged components are observed and can be straightened or replaced before they wear out something even more expensive. There are many techniques to wash a bike and laying the bike on it’s side to get at the underside is a common practice. If you don’t agree with laying your bike on it’s side as part of the wash cycle, then lay it down after you think it is clean and take a look. End of subject. Passing riders Unless you are absolutely the slowest trail rider in the country it's

are more of them on the market. Motocross motor-

inevitable that you will at times overtake other riders. The very fact that you have overcome another rider on the trail should be proof that

cycles are extremely well de-

you are travelling at a quicker pace. Some interesting things often occur in this situation though. The slower rider may speed-up in an effort to not impede the catching rider which, impedes the catching

veloped and finely tuned pieces of racing machinery.

rider! The quicker rider often errs as well. If the slower rider is travel-

With the enormous amount of

ing at a value of 10 and the catching rider is going a value of 11 the catching rider will often increase his speed to 12 as soon as the pass is completed only to crash or run off the trail within seconds. The posi-

time and money needed to develop them it is there-

tive thing here is that the quicker rider will probably get another chance to practice his passing after he has extracted himself from the

fore necessary to sell large numbers

topography. A more sensible way might be for the quicker rider make the 10

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

23

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

cause of big wheels dirt bikes can traverse big obstacles with relative ease, though if the front wheel is allowed to wander, all is lost. Getting moving in rocky terrain is very, very difficult and it is usually much easier to exert maximum effort to keep moving in the first place. Dabbing with your feet may help to maintain balance and maintain forward motion but standing on the pegs is better is usually better. Find the center. Modern dirt bikes are quite light and a riders gross weight has a lot of influence on how, where and when the bike responds. A riders weight should be in the exact centre of the motorcycle and all input should be from there. The exact centre by the way, is at the foot pegs, so when a rider is standing their weight is centred. When a rider is seated the weight is not centred. Watch any good dirt rider or racer and you will see that they spend most of their time in a standing position. From this position all movement has an effect on the motorcycle. From this position, slightly lifting the right foot loads the left and immediately steers the bike left. Lift the other foot and the opposite happens. Leaning backward loads the rear wheel and leaning forward loads the front and unloads the rear wheel. Sitting down and forward just before a turn loads the front tire and increases traction. This also compresses the forks which changes the geometry somewhat and increases steering input. Loading the outside foot peg on a tight turn helps keep the wheels planted and discourages the bike from sliding out or low-siding. Tire pressure Dirt bike tires operate on relatively low air pressures. Sand terrain is easier negotiated with low pressures of 6 to 10 PSI. For harder terrain 10 to 12 PSI is required and rocky terrain requires more than

to cover the cost of retooling each year. If motocross bikes were only sold to motocross racers there would only be a need for about 1/4 as many as there are and the cost to purchase one would be astronomical. Buying the wrong bike just because it was super cheap or because there was an abundance of them on the market, is poor thinking. Ex pect a

nd Respect oth ers who have t he rig the tra ils. Be ht to b e o n co urt eous to others.

In Ontario I would guess we

might have at most, a few dozen riders who can actually ride a motocross motorcycle to its full potential in the woods.

For everyone else you're just slipping your clutch and would ride 100% better and enjoy the sport more with a more appropriate bike. Even reasonably good riders find that to ride an MX bike on the trails requires so much attention, that some of the enjoyment of the ride is lost. Why MX bikes do not make good trail bikes! Motocross bikes have close ratio gear boxes, designed for keeping the engine revs at or near the point of peak horsepower, which is not so good though for finding optimum traction under stringent conditions often found when trail riding. Motocross bikes have small gas tanks, no side stands, no electrical output so no lights, no spark arresters and usually loud exhaust, minimal fender coverage and extremely stiff suspension. Motocross bikes have close-ratio transmissions which don't allow a bike to be ridden really slow without a lot of clutch slipping. In Close-ratio gear sets, high gear is very low and fast trails or forest roads must be ridden at an engine speed that vibrates your fillings loose. Motocross bikes have 19” rear wheels which are more susceptible to flat tires in rocky conditions. They just weren't designed

22

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

11

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

for sustained travel at these speeds.

ally builds a berm or windrow of loose sand. When the berm becomes great enough the wheel will respond immediately. The only trick to

WOMEN IN TRAIL RIDING, By Meg Thorburn

There are some wonderfully fast and tough women in off-road

steering in loose sand is to learn that soon after a negative no-traction situation, there will be a strong opposing positive action. Being ready for and harnessing the positive action will allow a person to steer in loose sand with ease. Again, this will become a learned process.

n, pa ck u pa ck i eave t he yo r ve te W ha and l ot litter d it. out. Do n r than yo u fou n te et b place

motorcycling. And then there’s the rest of us. Chances are, if you’re a woman rider, you didn’t pick up the sport from your teenage buddies. If you’re lucky, your Dad got you started. Most of us got introduced

The secret to straight line stability in loose sand is to use a ‘leading throttle’. When the twist grip is turned to a

to dirt biking by our male partners, well past the age of fearlessness (if we ever had it).

point where all slack in the throttle cable and throttle slide is used. The entire drive-line is tight and the bike is almost, but not quite, ac-

I love this sport. And I work hard at it. So do several of my girlfriends. But most of us just don’t get better nearly as quickly as the guys do. For a

celerating. This is a leading throttle and everything from the twist-grip to the ground is positive. If the twist-grip is turned off, even for a sec-

long time, I found this really frustrat-

ond, everything from there to the ground is upset. All of the positive forces are now negated and the bike will feel unhinged. The force

ing. Finally I accepted it, but I kept wondering why.

which was driving the wheels forward are now actually dragging everything backwards. This is a trailing throttle. To maintain a leading throttle sometimes it is desirable to drag the rear brake slightly. The

Then one day, I was standing in my

next time you are out for a ride try it, even on solid terrain the effect can be felt.

driveway, working on my bike, when several 7 or 8-

Rocks People who learn to ride in very rocky terrain quickly become good riders or quit the sport. The same might be said for any difficult

year-old boys happened by on their

terrain though. Riders beginning to ride in easier terrain have some difficulty when first encountering more difficult topography. Rock

bicycles. They weren’t headed anywhere; they

riding requires concentration, perseverance, momentum and the ability to look far ahead, pick lines and not deviate from those lines. Be12

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

21

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

very quickly and equipment failures such as a flat tire can really spoil your day. Plan ahead and carry enough tools to be able to do rudimen-

were just playing around on their bikes - popping wheelies, jumping on and off the curbs, spinning around. They built a big ramp and

tary trail maintenance. A simple tool kit can be stowed on the rear fender or carried by the rider in a fanny pack. Walking home isn’t much fun!

jumped over it repeatedly, often crashing. During this, a couple of little girls also rode by on their bicycles, on the sidewalk, looking straight ahead, going to some destination. “That’s it”, I realized. Lit-

Know your bikes limits Know how far your bike can go on a full tank of fuel. Dirt bikes

tle boys have fun taking physical chances. Teenage boys have fun

les few other vehic Rememb er t hat s, so ike s b le a rab are as maneuve . oom of r ts rs lo give o the

are not equipped with fuel gauges so a rider must mentally monitor the fuel usage. Many bikes have a reserve feature on the petcock but this is not an auxiliary fuel tank. It is simply a warning that some time

taking physical chances. Imagine the kind of hand-eye coordination, the quick reflexes they’ve learned by the time

in the near future your carburetor will be sucking wind and the rider will either be pushing or begging someone for fuel.

puberty hits, and neural networks start slowly settling into fixed patterns.

