25 Ways to Avoid Injuries When Riding a Dirt Bike

The most important thing is to stay safe while riding a dirt bike and because of this I show you 25 ways that help you ways to Avoid Injuries while riding a dirt bike.

25 ways to Avoid Injuries When Riding a Dirt Bike (list)

1. Take a course on safety

2. Wear your best protective gear

3. Buy dirt bikes that fit your riding level

4. Maintain your dirt bike

5. Ride in safe places that fit your riding level

6. Don’t ride on railways

7. Don’t ride in the dark

8. Don’t Ride in the Rain

9. Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol

10. Don’t do tricks (until you’re a pro rider)

11. Don’t cross puddles, streams or rivers

12. Don’t ride under the influence of drugs

13. Don’t ride when you are tired

14. Don’t ride with another passenger

15. Don’t ride alone

16. Don’t ride too fast

17. Don’t ride a dirt bike that has mechanical problems

18. Make sure you are visible towards other riders

19. Make sure you have a walkie-talkie or phone

20. Know the limits of your dirt bike

21. Ride in designated dirt biking areas

22. Be 100% focused on the ride itself every time you ride

23. Practice in a safe environment (if you are a beginner rider)

24. Be careful about the inquiries

25. Ride gently on steep hills

Need dirt bike safety gear? Click here to buy safety gear for dirt bike riding on amazon , or go check my sales pages of recommended safety gear page click here to view.

1. Take a course on safety

In almost all countries, there are safety courses taught by trainers, both in groups and in private. Safety courses are usually cheap and very lucrative, and in my opinion, it is just a must for every rider to start taking a safety course because it can simply save lives since the only benefit of taking safety courses is to prepare you for all possible mistakes you can make while riding.

In addition, the safety courses will teach you all the techniques you need to know to ride safely and a perfect opportunity for you to make more new friends. So, I highly recommend you take a safety course.

2. Wear your best protective gear

Protective gear is the most important thing you need put on before you even start driving. Good protective gear can save your life, and as I have already told you that you are going to fall and crush a lot of times, but what matters most is that you should wear safety gear.

Here are all the safety equipment you are required to wear before each ride:

Wear your best quality helmet – The most important protective gear you must wear is a helmet. While a helmet saves about 50 percent of the deaths each year on accidents and reduces the chance of getting a serious head injury by about 85 percent, it can certainly save your life. I will advise that you spend most of your money on a better quality helmet than anything else because it’s definitely the most important thing.

Goggles – The purpose of goggles is to protect your eyes from mud and dirt that fly in the air which significantly improves your vision. Understand that you must put on goggles especially if there are high winds and if you ride at high speeds because you will see that on such days you do not wear goggles, it was just not possible and very difficult to ride in the field (especially on those days when there are winds). This is a big risk that more dirt will fly into your eyes and is very dangerous for riding.

Gloves – Wearing gloves will help you get more stability in your hands and also keep your hands warm from the cold in the winter, and most importantly, keep your hands less hurt when riding.

Boots – Boots are a must-have before every ride to keep your feet safe from serious injuries. You can visit my sales page to see the best boots for dirt bikers click here to view

In general, those are the basic things you need, to keep your body protected from injuries and accidents.

3. Buy dirt bikes that fit your riding level

One of the most common mistakes that beginner riders make is that they buy dirt bikes that do not fit their level. Know that it can be life-threatening to get dirt bikes that do not fit your level.

It is important as a beginner rider to make sure you ride a dirt bike that has an engine range of 250 cc or below because if you are going to ride a dirt bike that has a bigger engine range, it can be life-threatening for you. This is because models with an engine size above 250 cc are super-fast and when you ride as a beginner trying to ride big engines, you will not be able to control the dirt bike because of its speed.

If you are a beginner rider, I would recommend that you get only one of the following dirt bikes…

KTM 150 XCW
Husqvarna TE 150
Yamaha YZ125

KTM 250 EXC
Honda CRF250X

If you want to know everything about getting dirt bikes that fit your level, I have 2 different articles that perfectly explain everything you need to know to get dirt bikes that fit your level.

