Okay so we were getting teased with spring. I order my Hurricane Flow. Started designing my new work shop. Making some plans for things I need to do with the bike. And WHAM! Out of no where we get three inches of snow and the forecast is calling for single digits by the week's end. :rolleyes:

So, since I've seen my shadow and we're going to have six more weeks of winter, decided to amuse myself with a poll.

I was going to do one on oil just for fun but managed to control myself. :D

So...

If you did or do ride dirt, do you feel this enhances your street riding skills? When I first started out on the Sporty I had some trouble adapting. I'd come form a dirt bike and ATV background and I was trying to muscle the bike and me around too much. At first I thought my dirt time was a hinderance but I know I think it is an asset. Not just for the basic concept of operating a two-wheeled machine but for the subtle skills you pick up. Namely, the feel of the bike. Now maybe I'm cracked cuz I can't erase my memory and go out and ride without that knowledge and see if it makes a difference but I'm just curious.

Oh and one more thing that isn't in the poll but I've always wondered...Can you really trust a bald barber? :dunno

Riding dirt bikes helped me immensely when I started riding on the street. The only thing that it really didn't help on was actually leaning into the corners and NOT putting your foot out. Riding dirt bikes, I believe, gave me a better sense of balance and that helps when a bad situation creeps up on ya.

Balance and crash avoidance were helpful.

I Trust no barber with hair shorter than mine.

It gives you the idea of how a motorcycle works. Very bennficial. I did a lot of slow speed training on mine (1st gear at idle standing on pegs)

I believe my dirtbiking helped me with reaction times for avoiding road hazards and such. I also feel that I am more aggressive as a rider too. If I hadn't grown up spending every minute I could on my dirtbike I don't know if I would be taking the twisties like I am now.

I think it was very beneficial for me. While it's not the same type of riding, it obviously does help with the basics. Some of the people in my MSF class who had never been on a bike would have benefited greatly with at least a little 'ride it around the yard' riding experience.

Moreso for me, is the confidence earned a lot of years ago. While I don't do long wheelies or jump off big dirt banks with my Sporty :eek: , it does help with overall handling, coordination and balance.

Another thing. I think it's really good for kids. Get 'em started early with mini bikes and move 'em up to small motorcycles. (yes, early indoctrination.....bah wahhhhhhhhhhhh haaahhhhhhh---evil laugh) It helps them if they want to ride later and helps with the basics of driving a car, I think. Give a kid a bike with a manual transmission and they'll never have trouble driving any kind of vehicle later in life.

Another thing. I think it's really good for kids. Get 'em started early with mini bikes and move 'em up to small motorcycles. (yes, early indoctrination.....bah wahhhhhhhhhhhh haaahhhhhhh---evil laugh) It helps them if they want to ride later and helps with the basics of driving a car, I think. Give a kid a bike with a manual transmission and they'll never have trouble driving any kind of vehicle later in life.

Don't do the evil laugh too long, my son is going to be riding for one year come the end of April and he's only 5.

i think my dirt years helped with handling a lot the only down side i can think of is i have a hard time breaking myself of winding every gear out

......Grew up on dirt bikes.............dirt bike skills are a great foundation for moving onto road bikes........Everyone I know thats ridden dirt is a better road rider for it.........BUT.........they are 2 completely different riding styles.......

.....I have a 450 WR Yam that I ride almost every day.....:D .........I always have to remember to "think dirt" or "think road" depending on what I'm riding.....

......Grew up on dirt bikes.............dirt bike skills are a great foundation for moving onto road bikes........Everyone I know thats ridden dirt is a better road rider for it.........BUT.........they are 2 completely different riding styles.......

.....I have a 450 WR Yam that I ride almost every day.....:D .........I always have to remember to "think dirt" or "think road" depending on what I'm riding.....

So what do you think when you're riding a roo?

Couldn't resist. :D

So what do you think when you're riding a roo?

Couldn't resist. :D

OOOHHHH!!! That feels ggggooooddddd!!!!! :roflblack

I grew up riding dirt bikes in the 60's and 70's....and raced flattrack and TT for several years. Dirt riding is absolutely with out a doubt an excellent way to learn handling and evasive skills. When I tell people I ride the street like I'm in a race.....it has nothing to do with my speed.....it's all about figuring out your surroundings and where the hole is and your escape route should you need one. I try to practice that especially in town. I have never had a car pull out in front of me in the dirt......TREES...YES!

So what do you think when you're riding a roo?

