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For the last 25 years I’ve been riding off road on everything from a 450cc lightweight to a heavily laden 1200cc adventure motorcycle. Although I was usually able to handle anything through rough terrain at slower speeds, I struggled at higher speeds on loose surfaces. And the biggest pucker moments occurred while approaching tight turns on gravel roads at high speed—barely navigating them safely...until I went to Royal Enfield's SLiding school!
In recent years, I’ve been riding with my buddy Brian, who has years of experience riding road, motocross and flat track. But even though I could chase him down gravel roads, he’d pull away from me on every turn. I’d often think, “What’s wrong with me?” Fortunately Brian, being a natural teacher, started calling out tips on technique. “Elbows up!” “Lean in the front end right to the point that you lose traction and pull up.” “Brake here, gas there,” and so on. It was overwhelming at times, but my riding improved.
In addition to riding tips, he told me to learn flat track. So, I looked into it, but felt too intimidated to get out there. That was until the Royal Enfield Slide School by Moto Anatomy, taught by Johnny Lewis, popped up on the radar. Having owned three Royal Enfield Himalayans and seeing that the bikes Moto Anatomy used were the new Himalayan FT 411s, I jumped at the opportunity to sign up. Here’s what I learned.
The Top Five Takeaways
1. Elbows Up:
Keeping elbows up allows you to make all the micro adjustments necessary to keep you and the bike upright as well as negotiating left turns safely. While riding on the street it’s natural to relax and drop the elbows, especially while putting in long days in the saddle. I’m guilty of it and will probably continue to drop my elbows; however, when off road or navigating technical terrain, keeping elbows up gives me a better chance of riding in control and being quicker to respond to surprises.
2. Seating Position
Never have I been so focused on keeping the outside edge of the seat wedged into the crack of my butt. This, along with proper leg position, ensures that the tripod you create with your leg and two wheels slides around turns properly and as quickly as possible.
3. Throttle Control
On such a short track, with little room for error, I was forced to make split-second throttle control decisions. Off the gas too soon before the turn and I’d get passed, off the gas after the apex could result in a high-side, on the gas too soon and I’d overshoot a turn, too much throttle past the apex and I’d end up low-siding. It’s all part of the fun!
4. Brake Control
Each session is five laps and for my first two sessions I never touched the rear brake. I would accelerate and coast to the apex and then get back on the gas. It all originally felt awkward and unnatural, but I was making it safely around the track. By my third session I was instructed to use the rear brake to load the rear end and WOW!—what a difference. By utilizing the rear brake, I was able to hit the rev limiter on the straights, slow down and load the rear of the bike going into the turn and smoothly slide out of the apex while accelerating. It was at that point I finally felt that things were starting to click. My confidence level rose, and I was really sliding at the slide school.
5. Confidence
Confidence is my most important takeaway from the Slide School. I gained more off-road confidence in 3.5 hours of flat-track instruction than 25 years of riding on my own. In fact, I’ve been purposely sliding my 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan around turns on the local gravel roads for fun and in control.
A 3.5-hour class costs $250 and includes the use of the Himalayan FT411 and all necessary safety and riding gear.
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Jesse Kimball’s passion for adventure bike riding started back in 2009 with his first KLR650 and the founding of The Flying Monkey Adventure Riders. He organizes weekly Hump Day Rides focused on riders helping riders develop their riding abilities by simply putting in the miles together. In addition to this, Jesse organizes The Flying Monkey Adventure Rally in Zion, Utah with 2021 being his 11th year. He splits his time between his homes in Virgin, Utah and Temecula, California. FlyingMonkeyAdventureRally.com