4. Maintain your dirt bike

Maintaining your dirt bike on a regular basis is simply a must and your responsibility. You will be surprised that it is very dangerous to ride a dirt bike that is not maintained because if you do not maintain your dirt bike to be in good condition, you will experience mechanical problems within the bike that will not only drastically reduce its performance but also significantly jeopardize your safety.

If you fail to maintain your dirt bike, there is a very high chance that one of the parts of your unmaintained bike will just fall apart or stop working while riding it. I personally know a lot of people that this happened to and caused a deadly accident.

In general, you should maintain all these parts regularly, at least every few weeks:

Air Filter –
The Air Filter is the most important and easiest thing to maintain and should be done after every ride. If you want to know why it is important to clean the air filter and how to do it, I highly recommend you read the article I wrote on everything about the Air Filter Click here to view

Check the brakes – It’s important to make sure the brakes work properly which is very easy because you definitely won’t want to ride at high speeds and find out that the brakes just don’t work which can cause a deadly accident. So, it’s important that you check the brake, especially the cushion material that usually does all the works as well as the fluid, and ensures everything is in good working order.

Regular oil change – Usually, engine oil replacement should be done after every ride. If you do not replace the oil regularly, you will see that the engine is significantly damaged which will absolutely cost you a lot of money. If you want to know how to replace oil in your dirt bike engine, I highly recommend you read the guide I wrote on that Click here to view

Check Tire Pressure – You should use a tire pressure gauge to make sure your tires are in good condition and have enough pressure inside.

Check the chain tension – You need to make sure your chain is not too loose and not too tight as it can damage the chain and just break apart in the middle of riding what can be very dangerous.

Clean your dirt bike – Cleaning your dirt bike is important to avoid the rat and hard marks that can form on the frame. If you want your bike to look beautiful, I recommend that you clean it at least once a week or even every day. I also recommend that you read the guide I wrote on cleaning the dirt bike to see how the dirt bike is cleaned click here to view

5. Ride in safe places that fit your riding level

One of the most common mistakes that beginners make is that they start too hard, i.e., they start riding in places and surfaces that do not fit their level, and doing this can be life-threatening.

So, it is important for you to know that there are three (3) levels of riding, namely beginners, medium, and advanced. Below is a brief explanation of all the three (3) levels and all surfaces that fit each riding level and it is important that you identify what riding level you are:

The beginner rider – The beginner rider is a rider who has just started riding a dirt bike and has never experienced dirt bike riding. So, a beginner rider must strictly adhere to all safety rules, and for this type of riders, I would only recommend riding in places and areas such as grass, open terrain, fine sand, and parks.

The medium Rider – The medium Rider is someone that has at least a few months of riding experience and knows a little much about dirt bikes, but with this, he is still relatively inexperienced. So, for medium riders, I recommend riding only on surfaces and places such as forests, places with thick sand, Roads & hills.

The advanced rider – The advanced rider is a rider who has at least a riding time of 6-8 months and is very good at controlling dirt bikes, i.e., can ride alone at high or slow speeds without losing control. Advanced riders can ride anywhere possible such as snow, mud, dunes, unstable mountains, smooth places, and steep falls or even any surface that is even the most dangerous.

It is important that you identify what type of rider you are and that you only ride in places and surfaces that fit your riding level. Do not try to ride in places above your level if you want to stay safe and avoid an accident.

List of things you shouldn’t do while riding a dirt bike

6. Don’t ride on railways

What will surely result in death accident is trying to ride on railways because dirt bikes are not meant for railroads. I’m pretty sure you will never do that, but I still see many people do it and just die from falling or landing on the railways, and the worst thing is that you have a very high chance of making an accident. So, you will always remember not to try to ride on railroads because you have a very good chance of having death accident.

7. Don’t ride in the dark

Riding a dirt bike in the dark is super dangerous and significantly increases your chance of having an accident (50 percent more than the risk of having an accident when riding in the day).

In addition, even though you will be wearing flashlights, they are still not enough to provide you with good lighting you need because you will still have a very hard time seeing obstacles such as stones and rocks, turns and even animals which can be very dangerous. So, riding at night is not very recommended.

If you want to know more information about riding a dirt bike at night, I highly recommend you read the guide I wrote on it click here to view

8. Don’t Ride in the Rain

Riding in the rain is very dangerous and means you can slip easily from your dirt bike which makes it generally much harder to ride in the rain than dry terrain because the surface will be very slippery, and not to mention the pretty big risk that the rain will destroy the interior components of your dirt bike. So, avoid riding in the rain.