Couldn't resist. :D




.....Dont ride roos anymore............I find their suspension a bit too bouncy...:D

.....Dont ride roos anymore............I find their suspension a bit too bouncy...:D

I put a set of Progressive's on mine:roflblack

I don't find my dirt experience helpful in the least...to be honest..whole nother animal...

Balance and reaction are intuitive, IMHO, and strictly practice and riding experience aside, I think that a well-trained road rider has no disadvantage to ex (or current) dirt riders...all years of riding experience being equal....

So what do you think when you're riding a roo?

Couldn't resist. :D


Think dirt!

And no I don't trust anybody or anything bald - I know better (look at my avatar)

ive road drirt bikes 4 wheelers and snowmobiles for the past 18yrs. but it realy dont contribute to my street bike riding skills. just my o2.

I don't find my dirt experience helpful in the least...to be honest..whole nother animal...

Balance and reaction are intuitive, IMHO, and strictly practice and riding experience aside, I think that a well-trained road rider has no disadvantage to ex (or current) dirt riders...all years of riding experience being equal....



....whole other animal........yes................

....But learning how to powerslide........react to a front end washout..........and lay your bike down safely can save your life on the road or track............dirt bike riding is about throttle control.......and so is good road riding.....

...99% of road racing champions started on the dirt...........and most of the top current racers ride dirt bikes as part of their training........:tour

I have no dirt riding experience, but I've read that it really helps to get used to low-traction situations (e.g. gravel, rain) on a lighter dirt bike. Seems like it's better to dump a 200-pounder while figuring out how to steer with a bit of throttle and a slipping rear tire than to drop close to 600 lbs (depending on chrome and other bling) of Sportster while learning.

I know I'm not a big fan of gravel parking areas and you never know when you're gonna run into that dirt-road detour...

I think it helped a lot with the basics when I started riding street. Like was mentioned above, it can instill some bad habits, putting your foot out, etc. And it really helped with crash avoidance and sticky situation control when I first started on a street bike, but eventually you pick up the do's and don'ts of both and are able to differentiate.

Edit: Hell no I wouldn't trust a bald barber.

almost every good GP or road racer also rides or has riden/raced in the dirt...

It gives you the ability (or should I say brings out the ability if you have it) to control the bike while it's movin around on ya...

I see too many road riders that have no dirt riding experiance and have only ridden late model road bikes with GREAT tyres and can't handle the bike when it moves under them...that's another reason for the high crash rate of new/reborn riders

The techniques are different but riding different road bikes requires a different technique as well ..... if you can't adapt then ya never gonna be much good.... ... I've had to change and adapt my riding style to best suit each bike I've owned... they all have their own little characteristics that require different adaptations to get their best...


Here's a couple of pics of the current front tyre on my GSXR 1000 ....
You can see two distinct wear lines ... the first one is normal street riding ... the one further araound is from playin hard in the twisties ... the blueish band between them is from heat...

Now when ya get to the stage you can get that far around on a current model jap 1000 you've probably got a good idea how to control a bike .....

and few that can CONTROL a bike such as that at those lean angles with it sliding around the wouldn't have come from a dirt bike background..


http://www.iqconnect.net.au/~stevo/tyre1a.jpg



http://www.iqconnect.net.au/~stevo/tyre2a.jpg

Well, I've never ridden a dirt bike - per se. But I started riding at 16, when my Dad finally allowed me to buy a Vespa scooter. (I wasn't allowed anything that 'looked' like a motorcycle...)
Anyway, being 16 and not having any clue as to what you could and couldn't do on a scooter, and being that all my riding friends obviously had dirt bikes, I used to go riding with them, yep, out in the local woods and dirt tracks.

Now THAT was very useful in learning how not to wipe out on a road bike when riding over gravel, uneven surfaces, and the like.

I never rode dirt (except 3-wheelers) but the instructor for the MSF course said he could always tell the dirt riders...they put their feet down when they feel like they're leaning too much. I think being a dirt rider would be good in general, but there might also be some bad habits to break.

http://www.iqconnect.net.au/~stevo/tyre2a.jpg

Sheeeiiittt. Me likey! :banana

that second line takes more than a bit of concentration ....

At that point the bike sliding and ya doin some pretty interestin speeds...

A rear tyre only takes two days of playin at that level up the mountain till I'm almost to the wire/canvas on the sides

I rode Penton and Honda SLs and CLs back in the 70s and learned the basic motorcycle skills on dirt. I think it helps with control and balance, but other than that, dirt and street are too different. But man are they both fun!

