The Importance Of Bring Adaptable
By Daniel Blair
Being adaptable means you can handle anything the track throws at you—different bikes, different tracks, and even crazy weather. Want to become that kind of rider? It starts now, and it starts with practicing in all sorts of ways. Let’s talk about how to do it!
1. Ride Different Size Bikes
Ride a 50 and 65 back to back on practice and race days. Riding a 65, then switching to an 85, then back again teaches you to adjust. Each bike feels different—more power, more weight, new challenges. When you can ride different sizes easily, you're building a superpower: adaptability. And that’s something that will help you a lot as you grow.
2. Learn Both Two-Stroke and Four-Stroke Bikes
If you’re older and riding a 125 two-stroke or a 250 four-stroke, try riding both types often. They feel totally different, and learning to ride each one well will make you a more skilled and flexible rider. Can you hop on your 125 and shred? Can you switch to the 250 and shred again? That’s the goal!
3. Try Different Brands and Setups
All bikes aren’t built the same—even if they look alike! KTM, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda… they all feel a little different. Riding different brands helps you learn faster.
Same thing with suspension (that’s what helps your bike soak up bumps). WP, KYB, and Showa all feel different too. The more you try, the more ready you'll be if you ever get a shot to ride for a team—because you'll already know how different bikes feel!
4. Mix It Up on Practice Days
Got a chill practice day coming up? Make it fun and challenging! Bring extra parts like grips, bars, or sprockets and change something between every moto. Can you ride well even if the grips are weird or the gearing feels off? You should be able to. It’s all about getting used to change, so nothing throws you off on race day.
5. Ride All Track Conditions
Some riders are awesome on soft, deep dirt but struggle when the track gets hard and slick. Others love tacky tracks but don’t like mud or dry dust. Here’s the trick: ride what you’re not good at.
Do the hard stuff. That’s how you turn weaknesses into strengths.
6. Hot, Cold, Rain, or Shine—Be Ready
Don’t just ride when the weather’s perfect. Ride when it’s super hot. Ride when it’s freezing. Wear extra layers or hydrate like crazy—but ride! There will be races where the conditions are tough. You don’t want to be the rider who falls apart just because it’s 100 degrees or your fingers are cold. Get ready now so you can stay strong when it counts.
7. Supercross & Motocross: Train for Both
Even if you’re racing motocross, practice supercross too. And even if you’re focused on supercross, don’t forget to hit the outdoor track. These two styles are different, but they help each other. If you can switch between them quickly, you'll be ready for anything—Loretta’s, Mini Os, Daytona, Freestone, Mammoth, Futures, Combines… whatever comes your way!
Final Word: Be the Rider Who’s Ready for Anything
The best riders are the ones who can handle whatever bike, track, weather, or format shows up. So keep switching things up. Practice what’s hard. Challenge yourself often. That’s how you grow. That’s how you win.
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