If you want to see more information on why riding in the rain is dangerous and not recommended, I highly recommend you check out the article I wrote on it Click here to view

9. Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol

I’m sure this is a pretty obvious tip, but some people still think they can ride while drunk without nothing happening to them. However, maybe they have forgotten that the probability of having a fatal accident while riding with alcohol is 90%. Hundreds of people die every year from alcohol driving. So, you should never ride a dirt bike when you are drunk because it can lead to death.

10. Don’t do tricks (until you’re a pro rider)

Although dirt bikes are trained for tricks and stunts, it is very dangerous for you to try dangerous tricks and stunts if you are a beginner or medium rider because it can cause an unpleasant accident. I also know how fun it is to do tricks and stunts; it is just dangerous as long as you are not a very experienced rider who has at least over a year riding experience. Even as an experienced rider wanting to do stunts, I recommend that you do it under the supervision of a close coach or friend to help and prevent you from landing on a dangerous surface.

11. Don’t cross puddles, streams or rivers

If you come across a stream or puddle of water or mud while riding, do not try to ride through it because you do not know the depth of the creek or puddle, which can cause serious injury, drowning, or damage your dirt bike. You can also get soaked by water and dirt, and I am sure you won’t want that for yourself. So, every time you see a river or mud puddle, it’s better that you move around and not through it in order to avoid an accident.

12. Don’t ride under the influence of drugs

Riding under the influence of drugs is definitely one of the most dangerous things you can do to yourself because drugs will cause you a lot of problems such as lack of concentration, weakness, inability to control your body, and damage at the reaction times which can cause you a deadly accident.

13. Don’t ride when you are tired

You should never try to ride when you are tired because during this time, you are out of control and it is just like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, even worse. So, you must ride only when you are active and after sleeping for enough hours in order to ride a dirt bike safely.

14. Don’t ride with another passenger

Dirt bikes are only for one rider and not for two, so no matter how close your friends are to you, you should not ride with them because it is very dangerous. Two people on single dirt bikes cause stress and imbalance and can make an accident much easier. In general, it is very uncomfortable to ride with another person.

However, two people can ride on a single dirt bike only in rare cases, such as if your dirt bike is very large and designed for two people. I highly recommend you read the guide I wrote on this to know about riding two people on a single dirt bike click here to view

Winter motocross group of riders at the first corner after the start

15. Don’t ride alone

Riding alone is a very dangerous thing, and when I say don’t ride alone, I mean riding with more people or friends in the field so that if you get injured, have an accident, have no fuel, or even get lost, there will be someone to help you.

There has been a lot of cases where people ride alone on dirt bikes even in a deserted place and they made a serious accident that made them unconscious or didn’t have a phone to call for an ambulance, which they eventually died. But if there was someone with them, they could call for help to save their life. So, you should never ride alone in deserted places and only ride in places where there are people even if you don’t know them because they will surely help you if you need help.

16. Don’t ride too fast

Riding a dirt bike too fast that doesn’t fit your level can cause an accident and not just an accident but a fatal one. You have to understand that the faster you ride, the higher your chances of having an accident and the slower you ride, the lower your chances of having an accident. So, take this into account and ride at a speed that suits you, not at crazy speeds that can endanger your life.

17. Don’t ride a dirt bike that has mechanical problems

If your dirt bike is inoperable and has certain problems that need repair, it is very likely that one of the parts will fall apart while riding which can lead to an accident, and believe me, it happened a lot of times to many people I know which they end up having a very serious accident.

18. Make sure you are visible towards other riders

You must become visible to other riders especially on days with much clouds that significantly affect your visibility. And you will be surprised that even during sunshine, it can still be difficult for other people to see you because you may possibly blend in with the colors of the environment. However, there are a few different things and tricks that can make you visible, as mentioned below:

Wear bright clothes – Bright colors significantly make it easier for other riders to see you compare to wearing dark clothing which makes it very difficult to be seen and can be very dangerous. So, it is important that you make sure you wear a bright suit. I found on Amazon some best bright suit click here to view.