Take a brake Learn to use the front brake as well as the rear. Many novice riders are afraid that using the front brake will get them into trouble.

Well, there’s not much I can do about that. I realize that I have a certain clumsiness and level of fear that I will never overcome - and that slows me down. But I learned a more important lesson from

Well, yes it can, but the front brake will also stop the bike in a fraction of the distance of the rear brake alone and the reason for having

those boys that day - MAKE IT FUN! Don’t say “I can’t do that” (that = get up that slippery hill, get down that slimy cliff, ride

brakes in the first place is to, stop. Use only one or two fingers on the front brake lever and always apply the brake smoothly. Grabbing a handful of front brake will surely be a cause of grief.

over that pile of boulders, clear that gigantic log, get through that stinking mud bog, cross that rushing river, etc., etc.). How do you know if you haven’t tried? At least go for it, and go for it with a big

Riding in Sand Riding in wet sand is pure nirvana with nearly positive and pre-

grin, yelling “Yahoo”! So here’s some important tips for my fellow female riders:

dictable traction, a rider seems to be connected to the ground. Steering braking and acceleration is so positive and predictable as to instil confidence. Take away the moisture and sand can become very diffi-

1. Learn to love obstacles. 2. Learn how to do at least basic maintenance on your bike (I know, I know - most of us didn’t grow up tinkering - but it’s really

cult. Loose dry sand offers almost no traction. Steering input to the front wheel will at first have no influence and then way too much in-

straightforward to change a spark plug, change your oil, clean your air filter, change a tire - reluctance is the enemy of learning).

fluence as the front wheel jackknives and creates severe over-steer. What actually happens is when the front wheel is turned the tire actu-

3. Always carry a basic tool kit when you ride. 4. Carry some treats when you ride, in case somebody else ends

20

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

13

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

up using your tool kit to fix your bike. 5. Join an off-road motorcycling club.

of the rear wheel relieves pressure on the transmission gears and the shift lever easily snicks downward and the lower gear is found. Not

6. If it’s a male partner who’s introduced you to this sport, try, for the sake of your relationship, to get his friends - not him - to teach you to ride.

knowing which gear the transmission was in necessitates doing this exercise until no more lower gears can be found. At this time a small amount of upward pressure is applied to the shift lever while the bike

7. Find a female riding buddy; go out and ride without the guys as much as you can.

is again jiggled forward or backward and t an d ear a h elme the transmission should snick into neuAlways w e off ak (T ety gea r. af r s he ot o tral. Neutral is confirmed when the f y ou talk t ur h elmet i yo clutch is released and the bike can be som eo ne) easily moved a couple of inches forward

8. Until you feel competent, ride the lowest (and calmest) bike you can. Lower the bike if necessary. Slide up the front forks and add a lowering link or a spacer to the rear suspension. 9. Ride every organized trail ride you can.

with no engine drag. Learn to start

10. Try an enduro. 11. If you’re not already doing so, exercise regularly and get stronger.

Sounds easy but again practice is needed to smoothly achieve this act. Revving the engine to half throttle and dumping the clutch will get one moving forward but unless it’s a racing situation, this

12. Ride responsibly and always remember - you ride because it’s FUN!

tends to make a person look like a dork. A more civilized way to start is to ease out the clutch until partial clutch engagement tries to move

See you on the trails!

the bike forward. At this time more throttle can be smoothly applied while the clutch lever is slowly but fully released. Smooth starts are a sign of an accomplished rider. Jackrabbit starts accent the fact that the

TRAIL ETIQUETTE By Rick Currah

Whether a novice or experienced rider, you should realize that from the moment you are seen with your motorcycle, you are an Ambassador Of The Sport. How the general public and the authorities judge you is how the sport is perceived. This can begin with the transporting of yourself and your bike to the riding area. Reckless behavior on the road will lead others to assume an attitude of uncaring indifference or worse, hostile disapproval. Ensure that your bike and 14

Join O.F.T.R…...

rider is beginner. Park it An accomplished rider will usually snick the transmission into neutral as they come to a stop and unless the bike is being parked on an incline, it is an accepted practice to leave the bike in neutral. Trail bikes, by the way, are equipped with side stands allowing them to be parked anywhere. Plan for a breakdown. Modern trail bikes can get a person far away from civilization …..www.oftr.ca

19

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

your engine to gain their attention. Even when the front rider acknowledges your intent to pass, wait for a safe area to do so. Accelerate evenly while passing them and avoid displays of horsepower. No one appreciates a helmet full of dirt and a barrage of rocks. Should faster riders approach from behind, ride off the trail when possible or signal them (with a wave of your left hand) that it is safe to pass you outside the trail. Unnecessary speed on two-track trails and forest access roads is very dangerous both to you and other forest users. It also sends a very negative image of the sport and those who participate. The main roads large enough for automotive traffic should be avoided if at all possible. You have purchased a TRAIL BIKE.

TIPS , TRICKS AND ACCEPTED PRACTICES.

N

By Warren Thaxter

eutral First! Finding neutral is a practice, which like most of motorcycling, must be learned. With modern electric start motorcycles being able to easily find neutral isn’t as important as it is with manual start engines, though having the transmission in neutral eliminates clutch drag and allows the bike to be started or easily moved. The shift pattern on all modern motorcycles is the same; first gear is found moving the shift lever down and the rest of the gears are found by moving the shift lever up. Neutral is located between 1st gear and 2nd gear. Finding neutral can be achieved by stomping the shift lever down repeatedly and then moving the lever up a half notch. A more humane system for finding neutral is to pull in the clutch, apply some gentle down pressure on the shift lever while

gear are secure and trailers (if used) have the full compliment of working signal lights and fenders. Follow The Rules If an area is off-limits to mechanized traffic, then obey the authorities. Never ride on private land without permission. Upon reaching the riding area, park your vehicle in such a manner as to prevent blocking the road a lot of Other groups do espect g-r or trail. It is not advised to park close to trail groomin rts effo their a trailhead. Riders exiting a trail, unaware of your vehicles presence, may collide with it. License it. License and insure your bike and carry proof of such. Buy a forest membership if necessary and proudly display it on your vehicle. Park in the designated area, camp and only light fires if allowed. If you smoke, be careful with your cigarette butts. During the dry summer fire season, the forest floor is a tinderbox of needles and brush. A carelessly tossed butt could spark a firestorm that would endanger life and destroy property. The best solution is to leave your smokes at your base and remove the threat altogether. Keep a neat base camp. Do not litter or exhibit loud behavior. Do not “pit-race” about the lot or on adjacent side roads. If other forest users are lunching, it is a good idea to exchange greetings and start you machines after you have pushed them away from the immediate area. Upon returning, kill your engine and coast into the lot. Noise is our biggest enemy. Keep your bike exhaust quiet and maintain the packing in all silencers. More noise does not always equal more power.

