Trials for youths focuses on building foundational balance, throttle control, and body positioning through low-speed technical maneuvering. Essential skills include standing balance, precise clutch/brake management with one finger, and looking ahead, often taught through coaching to encourage progression.

Skills for Trials Riding

• Balance & Bike Control: The ability to stay upright while nearly stopped. This requires developing a "floating" feel, where the bike is an extension of the body.

• Clutch Control: Using one finger to feather the clutch for precise, low-speed power delivery to tackle obstacles without losing momentum.

• Throttle Precision: Smooth, controlled power to avoid sudden, unstable movements.

• Body Positioning: Standing on the pegs with knees bent, shifting weight forward on uphills and backward on downhills, and keeping the upper body relaxed.

• Turning Technique: Executing sharp turns by weighting the outside footpeg and turning the handlebars to the full lock position.

• Obstacle Navigation: Using techniques like the "wheelie" to lift the front wheel over logs, rocks, and ledges.

• Looking Ahead: Constantly scanning ahead to plan the line through a section, rather than looking down at the front tire.

• "Dab" Management: Learning to navigate sections without setting feet on the ground, which results in penalties.

Whilst all this may seem daunting to the novice Trials rider, the sport is run by a dedicated team of Volunteers through a network of Motorcycle Clubs. Many of these clubs have been in existence for over 100 years, with skills and knowledge passed from generation to generation. The inclusive nature of the sport and the Trials Management Committee’s desire to grow the sport through new entrants ensures that any youth joining the sport is nurtured through a carefully structured youth rider grading programme.

In 2026 the MCI will run approximately 20 competitive Trials events and 10-15 practice or training days. New entrants are as young as 4 years old and progress through the grades from Youth E all the way to Youth A. Once riders reach the age of 17-18 years of age they generally move to Adult grades from Elite to Sportsman grades.

Learning to ride a motorbike through the trials pathway opens up the possibility of moving to other off road disciplines such as Enduro once youths turn 16. Some of the worlds best Enduro, Motocross and Mountain bike athletes started their careers with a Trials bike!

Further information regarding youths joining motorcycle trials is available from Joanne and Barry Lawless (087) 666 3217 or Christian Schmelter (086 606 9617)