Got a new dirt bike? How do you plan to ride it? Riding a dirt bike is a little trickier than riding a traditional two-wheeler, but the enjoyment is the same as usual.

The way you apply your clutch, and shift gears are the key factors for staying upright on a dirt bike. To simplify it, here is a detailed guide that will ensure you can use the clutch lever on a dirt bike without any difficulties or causing any harm to your ride.

Getting To Know The Clutch

On a dirt bike, using the clutch lever correctly is not as complex as many people might think. Right at your bike’s left handlebar, you will find the lever with the clutch perch.

Just pull the clutch lever all the way down until it reaches the handlebar for activating the clutch. Even though it looks similar to the front brake lever, the clutch lever would have a slightly different feel than the one on the opposite side of the handlebar.

Pulling the lever n would feel normal, but it does not have that strong resistance, just like the front brake lever. To see the difference in resistance, try pulling both the left and right levers at the same time and you will find the significant difference.

If you are starting first, then it is a good idea to ride the dirt bike a little slow and feel the clutch movements. The more familiar you are with the clutch mechanism, the more you become a confident rider.

Apart from the stock levers, people even upgrade their levers to hydraulic-based ones that make the clutch movement smoother. So before you start riding it, knowing about the clutch perch systems can help you learn the clutch movement a tad bit faster.

Check Before You Rev

If the engine is already on, you must first pull the clutch all the way in to fully engage the clutch. Then, with your left foot, pick first gear by pressing down on the gear shift lever on the left side of your bike. Don’t worry about the footpegs though, it is just there for resting your feet.

The first thing you will need to ensure before you start riding is to check the path in front of you. The last thing you want to do is let go of the clutch and crash your motorcycle into something that was right in front of you.

Acceleration

When you let the clutch out, throttling very quickly can lead to a very rough start. So, being a little gentle on the accelerator will be the best experience for you.

Do not let go of the clutch at one go. Just keep it simple and release it slowly. If you ‘drop the clutch,’ the engine will most likely stall. Moreover, if the revs are high enough, you might lurch forward and fall off the bike.

You will be able to sense the bike trying to move forward as the clutch lever slowly releases. The engine revs would also drop a little when you pull the lever.

Release it and increase the revs by twisting the throttle handle and just experience the joy of riding a dirtbike.

Changing the Gears

Till now, we’ve been riding on the single gear. But shifting gears is necessary to keep moving forward fast without harming the engine. Before you pull the clutch lever, place your left boot under the gear shift lever to select the right gear.

You can definitely feel the responsiveness of the engine when accelerating, but if you are a new rider, go through the manual to get familiar with the gearing ratio as per the rev range of your motorcycle.

Once your foot is under the gear lever, you are ready to change gears. On a dirt bike, clutch, gear shift lever, and throttle are the three most important things that make the ride an unforgettable experience.

Braking with Clutch

When riding on a dirt bike and swerving your way through, another power comes into play: braking.

First things first: you do not need to hit the clutch every time you hit the brakes, or when shifting gears or coming to a complete stop, you just need to hit the clutch in time.

However, if you slam on the brakes hard enough to slow down and you are going too fast for the selected gear, you may need to downshift to a lower gear.

Conclusion

Now that you’re up and running, hope you shift your gears to perfection! Remember, if you know how to ride a traditional two-wheeler, you will be at an advantage. However, using the clutch correctly is what will make you a pro dirt biker!