physically moving the bike forward or backward an inch. Movement 18

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

15

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

Respect all Forest Users and Wildlife This cannot be emphasized enough. Hikers and mountain bikers

tools, even if you are not mechanically minded. A fanny pack or fender bag will hold what is needed to solve most trailside repairs and

should be approached slowly, safely and courteously. Those who would bar us from the forests would like nothing better than the sight of a motorcyclist roosting hikers and bikers, chasing deer, spooking

turn a ride -stopping mishap into nothing to worry about. Experienced riders will be more willing to assist you in repairs IF they see you have made an attempt to equip yourself. Do not leave home with a

equestrians or farm animals. Horses are simple-minded creatures, which will throw a rider or rear up when scared by movement or noise. SHUT OFF ALL MACHINES when approaching horses and coast off the trail. Exchange greetings in a low tone of voice and be polite. Remove your helmet slowly and the horse will recognize you

bike in questionable repair. In the old days a all legislation, rider could shoot and eat his horse if C om ply w ith urance bylaws and ins necessary. Motorcycles that quit far requirem en ts from the parking lot are very difficult to extract from the trail. Carry a towrope at all

as human. Allow the equestrians to clear the area BEFORE starting your bike. Horses do not come equipped with kill switches and are to

times. Use it to tow a disabled machine or pull bikes up difficult slopes.

be treated with respect as you would any large, powerful animal. Respect the Environment While this may seem impossible, it is not. Always keep on the

Do not ride alone. Whether you are a novice or an experienced rider, always ride with a companion. A simple fall or breakdown can result in injury and a long hike out. It is at times like that, that a help-

trails and avoid marshes and water crossings if possible. Churning a creek bed into loose mud will kill aquatic life and marshes are the

ing hand is appreciated. The fastest riders should lead and the slowest riders bring up the tail. A novice riding ahead of a faster rider will

homes to countless fragile creatures. The damage takes a long time for nature to repair (if ever) and is evident for others to see and report. Watch an experienced rider approach these areas and note that he will

only feel pressured into riding too hard for their abilities and the faster rider will forever run too close to the novice and spoiling both their rides. Each rider has a rhythm, a flow to his or her acceleration and

seek firm, high ground and avoid wheel-spin if at all possible. They are conserving energy, machinery and nature.

braking. Once familiar with your companion’s rhythm, you should place everyone on the trail accordingly.

Dress in the Appropriate Clothing. Always wear a helmet, gloves, goggles and sturdy boots. Loose clothing has a bad habit of catching on moving sprockets and the foli-

At all trail intersections, the lead rider should stop and let the followers regroup. This way, no one is left behind due to injury or mechanical breakdown. Allow the last rider a few minutes to catch

age. Wear fabrics that breathe well and stay warm when wet. Carry water at all times. In this sport, one can dehydrate quickly, regardless

their breath before proceeding. It may slow down the day but a rider who crashes due to exhaustion will ruin the day also. When participat-

of the season. Heat stroke or heat prostration is very real threats. Learn the symptoms and how to treat them. Carry a small variety of

ing in organized rides, observe proper procedure when passing others. Approach the rider ahead with caution. Shout out, “HELLO!” or rev

16

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

17

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

Respect all Forest Users and Wildlife This cannot be emphasized enough. Hikers and mountain bikers

tools, even if you are not mechanically minded. A fanny pack or fender bag will hold what is needed to solve most trailside repairs and

should be approached slowly, safely and courteously. Those who would bar us from the forests would like nothing better than the sight of a motorcyclist roosting hikers and bikers, chasing deer, spooking

turn a ride -stopping mishap into nothing to worry about. Experienced riders will be more willing to assist you in repairs IF they see you have made an attempt to equip yourself. Do not leave home with a

equestrians or farm animals. Horses are simple-minded creatures, which will throw a rider or rear up when scared by movement or noise. SHUT OFF ALL MACHINES when approaching horses and coast off the trail. Exchange greetings in a low tone of voice and be polite. Remove your helmet slowly and the horse will recognize you

bike in questionable repair. In the old days a all legislation, rider could shoot and eat his horse if C om ply w ith urance bylaws and ins necessary. Motorcycles that quit far requirem en ts from the parking lot are very difficult to extract from the trail. Carry a towrope at all

as human. Allow the equestrians to clear the area BEFORE starting your bike. Horses do not come equipped with kill switches and are to

times. Use it to tow a disabled machine or pull bikes up difficult slopes.

be treated with respect as you would any large, powerful animal. Respect the Environment While this may seem impossible, it is not. Always keep on the

Do not ride alone. Whether you are a novice or an experienced rider, always ride with a companion. A simple fall or breakdown can result in injury and a long hike out. It is at times like that, that a help-

trails and avoid marshes and water crossings if possible. Churning a creek bed into loose mud will kill aquatic life and marshes are the

ing hand is appreciated. The fastest riders should lead and the slowest riders bring up the tail. A novice riding ahead of a faster rider will

homes to countless fragile creatures. The damage takes a long time for nature to repair (if ever) and is evident for others to see and report. Watch an experienced rider approach these areas and note that he will

only feel pressured into riding too hard for their abilities and the faster rider will forever run too close to the novice and spoiling both their rides. Each rider has a rhythm, a flow to his or her acceleration and

seek firm, high ground and avoid wheel-spin if at all possible. They are conserving energy, machinery and nature.

braking. Once familiar with your companion’s rhythm, you should place everyone on the trail accordingly.

Dress in the Appropriate Clothing. Always wear a helmet, gloves, goggles and sturdy boots. Loose clothing has a bad habit of catching on moving sprockets and the foli-

At all trail intersections, the lead rider should stop and let the followers regroup. This way, no one is left behind due to injury or mechanical breakdown. Allow the last rider a few minutes to catch

age. Wear fabrics that breathe well and stay warm when wet. Carry water at all times. In this sport, one can dehydrate quickly, regardless

their breath before proceeding. It may slow down the day but a rider who crashes due to exhaustion will ruin the day also. When participat-

of the season. Heat stroke or heat prostration is very real threats. Learn the symptoms and how to treat them. Carry a small variety of

ing in organized rides, observe proper procedure when passing others. Approach the rider ahead with caution. Shout out, “HELLO!” or rev

16

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

17

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

your engine to gain their attention. Even when the front rider acknowledges your intent to pass, wait for a safe area to do so. Accelerate evenly while passing them and avoid displays of horsepower. No one appreciates a helmet full of dirt and a barrage of rocks. Should faster riders approach from behind, ride off the trail when possible or signal them (with a wave of your left hand) that it is safe to pass you outside the trail. Unnecessary speed on two-track trails and forest access roads is very dangerous both to you and other forest users. It also sends a very negative image of the sport and those who participate. The main roads large enough for automotive traffic should be avoided if at all possible. You have purchased a TRAIL BIKE.

