M2R Archives - M2R Dirt Bikes

Why buy a Pit Bike?

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 09:27:41 +0000

There are many reasons for buying a pit bike.

Pit bikes are not just a cheaper alternative to large manufacturers, they hold a very important place in introducing people to the joys of motor cycling for a much smaller investment – and are great bikes in their own right.

Mini Pit Bikes

Mini pit bikes are widely used to introduce children and juniors to motorcycling. There’s a whole host of benefits that come with learning to ride at an early age.

Motorcycling is a great form of exercise and can improve posture and balance in youngsters.

They can be purchased with stabilisers if required until a youngster has learnt better balance and throttle control.

Pit Bikes

Pit bikes are generally aimed at teens and small adults with a wheel size of 14” Front / 12” Rear or a 17” Front / 14” Rear combination for taller riders.

Larger bikes with a 19” Front / 16” Rear or 21” Front / 18” Rear combination are classed as dirt bikes and aimed at large teens and adults.

Supermoto Pit Bikes

Supermoto pit bikes are a fantastic and low budget introduction to road racing. They have made road racing accessible and fun for riders of all ages.

Kids as young as six ignite their racing careers on a Supermoto pit bike.

The Mechanics

The mechanics of a pit bike are simple and accessible.

It’s this simplicity that encourages an interest in the mechanics of a motorcycle, how they work and how to maintain them.

Pit bikes are often bought as a first bike for kids, and this sparks an interest in dirt bikes and the racing world. Many people were given their first pit bike as a child which led to them becoming mechanics and engineers in later years.

Pit Bikes and the BMB Racing Championships

The British minibikes championships is a championship for racing all forms of minibikes on tarmac surfaces. Its goal is to make the joy of racing widely accessible.

A weekends entry fee will set you back only £75-90, including a practice day and warm up, qualifiers and two races! Racers from age 7 all the way up to experienced riders make the most of this amazing experience!

Attending events with youngsters will help them develop confidence and provide socialisation outside of school. Riding from an early age will give youngsters the chance to really excel in the sport when they are older.

With the likes of Professional racers Scott Redding and Richard Cooper using this series as a pre-season training exercise, it’s easy to see why it’s popular and thriving.

Want to give racing a go? Register for a race on the British Mini Bikes website here.

View the BMB Youtube chanel here.

Not sure if it’s for you? Visit a practice day or spectate a race. Speak to some of the team and get advice because they’ll be only too happy to help!

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Should I buy my pit bike fully assembled?

M2R Team — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 16:00:24 +0000

M2R pit bikes are shipped to our dealers in crates, with some assembly still required.

There is the option to have your pit bike arrive fully assembled for an additional fee though, built by the mechanics at Funbikes (UK).

If you’re not so versed in the world of basic mechanics, and you don’t know someone who is, then the best option for you would be to have your bike delivered fully assembled.

If you’re someone with a little mechanical know-how who can tell your spanner from your hex key, then you might consider assembling the pit bike yourself.

Funbikes currently provide assembly videos that are very easy to understand and follow.

Check out the example below:

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Beginner Mistakes To Avoid Riding A Dirt Bike

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 18:46:52 +0000

Try to avoid bad habits if you are new to dirt bike riding by following the advice set out below:

Tip – If you own a mountain bike get out on the dirt to get a feel for riding on terrain you will encounter on a dirt bike.

BODY POSITION

1. KNEES SQUEEZING THE FUEL TANK

Your knees should be squeezing the sides of the bike. This is very important when in a standing position. Squeezing the bike with your knees will help in aligning your body position and increase the riders overall body control of the bike.

2. ELBOWS SHOULD BE UP AND OUT AT A RIGHT ANGLE

Probably the most important body position to maintain when riding a dirt bike. If your elbows are by your side, you have no control over a dirt bike or the ability to navigate obstacles.

The over ninety-degree right angle is the strongest in the spectrum. When you extend your elbows allowing them to be vertical along with the handlebars, you have far greater control of a dirt bike.

This will allow your biceps, shoulders, and forearms to engage and have full control. Riding will build much greater stamina and strength over time but always remember, elbows up!

3. BALLS OF YOUR FEET ON FOOT PEGS

Keep the balls of your feet on the foot pegs and slide your feet forward only enough to reach the shift lever and the back-brake lever. The back brake can be very difficult for a new rider to get used to, especially if coming from a mountain bike background.

