Proper preparation is the key to an enjoyable day out on the lanes . Whatever your bike , a few simple modifications will make it better to ride off-tarmac , while choosing the correct gear for yourself will make the difference between and enjoyable day and a miserable one .
Looking at the bike first , you need to get unnecessary weighty and / or fragile components off it . Unless you are actually using them , then items like panniers etc need to come off . Pillion footrests can go , and if they ’ ve gone then mirrors are no longer a legal requirement . It ’ s a good idea to ditch these if you can because many screw into an integrated mount which also holds the clutch or front brake control . An impact on the mirror can end up cracking the mount , disabling the bike and leading to an expensive replacement . If you can ’ t remove the mirrors , remember to turn them inwards when you get to the first trail to reduce the risk of impact .
The levers themselves can be protected from impact by bolt-on guards , and , as a precaution slacken their mount to the handlebars slightly , so they will rotate on impact rather than snap . Tyre choice is crucial , and you need to think carefully about the conditions you will be riding in . The heavier and more powerful the bike , the more of a handful it will be off-tarmac , and the more crucial the right tyre choice becomes .
Most ‘ adventure ’ bikes come with tyres that are heavily biased towards road use , although it may say ‘ Enduro ’ on the sidewall . They are pretty hopeless on anything other than gravel . There are road-legal full knobbly bona fide enduro tyres , which love mud , but their unsupported treads wear rapidly when subjected to the loads imposed by a heavy , powerful bike on tarmac .
Fortunately there are a number of decent ‘ compromise ’ tyres capable of standing up to prolonged road work and still offering decent grip off tarmac . Brand names like Mefo , Heidenau and Mitas may not be quite as familiar to motorcyclists as Bridgestone or Michelin , but their ranges of niche-market tyres offer a number of choices on the spectrum of on-road life v off-road grip .
Most proper adventure bikes have proper metal ‘ bear-trap ’ footrests . These may well have some kind of rubber insert to protect boots and shins , but if you are riding in a muddy or wet environment then these should be removed .
As far a s riding kit goes , the biggest mistake most folk make first time out is to over-dress . Riding a bike on rough terrain is a high-energy activity , particularly if you are not very wellpracticed , so you don ’ t need layer upon layer of clothing to keep you warm . On all but the coldest days , keeping cool is a priority .
You need a decent wicking base layer to get perspiration away from your body , then probably only one ( or none !) layer between that and your jacket .
What you do need though , is protection from falls and impacts . A motocross-style body belt is pretty much essential , and sometimes these are incorporated into ‘ pressure suits ’ that offer armour protection for most of your upper body . Elbow , knee and shoulder protectors are also a good idea , and better protection is offered by the type that strap to your body rather than the kind that is fitted to pockets in your outer clothing .
But probably the most important item of protective clothing you can buy is boots . There are plenty of ‘ adventure-style ’ fashion items on sale now , but the truth is that many of them are not up to the job . Metal footrests will eat their way through the soles as you spend much of the time you are riding off-tarmac standing up , mud and water will destroy glued seams that should have been stitched , and inadequate protection can see you suffering nasty ankle and foot injuries that proper boots would have prevented
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