How to Land a Jump on a Dirt Bike

Dirt-bike riding has a rich heritage of being a popular adrenaline-pumping, death-defying and physics-bending sport. Jumping a dirt bike can be one of the most exciting and dangerous activities that a person can undertake. It takes a firm understanding of how the bike works, built on a strong foundation of hands-on experience in order to jump successfully. When you take the proper precautions and have earned up the confidence to give it a try, anyone can learn how to jump a dirt bike and enjoy their landings safely.

Things You'll Need

  • Dirt bike
  • Motocross helmet
  • Motocross boots
  • Motocross gloves
  • Motocross chest guard
  • Motocross pants or jeans
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Instructions

  1. Jumping Procedures

    • 1

      Align your positioning so that the foot pegs of the dirt bike are centrally located beneath the middle of your feet. This will allow for proper access to the back break and the shift lever.

    • 2

      Stand up and grip the dirt bike using your inner legs. Then bend your knees a little so that your back is arched slightly and keep your elbows forward with your head positioned a little over the front of the handlebars.

    • 3

      Check to make sure that there are no other riders around you and that the jump path is clear of any obstructions. Then align the bike so that your takeoff path is straight and centered with the middle of the jump. Once you are satisfied, accelerate the dirt bike by pulling back on the throttle. Ensure that you have enough speed to successfully launch the dirt bike.

    • 4

      Pull back on the handlebars at the lip of the jump, hold on tight, and launch the dirt bike into the air. Keep the throttle pulled back slightly while you are still in the air to keep the wheels spinning. Ensure that your elbows are out and your wrists are properly aligned straight with the handlebars to evenly distribute the landing pressure throughout your shoulders, arms and chest.

    • 5

      Pinpoint and aim for the most desirable landing location. If there is another jump or landing ramp available, land the bike on its front wheel. If there isn't, land the bike on its rear wheel. This will avoid a flat landing on both wheels that could cause an imminent crash. If you did everything correctly, you will have landed safely and can move on to trying out bigger and better jumps.