TIPS , TRICKS AND ACCEPTED PRACTICES.

N

By Warren Thaxter

eutral First! Finding neutral is a practice, which like most of motorcycling, must be learned. With modern electric start motorcycles being able to easily find neutral isn’t as important as it is with manual start engines, though having the transmission in neutral eliminates clutch drag and allows the bike to be started or easily moved. The shift pattern on all modern motorcycles is the same; first gear is found moving the shift lever down and the rest of the gears are found by moving the shift lever up. Neutral is located between 1st gear and 2nd gear. Finding neutral can be achieved by stomping the shift lever down repeatedly and then moving the lever up a half notch. A more humane system for finding neutral is to pull in the clutch, apply some gentle down pressure on the shift lever while

gear are secure and trailers (if used) have the full compliment of working signal lights and fenders. Follow The Rules If an area is off-limits to mechanized traffic, then obey the authorities. Never ride on private land without permission. Upon reaching the riding area, park your vehicle in such a manner as to prevent blocking the road a lot of Other groups do espect g-r or trail. It is not advised to park close to trail groomin rts effo their a trailhead. Riders exiting a trail, unaware of your vehicles presence, may collide with it. License it. License and insure your bike and carry proof of such. Buy a forest membership if necessary and proudly display it on your vehicle. Park in the designated area, camp and only light fires if allowed. If you smoke, be careful with your cigarette butts. During the dry summer fire season, the forest floor is a tinderbox of needles and brush. A carelessly tossed butt could spark a firestorm that would endanger life and destroy property. The best solution is to leave your smokes at your base and remove the threat altogether. Keep a neat base camp. Do not litter or exhibit loud behavior. Do not “pit-race” about the lot or on adjacent side roads. If other forest users are lunching, it is a good idea to exchange greetings and start you machines after you have pushed them away from the immediate area. Upon returning, kill your engine and coast into the lot. Noise is our biggest enemy. Keep your bike exhaust quiet and maintain the packing in all silencers. More noise does not always equal more power.

physically moving the bike forward or backward an inch. Movement 18

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

15

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

up using your tool kit to fix your bike. 5. Join an off-road motorcycling club.

of the rear wheel relieves pressure on the transmission gears and the shift lever easily snicks downward and the lower gear is found. Not

6. If it’s a male partner who’s introduced you to this sport, try, for the sake of your relationship, to get his friends - not him - to teach you to ride.

knowing which gear the transmission was in necessitates doing this exercise until no more lower gears can be found. At this time a small amount of upward pressure is applied to the shift lever while the bike

7. Find a female riding buddy; go out and ride without the guys as much as you can.

is again jiggled forward or backward and t an d ear a h elme the transmission should snick into neuAlways w e off ak (T ety gea r. af r s he ot o tral. Neutral is confirmed when the f y ou talk t ur h elmet i yo clutch is released and the bike can be som eo ne) easily moved a couple of inches forward

8. Until you feel competent, ride the lowest (and calmest) bike you can. Lower the bike if necessary. Slide up the front forks and add a lowering link or a spacer to the rear suspension. 9. Ride every organized trail ride you can.

with no engine drag. Learn to start

10. Try an enduro. 11. If you’re not already doing so, exercise regularly and get stronger.

Sounds easy but again practice is needed to smoothly achieve this act. Revving the engine to half throttle and dumping the clutch will get one moving forward but unless it’s a racing situation, this

12. Ride responsibly and always remember - you ride because it’s FUN!

tends to make a person look like a dork. A more civilized way to start is to ease out the clutch until partial clutch engagement tries to move

See you on the trails!

the bike forward. At this time more throttle can be smoothly applied while the clutch lever is slowly but fully released. Smooth starts are a sign of an accomplished rider. Jackrabbit starts accent the fact that the

TRAIL ETIQUETTE By Rick Currah

Whether a novice or experienced rider, you should realize that from the moment you are seen with your motorcycle, you are an Ambassador Of The Sport. How the general public and the authorities judge you is how the sport is perceived. This can begin with the transporting of yourself and your bike to the riding area. Reckless behavior on the road will lead others to assume an attitude of uncaring indifference or worse, hostile disapproval. Ensure that your bike and 14

Join O.F.T.R…...

rider is beginner. Park it An accomplished rider will usually snick the transmission into neutral as they come to a stop and unless the bike is being parked on an incline, it is an accepted practice to leave the bike in neutral. Trail bikes, by the way, are equipped with side stands allowing them to be parked anywhere. Plan for a breakdown. Modern trail bikes can get a person far away from civilization …..www.oftr.ca

19

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

very quickly and equipment failures such as a flat tire can really spoil your day. Plan ahead and carry enough tools to be able to do rudimen-

were just playing around on their bikes - popping wheelies, jumping on and off the curbs, spinning around. They built a big ramp and

tary trail maintenance. A simple tool kit can be stowed on the rear fender or carried by the rider in a fanny pack. Walking home isn’t much fun!

jumped over it repeatedly, often crashing. During this, a couple of little girls also rode by on their bicycles, on the sidewalk, looking straight ahead, going to some destination. “That’s it”, I realized. Lit-

Know your bikes limits Know how far your bike can go on a full tank of fuel. Dirt bikes

tle boys have fun taking physical chances. Teenage boys have fun

les few other vehic Rememb er t hat s, so ike s b le a rab are as maneuve . oom of r ts rs lo give o the

are not equipped with fuel gauges so a rider must mentally monitor the fuel usage. Many bikes have a reserve feature on the petcock but this is not an auxiliary fuel tank. It is simply a warning that some time

taking physical chances. Imagine the kind of hand-eye coordination, the quick reflexes they’ve learned by the time

in the near future your carburetor will be sucking wind and the rider will either be pushing or begging someone for fuel.

puberty hits, and neural networks start slowly settling into fixed patterns.

Take a brake Learn to use the front brake as well as the rear. Many novice riders are afraid that using the front brake will get them into trouble.