I do feel it makes for better riders all around, having honed my skills since the young age of 5 on the local tracks i feel alot more confident and relaxed about my surroundings than the "noob" who has just purchased his first bike. I know how the bike is going to react in certain situations, and have learned how to get out and away from danger by reading and absorbing my surroundings by always scanning ahead, behind, or to each side, and can always predict before or during what another rider or vehicle is going to do to effect my well being. That being said "Training is the key" the younger you start the better off you will be bar none.

Well, I've never ridden a dirt bike - per se. But I started riding at 16, when my Dad finally allowed me to buy a Vespa scooter. (I wasn't allowed anything that 'looked' like a motorcycle...)
Anyway, being 16 and not having any clue as to what you could and couldn't do on a scooter, and being that all my riding friends obviously had dirt bikes, I used to go riding with them, yep, out in the local woods and dirt tracks.

Now THAT was very useful in learning how not to wipe out on a road bike when riding over gravel, uneven surfaces, and the like.
Yea you where sure doing something not wiping out with those 10" tires on your vespa in the woods, gravel, dirt tracks. Yea just keeping up with your friends with those fast steering small wheels says alot to me. Back in '79 i bought a new 200cc vespa that would do a little over 70mph. I had more fun on that scooter than most the other 20 something bikes i've owned.

http://www.iqconnect.net.au/~stevo/tyre2a.jpg[/QUOTE]

Boy thats one hell of a lean angle and i thought my tyre was bad,but that thkes the cake I have never had the bike over to that extent of wear.:frownthre

Grayfeather.

almost every good GP or road racer also rides or has riden/raced in the dirt...

Same thing with race car drivers, some of the all time greats broke their teeth ont he dirt and still race dirt regularly.

Anytime you are practicing vehicle control on slicker than pavement surfaces, you gain vehicle control, technique, balance and confidence.

....whole other animal........yes................

....But learning how to powerslide........react to a front end washout..........and lay your bike down safely can save your life on the road or track............dirt bike riding is about throttle control.......and so is good road riding.....

...99% of road racing champions started on the dirt...........and most of the top current racers ride dirt bikes as part of their training........:tour

I rode dirt for decades before switching to the street. Your list is right on the money for me too. I did do a little dirt riding on my '03 Sporty. I know Derek rides his in the dirt too. I may be more adventurous with my '05 if I ever get my Progressive Suspension on both ends. The downside is that there is NO WAY I want to drop my Sporty in the dirt, so I'm very slow and careful where I go.:tour

I think it definitely helps with traction control and throttle control. I've never ridden a dirt bike, but I have ridden a lot on gravel and dirt roads. Right after I got my first Harley we graveled the driveway - about 400 feet of 6" deep 1" road base - like riding on golf balls - wheeeee!

My husband grew up riding dirt and he is an amazing street rider. He switched over from dirt to street when he was in his 20s and he is very good.

Me, not so much, but I'm getting better. I had a situation recently where I got onto some pavement with a fine layer of dust/fine gravel and had to stop quickly. I locked up the rear tire, and I'm pretty sure my gravel experience was what gave me the cojones to ride it out and not high-side. The key was light steering (basically, not fighting the bike as it whipped back and forth) and steady throttle.

From my dirt riding experience, I gained confidence in handling a motorcycle. I also learned what happens if you screw up: two compression fractures in my back.

It only took a couple days of riding to get over the sensation of wanting to stick my foot out around corners.

I also think my dirt riding experience saved me from a spill on one of my first riding adventures. Went camping in Northern Michigan. Pulled the bike down a sandy fire trail where we were camping just off real roads. When the rear of the bike got squirrelly at low speeds in soft dirt/sand, I had the presence of mind to goose the throttle. Straightened the bike right up.

I shave my head and I'm willing to cut anyone's hair for free. I'm good at it, just stop by my house.

BTW, I only know one haircut, so that's what you'll get.

The help was in learning how to fall. I came of the dirt bike enough times to learn how and what to do in a variety of situations.

I shave my head and I'm willing to cut anyone's hair for free. I'm good at it, just stop by my house.

BTW, I only know one haircut, so that's what you'll get.

:D :D :D :D

Anybody heard of King Kenny Roberts, or Bubba Shobert?!?!?!?!?!
Both VERY GOOD dirttrackers that went on to Brilliant road racing careers. In fact Roberts is one of the all time Greats to ever straddle a bike!
If you never saw him ride....dirt or pavement....you don't know what you missed!

