teaching tigit jon to jump a dirtbike
Jon: “I’ve been riding hard enduro and aggressive dual-sport bikes for a while now, but I’d never actually done a jump before. So when the opportunity came up to hit a small jump and learn the basics, I was both excited and nervous. The goal? To clear the jump and land smoothly without rolling over the top or crashing. Here’s how the lesson went down—and what I learned about jumping on a dirt bike for the first time.”
The Basics: How to Jump a Dirt Bike
ben from dba broke it down simply:
Speed: You need enough speed to get airborne, but not so much that you lose control.
Body Position: Control your “body English” by shifting your weight forward so the bike naturally arcs and lands with both wheels almost simultaneously.
Head Position: Keep your head just in front of the handlebars to help the front wheel come down smoothly.
The idea is to avoid landing too far back on the rear wheel or too far forward on the front wheel — both can cause crashes or instability.
The First Attempt: Clearing the Jump
jon: “I was a little scared because I hadn’t ridden a real bike in a while, and this jump was my first ever. I managed to clear it, but the landing was a bit rear-wheel heavy and not fully controlled. The instructor pointed out I needed to move my head further forward in the air to bring the front wheel down more evenly.
Interestingly, the bike’s suspension helped absorb the landing so well I barely felt like I was in the air—something about KTM bikes that makes small jumps feel less “airborne” than they actually are.”
Tackling the First Double Jump
Next up was a double jump with a hole in the middle—definitely more intimidating. Jon “I chose the safer left line to avoid a big rut that could cause a nosedive.”
The key tip here was throttle control: normally you hold steady throttle through a jump, but this was an exception. At the takeoff’s top, you give a quick throttle “blip” to get some extra lift over the landing. Not full throttle—just a gentle burst.
Gear and Speed
One common question is what gear to be in for jumps like this. The answer: it depends on your speed and the trail, but for this jump, second gear was best because there wasn’t enough room to upshift before takeoff.
Success and Lessons Learned
jon “I was pleasantly surprised by how well I did. Landing perfectly with both wheels at once felt amazing. The instructor noted that I was a bit hesitant into the corner before the jump, which made the jump more difficult than it needed to be. Next time, attacking the corner more aggressively would mean less effort needed on the jump itself.
After a few tries, I even caught myself “de-weighting” the foot pegs—lifting my feet slightly to let the bike go higher, a little expert move I did without thinking!”
Final Thoughts
jon “Jumping on a dirt bike for the first time is an exhilarating and slightly scary experience. But with good instruction, focus on body position, and smooth throttle control, anyone can start catching air safely.
I’m looking forward to more jumps and building my confidence—there’s nothing quite like the rush of flying through the air on two wheels.”