Well, there’s not much I can do about that. I realize that I have a certain clumsiness and level of fear that I will never overcome - and that slows me down. But I learned a more important lesson from

Well, yes it can, but the front brake will also stop the bike in a fraction of the distance of the rear brake alone and the reason for having

those boys that day - MAKE IT FUN! Don’t say “I can’t do that” (that = get up that slippery hill, get down that slimy cliff, ride

brakes in the first place is to, stop. Use only one or two fingers on the front brake lever and always apply the brake smoothly. Grabbing a handful of front brake will surely be a cause of grief.

over that pile of boulders, clear that gigantic log, get through that stinking mud bog, cross that rushing river, etc., etc.). How do you know if you haven’t tried? At least go for it, and go for it with a big

Riding in Sand Riding in wet sand is pure nirvana with nearly positive and pre-

grin, yelling “Yahoo”! So here’s some important tips for my fellow female riders:

dictable traction, a rider seems to be connected to the ground. Steering braking and acceleration is so positive and predictable as to instil confidence. Take away the moisture and sand can become very diffi-

1. Learn to love obstacles. 2. Learn how to do at least basic maintenance on your bike (I know, I know - most of us didn’t grow up tinkering - but it’s really

cult. Loose dry sand offers almost no traction. Steering input to the front wheel will at first have no influence and then way too much in-

straightforward to change a spark plug, change your oil, clean your air filter, change a tire - reluctance is the enemy of learning).

fluence as the front wheel jackknives and creates severe over-steer. What actually happens is when the front wheel is turned the tire actu-

3. Always carry a basic tool kit when you ride. 4. Carry some treats when you ride, in case somebody else ends

20

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

13

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

for sustained travel at these speeds.

ally builds a berm or windrow of loose sand. When the berm becomes great enough the wheel will respond immediately. The only trick to

WOMEN IN TRAIL RIDING, By Meg Thorburn

There are some wonderfully fast and tough women in off-road

steering in loose sand is to learn that soon after a negative no-traction situation, there will be a strong opposing positive action. Being ready for and harnessing the positive action will allow a person to steer in loose sand with ease. Again, this will become a learned process.

n, pa ck u pa ck i eave t he yo r ve te W ha and l ot litter d it. out. Do n r than yo u fou n te et b place

motorcycling. And then there’s the rest of us. Chances are, if you’re a woman rider, you didn’t pick up the sport from your teenage buddies. If you’re lucky, your Dad got you started. Most of us got introduced

The secret to straight line stability in loose sand is to use a ‘leading throttle’. When the twist grip is turned to a

to dirt biking by our male partners, well past the age of fearlessness (if we ever had it).

point where all slack in the throttle cable and throttle slide is used. The entire drive-line is tight and the bike is almost, but not quite, ac-

I love this sport. And I work hard at it. So do several of my girlfriends. But most of us just don’t get better nearly as quickly as the guys do. For a

celerating. This is a leading throttle and everything from the twist-grip to the ground is positive. If the twist-grip is turned off, even for a sec-

long time, I found this really frustrat-

ond, everything from there to the ground is upset. All of the positive forces are now negated and the bike will feel unhinged. The force

ing. Finally I accepted it, but I kept wondering why.

which was driving the wheels forward are now actually dragging everything backwards. This is a trailing throttle. To maintain a leading throttle sometimes it is desirable to drag the rear brake slightly. The

Then one day, I was standing in my

next time you are out for a ride try it, even on solid terrain the effect can be felt.

driveway, working on my bike, when several 7 or 8-

Rocks People who learn to ride in very rocky terrain quickly become good riders or quit the sport. The same might be said for any difficult

year-old boys happened by on their

terrain though. Riders beginning to ride in easier terrain have some difficulty when first encountering more difficult topography. Rock

bicycles. They weren’t headed anywhere; they

riding requires concentration, perseverance, momentum and the ability to look far ahead, pick lines and not deviate from those lines. Be12

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

21

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

cause of big wheels dirt bikes can traverse big obstacles with relative ease, though if the front wheel is allowed to wander, all is lost. Getting moving in rocky terrain is very, very difficult and it is usually much easier to exert maximum effort to keep moving in the first place. Dabbing with your feet may help to maintain balance and maintain forward motion but standing on the pegs is better is usually better. Find the center. Modern dirt bikes are quite light and a riders gross weight has a lot of influence on how, where and when the bike responds. A riders weight should be in the exact centre of the motorcycle and all input should be from there. The exact centre by the way, is at the foot pegs, so when a rider is standing their weight is centred. When a rider is seated the weight is not centred. Watch any good dirt rider or racer and you will see that they spend most of their time in a standing position. From this position all movement has an effect on the motorcycle. From this position, slightly lifting the right foot loads the left and immediately steers the bike left. Lift the other foot and the opposite happens. Leaning backward loads the rear wheel and leaning forward loads the front and unloads the rear wheel. Sitting down and forward just before a turn loads the front tire and increases traction. This also compresses the forks which changes the geometry somewhat and increases steering input. Loading the outside foot peg on a tight turn helps keep the wheels planted and discourages the bike from sliding out or low-siding. Tire pressure Dirt bike tires operate on relatively low air pressures. Sand terrain is easier negotiated with low pressures of 6 to 10 PSI. For harder terrain 10 to 12 PSI is required and rocky terrain requires more than

to cover the cost of retooling each year. If motocross bikes were only sold to motocross racers there would only be a need for about 1/4 as many as there are and the cost to purchase one would be astronomical. Buying the wrong bike just because it was super cheap or because there was an abundance of them on the market, is poor thinking. Ex pect a

nd Respect oth ers who have t he rig the tra ils. Be ht to b e o n co urt eous to others.

In Ontario I would guess we

might have at most, a few dozen riders who can actually ride a motocross motorcycle to its full potential in the woods.

For everyone else you're just slipping your clutch and would ride 100% better and enjoy the sport more with a more appropriate bike. Even reasonably good riders find that to ride an MX bike on the trails requires so much attention, that some of the enjoyment of the ride is lost. Why MX bikes do not make good trail bikes! Motocross bikes have close ratio gear boxes, designed for keeping the engine revs at or near the point of peak horsepower, which is not so good though for finding optimum traction under stringent conditions often found when trail riding. Motocross bikes have small gas tanks, no side stands, no electrical output so no lights, no spark arresters and usually loud exhaust, minimal fender coverage and extremely stiff suspension. Motocross bikes have close-ratio transmissions which don't allow a bike to be ridden really slow without a lot of clutch slipping. In Close-ratio gear sets, high gear is very low and fast trails or forest roads must be ridden at an engine speed that vibrates your fillings loose. Motocross bikes have 19” rear wheels which are more susceptible to flat tires in rocky conditions. They just weren't designed

22

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

11

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB. By Warren Thaxter

First time trail bike buyers almost always ask, "What’s the best bike to buy? This question is like asking which flavor of ice cream is best. Even asking which is the most popular, is somewhat misleading. Vanilla in the case of ice cream, and motocross in the case of motorcycles are unquestionably the most popular. A quick check of for-sale ads always show an abundance of MX bikes for sale. Does this mean motocross bikes are best? No, it just means there

