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Have you ever watched experienced trials riders and seen them pause on a rock, completely still? It can look like a magic trick. I can promise you, it's a deep skill set built over a long time.
Getting to that point is a process, but it all comes down to some core ideas. These are my top tips for trials riding: balance, control, and patience. If you've ever felt frustrated with your motorcycle, you are in the right place.
I know that feeling all too well from when I first started riding trials. You will learn the same principles that completely turned my riding around. Let's get started on improving your trials riding skills.
Everything in this sport begins with balance. You can have the most powerful trials bike on the market, but without balance, that power is useless. It's the silent skill that separates beginners from the best trials riders.
Before you can move with confidence, you must learn to be still. This may sound backward, but the static balance, or track stand, is a foundational skill. It's one of the first things you should learn if you want to ride trials effectively.
Find a flat, open piece of ground to practice. With the bike running, turn your handlebars fully to one side. This creates a stable, wide base and makes it easier to maintain balance.
Gently apply pressure to the front brake to hold the bike steady, but be ready to release it. Your primary tool for adjustment here is your clutch control. You will use the clutch to make tiny movements forward and backward to stay over the bike's balance point.
Your goal is to stay upright without putting a foot down for as long as possible. Initially, you might only last a couple of seconds, and that is perfectly fine. The key is consistent practice; your body and brain are learning to make thousands of micro-adjustments without conscious thought.
Your body is the single heaviest component of the rider and motorcycle system. Where you place your weight directly influences how the trial bike behaves. Think of your body as the primary steering input.
The correct basic body position involves standing on the pegs with your knees slightly bent and your head up. Your elbows should be up and away from your body, not tucked in. This "attack" position gives you maximum leverage and the ability to react quickly to changes in terrain.
When you need to shift your weight, initiate the movement from your hips. Pushing your hips left or right will steer the bike without you needing to turn the handlebars much at all. This technique of shifting weight is a subtle but powerful way to maintain your line on tricky ground.
This advice sounds incredibly simple, but it is one of the hardest habits for a new bike rider to build. Your motorcycle has a natural tendency to go where your eyes are looking. This is a fundamental aspect of all off-road riding, from trail riding to trials.
If you stare directly at the slippery root you want to avoid, you will almost certainly hit it. It's a classic case of target fixation that trips up many people who have just started riding. You must train yourself to look ahead, toward the exit of a section or over the top of an obstacle.
Fix your gaze on your intended path. Your brain will automatically begin to coordinate your body and the controls to get you there. As the bike turns, keep your head and eyes pointed toward your destination, not down at the front wheel.
Balance gets you through a section. Good control lets you do it with grace and efficiency. It is the art of making the motorcycle do precisely what you want, exactly when you want it to, which requires a delicate touch.
These three controls are how you communicate with your motorcycle, and fluency is the goal. For riding trials, you almost always use just one finger for the clutch and one for the front brake. This allows for incredibly fine modulation and good control over the machine.
You rarely just dump the clutch or grab a handful of brake. Instead, you will feather them, constantly making micro-adjustments to manage traction and power. This mastery of clutch control is what allows for the slow, crawling pace needed in challenging sections.
The throttle is not a simple on/off switch either; it is a rheostat for precise power. A quick blip of the throttle can lift the front wheel over a log, while a smooth throttle at low RPMs can pull you up a slippery, muddy hill. It is a constant dance between these three inputs that defines a rider's skill level.
Jerky, abrupt movements are the enemy of traction and stability. Any sudden input, whether it's a grab of the throttle, a jab at the brakes, or a violent shift in body position, can upset the chassis. This often leads to a loss of grip, a foot down, and a point in an observed trials event.
Practice being smooth in every single action you take on the bike. Roll on the throttle gently from a closed position. Squeeze the brake levers progressively instead of grabbing them. Shift your body weight with fluid, deliberate motions.
Being smooth does not mean you have to be slow. Advanced riders can be incredibly quick, but I've noticed their inputs remain perfectly smooth. This preserves precious traction and keeps the motorcycle stable and predictable under you.
Many beginners don't realize that you steer with your feet just as much, if not more, than with your hands. Applying pressure to the footpegs is a core concept that fundamentally changes how you approach riding. It is one of the most important riding techniques to learn.
To initiate right tight turns, for example, you apply more weight and pressure to your right footpeg. This action creates bike lean, guiding the motorcycle into the corner. It is far more effective and stable than just yanking on the handlebars, especially on loose or uneven surfaces.
