To the uninitiated, riding an off-road motorcycle may look as easy as sitting down, putting your feet on the pegs, and twisting the throttle. But for anyone who has ever tried to tackle an off-road trail or even a gravel road on a dirt bike, they know that there is so much more skill involved than meets the eye. At any given moment, both hands and both feet are busy working the clutch, brakes, and transmission. At the same time, the rider is transferring his weight just so, all while applying a precise amount of throttle to keep the bike upright and moving. In other words, it's not as easy as it looks! Learning to ride a dirt bike with no guidance is not only risky and time-consuming, but prevents you from reaching your full potential. In "How to Ride Off-Road Motorcycles, "author Gary LaPlante takes his many years as a dirt bike riding instructor and lays out a proven step-by-step practice guide for any rider interested in heading off-road or sharpening his bike-handling skills. He begins with the basics of shifting, stopping, and turning, and moves on to more advanced techniques such as hill climbing, wheelies, jumping, and power slides. How to handle specific trail obstacles such as rocks, ruts, and water crossings is also detailed in the colorful how-to photo sequences found throughout the book. Gary also gives sound advice on how to choose the bike that's right for you and how to maintain it for optimum performance; how to deal with the weather, altitude, and trail conditions found throughout the country; off-road etiquette; and racing techniques for motocross and trials competitions. Additionally, he makes it clear how street riders' on-road skills are improved by understanding how to handle a bike off road. Following the steps in" How to Ride an Off-Road Motorcycle "is the best investment you can make to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and rewarding dirt bike experience.