12 PSI to keep from getting punctures. Keep it clean. Who said cleanliness was next to godliness? We don’t know either, but we do know the value of keeping a dirt bike clean. When cleaning your bike loose fittings are noted before they are lost. Bent or damaged components are observed and can be straightened or replaced before they wear out something even more expensive. There are many techniques to wash a bike and laying the bike on it’s side to get at the underside is a common practice. If you don’t agree with laying your bike on it’s side as part of the wash cycle, then lay it down after you think it is clean and take a look. End of subject. Passing riders Unless you are absolutely the slowest trail rider in the country it's

are more of them on the market. Motocross motor-

inevitable that you will at times overtake other riders. The very fact that you have overcome another rider on the trail should be proof that

cycles are extremely well de-

you are travelling at a quicker pace. Some interesting things often occur in this situation though. The slower rider may speed-up in an effort to not impede the catching rider which, impedes the catching

veloped and finely tuned pieces of racing machinery.

rider! The quicker rider often errs as well. If the slower rider is travel-

With the enormous amount of

ing at a value of 10 and the catching rider is going a value of 11 the catching rider will often increase his speed to 12 as soon as the pass is completed only to crash or run off the trail within seconds. The posi-

time and money needed to develop them it is there-

tive thing here is that the quicker rider will probably get another chance to practice his passing after he has extracted himself from the

fore necessary to sell large numbers

topography. A more sensible way might be for the quicker rider make the 10

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

23

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

pass and slow to the speed of the lower value and get straightened up and collected and then increase the speed back to the original value and motor on down the trail. Read the Manual. All of the little technical facts you would like to know about your motorcycle; things such as how much oil does the gear-box hold, what weight of fork oil should you use, what should the chain tension be, are all printed in a booklet titled, “Owners Manual.” Read it! Maybe read it twice. If you purchased a used motorcycle and didn’t get the manual, scoot down to your dealer and order one. If you are buying a used bike, insist that the owners manual and tool kit be included, or knock a hundred dollars off of the price. The manual and tool kit will usually be produced when there is some value attached.

GET INVOLVED By Rick Currah

Speedway Racing: This is a very specialized form of flat track racing and uses specialty-built motorcycles with high powered engines in lightweight frames and no brakes. Speedway is a very exciting form of racing. Road Racing: Road racing is a speed contest with a specially prepared street motorcycle. This type of racing requires a paved surface such as found in airports, parking lots and temporarily closed streets of a town or city. Drag Racing: Motorcycle drag racing is usually held in conjunction with automobile drag racing. Drag racing is preformed on a straight, smooth and level strip of pavement usually 1/4 mile in length. This is simply an acceleration contest between two competitors at a time. The fastest competitor from each race moves on to the next competitor etc.

I left trail riding in the late seventies, caught in the scramble to establish myself in career and marriage. I returned in 1990 to find a sport that has not matured. Land has been lost due to urban growth and questionable court decisions. Legal issues have every landowner quaking in their boots and the sale of NO TRESPASSING signs has never been better. I was fairly shocked. I knew things were tough but I had no idea it was so bad. The closest legal riding area was over an hour from home. Looking for a support group to aid me in my quest for knowledge and riding areas, I joined a club. It was heavily focused on competition and since I am not a racer, after a year I let my membership 24

ing this type of motorcycle racing.

Join O.F.T.R…...

Trail Riding: Trail riding on a motorcycle is no different than doing so on a horse or mountain bicycle. Trail riding is done all over the province wherever trails are found. In Ontario we are very fortunate to have a sponsored series of organized trail rides which consists of more than a dozen organized events across the province each year. Trail riding is done with pleasure/trail bikes or dual sport motorcycles and are not races. Learning: In order to speed up the learning process many affiliated clubs offer rider training and Ontario has three commercial trail riding schools. (See page # 31) …..www.oftr.ca

9

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

Enduro uses legally licensed motorcycles and traverse some public roads to go from section to section. The speed on road sections

lapse. Slowly, I met fellow riders, who like me, love riding aimlessly through the woods. Chumming around these riders re-

is much lower than the speed limit, usually 36 kilometers per hour. The machinery used for enduro is the enduro bike, pleasure/trail riding bike or the dual sport type of street bike.

sulted in me joining the OFTR. What I have coh ol or Do not use any Al learned and experienced through my ino ride. Drugs if you plan t volvement, has been more than worth the

Spectating at an enduro is usually limited to visiting fuel stops but some organizers provide directions to spectator points.

annual dues. Individuals can be passionate but achieve little. Many

Motorcycle Trial: A trial is a motorcycle contest which is absolutely not a race or speed contest. Trials is sometimes referred to as, ‘ballet on wheels’. A trial is a contest of balance, ability, timing and fitness. The course is similar to hare scramble but the optimum area would include very large rocks and boulders, ledges and near vertical

riders can work together and realize their goals. A club can host an event and raise funds for charity or the rental of riding land. New members can learn riding and maintenance tips from the veterans. Gear and machines can be traded between members and travel accommodations shared.

rock walls of which riders ride over and around. Machinery used for this type of event are quite specialized but of low performance and

Club Representatives can be sent to municipal and provincial government to protest unfair laws and legislation. Clubs can be selfpolicing. Peer pressure can modify the behaviour of unruly members

very quiet. The applause of spectators is usually louder than the motorcycles.

who antagonize authorities and land owners. It is puzzling why some riders are reluctant to join a club. Per-

Flat Track Racing: Flat Track racing requires an oval dirt track which is similarly used for horse racing. This type of racing often accompanies country fairs. The machinery is very high performance, usually hand built and one dimensional. Viewing is usually done from a grandstand from which the entire track can be seen. The noise and high speed activity make this form of racing very exciting. Ice Racing: As the name implies this is a contest of speed on a twisty or oval course on a frozen lake or pond. The machinery used ranges from the pleasure trail bike to the high performance flat track bike and includes motocross bikes. The weather is the limiting factor to enjoy8

Join O.F.T.R…...

haps, they feel an organization would cramp their style and infringe on their riding time by insisting on participation in club activities. My reply to that is to imagine all the free time they will have when the riding areas are off-limits because no large group protested illconceived land closures. It is not just enough to join a club. Be willingly involved in the activities and recruit new riders to the cause. Volunteer for committee positions or become a director. While it may seem life is hectic already, it is time everyone gives to the sport they enjoy. We all have to earn our keep. Riders who freeload off others quickly get a bad reputation and rightly so. If you are one of those riders who always ride the events and never work one in return, you are losing out. Get off …..www.oftr.ca

25

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”! the saddle and clear trail or run a checkpoint. Ride the sweep position

ordin g s only acc il tra e s U es inrm itted us t o t h e pe s ar e om e trail dicated. S . season al

