Offroading Schools.

[TazDaz]

Has anyone ever taken part in an offroading school, and in particular in the South of England?

I've never riden offroad (other than a PW80 when I was a kid) and I'm interested in having a crack at it sometime.

Any reviews, advice, links are much appreciated.

Cheers

[tigersaw]

What kind of off road?
I've been to Goldings Barn in Sussex which was pretty good for a days motocross tuition, and since moving to Hampshire heard good things about Tonymoto in Winchester, but never been.
Have started attended the TRF southern meets (Eastleigh) to make a few contacts as well

[TazDaz]

What kind of off road?
I've been to Goldings Barn in Sussex which was pretty good for a days motocross tuition, and since moving to Hampshire heard good things about Tonymoto in Winchester, but never been.
Have started attended the TRF southern meets (Eastleigh) to make a few contacts as well

Firstly it would be generally learning how to ride an offroad machine on an offroad surface. Eventually I would like to get involved with the trail riding, but feel I'd need some experience in a more controlled environment first!

Cheers for the Tonymoto name, never heard of it before but it's right down the road from me!

[speedplay]

Get out there on the trails with someone who has done it before.
Look on the offroad forums and join others in your area.
Most people have been in the same situation before and will happily let you tag along for the ride.
The best way to learn is to actually do it.

[wow]

http://www.adventureridingacademy.com/

in east sussex with patsy quick first woman to do paris-dakar :D

[sunshine]

my mates use BMW in wales, its a bit of traveling but they think its worth it. Simon Pavey is a great off road rider tho.

I have never done a day training and used to race before my shoulder got shattered, its all about good clutch and brake control also keeping a good balance on the pegs.
rent yourself a couple of motocross bikes and i can give you a lesson if you find a track near you that i can find without getting lose, i would use my own bike but it got smashed up last time i used it.

[the_lone_wolf]

http://www.adventureridingacademy.com/

in east sussex with patsy quick first woman to do paris-dakar :D

Desert Rose got a good rep when the KTMforum folks did a day trip:

http://www.ktmforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37795

There's also the BMW off-road centre somewhere which also gets a good word, the downside being I think they prefer it if you ride BMWs...;)

Suzuki also have an off-road school, not sure of the specifics but I saw a leaflet in my local Suzuki dealers advertising it...


I'd still say get a cheap bike and find some local folks who do it though, it's not hard to pick up so long as you have the basic bike balance and control sorted. Prepare to fall off a bit learning and have a laugh:cool:

[TazDaz]

I got majorly distracted by a few avatars/sigs in the thread linked within the link you gave TLW! :)

[the_lone_wolf]

I got majorly distracted by a few avatars/sigs in the thread linked within the link you gave TLW! :)

Ah yes, oopsie, they're a bit slack on the moderating over there...

That's the Adventure section too, the refined more mature lot:eek:

[fizzwheel]

I did one a few years ago. It was a Honda off road experience day on a Moto Cross track near Dorchester.

I havent seen it advertised in MCN for a while though. It was an excellent day out. We have a breifing in the morning and then some observed rides around the course and then were just left to get on with it. Ride as much or as little as you wanted. The instructors were there and would give advice / guidance if you asked for it. As long as you werent riding in a way to hurt yourself they left us to it. We were told to stay off of the CRF450's though as we were novices. I spent the day of a 250 and it was a great laugh.

I was completely knackered at the end of the day and I ached for a few days afterwards, it was very physically tiring.

[sunshine]

bmw let you crash there 650GS's i might go with my mates next time they go so i can see how much damage i can do to it.

yes its very physically tiring if your doing it for a few hours in a day for fun, next try the 6 hour endurance races(i was too young for the 12 hour races), thats tiring!

I miss motocrossing, org day out motocrossing sometime, i bet i spend the most time on the floor!

[TazDaz]

Cheers for the replies all.