The right foot should be close enough so you do not have to pick up your foot and potentially catch the brake which can cause a skid.

Above the left foot peg your foot needs to be able to upshift and downshift through the gears. Try not to have your foot too far forward as this may cause you to upshift or downshift accidentally.

4. SIT FORWARD TOWARDS THE SEAT

The centre of gravity on a dirt bike is above the motor. This is where you can control your weight distribution and keep a dirt bikes front wheel grounded.

Good body position will greatly increase your control and reduce fatigue to your body caused by poor placement. Try to make a conscious effort to remember and work on all these points until they become second nature.

LEARNING TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT GEARS

New riders usually have difficulty finding and choosing the right gear to be in. It is important to learn how to use gears correctly so that the dirt bike’s power can be correctly utilized to attack and overcome corners and obstacles.

Learn the characteristics of your bike slowly, find the points where the bike revs out and needs to change up, and learn how to change to the correct gear especially going into and coming out of corners.

LISTEN

Most riders will be familiar with engine characteristics and when roughly to change gear. Listen to the engine to help guide you.

If you can’t accelerate in the gear you are in, you are in the wrong gear.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Learn to control your balance by slowly manoeuvring the bike in a figure eight. The centre of gravity is right below the seat where the frame sits around the engine. Practice this while remembering the body positioning previously discussed.

READ THE TERRAIN

Learning to read the terrain and judging the stopping distances required is something that requires experience and should be taken slowly. Terrain is not consistent, and a dirt bike will react and handle differently on sand and gravel or after rainfall for example.

YOU ARE GOING TO FALL OFF

Yes, you are going to drop your bike, slide off, lose your balance etc. Make sure you are wearing protective clothing and a helmet every time you take your bike out. Read our article on dirt bike clothing here.

The post Beginner Mistakes To Avoid Riding A Dirt Bike appeared first on M2R Dirt Bikes.

Learn To Ride Your Dirt Bike Properly – Training schools In The UK

M2R Team — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 19:47:11 +0000

Learn to ride like a pro! From complete beginner to professional racer, there is a training school for riders of all abilities.

Lee Dunham Racing

This school is a good choice for all abilities. Lee Dunham racing is especially great for beginners and children 4 and up.

Price: MX Training days: 1-1 £160.00 / Group Days £70.00pp | MX Taster Sessions:£80.00 for 2 hours | MX Tuition incl. bike hire: £210.00 full day

Location: Gloucestershire

Website: www.leedunhamracing.com

Dave Thorpe Honda off-road centre and Honda adventure centre

Featuring the Honda adventure centre and the Dave Thorpe Honda off-road centre.

The Adventure centre offers one or two days of adventure riding. The off-road centre offers either an enduro or motocross Day.

Location: Exmoor National Park

Price: One-day adventure tour- £299 | Two-day adventure tour-£499| Enduro- £230 | Motocross- £175

Website: https://www.davethorpehonda.com/

MX Workshop

Help you maximise your potential in a fun and relaxed training environment. No matter where your weakness lies, whether it be cornering, jumping or just going fast in a straight line.

Location: Cambridgeshire

Price: Price on application

Website: mxworkshop.co.uk

JSMX Coaching

This academy is in place to simply build a group of riders that are working together to improve and achieve!

Location: Various including Doncaster, Grantham, Northampton & Leatherhead.

Price: Prices start at £70 per month.

Website: www.jsmxcoaching.co.uk

Bumpy LTD – designed exclusively for kids aged 7 to 15!

Get ready for an adrenaline-pumping adventure with BUMPY’s off-road motorcycle riding lessons!

Location: West Yorkshire

Price: Prices start from £50.00

Website: www.bumpy.org.uk

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Pit Bike Clothing and Kit guide

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 19:28:44 +0000

Ready to ride? Check out our pit bike clothing guide and make sure you have everything you need before you hit the dirt.

Helmet

First and foremost, your helmet. The most important item of all. If there’s one piece of kit you’re thinking of spending extra cash on, make sure it’s this one and make sure it fits properly.

Watch the video below to show you how to get the correct measurements for your helmet size if you can’t get into a store:

Mips Technology

Mips (multi-directional impact protection system) technology, is one of the latest developments to improve helmet protection and something you may wish to research before choosing your helmet.