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” forth in a small area of property. The course is defined with wooden stakes and caution ribbon or straw bales. Motocross tracks are usually

or shepherd the novice group on a trail ride. The only way this sport will evolve and mature is through orga-

located on rough hilly agriculture land which is too rough to cultivate. Occasionally temporary tracks are built inside stadiums or arenas and the sport is then called, Super Cross. These types of tracks offer ex-

nizing. Many of us look at the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) with awe. The Sledders have a trail system and organ-

cellent spectating as the entire track can be seen from one location.

izational machine that is the envy of other motorized groups. They deserve our respect. Snowmobilers realized in the early days, the benefits of forming a provincial body to govern and guide their

petitor who can circumvent the course quickest is the winner.

sport’s future. Every fall, thousands of enthusiasts lay down their cash for an annual trail pass. No hard sell by the OFSC and no grumbling by the members. It is a recognized fact of life for a snowmobiler that to enjoy the trail system you must belong to a club and buy a pass. This mindset and the resulting success did not happen overnight. Our struggle to survive into the 21st Century will be easier when all off road motorcyclists realize the necessity of joining a club and applying themselves to the promotion and preservation of the sport. I can make you a promise. Get involved with an active club for one year and you will not regret the time given. You will enjoy yourself and feel good about the group contribution made. You will renew the second year.

CHILDREN AND MOTORCYCLES By Clinton Smout I started riding thirty five years ago on a friend’s minibike. His in-

n Re spect

ature

Motocross is most certainly a race. The comHare Scramble: Hare Scramble is a cross-country type of event encompassing every type of obstacle available such as hills, trees, rocks, logs, streams and jumps. This event is always in a wooded or bush lot area. The course is a single track of about a meters in width and 2 to 10 kilometers in length. This event has a usual duration of 2 hours. Whoever completes the most laps in the given time wins. The machinery used for this event is enduro or pleasure/trail riding motorcycles, motocross bikes and dual purpose motorcycles. Spectating at a hare scramble takes some effort and usually requires walking part of the course. Enduro: A motorcycle enduro is a competition event but it is not a race! Enduro is a timed event similar to a rally using terrain similar to Hare Scramble. The object is to circumvent a secret course, usually 100 -160 kilometers in length, at a predetermined speed schedule.

structions were, “just give her”. Well, that worked, but there is a better way.

Traveling faster (early) carries a penalty 5 times greater than traveling slow (late). The winner of this event is not determined by top speed but is the competitor who is assigned the least number of infractions

Is your child ready to ride?

or points.

Can they ride a two wheeled bicycle (without training wheels)? Can 26 Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

7

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”! If you have ever been to an enduro competition you will have seen street plates on a lot of questionable bikes, and may have wondered how this was possible. It is a grey area which some riders and dealers are willing to take advantage of. It requires a bike to be upgraded to receive a ‘Safety Certificate’ and requires such things as lights, brake lights, mirror, horn, road legal tires, etc. Contrary to popular belief knobby tires are not necessarily illegal for road use. Most tire companies offer a line of knobby tires with a DOT number. These tires often appear identical to tires which bear the words ‘Not For Highway Use’ but can be considered street legal. Although there is a general reluctance to register used bikes, mostly in an effort to save on the sales tax, it’s actually a good idea as an ownership certificate is absolute proof of ownership

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” they comfortably reach the ground? Are they physically and emotionally mature enough? Children often have a ‘no fear’ attitude which can enhance the learning curve, but sometimes parents must fill in the missing caution filter for better safety. What should they ride? UIE T! r bike Q roun d! u yo ep Ke or e g A child’s first bike should have mild nd = M e ss sou L power delivery and a speed governing device (throttle or exhaust). A minibike or motorcycle designed for racing will have a much steeper learning curve. Where should they ride? Check with dealerships, associations and clubs for safe, legal locations. The area should be relatively flat, without challenging terrain. Field with short grass is ideal, but check for gopher holes, rocks or any hidden obstacles. What should they wear?

THE SPORT OF MOTORCYCLING

The most important item to buy is a full face helmet (fitted by a profes-

By Warren Thaxter

Being a spectator at a motorcycle race can be a very enjoyable experience, but like going to a movie, there are many flavors of motorcycle activity. Following is a brief description of motorcycle activities which a person might find in Ontario.

sional). Other gear needs are goggles, elbow pads, jersey, knee pads, gloves, full length pants, and sturdy, above-the-ankle boots. The smallest motocross boots may be too tall for the young rider’s legs. If the boots cover and limit the knee’s rotation, then a strong hiking boot would be better. Please, no running shoes! Children grow fast and the proper gear is expensive, but buying big to economize is dumb. The proper fit is important for their performance and safety. Teaching your child to ride:

Motocross Racing: Motocross uses a special high performance, one-dimensional type of motorcycle which is specially designed for

You may be a great rider, but the worst instructor for your own children. If you are determined to teach your own, then please, consider the

this activity. The course or track used is in an open area and is comprised of jumps, bumps, hills and turns. The course is usually about

KISSF principal. Keep It Safe, Simple, Safe and Fun!

10 miters wide and a kilometer or so in length and may loop back and 6

Join O.F.T.R…...

Simple: Explain how to put the brakes on, proper body positioning and keeping the eyes up. Practice on a stationary bike without it running. The next step is to push the child slowly in a straight …..www.oftr.ca 27 line. Once they can balance

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

Practice moving very short distances so the child has a chance to master the throttle while still practicing the skills they learned while you were pushing them. Gradually back up (you are always in front of them) and have them ride towards you. Learning in small steps instils confidence, promotes efficiency and safety. Safety: Make sure the area is safe. Stopping the engine should always be with the engine kill switch and then the ignition key if there is one. They will go where they look. Try and minimize distractions and don’t yell out instructions as they ride past. Fun! Set easy to attain goals, keep your patience and sense of humour, watch for fatigue and frustration and let them ride.

B UILDING AN OFF ROAD CLUB

the front of the vehicle and does not require a yearly renewal sticker. At this time it’s not necessary to have any kind of operators permit or license to ride a bike or ATV offroad. To operate a motorcycle on the street, or a dirt road, an M, M2 or M1 endorsement is mandatory. The next requirement is insurance, which is also mandatory when the vehicle leaves the registered owners property. The basic insurance requirements are Third Party PL & PD, and costs will vary

ass on private Do not tresp e on e xisting property. Rid trails.

significantly from company to company. Some insurance companies will not even offer such a policy. Many agents want you to bring all your other insurance requirements to them before they will sell the Offroad Policy. Primmum, through the MMIC offers reasonable, stand alone insurance rates for off-road vehicles. State Farm is an-

By Ken Gardner The concept and development of the Great Pine Trail Riders.

other company which offers decent rates for these vehicles. The best option is to ask, and shop around.

