Safest Way for One Person to Load A Dirt Bike

By Mark “Obie” Olberding  |  Submitted On March 5, 2018

Loading your dirt bike safely is one of the key element to assuring no additional wear and tear or even damage may be discovered the next time you take your dirt bike out on the trails for a ride.

Typically and most often, we see people hauling their dirt bikes in a lifted truck.  Remember, the higher the truck bed is, the more strength it takes to load your dirt bike on the truck bed.  Therefore, if you are going to haul your dirt bike on pick-up truck bed, this author suggests using a truck with a lower truck bed or better, using a trailer to make loading as easy and safe as possible.

If you have a regular or short bed truck and can’t shut the tailgate door due to the size of your dirt bike, try to shut the tail gate half way, if possible, and tie down tight.  Just make sure you have two tie downs tight on the handlebars.  Always best to add two additional tie downs to play it safe to the frame, rear wheel or even the pegs of the bike.

Loading a dirt bike especially when you are riding solo can sometimes be a challenge.

The best way to begin to load your dirt bike when not using a trailer is to purchase dirt bike ramps and place these ramps on the tailgate of your pick-up truck.  To reduce any damage to your dirt bike and to your back, push the dirt bike within the handlebars with a running start up the ramp and push it up.  With enough momentum, this method of loading your dirt bike safely especially when you are alone is easier than you may think.

There is another way to load your dirt bike with less strength needed when loading the bike solo.  I typically use my bike stand to stand on, which gives me more stability when loading the dirt bike.  This author suggests you practice this method safely before finding yourself alone on the bike trails. You can try to startup your dirt bike and place it in first gear.  Yes, you still need some strength and momentum however, if you perform this load method correctly, the dirt bike should be doing most of the work for you.  Just remember to slip the clutch ad give it some gas to get up the bike ramp.

There are other options to load a dirt bike to your truck or vehicle. Motorcycle carriers are an easy fix for the single rider to load.

If you have any questions or need any parts and or services for your dirt bike, visit us at https://obielinkguard.com/ or call

(208) 949-7299 (for product and brand questions).

The OBIE LINK GUARD – protect your dirt bike linkage against damage from ROCKS, LOGS and DIRT 

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As a KTM dirt bike rider, you know that your dirt bike linkage is something that needs to be protected.  Most KTM riders have now noticed that KTM designed their linkage bikes with linkage that hangs lower than on most dirt bikes.  With an Obie Link Guard installed to your KTM skid plate, you significantly reduce the chance of expensive linkage maintenance, breakage and replacement.  In this blog post, we will give you five reasons as to why you should install an Obie Link Guard to your KTM skid plate.

1) KTM linkage hangs down lower than on most other linkage dirt bikes.  Because the KTM linkage hangs low, this then makes the linkage more susceptible to damage, wear and tear.  When riding your KTM, you want assurance that your linkage is protected.  The Obie Link Guard gives you that assurance.

2) The Obie Link Guard also offers an Xtreme guard for your KTM skid plate with 20% added material that will help keep your linkage from being damaged or broken through the more tough and rugged terrain.

3) Our riders want confidence that they have purchased the best product out there for linkage protection.  Our many satisfied KTM dirt bike owners agree that the Obie Link Guard is the best and most affordable linkage guard available for their KTM skid plate.  Our guards were developed by a dirt bike enthusiast – Mark “Obie” Olberding.  Obie totally understands the hazards a dirt bike faces.  He developed the Obie Link Guard to specifically protect the linkage and keep our riders from having to make costly repairs and maintenance to their dirt bike.  In addition, each one of our guards is handcrafted from recycled material and is Made in the USA.

4) The Obie Link Guard is quick and easy to install to your KTM skid plate.  We also offer our link guards to fit most all name brand skid plates.  We provide detailed installation instructions on our website (www.obielinkguard.com/installation).  The Obie Link Guard will bolt or rivet directly to your KTM skid plate.

Depending on the type of bike and skid plate you have, it may require that you create a hole or two to bolt the guard to your skid plate.  We also provide an installation video for the Obie Link Guard here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TORAtK7P70.  But, if you need further assistance, you can always contact us and we are happy to help walk you through any installation questions you may have.  The bottom line is, the Obie Link Guard extends the life of your dirt bike linkage and allows for less maintenance, cost, hassle and headache.

