How to Ride a Yamaha Xt

The XT is a type of bike manufactured by Yamaha.

The "XT" in the Yamaha XT stands for cross trail, and you can tell this is a bike with a dirt-biking pedigree. It provides a degree of agility and nippiness that you simply do not get from purely road-going Yamahas--and for that reason you will probably find you have to adapt your riding style to take advantage of the new opportunities.

Instructions

1. Take the usual motorcycling precautions before using your Yamaha XT bike. Wear a well-fitted helmet, thick motorcycling gloves and riding leathers before you set off on the Yamaha XT.

2. Pick up speed. With a fairly short gear range in a Yamaha XT you should start in a low gear before using the gear to its full potential and shifting up gradually. This will cause you to pick up speed naturally and very smoothly.

3. Take corners in a normal fashion, or fully utilize the agility of the Yamaha XT. When coming into a turn, if you pick a good line you can successfully stick with it and keep a decent, steady level of power. Keep your outside elbow up and inside leg out. Have your leg sticking straight out in front of you by the fender to maintain maximum stability in the turn.

4. Deal with bumps in the course or road. When standing up, your legs and arms act as additional suspension while going over bumpy roads or specific courses designed for trail bikes. This keeps you in better control and will conserve your energy.

5. Take the bike to a track. If you feel comfortable with your control of the bike, you can take it to a track. The bike is a comfortable trail bike, so it will feel at home on a dirt track--and if the facility is properly ,then the dangers should be limited.

References

• Motorcycle News: XT
• XT660: History of the Yamaha XT Series
• Wonder How To: How to Ride a Dirt Bike Safely