ON-ROAD VS OFF-ROAD
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Two worlds as similar as they are different
When I was told to write an article approaching the world of off-roading, as I am wont to do I began to think about the various mechanical, ergonomic, and morphological differences that belong to two worlds, road and off-road, as similar as they are different. Then my emotional part got the better of the rational and objective part because in the end…it is the same part that made us buy a motorcycle and go out in hot, cold, rain with a constant smile on our faces.
For technicalities one always has time along the impervious but rewarding path of learning; what I want to convey to you first is the sparkle I see in my eyes every time I ride my motorcycle off the gray asphalt and into the myriad colors of nature.
Why off -road
I have been riding motorcycles for 30 years, and although I started with a Malaguti Grizzly 50cc dirt bike, most of my life has been spent on asphalt. Far be it from me to label circulating on the road as “boring”: fortunately, we always have wonderful and scenic roads nearby to get lost among, arteries that branch off sinuously in search of a destination that never arrives because the journey is endless. But. when I switched to the “dark side,” absurdly I became enlightened.
The feeling of freedom of being able to leave the beautiful but hectic and delineated asphalt arteries and insert myself into a myriad of wonderful veins and capillaries that run through the country areas, hills and mountains sometimes almost without a clear sense, brought me back to the essence of riding a motorized horse by merging and becoming an integral part of the landscape, almost like in a beautiful landscape painting.
Stopping when, where, how, and how much I want to enjoy a breathtaking view, to laugh at a puddle that showered me, and why not, even to wipe away the sweat of having lifted the bike more than I had to, opened the door no longer to a world as much as to infinity.
Kind of like a bumper sticker I read long ago on a Wrangler:“You go fast, but I go everywhere.” And wherever I go, I also feel good because it means getting back into the game every time on constantly changing terrain: the mountains are alive and they speak to us. The same path taken in one direction has nothing to do with the opposite direction; the same path is easy one day and difficult the next week. Today there is, tomorrow there is not. This unpredictability is so much like life itself that it cannot help but give new emotions each time.
What do you say, shall we try to get a little dirty?
How to approach this world?
Having experience with a motorcycle does not mean being able to get on a specialty enduro or maxienduro bike and slip into the first dirt track, maybe even alone, without plans and destinations. It means putting ourselves back into the game with a desire to learn and to listen to the feelings that come from ourselves and the bike itself. The best way to start? if we don’t have friends with experience, and patience, willing to introduce us to this world, the best choice is to take a course where we learn the basics and touch this new reality guided and supervised by instructors who are there for that.
Which motorcycle?
The terms are many and sometimes misleading. Most likely a twin-cylinder, often maxi enduro, motorcycle will seem “easier” on approach because of the closeness in all respects to the bike you already ride. Weight, size, and sometimes power, however, will be your “enemies.” A single-cylinder enduro or freeride bike will propel you into a world far from what you are used to, but in this case weight and size will be on your side.
In addition to this, the absence of any electronics, traction controls and various “devilry” typical of single-cylinder and specialized motorcycles, the delivery and throttle response, are to be taken into consideration and “handled with care.”
Pros and cons?
The nuances are many, but in principle:
- single-cylinder/enduro:
- PRO -> weight, handling, “structural” simplicity, cost of the bike itself and any damage
- CON -> delivery and response to inputs, absence of traction and abs controls, height, comfort
- twin-cylinder / maxi enduro:
- PRO -> delivery and response to inputs, electronics, comfort, height (not always), “feel at home” feeling
- CON -> weight, handling, cost of the bike itself and any damage, height (not always)
As you can see, we have some opposites but. opposites attract!
In principle, the ideal is to start with a bike that gives us confidence and a manageable delivery with ease, and then take the direction we feel is more ours. Then again, motorcycles are bought with the heart….
Least common denominator and, at first glance, limiting factor for many: height. As much as we may want to lower the bike and seat, although it is not always a correct choice, an off-road bike will always be taller than the norm (with rare exceptions). Why? Mainly for two reasons: the higher ground clearance that allows us to overcome obstacles and unevenness more easily, the suspension travel that cushions and “copies” the roughness of the ground. This is a factor to be taken into account but -not- a limiting factor: conducting technique always prevails!
On Vs Off
The technical baggage we bring from driving on the road is certainly an integral part of driving off the road; what we need to build and learn to manage is the transformation of insecurity into safety. Let me explain further.
On the road, we don’t worry too much about grip and traction unless we go out and play with our limits and those of the bike, “brushing” turns and hairpins or in the rain. The same technology thanks to electronics also began to minimize and save riders from many mistakes, but also created a learning imbalance due to relying too much on it as well. This gives us a constant, relative perception of safety that allows us to concentrate in other aspects of the conduct or the journey itself.
