Conquering One of Hanoi’s Toughest Enduro Trails: The “Dinosaur Backbone”
If you’re interested in Hanoi enduro, Vietnam enduro riding, or improving your technical skills through motorbike lessons, this breakdown of one of Hanoi’s hardest climbs will help you ride smarter and safer.
In this ride, my friends and I tackle Kung Long — known locally as the Dinosaur Backbone. It’s one of the steepest, rockiest hill climbs in Hanoi and a favourite challenge for riders who join our off-road tours and dirt bike lessons.
Below is a full technique breakdown of what our riders did well, what made the climb tough, and what you can learn to improve your own off-road riding.
Choosing the Right Line: The Most Overlooked Skill in Enduro
One of the biggest mistakes riders make with enduro in Vietnam is rushing into an obstacle without stopping to choose a line.
Phong demonstrates the right approach. Before committing to the hill climb, he scans for a line that is:
Smoother,
Less rocky,
Less steep.
Spending five seconds choosing the right path saves you minutes of struggling when the wrong line stalls your momentum.
Using Revs and Traction to Clear the Rock Steps
Phong also nails one of the most important hill-climb techniques: revving before the ledge so the RPM drops as the bike lifts over the rock.
When the revs fall at the right moment, the tyre grips rather than spinning — crucial on Kung Long’s loose shale and uneven rock.
He also positions his rear wheel on a flat, stone-free patch before attempting the climb. This gives him clean drive and reduces wheel spin.
This is exactly the kind of technique we teach during our dirt bike lessons in Hanoi, because good throttle control is what separates confident enduro riders from frustrated ones.
Keeping One Foot on the Peg for Maximum Traction
As he climbs, Phong keeps one foot firmly on the foot peg.
This adds weight to the tyres and dramatically increases traction — especially important on steep, broken terrain like this.
Many beginner riders instinctively put both feet down when nervous. In our lessons and tours, we drill the habit of keeping weight on the bike so it can “tractor” up instead of sliding backwards.
Why Rolling Back Helps You Clear Bigger Obstacles
When Phong fails to clear one of the higher rock steps, he doesn’t panic.
He rolls back down as far as safely possible, giving himself space to build momentum.
Momentum is everything on a climb like this.
Bong uses the same strategy — rocking the bike up and down to settle the stones and create a smoother, grippier launch point.
Attempting Harder Lines: Kavin’s Lesson in Patience
Kavin chooses the more difficult line but gets stuck on the second step.
Instead of rolling back far enough to build speed, he rushes the attempt and the rear tyre spins. A slow, deliberate reset would have made the climb much easier.
He eventually pivots the bike using his hips and finds an alternative line — a useful skill, but incredibly physically demanding. Not everyone has the strength for that move (I don’t think I would’ve managed it!).
This is where structured guidance from a motorbike lesson or enduro coaching session genuinely helps riders avoid fatigue, mistakes, and risky decisions.
Using Body Weight for Traction: John’s Technique
John, being over 100 kg and 6'5", uses his size to his advantage.
Watch how he bounces on the seat, compressing the rear suspension before releasing the clutch.
When the clutch releases at the moment the suspension rebounds, the bike gets an incredible amount of traction. This allows him to climb a brutally steep line on a KTM 200.
It’s a perfect example of how riders of different body types can use specific techniques to control traction — something we tailor in our advanced dirt bike lessons.
My Attempt: Long Legs and Low Revs
I try the same tricky line that Kavin chooses and also get stuck on the ledge.
To fix it, I:
Roll back farther to gain run-up speed.
Use my longer legs to stabilise the bike and help push it up.
Once I clear the ledge, I keep the revs low and steady. Low RPM on rocky climbs maintains traction and keeps the bike planted — allowing me to tractor up to the top.
Want to Improve Your Off-Road Skills in Vietnam?
Providing tips and advice to riders like this is what we include in our off-road tours around Hanoi and our motorbike lessons at Dirt Bike Academy.
Whether you’re new to dirt bikes or want to level up your enduro technique, we offer:
Beginner to advanced dirt bike lessons
Guided Hanoi enduro trails
Multi-day Vietnam enduro tours
Find out more here: DBA STORE
