How to Sidehill Safely on a Dirt Bike (Advanced Off-Road Tip from Lang Son)
Posted by Ben – Dirt Bike Academy Vietnam
Keywords: Dirt bike training Vietnam, Motorbike lesson Hanoi, Hanoi enduro
Climbing big hills in Vietnam’s rugged terrain doesn’t always go to plan. On a recent ride in Lang Son, we attempted a steep climb — but ran out of momentum halfway up. It happens.
So what do you do when you're stuck on a steep slope, and there’s no way to go straight up?
You sidehill — a skill every off-road rider should have in their toolkit. In today’s post, we’ll teach you how to ride across the face of a hill safely and with control — exactly as we teach during our off-road motorbike lessons in Hanoi.
1. Why Sidehill Instead of Restarting the Climb?
Once you've lost momentum on a steep hill, trying to restart and go straight up rarely works — there's just not enough run-up or traction. Instead, you traverse across the slope at an angle, regaining elevation gradually while staying in control.
This is where sidehilling comes in.
2. Start From the Downhill Side — Safely
Before you even get moving again, you need to pick up the bike — safely.
Always stand on the downhill side of the bike
One hand on the left grip, one foot on the outside foot peg
Use your leg strength, not just your arms, to lift the bike
This technique keeps you stable and prevents the bike from falling down the hill. It also reduces fatigue, especially in tough terrain.
3. Prepare for the Climb Across the Slope
Now that the bike is upright, here’s how you ride the sidehill:
Start the bike (electric start really helps here)
Ride at an angle, not directly uphill
Be aware: your rear wheel will want to slide downhill due to gravity
To stay in control, you need to manage several key things at once:
4. Key Techniques for Sidehilling Success
Weight the Outside Foot Peg
This is essential. Even though it feels counterintuitive, you need to put pressure on the downhill-side foot peg. This keeps your centre of mass properly aligned and stops the rear wheel from slipping out.
Lean the Bike Slightly Into the Hill
Again, it may feel wrong — but slightly leaning the bike towards the downhill side allows better traction from your tire knobs. If you lean uphill, the tire loses contact with the slope, and you’ll slide.
Use Low Revs + Clutch Control
Keep the bike in low revs, just above stalling. Use your clutch to feed power smoothly and avoid spinning the rear wheel. Clutch slipping and aggressive throttle will just make you lose traction.
5. What If You Need to Pivot?
Sometimes you’ll reach a point on the slope where continuing in the same direction would send you off a cliff or into unsafe terrain. This is when you pivot the bike around and sidehill in the opposite direction.
To pivot:
Find a flat or grippy section
Stop, lean the bike safely
Turn the bars and reposition the front end downhill slightly
Begin riding back the other way using the same method:
Weight the downhill foot peg
Low revs
Lean slightly into the hill
6. Stay Calm, Go Slow
Sidehilling is a balancing act. The slower and more controlled you are, the more grip you’ll maintain — and the less energy you’ll burn.
In this situation:
Control is more important than speed
Smooth throttle beats aggressive revving
Balance and traction > brute force
It’s worth practicing this on smaller hills before applying it to technical terrain like we saw in Lang Son.
Learn Real-World Skills With Dirt Bike Academy Vietnam
Sidehilling is just one of many advanced off-road techniques we teach in our motorbike lessons in Hanoi. Whether you're preparing for multi-day Hanoi enduro tours or just want to become a more confident trail rider, we’ll help you build the skills that matter — safely and effectively.
📍 Book your next dirt bike training session:
👉 Dirt Bike Academy Vietnam