Learned to ride on a Hodaka 90 Ace. Gave me the co-ordination of hand and feet skills that one needs to propel 2 gyros with an engine between them down the road. Anyone remember a Hodaka 90 Ace not a Rat

Learned to ride on a Hodaka 90 Ace. Gave me the co-ordination of hand and feet skills that one needs to propel 2 gyros with an engine between them down the road. Anyone remember a Hodaka 90 Ace not a Rat


....Yeah I remember em.........:) ..........Loved Hodakas when I was a youngun......My best mate had an ace and we flogged the shit out of it...........but we couldn't kill it.........I lusted after a super rat but never got one.........:( .....

.....Montesa's..........CZ.........Huskys .......and the mighty Maico........those were the days.......:D

....Yeah I remember em.........:) ..........Loved Hodakas when I was a youngun......My best mate had an ace and we flogged the shit out of it...........but we couldn't kill it.........I lusted after a super rat but never got one.........:( .....

.....Montesa's..........CZ.........Huskys .......and the mighty Maico........those were the days.......:D

Those were the days indeed!

Can you say Combat Wombat? ;)


Bart

Those were the days indeed!

Can you say Combat Wombat? ;)


Bart

I'm afraid so !!!!!!!!!!!:roflblack Old F $^@' s we are:D

I'm afraid so !!!!!!!!!!!:roflblack Old F $^@' s we are:D

Yeah. Thanks for reminding me :laugh :p :doh


Bart

Never owned a dirt bike but rode a 305 Honda Super Chicken (Hawk) with a 4" knobby on the rear in the dirt sometimes. I only let women cut my hair and never met a bald one yet.

When I first started out on the Sporty I had some trouble adapting. I'd come form a dirt bike and ATV background and I was trying to muscle the bike and me around too much.

I'm an old dirt rider from way back and for me it's a mixed bag,some of the dirt skills help others hinder.
As you noticed you can't muscle a road bike around like you do a dirt bike,Sportys are light compared to a touring bike.
Going to an Eglide is when I really had to break some of my old dirt bike habbits and do some relearning even after a couple hundred thousand miles on lighter Harleys.

I rode street for 6-7 years until I kissed the bumper of a '68 Chevy Impala in 1972. Until then, I never had many problems...after that summer, I sold the street bike and bought a dirt bike. Started woods riding, ended up racing enduros and hare scrambles for about 10-12 years until the knees started giving me the heave hoe....
So... to answer question, yes dirt bike riding has given me a new set of tools to apply to riding. However I do believe that off road riding does not make one a better street rider. I know there are guys out there who have a lot of experience on the street that are excellent riders.
It is common sense, logic, and attention to your surroundings that make one a good rider.

I think learning how to handle an out of control bike which is what the big slide around the turns on a flat track really are .really helps on the street when you encounter slippery situations I think it also gives confidence and better reaction to situations that cause alot of new riders to bite the asphalt. also riding in a pack of bikes going hell bent for leather at close quarters helps with reaction to close calls with traffic. one of the reasons I bought the sporty is because to me the roadster feels like a giant dirt bike and I feel more confident ripping it up on the sporty than any other street bike I ever owned .
I sold my kx 250 last summer because at 46 years old it hurts alot more to bite the dirt than it did at 16. now I am looking for a milder dual purpose bike maybe like a klr to ride the forest service roads .
as for barbers , im so bald wood ticks get blisters on there feet trying to hang on my head . screw 10.00 hair cuts , thats about 4 gallons of gas I can put in my bike:smoke

i believe it helped with with braking more than anything else. learned how to use and trust the front brake and brake efficiently. a person with dirt experience will most likely be able to out brake a strickly street rider, which could save yer ass for sure. also helps in keeping focused and concentrated. especially is you have racing experience.

I hadn't seen this poll before...

I voted yes it helped, but after more reflection it didn't help that much I guess...

I can't do a wheelie on my Sporty like I could on a dirt bike :(
35yrs and a realization that I'm mortal may contribute though

Gazza

..If you follow the logic that dirt riding wont give you skills that will improve your road riding.........

..Then you'd have to say that driving a car on dirt roads and rally driving wont improve your road driving........right??

..I KNOW that my dirt riding background has made me a better road rider......

..If you follow the logic that dirt riding wont give you skills that will improve your road riding.........

..Then you'd have to say that driving a car on dirt roads and rally driving wont improve your road driving........right??

..I KNOW that my dirt riding background has made me a better road rider......


yeah but maybe that only works if ya can actually ride ..... :shhhh ;)

yeah but maybe that only works if ya can actually ride ..... :shhhh ;)


...I didn't think of that.........:laugh :laugh .......


