Off-Road Riding

What is Off-Road Riding

Many motorcyclists are content to never leave the asphalt. In Ontario we have thousands of kilometers of highways to ride, why bother with the dirty, bumpy business of off-road riding? And if that’s how you feel, it’s perfectly fine. Ride your own ride, after all.

But some riders want more. Some riders love the challenge of gnarly terrain and the scenery you can’t see from the road. Some of us think that roaring through a puddle as it splashes up around you is just what is needed. Us off-roaders might be a little crazy, but that’s part of the fun.

Single Track

Singletrack (or single track) describes a type of off-road trail that is approximately the width of the bike. It contrasts with double-track or fire road which is wide enough for four-wheeled off-road vehicles. It is often fast and flowing, but may also feature technical rocky sections, go over tree roots, and include berms, sharp turns, fallen trees, hills, jumps, and so forth.

Many off-road riders prefer singletrack over other types of trails, as singletrack is usually designed specifically to raise the level of excitement and therefore can have elements that highlight the challenge (whereas other trail types will usually be more straight and level). Some singletrack includes technical trail features designed to challenge riders, such as log piles, rock gardens, mud holes, and steep hills.

Dual Track

These are trails built for ATVs, and off-road trucks (Jeeps). Most often straight, smooth, and great for riders who want a simple ride. Some dual tracks may have some challenging sections which most often is nothing more than a large puddle, mud or loose rocks and gravel.

Trail Traffic

Most of the trails are shared with ATV, SXS, and other motorized off-road vehicles. Non-motorized users walking, biking and horseback riders may be encountered. Riders should be extra cautious of oncoming traffic and stay to the right in shared-use trails. Oncoming traffic poses a considerable risk to rider safety and potential for injury.

What Level of Rider Am I?

What type of trails are best suited for you? Most riders tend to overestimate their abilities. How is a beginner, novice, or intermediate defined? While certainly not a universal definition, here is how NTR defines it. We have trails that cater to most skill levels. Start with simple and easy trails and as your skills develop move up to the trails that will provide more of a challenge. However, keep it safe and spend the time to learn good enduro skills before moving up to harder trails.

Just Learning

I am a beginnier...

Just beginning my riding experience, and may or may not have ridden a motorcycle before
Have uncertain balance control
Are still working on throttle, clutch, brake, shift control
Expend a lot of energy to maintain a sense of control over bike and very tired after a short period of riding
Experience a number drops, falls, and/or stalls each ride
Would not be comfortable on single track trail, ascending or descending hills, or encountering obstacles
Tend to use sitting riding position vs. standing position
Are most comfortable riding in open spaces such as fields, or on gravel roads used by cars

I been riding for over a year

I am a novice...

I am comfortable operating throttle, clutch, and brake controls, and with shifting while riding in the standing position
I am comfortable using the front brake alone in slowing down
Can come to a complete stop and then continue forward without putting a foot down (dabbing)
I am able to ride in third and fourth gear off-road when safe to do so
I do not experience stalls or over-revving while using the clutch
I initiate and control all but the tightest turns with legs in standing position
I am comfortable and relatively certain of traction on easy, ATV trails, or easy single-track trails with short ascents and descents

I been riding for several years

I am an intermediate...

Comfortable on tight single-track trails which include fairly sharp ascents and descents, often with rock, water, loose stone and/or roots present.
Comfortable using both brakes in stopping, and braking to control skids and change/initiate direction.
Can do full steering lock turns and tight figure-eights can balance without dabbing at very slow speeds
Can read the terrain, select and maintain a line most of the time, and can recover quickly from deflections off obstacles
Not intimidated by different soil conditions and obstacles (sand, mud, loose/rolling stones, large rocks, logs).
Not intimidated by steep uphills and downhills or off-camber slopes and hills