I didn't ride dirt bikes as a kid but I wish I had

After some discussion, we came to realize that none of us actually grew up riding dirt bikes, and now that we know what we were missing, we all really wish we had.

So what exactly were we missing out on? Riding in the dirt teaches things that street riding can’t. If you learn some of those lessons and skills at a young age, I think that sets you up for success as a rider of any discipline.

Learning to live without traction

The biggest and most obvious benefit of riding in the dirt is learning bike control when you have less than optimal traction. As a street rider used to the very different amount of traction you have on tarmac, when I started getting into the dirt a few years back, I quickly realized I had to become comfortable with the bike feeling all “loosey goosey.”

In the dirt, the tires lose traction all the time, from braking, accelerating or cornering forces. Rough terrain means the bike may get bucked up in the air or get crazy out of line beneath you, but you eventually learn how to just let it dance and regain control.

That kind of loss of traction almost never happens on the street, but it certainly can, and when it does it can be terrifying to an inexperienced rider. Gravel, sand, wet leaves, an unexpected bump, spilled oil or fuel can all cause a slide. A rider with dirt experience, who has lost traction many times, will be better prepared to handle those situations.

Going back to Kenny Roberts 40 years ago, some of the best road racers of our time have been motocrossers or flat-trackers before switching over to the pavement. Today, Marc Márquez races flat track as part of his training, and quite well I might add. And nobody saves more slides on asphalt than Márquez. Additionally, Valentino Rossi, a.k.a. The Doctor, a.k.a. The GOAT, rides a variety of dirt disciplines at his VR46 training camp.

Another fun part about the difference between dirt and asphalt traction is enjoying the contrast when you're back on a street bike. When I ride with the infamous “Spurgeon from RevZilla” of video fame, it's usually off-road. Well, when we changed things up and went to a track day, it was an entirely different experience. Holy traction! We were far more aggressive, pushed harder in the corners, and we hung off the bikes at every opportunity. The contrast pushed us to use more of the potential of the motorcycles, suspension and tires. We had a blast!

Crashing sucks, but less in the dirt

Crashing is a normal part of riding off-road. That may not sound like fun, but these crashes are typically accompanied by laughter, not tears. All of us crash when we’re out in the woods at one point or another — it’s usually hilarious and pretty much unavoidable. More often than not, the rider and bike are just fine. You just have to brace yourself for all the ball-busting that ensues — at least if you have riding buds like mine.

I'm not saying all crashes are harmless. Remember that friend I mentioned earlier, Paul? Yeah, I’ve taken him to the ER three times myself. Like I said, we all have that one friend...

Crashing on the street, however, is rarely something to laugh about. Not for your bike and not for your body. Speeds are usually faster, surfaces are unforgiving and obstacles are numerous. I enjoy riding on the street and I commute regularly, ride on weekends and love dragging some knee at the track. But the stakes are generally higher.

To get back to riding as a kid, there's another factor here. As an adult… let me start over. As a 30-year-old child, I’ve come to realize that I don’t bounce back from injury quite as fast as I once did. I was pretty fearless as a kid. Now nobody wants to see a child get hurt, especially parents in these safety-conscious times. But consider that a few relatively harmless crashes as a kid could teach skills that will prevent a more serious crash later in adulthood on the pavement. Maybe those childhood bumps and bruises are a good investment. I sometimes wish I had gotten all my “what you’re not supposed to do” crashes out of the way when I was a small fry. Instead, I whisky-throttle myself into trees on the weekends and have to think about what I’ve done as I sit, sore, at my desk all week.

The pure joy of riding

In addition to the lessons I could have learned if I had ridden dirt bikes as a child, I think of the fun I missed. Nothing puts a grin on my face more than riding a dirt bike. When I'm off-road, I'm typically riding with a few of my riding buddies and sharing the experience makes it more fun. Something about being on the trails makes me feel like a kid again, going on an adventure with my pals. No speed limits or distracted drivers to worry about. Wheelies whenever I want.

I enjoy riding on the street and the track, but it takes a different level of focus, mental strength, and money! I feel a bit more of the pure joy of riding when I'm out on the trails. I simply wish I'd had the chance to start enjoying that sooner in life.

So why didn’t I grow up riding dirt bikes?

Well, let me start by saying that I wholeheartedly believe that moms make the world go ‘round, and with that, they also have the power to bring your world to a screeching halt.

My grandfather had a motorcycle shop in his younger days, so my mom grew up around bikes. She also had a lot of friends suffer some serious injuries or worse as a result. I think that's why she was against me having a dirt bike or any two-wheeled machine. Did you ever get the “While you’re living under this roof, you’ll abide by my rules” speech? Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Stern but fair.

I would constantly beg my mom to let me get a dirt bike. Eventually, thinking it was safer, my folks settled on a four-wheeler. The ironic part is that I flipped that four-wheeler at least twice a week. Just think about being 12 years old and watching a giant machine that was, just moments ago, so much fun, and now it’s trying to kill you. I never said a word about it to my folks. I was too fearful they wouldn’t let me ride that, either.

So, what if, like me, you didn't have the good fortune to grow up on a dirt bike?

It's not too late: Get a dirt shredder

Maybe learning at a young age is ideal, but learning at any age is still good. Consider getting off the tarmac and out on the trails. Dirt riding skills will serve you well in all kinds of riding and you might find a new kind of fun and a different way to enjoy motorcycling. You might as well start now, because you’re only getting older.

Off-road riding can be cheap. Spurgeon has already showed us how much fun you can have with $1,000 and then you can pass the fun on to another rider. If you're looking for trail rides in your area, Spurgeon put together a list of some resources and I've found this site to be handy.

Maybe, like myself and many of my other riding compadres, you didn't grow up riding dirt bikes — but it’s never too late to start!