In off-roading, lack of grip and traction is a constant that we must learn to play with, that we must know how to listen to and internalize in order to respond in appropriate ways. Feelings of floating on gravel, of the front going “where it wants to,” of the rear dancing the macarena…the feeling of total “in-control” are the first things we can learn to handle more easily than we think. It’s just a matter of learning to dance with our bike while maintaining the smile we always have and abandoning the control instinct, normal in the beginning, that we claim to exercise and compensate for with force and rigidity.
The main differences
An offroad bike, although in some cases it may resemble a “road” bike or even be the same one with a couple of major modifications (see GS, Multistrada..), still has features that enable it to better disentangle itself on rough terrain and increase its performance not only in terms of performance, but also in terms of safety.
Aside from the main divergences mentioned above, what primarily identifies an off-road bike, single or dual sport, are the tires: with more or less pronounced treads or, in the case of maxienduros used in multi-purpose form (dual sport), mixed. The handling of a motorcycle with gussets, even our own on which we have many miles behind us, is very different: mainly, the bike tends to “fall” into corners more easily and the front end to close. The grip on dry asphalt is still very good but on wet asphalt more careful and cautious driving is needed.
Not always gusset means vibration given even the latest compounds, but often yes additional noise although not for all makes and models. Plugged tires, partly because of the normally M+S (winter) compounds and partly because of the flexing of the lugs, have a “short” life if used a lot on asphalt and with powerful bikes. An average life for an average motorcycle is 3-4,000km for the rear (6-7,000km for mixed) and twice that for the front (2.5 times for mixed).
Another difference as antecedently mentioned is the delivery and response to inputs, not so much for maxi enduros as for mono specialists. An enduro bike, like a dirt bike, has shorter ratios and different torques that result in a “general nervousness” that, in the absence of experience, can give some scares. A hit of gas can easily cause the front wheel to lift and bring instability. Normally, single-cylinder two-strokes are more ‘nervous and “shouty,” while four-strokes are a bit more docile. Don’t worry: the single-cylinder machines that are normally used during the basic courses are characterized by a “docility” that allows everyone to learn while having fun without additional worries.
Clothing
Differences between on and off-road
Read the article: Adventure riding and safety
Assuming you ride well-protected, so with technical boots, jacket and pants with protection, gloves… no one prohibits you from riding off-road as well. But … the “buts” are multiple. Not to belabor the point, suffice it to say that body movements during off-road riding are infinitely greater and expanded than during road riding. This translates into two main things: displacement of the protectors and heat. In the first case, since the protectors are integrated into the jacket and pants, they are more comfortable, but they are also more mobile during body movements: having to use them and finding the elbow pad shifted upward is not the best scenario.. (I’m speaking for experience). In the second case, believe me: even in winter … you can often get as sweaty as during a crossfit session. Being able to take off your jacket but stay protected is substantial.
What, then, is typical off-road clothing? Off-road-derived helmet, which allows for better oxygen flow and possible use of enduro mask.
Bibs: there are several types, the important thing is that they are well-fitted to the body, breathable and, at least the back, have Level 2 certification.
Enduro jacket: you can also use your usual cordura jacket by removing the integrated protectors. In case you then decide to go more ‘often, a lighter jacket, perhaps with removable sleeves, will provide you with top comfort and mobility.
Gloves: we will use more of the bike controls, clutch, brake..we need comfort and grip. Enduro gloves are perfect because they don’t impede movement or fatigue the hand.
Knee pads: various and varied, from plastic skateboard-type ones to specialized orthopedic ones. They go a bit by use, taste and … wallet.
Boots: offroad boots are characterized by greater protection of the tibial plateau and ankle, better containment of the foot and more control over the angles the foot can reach. “Adventure” models protect well and are more comfortable, as well as often being waterproof. Enduro ones are essential should offroad become your passion, but they are almost never waterproof. To make up for this, a good pair of waterproof socks.
Navigation
Navigator, destination, departure.
Read the article: GPS navigation from “A” to “Z”
Unfortunately, or fortunately, in the off-road world, things are not quite like that. Although many trails and dirt roads are mapped on today’s gps or topographic maps, as I said earlier the mountain is alive and a trail that was there yesterday may not be there today. Also, seeing a trail does not mean having a nice dirt road ready for us. All roads are “the same,” off roads are not. One can easily find oneself in complicated or dangerous situations from which it may be complicated or impossible to get out on one’s own, even with experience.
Therefore, it is imperative never to go out alone to mountains unless you know exactly what you are doing and where you are going, alerting a few friends in advance anyway.
Conclusion
As is easy to see, although these two worlds make use of the same two-wheeled vehicle, the differences prevail. This, however, should not discourage anyone: the beauty of life is precisely the opportunity to learn every day something new. And the added value of learning to handle your bike, or another, off-road is the incredible wealth of sensation and control skills that will expand your knowledge and experience on the road! This is why many professional riders also train off-road–in the end, as in life, stability is found only after learning to handle instability!
For any information, elucidation or dispute on the matter… please feel free to contact me at my social profiles or through a comment in the appropriate section below…!
Gas to life!