The BMW courses in Wales are looking like the best option as you get 2 days of riding and I haven't been to Wales in ages! Quite expensive, but the reviews on various websites do rate it quite highly!

[Red Herring]

With so many off road centres operating it would be daft not to take advantage of one of them to get a feel for it and see if you enjoy it. If you do and decide to commit the best way to develop your experience is to get a road legal trail bike and go and explore the green lanes, plus you can do "track days" at you local motor cross venue for around £25. A trail bike worth having is going to cost you upwards of £1000 plus don't forget you need to get some boots, an offroad helmet and goggles/gloves, Oh and a jet wash! The next step is to buy something more competition oriented but just remember that usually equals more expensive and more frequent maintenance plus you will need to consider how you get it about, so a van/trailer/rack becomes another expense.

[Fizzy Fish]

I spent a day with these guys:
http://www.tracksense.co.uk/offroad.htm

Their centre is based at Heathrow and it was a really good fun day, with some cool stuff like jumps as well :D

[sunshine]

red herring would you be interesting in doing the dakar then?
I lack the skill and money and im still a bit young to die trying to win :D

[beabert]

I fancy having a go at this too

[Mej]

Has anyone ever taken part in an offroading school, and in particular in the South of England?

I've never riden offroad (other than a PW80 when I was a kid) and I'm interested in having a crack at it sometime.

Any reviews, advice, links are much appreciated.

Cheers

been looking for a one of these for me and my bro, did some reaserch the other week i will post up some links.

Edit: Links

Yamaha Schools: Off-Road Experience (http://www.yamaha-schools.co.uk/)

Motorcycle Racing and Bike Riding Experience Days (http://www.experiencemad.co.uk/Motorcycle-Racing/) Motocross Experience, Off Road Biking, Motor Cycling (http://www.exelement.co.uk/experience/motocross-experience-27.php)

Hare and Hounds and Enduro Tryout Days: Race Experience (http://www.worevents.co.uk/getting_started.html) ENDURO | Mick Extance Offroad Experience (http://mickextanceoffroad.com/events/enduro-days-weekends/)

Enduro motorcycle riding in Spain. Andalucian Trail Tours TrailWorld. Off Road Experience Holidays. Trail riding in Spain. Challenging adventure riding in Spain. (http://www.andaluciantrailtours.com/elgrandeadventure.html)

Redtread - Professionally Guided Offroad Motorcycle Tours (http://www.redtread.com/meet_the_dakar_tour.php)

Welcome to Ady Smith - KTM Off-Road and Supermoto Schools (http://www.adysmith.co.uk/)

[tigersaw]

mmm, I'm fancying the readtread short week...

[Red Herring]

red herring would you be interesting in doing the dakar then?
I lack the skill and money and im still a bit young to die trying to win :D

No chance... Patsy Quick came down a did a talk at a club I'm a member of a week before she was due to go and take part in the Dakar. She even bought her bike along and let us have a go around the car park (how trusting was that). Awesome event and well out of my league...
Have a mate who had a go at an Optic 2000 event over three or four days in the desert, which might be more attainable, otherwise I just fancy a riding holiday in Tunisia.....

[sunshine]

well if i can ever afford the £100K needed to do it, im going to do it, it was out of Charlie Boorman's league but he still tried!

Didn't it take Patsy Quick 2 attempts to finish?

[Messie]

Here's a link to some pics of an off road day a couple of us did two eyars ago. Just off J1 of the M25

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=104605

[Red Herring]

The Dark Dog Moto Tour is more my cup of tea....maybe next year...

[sunshine]

if i get a new bike some practice and steal next doors camper van and bike trailer i might do some races again next year. but im into long endurance races more tiring but so much fun!

[Mej]

finally booked the yam one so i'll post up a little review when i get done.

[Orpheus]

Ive been thinking i want to do something like this. Just basically ride a bike off road, im not to fussed about doing jumps and stuff, plus i dont think my knee would take it.