One day many years ago, a youthful 22-year-old walked into a motorcycle dealership in Watseka, Illinois and realized a longtime dream. Fresh out of college, he handed over most of the savings from his first full-time job and loaded a bright yellow dirt bike into his pickup truck. This motorcycle, his first serious off-roader, would change him. He would embrace all things mechanical and learn to fix stuff that operates with moving parts. He would begin to care more about his physical health. He would meet likeminded men and women who would become lifelong friends. His passion for off-road motorcycling would set him apart from the golfers and runners and bicyclists of his otherwise mainstream life. He would be remembered as “that guy”. Years later, he could trace back a great deal of who he was, and what he valued, to the bright yellow dirt bike.
That young man was me, and the motorcycle was a brand new 1994 Suzuki RMX250. When Russell Bills, the dealership’s owner, handed over the paperwork and sent me on my way, I didn’t know much about what I was getting myself into. I had been a casual dual-sport rider while growing up in the flatlands of Illinois, but after college I decided I was ready for serious trail riding. I also thought racing might be interesting, so a Suzuki RMX250 seemed a good fit. The bike came with knobby tires and lots of suspension, and it burned gasoline mixed with oil. What else did I need to know?
As I would discover over the following decades, quite a bit.
Most of what I learned came from entering over 200 off-road competitions in 10 different states, where I encountered almost every conceivable form of terrain, weather, mechanical issues, and physical pain. The roughest, toughest races taught me how to push through adverse conditions and finish events which many could not. I discovered the importance of preparation, whether it be mechanical, physical, or mental. But most of all, I found out what makes me happy, and that is riding a motorcycle with others who share my enthusiasm for our sport.
Most of the things I've learned about dirt biking, I've discovered the hard way. Every once in a while, I learn from others. Here are some examples.