See what I mean? Wait until it's 30+ºC under a hot sun...

If you are totally new to trail riding about the most important thing is to not focus on what's about to happen under your front tyre, but instead to keep your vision 50m or more in front.

Secondly, the only thing that keeps you and the bike upright is the gyroscopic effect of the rotating wheels, the slower you go, the less they rotate, and the more likely you are to fall, so around 10mph should be your minimum.

And if you want some light entertainment, have a look at 2mins 40 secs on the video below.


Big Rock Moto: Honda CRF300L Rally Full Test

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Hi Tim as always really appreciate you taking the time to reply very helpful.

Yep I totally get what you meant now! I'll be looking onto layering gear once I start doing a lot more trail riding. Even with the vents open on the Badlands I was roasting. I can see me changing the kit. It's so fun learning.

That's a really good tip on speed once I realised that yesterday I started going over things that were way more difficult alot easier once my confidence grew was a few points where i went nice and steady though an used the clutch to modulate the pace rather,than the first video where I was ping pinging off rocks it actually really surprised me just how capable the crf is, an it's light enough that if you need to push it it's easy enough to move about can understand why rtwpaul used the ktm 500 now it's amazing how things start to go aah!

Funny you should mention Ian, Tim his videos and him showing that even though he's so experienced convinced me to film my experience learning to trail ride. Showing all the bits where I'm a bit nervous and stuff as it might help inspire a few others to have a go.

Ians videos, Nathan Millward'a an Dave Darcys Motorcycle adventure dirt bike TV are excellent to watch on the Rally

Looking forward to getting some training with dad once we've got our house move done to either North Cornwall or Dumfries and Galloway.

Hi everyone hope we are all well, in todays video I managed to complete my first Green lane on my Honda CRF 300 Rally I'm a total beginner at green laning an it's been really interesting having a go.

I went to Houndkirk Moor again where I'd tried a tiny section from Foxhole through the first 2 gates, everything in my mind was screaming what's this when the bike was moving about after years spent road riding.

Firstly I rode to the other end of the trail on the road to have a little look and having a walk up a bit after two packs of enduro bikes came down I actually got a bit nervous to the point I thought is this even what I want to be doing, it's amazing how doubts and things can creep in. I decided to just relax for a bit and just collect myself then rode back to the foxhole end as I'd already muddled my way through the first bit of that the day before.

After a few moments talking to myself in my mind I set off an did a bit more and a bit more doing a small section then having a break while having a little look at what line to take, so I didn't get to tired and completed another bit an another bit then I was at the view point an progressed a lil bit more an before I knew it with a little more pace I was going over things rather than ping ponging at slow speed. An before I knew it I was having amazing fun, occasionally the self doubt creeped back in and I'd have a break collect myself and then carry on often chatting with walkers and cyclists on the green lane as I was the only one up there by this point.

By the end of it I'd managed my first Green lane not dropped the Rally and feel very optimistic about the future for this sort of riding as its opening up an entire new world of riding. Before the trip to Norway, Iceland and Morocco next year, I'll get some some 2-1 training with dad so we can learn some new skills.

Hopefully doing this video series showing from being very nervous yesterday as your mind is screaming no when the bikes moving around to starting to really enjoy it exciting times and I'm looking forward to my next go on one. Gonna order some new barkbusters later on today.

https://youtu.be/RUGejswdOsU

A high percentage of biking gear is black, but if you are headed for Morocco, the last thing you want is a jacket with black shoulders and back.

So I wear a silver Rev'it mesh jacket. Silver keeps the solar gain down, and the mesh lets air straight through. In winter days I ride with an electric jacket underneath, and on rainy days with a lightweight waterproof shell jacket on top.


One of my favourite home videos featuring Rosie outpacing my KTM 690 Enduro.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

thanks for sharing Tim looks like Rosie is having the absolute time of her life in the clip looks a beautiful place to ride to.

Thanks for the tip as well that's a good idea regards brighter stuff, the badlands has got black shoulders and it was really catching the heat yesterday so could only imagine how hot it'd be over in Morocco least I can suss some of this stuff out now before next year

I wouldn't mind having a go at some classic trials one day Turbo could be a good way to gain some extra skills.

Temperatures in Morocco can be extreme, I once experienced 43ºC in October! Once the temperature rises to around 40ºC you will find you'll have to close the helmet visor otherwise it's like having a powerful hairdryer playing into your face. So other ventilation is important and the best helmet I have found is the modular (convertible) Nolan N70-2 X.

It's the only helmet I'm aware of that you can switch from full face to open face, whilst still retaining the deep visor and the sun peak, and of course it also has an in-built sunvisor. Review.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Thanks again Tim I'll check that helmet out sounds interesting

Good day today 300 miles to an around Llanberis 10 hours of riding very content with the Rally.

All ran in now to 600 miles so there won't be an update till after the 15th.

Was actually suprising just how smooth it was at 60-70.

Overall very happy with the Rally and the more I'm riding it the more an more I'm enjoying it.

Regarding jackets, I have a silver mesh jacket for regular summer. The mesh is quite heavy grade so it's pretty abrasion resistant. Then when it gets too hot for that I switch to my on/off road Alpinestars mesh jacket which is only rated to 30kmh on pavement because it's thinner and lighter (with white shoulders). Then when it gets too hot for that, I switch to a white long sleeved t-shirt and try to avoid crashing. Then when it gets too hot for that I switch to a textile jacket with all the vents closed and soak myself in water on the inside every 30-45 mins.

Obviously this is just for my commute, can't take all that stuff on a long trip - for that my best compromise has been the Alpinestars jacket, an army surplus goretex jacket to go over it, and a good wooly jumper to go under it when it's cold.

Anyway, glad you're enjoying the Honda ... it's a good idea to clock up as many off road miles as you can now to get more relaxed. For riding guidance the trail riders' fellowship is very handy.

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FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...

As someone coming from an off-road riding background this is very odd to read - a useful off-road skill is to be able to stop, static balance a bike for a bit, and set off again (along with full-lock turns at less than walking pace, for example), however I'll admit that these aren't things for absolute beginners

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FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...