The core of the MIPS BPS is a low friction layer that allows the head to move 10-15 mm relative to the helmet in all directions, reducing rotational motion to the brain. The MIPS BPS makes your helmet safer and adds protection.

You can learn more about it here: https://mipsprotection.com/how-mips-works/

And of course, Never buy a second hand motorcycle helmet.

Goggles

Motocross goggles are essential when riding off road. If you are racing, we recommend using tear-offs to quickly restore full vision.

Some features we would recommend when purchasing goggles:

Easily Replaceable / Interchangeable Lens
Lenses that are Anti-Fog and Scratch Resistant
Tear-Off Posts
Ample Ventilation Ports

OTG Goggles

For riders that wear prescription glasses OTG goggles will be required to comfortably wear prescription eyewear under the goggles.

Replacement Lenses – It’s a good idea to carry replacement lenses in your kit bag in case it gets scratched. You should also consider carrying a shaded lens for when it’s sunny on dry tracks.

Boots

Having a good pair of boots that fit properly is crucial when riding on the dirt. A poorly fitting boot will make a rider much more vulnerable to ankle injuries.

The proper fit and feel will improve your riding ability. Proper shin, toe and ankle armour will help to prevent injuries. Wearing a strong, comfortable boot is almost as important as wearing a strong, comfortable helmet.

Clothing Kit/Race Kit

There’s a huge range of race kit available, with most being lightweight, durable, and athletically cut. We recommend wearing MX race or Enduro kit for off roading.

Jerseys – act as a protective layer and are typically full-sleeved and also protect skin from sunburn.

When it comes to sizing, it’s important not to go for a loose fit, as these can easily get caught or pulled while riding.

Pants – usually have a leather coating on the knee area as it tends to rub against the dirt bike and is near the exhaust pipe. Apart from protecting the knee, it also gives extra grip to the rider.

MX Pants are typically a little shorter than your usual pants to prevent them from being uncomfortable when you wear your boots over them.

Gloves

Dirt bike gloves help prevent abrasions. cuts, bruises and burns along with providing a better grip. Their padding lessens the vibration you feel in your hands increasing your endurance and control.

Quality gloves are usually made of breathable and resilient fabrics with different thicknesses depending on your preference. Get a quality pair and also try to include your gloves if you are buying racewear as you can usually get them discounted.

Elbow Guards

Elbow guards can minimize the damage to your arms during a fall or crash, as well as protecting you from scratches and sprains. They should be considered an important part of your pit bike clothing kit.

Elbow guards usually come in two types, hard shell and soft shell:

Soft Shell

Designed to be lightweight and promote free movement. Suitable for riding long distances they are flexible and less restrictive than hard shell.

Hard Shell

Hard shell elbow guards usually have a more substantial and solid structure than soft shell guards. They are better at absorbing the impact of crashes but don’t offer the same amount of flexibility as soft shell guards. They are also heavier due to thicker foams and plastics.

Whichever you choose make sure they have good adjustment so you can get a comfortable fit and freedom of movement.

Knee Guards/Knee Pads

We strongly recommend the use of knee pads when riding a dirt bike. Knee injuries are one of the most common in all of sports.

If you have trouble feeling comfortable in them you can invest in some knee pad sleeves, which you can wear underneath the guards. This prevents the knee pads/guards from rubbing against your knee and causing discomfort.

Hand Guards

Handguards can offer some serious protection for your wrists and hands, and can prevent fractures and crushed fingers after a fall.

They also protect against flying debris and can deflect branches as well as providing some protection from the elements and cold.

Highly recommended.

Body Armour/Protection Jackets

There’s a huge range of body armour and protection jackets available for dirt riders.

It’s pretty obvious what the benefits are, shielding your body from flying debris and helping to minimise damage from severe falls. Choose armour that provides adequate ventilation and fits well.

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British Mini Bikes

M2R Team — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 10:26:59 +0000

Fancy a crack at racing? Check out www.britishminibikes.com for more information and how to register.

Boasting over 200 registered riders, the series is run by riders for riders. The organisers believe the riders themselves should have a big say in how their championship should be run. Input is not only welcomed but positively invited.

Check out their YouTube chanel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySXRWDlBSrhqP8BvuYYtdA.

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