In 2002 a small group of recreational off road riders in Durham Region decided to form a non competitive club to support Off Road Motorcycle use within the Ganaraska Forest. Our goals were to encourage families

I wonder how many people realize the penalty for operating a vehicle without insurance is presently $5000.00. This is not a misprint. The fine is equal to the price of a good used motorcycle. An

to come out and ride, to educate all forest users on proper behavior within the forest, to preserve and enhance the dirt bike image within the

exception to the license plate and insurance rule is, if the owner belongs to an organization and engages in sanctioned, closed course

community by being ambassadors of our sport, to maintain and improve the trail network and create a strong working relationship with the Forest Authority.

competition, (motocross / hare scrambles) This however doesn’t allow the owner to use the vehicle except at that sanctioned event. Some offroad or dual sport motorcycles carry street plates and are

To date, we have achieved our goals, and continue to build on this foundation.

then automatically governed by the Highway Traffic Act. When possible a motorcycle should be licensed in this manner as it opens doors

Was it easy? Yes….and no. Volunteers have to give up a lot of personal time, which is difficult in today’s society. Was it worth it? Was it satisfying? “Yes!”

to a lot of country that a rider with a strictly offroad plate couldn’t legally encounter.

28

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

5

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” 

THE LEGALITY OF IT ALL. By Warren Thaxter

In Ontario we have a set of laws called the Off-Road Vehicle Act. Copies of the Off-Road Vehicle Handbook are available for about $8.00 from the MTO office where you buy your license plates. This act or law governs off road motorcycles, three and four wheel ATVs and dune buggies. Powered wheel chairs are exempt but might not be if they are powered by a performance two-stroke engine and equipped with knobby tires. The act is specific in that every vehicle must be registered and carry a license plate if it is to be used other than the registered owners property. The license plate is the green one, costs $35.00, attaches to

How to start your own club:  Find some riders that have a common interest  Get them communicating in some fashion (Internet is easiest) Get a consensus on what your goals are and just how much you want to develop your new club  Elect (or appoint) an executive to operate the club. If you want it to last more than one season, your going to need help.  Get financial support from an umbrella group to help get you going. We got help from OFTR to fund our first trail repair, which helped set us up as contenders within the Ganaraska Forest.  Delegate. Try and do it all on your own and you will burn out.  Sell your club; get out to bike shows, swap meets, etc and setup a table to show off your club, so you can build membership.  Talk to other clubs and let them know who you are, and what your about  Never, never, never forget what your goals; Stay focused  Lastly, ride lots and have fun! I truly enjoyed helping found the GPTR. It is a small club, but one with a strong voice.

Where to ride your dirt bike ; by Warren Thaxter

Although Ontario is a very large province with thousands of kilometres of forest road, back road and trail scattered throughout, at this time there is no comprehensive catalogue of available trails or trail networks. Don’t despair though, because we do have an abundance of dirt oriented motorcycle clubs in Ontario and all of them can suggest and guide a novice to acceptable places to ride. Some clubs actually own their own property, some have agreements to use public land and most all of the clubs promote riding events for club members and the public at large.

4

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

29

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

a slow moving bike with their eyes up, stop it using the brakes, and hold it up, then try the engine. Starting the engine is easier for them if

Table of Contents

you have warmed it up.

Riding Groups and Clubs in Ontario Ausable River Riders www.Ausableriverriders.com

Tyson Howarth: 519 898 5346

Blue Sky Riders www.blueskyriders.com

Doug Bies:

Bytown Motorcycle Association www.bytown-motorcycle-assoc.ca Woody Percival: 613 267 6861

Erie Ramblers Motorcycle Club www.erieramblers.tripod.com

John Bartel:

Great Pine Trail Riders www.greatpinetrailriders.com

Paul Mooney: 905 697 3646

Haliburton Highlands Trail Riders www.hhtra.ca

Ken Hoeverman: 705 447 3110

4 6 10 12 14 18 24 26 282930 31 -

The legality of it all The sport of motorcycling The right tool for the job Women in trail riding Trail etiquette Tips, tricks and accepted practices Get involved Children and motorcycles Forming a motorcycle club Where to ride your dirt bike Riding group/club contacts Motorcycle Training

Halton Off Road Riders Association www.horra.ca

Tim Middlehurst - 519-942-0633

Huron Recreational Riders Association www.hrrasarnia.com/hrra

Tom Schleihauf - 519-542-7680

KW Cyclesport Association www.kwcyclesport.ca

Steve Topham: 519 742 7294

Lakeshore Dirt Riders www.ldrmc.ca

This booklet, edition # 3, is edited and authorized for print by the original editors and writers; Warren Thaxter, Rick Currah, Meg Thorburn, Clinton Smout and Ken Gardner. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and not necessarily the opinions of the OFTR or the sponsors of the booklet.

Dan Holmes

Lynn Valley Dirt Riders www.execulink.com

Doug Kent - 519-582-1074 30

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

3

“So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!”

“SO … YOU ’VE JUST BOUGHT A DIRT BIKE”, booklet has been prepared and brought to you by the; Ontario Federation of Trail Riders, 2783 Contau Lake Road, P.O. Box 257, Gooderham Ontario. K0M 1R0. www.oftr.ca

Niagara Timberline Riders www.timberlineriders.ca

John Gregoire - 905 227 0686

Northumberland Trail Riders www.oftr.org Barry Ferguson - 905 753 2776

Ontario Dual-Sport Club www.odsc.on.ca

Al Buck

Oshawa Competition Motorcycle Club

The OFTR wishes to gratefully acknowledge that the major funding to make this booklet possible was generously provided by: * Ministry of Transportation Ontario * Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council * Motorcycle & Moped Industry Council O.F.T.R. Mandate To source, create and maintain a trail network in Ontario for safe, family use by offroad motorcyclists as well as any other good intentioned users. To provide a strong voice supported by a substantial membership to represent trail users to ensure, to our best ability, that these trails continue to be available .

www.ocmc-racing.ca

Dan Holmes: 905-987-1719

Otter Ridge Dirt Riders Inc. www.oftr.org Chris: 519 -874- 4278

Simcoe County Off Road Riders www.scorra.ca

Wayne Ricketts:

Steel City Riders MC www.steelcityriders.ca Albert Beamer: 905 772 5516

Thames Valley Riders www.tvrmx.com

Welland County Motorcycle Club Inc.

DIRT B IKE SCHOOLS AND T RAINING F ACILITES Ganaraska Trail Tours & School: www.trailtour.com Canadian Motorcycle Training: Tracks Offroad :

2

Join O.F.T.R…...

…..www.oftr.ca

www.cmts.org

www.tracksoffroad.ca

31

Ontario Federation of Trail Riders 2783 Contau Lake Road, P.O. Box 257, Gooderham Ontario. K0M 1R0.

TO:

“So... you’ve just bought a dirt bike!”

…..www.oftr.ca Join O.F.T.R…... 32

“So….You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike!” “So... You've Just Bought a Dirt Bike”!