..Oy Stevo.......you wouldn't happen to have a spare avatar on you would ya...........

..My roos got banned for being too vulgar...????........what tha.....:(


..I'm such a badass mofo........:D

...I didn't think of that.........:laugh :laugh .......


..Oy Stevo.......you wouldn't happen to have a spare avatar on you would ya...........

..My roos got banned for being too vulgar...????........what tha.....:(


..I'm such a badass mofo........:D

What? Didn't like the one I made for ya? :D

...I didn't think of that.........:laugh :laugh .......


..Oy Stevo.......you wouldn't happen to have a spare avatar on you would ya...........

..My roos got banned for being too vulgar...????........what tha.....:(


..I'm such a badass mofo........:D


I wondered how long before someone twigged what they were up to...


how about this one.......??????

I wondered how long before someone twigged what they were up to...


how about this one.......??????


...Hhhmmm...........well he's fat and he's angry and he probably likes "girl" sheep...........

..So there's three things we have in common............:D

only street bikes. Only thing I rode on dirt was Horses...

I think my dirt experience helps. However you have to learn new skills for the road.

One habit that I had to break from dirt riding was not using the front brake. I never used my front brake. Half the time the front tire wasn't touching the ground anyway. I used to ride a thumper and used a lot of throttle and rear brake to manuever.

I was painfully reminded of that habit in the MSF course when they would create a panic situation and I just jammed on the rear brake. oops!

I use my front brakes for nearly all stops now. Making sure I develop a good street habit and burying a bad one.

There are many times riding dirt bikes, that you NEVER put your feet down, however wrote that has never rode in the dirt. If you ride dirt bikes you are going to crash, and you find out, that is dependent to how fast you are riding. All of us who rode in the dirt know that it helped us on the pavement. Just like riding the Sportster, if you have to ask, then you won't understand.

Reb

Yes, for sure it helped me on the LA freeway one time. Having done MX racing before, applied the same techniques when someone did something stoopid & a collision couln't be avoided.

Laid him down sideways on both wheels before impact. Instant reaction learned from MX days minimized the impact to a few broken bones rather than the alternative.

Regards,
Bob G

if it was not for the dirt i would have never got one for the street. dave

My first inclination was "no, it didn't help", but basically because dirt and street do require different skills, not just hand/eye/feet coordination.

That said, there's plenty of times that knowing how a bike handles in the dirt has gotten me out of more than one potentially bad situation on the street. (Like when the pavement suddenly ends as you come around a corner...)

I still think I learned a lot more about riding on the street from the MSF course the Air Force made me take before they'd let me ride on base. (And that's after I'd been riding a number of years).

JC

I had never been on a street bike until I sat on my Sporty, only dirt. I have rode in some pretty crazy places, that I know helped me when I got on the street. Without my YZ, I probably would never have got my Sporty.


Joe

I have no dirt riding experience, but I've read that it really helps to get used to low-traction situations (e.g. gravel, rain) on a lighter dirt bike. Seems like it's better to dump a 200-pounder while figuring out how to steer with a bit of throttle and a slipping rear tire than to drop close to 600 lbs (depending on chrome and other bling) of Sportster while learning.

I know I'm not a big fan of gravel parking areas and you never know when you're gonna run into that dirt-road detour...

I agree. Losing front, rear, or both traction and how to react is something I experienced every time I hopped on my dirt bike. I see it happening a whole lot less on the street, but the reaction is instintive. Thank God I don't have to worry about tree stumps in the tall grass on my sporty (picture me flying like superman over the bars) :tour

I love to ride, but I am sort of clumsey and have to be more careful than most people.

But I to ride.

My dirt riding and racing experiences continue to pay off every day that I am on the Harley.

it helped a lot !!
did a lot of street bike made into drit bikes
let me tell you jumping 400 lb of bike fun but landing :frownthre fun
street tires in mud sucks ASH
tryed riding in snow one time 1/2 riding = about a week of pain

but if you JUST RIDE TO THE BARs to look cool then having mud on ones
self seems not to get you layed

as for skills just ride it will come or you'll kill yourself :doh

Yeah dirt, crashing into trees, bushes and each other was better then cars, trucks and buildings. softer landings too!

Oh and one more thing that isn't in the poll but I've always wondered...Can you really trust a bald barber? :dunno

Well, NEVER trust a man who can't trust his own pants. When they have a belt AND suspenders, they can't be sure of too much.........