This principle also applies to gaining traction. When climbing, you can consciously push down on the pegs to help the rear tire dig in and find grip. Learning to use your pegs is a form of "body english" that gives you a much deeper connection to what the bike is doing.
We have covered the physical skills of balance and control. However, there is a third, mental element that ties everything together. Frankly, the mental game might be the most critical part of this entire equation.
You can understand the physics of balance and have incredible throttle control. But without patience, you will inevitably hit a plateau and likely become too frustrated to continue. This sport tests your mind just as much as it challenges your body.
Do you know how the top professional riders get so good at riding observed trials? They practice the same simple drills over and over again. They spend time on trackstands, slow circles, and figure eights for hours on end.
It can feel boring, I understand. This repetition, however, is building critical muscle memory. It makes complex actions second nature, so you don't have to consciously think about them in a difficult trials competition section.
Set aside dedicated time just for drills and fundamentals. Don't focus only on trying to conquer large obstacles. Devoting practice sessions to your basic body position and control will accelerate your progress faster than
anything else you can do.
| Practice Drill | Main Skill Focus | Why It Helps |
| Static Trackstand | Balance, Clutch Control | Builds the foundation for all slow speed maneuvering and riding slow. |
| Slow Figure Eights | Turning, Shifting Weight | Teaches you to steer with your body, pegs, and body english. |
| Front Wheel Lifts | Throttle/Clutch Burst | The first step to clearing small obstacles like a tree trunk or small rocks. |
| Slow Straight Line | Clutch Feathering | Develops extreme control over the motorcycle's speed for technical terrain. |
| Rear Wheel Pivots | Brake Control, Body Position | An essential skill for making sharp, tight turns in confined spaces. |
Bike trials is a sport of inches and small progressions. One day, you might hold a track stand for five seconds instead of three; that is a huge victory. You need to acknowledge and appreciate that improvement.
If you only measure your success by cleaning an entire section without putting a foot down, you are setting yourself up for frequent disappointment. Instead, focus on small, achievable goals for each practice. Your goal might simply be getting over one specific rock cleanly.
When you achieve that small goal, take a moment to celebrate it. This positive reinforcement is vital for keeping your motivation high. It reminds you that you are making real progress, even if it feels slow sometimes.
You are going to fall, and you are going to fail sections hundreds, if not thousands, of times. That is a normal part of the process and it is not a negative thing. Every time you put a foot down or have to get off the bike, it is a valuable learning opportunity.
Don't just get back on and try the exact same thing again. Stop and think for a moment. Why did that attempt fail? Did I look down at the wrong time? Was I too aggressive with the throttle, or was my body in the wrong position?
Analyzing your mistakes is how you correct them for the next attempt. Each failure gives you a piece of data; use that data to adjust your approach. You can even review photos and videos of your riding to get a better perspective on what needs to change.
Many riders come to trials from other forms of motorcycling. This background can be both a help and a hindrance. Understanding the differences is important for a smooth transition as you learn trials.
If you have experience riding motocross, you're used to using momentum and aggression. With trials bikes, you must learn to rely on technique and precision over speed. The skills of riding slow and maintaining balance at a near-standstill will feel foreign at first compared to handling powerful dirt bikes.
Those with a background in mountain biking, especially technical trail riding, may find the balance aspect more familiar. However, adding a motor, clutch, and significant weight changes the dynamic completely. A trials bike is not a dirt bike or a mountain bike; it's a specialized tool that requires its own set of skills.
Once you master the fundamentals, a whole new level of riding opens up. You can start working on advanced moves that look truly impressive. It is pretty cool to see a rider execute these techniques flawlessly.
Techniques like the wheel hop allow you to move the bike around while on the rear wheel, adjusting your line without rolling forward. Other advanced moves let you launch the bike up huge vertical walls. These skills are built directly upon the foundation of balance and control you develop through basic drills.
One of the best ways to speed up your learning curve is to seek out instruction. Finding qualified trials lessons in your area can make a world of difference. Many experienced riders offer coaching to help you progress.
Becoming a proficient trials rider is a challenging but incredibly rewarding journey. It pushes you to become a better, more thoughtful, and more skilled off-road rider. Every expert was once a beginner, struggling with the very same challenges you might be facing now.
Focus on the fundamentals we have discussed. Applying these top tips for trials riding: balance, control, and patience will build a solid foundation for your skills. This foundation is what all advanced techniques are built upon.
Be kind to yourself during the learning process and enjoy the ride. Practice consistently, celebrate your small victories, and learn from every mistake. Before you know it, you will be the one making it all look like magic.