Don’t Ride on black Dirt Bikes – Riding on black dirt bikes is a very dangerous thing, especially when you are riding in a place that has a lot of people. The problem with black color is that it blends in with the environment, which makes it very hard for other riders to see you, so make sure you ride dirt bikes with colors like red, green, orange, or blue.

Make sure the headlights are working – It’s important to make sure your dirt bike’s headlights work well when riding in the night to make other people see you.

19. Make sure you have a walkie-talkie or phone

Make sure you have a phone with you while riding so that in case you have an accident, you have the option of asking for help. You will be able to take a phone to ask for help no matter what, especially if you are about to get off in a deserted place without anyone. If you are not with a phone, you can accidentally get lost or seriously injured which can eventually lead to death.

In addition, I would advise you not to have full trust on your phone and get a walkie-talkie instead, to ask for help from your friend because you may not be able to make a phone call in some cases or you may even lose your phone. So, I recommend you buy 2 walkie-talkie and give one to your family member or a friend so that you can easily talk to them when you need help. You can as well repair a walkie-talkie with built-in help services.

Today, Amazon sells the best walkie-talkie with a built-in helpdesk service. This is what I also use, and it is sold at a very low price that anyone can afford. So, I recommend you buy this helpdesk service from Amazon Click Here to view.

20. Know the limits of your dirt bike

You need to know exactly what surface your dirt bike can ride on and what surfaces your dirt bike are less good for because you will understand that all dirt bikes have the surface they are specially made for and equally the surface they perform the worst.

For example, some dirt bikes are good for riding trails while some are good for riding dunes, so you will need to know the best surface for your dirt bike to reduce your chance of having an accident.

21. Ride in designated dirt biking areas

Riding on areas that are designated for dirt bikes are the best and safest areas for dirt biking while riding in other places like woods or anywhere else that is not designated for dirt biking is far more dangerous to ride in. You will be surprised to hear that accidents rarely happen in designated dirt bike areas, so if you want to stay safe while riding, I recommend you ride only in areas designed for dirt bike riding. Almost every country has its own designated dirt biking areas.

In addition, I highly recommend you read the guide I wrote to see the best places in the United States for dirt biking Click here to view

22. Be 100% focused on the ride itself every time you ride

One of the most common mistakes I see riders (in particular, beginners and even advanced) make is giving room for distraction while riding, such as listening to music, podcast or even some animal distraction in the midway. This can be quite dangerous because, in a second, you can just forget your way and end up crashing into something or having an accident.

So, it is important to be 100% focused on the area you ride without giving room for distractions. Below are all the distractions you should avoid:

Listening to music

Listening to podcast
Animals
Sunset

People
Photo

23. Practice in a safe environment (if you are a beginner rider)

If you are a beginner rider, you will have to practice your riding skills only in a safe environment because studies show that during your first month, your chance of having an accident is 10X greater than that of a regular rider. I personally have not seen any beginner rider that did not have an accident, so you must protect yourself and make sure you practice in safe places. I will best recommend you practice on surfaces that have thick grass because the grass will make it easier for you to land less.

24. Be careful about the inquiries

The most common cause of dirt bike accidents is turning incorrectly in turns. If you turn fast, you are most likely to receive a serious and deadly injury and especially hurt in the head, which can lead to death. To avoid this, turn gently and slowly because when you ride dirt bikes, you have much less stability, especially in turns where there is a very high chance of falling.

25. Ride gently on steep hills

In my opinion, mountains or steep hills are places where most riders have a serious accident that even result in death because the problem is that it is much harder to stabilize on mountains or hills. This is due to dirt bike working on only two wheels and are very unstable on high altitudes and mountains, so it is important for you to ride safely and carefully.

In addition, beginner or medium riders should refrain from riding mountains or hills because it can be dangerous for them. So, mountain or hill riding is only for advanced riders who have riding experience.

Find below some tips that will help you ride better in the mountains or hills and will help you become more stable generally:

Start first with small hills and mountains
Lean forward when riding uphill

When riding downhill, be sure to sit back
Do not ride in the mountains or hills too steep
Do not do stunts or tricks in the mountains or hills

Watch out for stones and rocks
Use your body weight to be more stable
Stand on the pegs for more stability

In addition, if you want to see the full guide for riding safely on a dirt bike on mountain and hill, I recommend you click here to see the full guide.