5) If you are not completely satisfied with your Obie Link Guard, you have 30 days to return it.  We are confident in our product.  We offer every customer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The Obie Link Guard, in essence, extends your KTM skid plate for ultimate protection of your KTM linkage.  It’s quick and easy to install, keeps dirt entry out of the linkage bearings, protects the linkage from damage due to rocks and logs, and makes for easy gliding over these obstacles.

Obie Link Guard also makes other link guards to fit many other dirt bikes and skid plate brands, such as:  Husky Power, Enduro Engineering, Hyde Plastic, TM Design (TMD), P3 Carbon Fiber, CYCRA.  Please visit our store for more information at www.obielinkguard.com/shop.

Some of our customers have mentioned that they have torn off their skid plates along with their Obie Link Guard when riding through rough, rocky terrain.  I have come up with a fix for keeping the Obie Link Guard coming apart from the skid plate, however, there isn’t much a guy can do if the entire dirt bike skid plate removes from the bike – or is there?

Here is what I did with my KTM Powerparts plastic skid plate and what I recommend to our customers.  I got rid of the Dzus fastener and used a bolt in the top mount of the skid plate, along with a 2-stroke pipe mount clip that is threaded for 6mm.  I then riveted the Obie Link Guard to the KTM skid plate.  Once the Obie Link Guard is installed on your dirt bike skid plate, you will never need to remove it.  I, personally, have had my KTM Powerparts skid plate and Obie Link Guard on my bike for 4+ years and have not had a problem with either the skid plate or the Obie Link Guard coming off my bike. 

In addition, we have recently manufactured an aluminum Obie Hold Bracket for the KTM and Husqvarna dirt bikes.  Currently, the Obie Hold Bracket provides additional support and reinforcement for the following dirt bike skid plates:   TM Designworks (TMD), AXP and Moose Plastic.  The high quality aluminum bracket will act as additional strength and support for the skid plate and Obie Link Guard in the rear cross-frame area of the dirt bike.  Also, we are anticipating that the Obie Hold Bracket will work with additional dirt bike skid plates.

This problem of the entire skid plate removing from the bike got me thinking about how riders handle their dirt bikes, the terrain that is being ridden or raced and the type of rider we all would like to be.  I typically enduro and motocross race a couple times a year in Idaho and trail ride a fair number of times throughout the year.  I ride in the mountains on single track and I also ride in the desert on steep, rocky trails.  I participate in a few motocross races (50+ Master Class) as well as some desert SIDRA Racing and National Hare & Hound – mostly for fun at my age.

My Dad always told me that in order to be a good dirt bike rider you must become comfortable with the dirt bike and use it similar to a fine-tuned instrument.  According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of finesse is:  (n.) the skillful handling of a situation: adroit maneuvering (or clever or skillful in using the hands or mind); (v.) to do something in a subtle and delicate manner.  The definition highlights the importance of using a dirt bike in an appropriate manner in order to allow for calm and agile riding.

Learning to ride and keeping your balance on the bike is a must for dirt bike riding.  Good clutch control is also important.  Using the clutch and front brake levers with one or two fingers is another good riding skill.   You may also want to consider buying a Rekluse auto clutch.  The Rekluse helps with riding switch-back trails and also makes stalling the bike virtually impossible.  It also allows the rider to focus and concentrate more on the bike movements and control.  With your mind off the clutch, you’re free to concentrate on other things – such as the gorgeous mountains, negotiating that steep single track or navigating that strategic line.

It’s important that you get comfortable with using your front brake and not fearing the downhill.  Leaning your bike into the turns and overhanging the bike while counterbalancing may feel awkward, but is essential to learn and will quickly become natural to you.  As a finesse rider you will need to learn how to properly climb over rocks and logs.  Momentum is always your friend in these situations.  The technique is:  while standing, you rock the bike to unweight the front tire, blip the throttle to lift the front wheel up, close the throttle before the rear tire hits the log or the rock and coast over it.  Once the logs and rocks are mastered, you will then need to learn to wheelie and bunny-hop the bike.  Executing the bunny-hop is much like a lazy wheelie – you shut the throttle off and shift your weight to the rear of the bike.

Learning to ride with these techniques is not only learning the proper way to ride a dirt bike, but it will ultimately save your dirt bike skid plate and your Obie Link Guard.

REMEMBER . . . protection is good!

Obie