ADVENTURE BIKE TRAINING—OFF-ROAD DIRT BIKE TRAINING COURSES
Looking for adventure bike training in the South Island? You’ve come to the right place. Adventure riding is a huge growth sector in motorcycling, which makes sense given the stunning country we live in!
But here’s the reality: if your riding experience has mainly been on tarmac, tackling metalled or dirt roads can feel genuinely intimidating. Your road-riding instincts don’t always translate, and as we all know, motorcycling is a confidence game.
Our adventure motorcycle training courses focus on building real skills and genuine confidence in small groups where you actually get proper attention from your instructor. Book a lesson today.
WHAT ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING COURSES COVER
We cover a host of skills on the Ornsby ARS courses, which will benefit riders of any level who have limited or no off-road experience, including:
- How your body position affects bike stability on loose surfaces
- The right way to use the throttle, clutch, and brakes when traction is unpredictable
- Reading the road ahead so you’re never caught out by surface changes
- Standing techniques for better control on rough terrain
- Cornering and braking on shingle without losing confidence (or the front end)
Please note: adv. motorcycle training courses DO NOT cover hard enduro or advanced adventure skills.
OUR ADVENTURE BIKE OFF-ROAD TRAINING COURSES
ORNSBY ARS–LEVEL 1: TAKING TO THE SHINGLE >
TIME: A full day (6 hours)
COST/AVAILABLE LOCATIONS: $295 – Christchurch, Rangiora, Amberley, Oxford, Southland, & other locations by request (private groups)
The Ornsby ARS Level 1 course provides a fun day of training in a small group environment. It is the perfect place to start for any rider—on any motorcycle—who is new or inexperienced in tackling shingle (metal) roads.
Adventure motorcycle training near you is suitable for novice, intermediate, or advanced road riders with limited or no off-road experience who would like to improve their competency in this area.
YOU GET:
- A six-hour adventure bike off-road training session in a small group (six riders maximum) with one of our NZTA-certified riding instructors.
TOPICS COVERED:
- Around your bike:
- Bike set-up, controls
- Tyres and tyre pressure
- Mounting/dismounting
- Riding skills:
- Improved bike control through throttle, clutch and brakes
- Surface appraisal (reading what’s ahead)
- Road position
- Riding on different surfaces & gradients
- Body position (sitting & standing)
- Braking on loose surfaces
- Cornering on loose surfaces
SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THIS COURSE:
ORNSBY ARS–LEVEL 2: GOING BACK OF BEYOND
TIME: A full day (8 hours)
COST/AVAILABLE LOCATIONS: $395 – Christchurch, Rangiora, Amberley, Oxford, Southland, Banks Peninsula (excludes training for river crossings), & other locations by request (private groups)
The Ornsby ARS Level 2 course provides a full day of training in a small group environment. It’s the perfect next step for any rider who has completed the Ornsby ARS Level 1 course—or has some (limited) off-road experience but is relatively new to Adventure riding.
Adv. motorcycle training courses are designed for intermediate riders who want to improve their confidence off-road. It is NOT suitable for novice riders. You MUST hold a minimum 6L (Motorcycle Learners) licence and be a competent road rider.
To attend—we recommend riding a motorcycle with some off-road capabilities, such as (but not limited to) the following models:
- KTM Enduro or Adventure
- BMW G and F series
- Triumph Tiger or Scrambler
- Ducati Multistrada
- Hypermotard
- Desert X or Scrambler
- Suzuki VStrom or DR
- Harley Davidson Pan America
- Kawasaki Versys or KX
- Honda Africa
- CRF or CB (X model)
- Yamaha Tenere or WR
- Benelli TRK
- Any other similar bike
If in doubt, give us a call.
YOU GET:
- An eight-hour adventure motorcycle training session in a small group (six riders maximum) with one of our NZTA-certified riding instructors.
TOPICS COVERED:
- Around your bike:
- What to take/securing loads
- Basic suspension set-up
- Dealing with damage, troubleshooting & minor on-the-spot ‘fixes’
- Riding skills:
- Adventure riding on B-roads and tracks
- Advanced bike control through throttle, clutch and brakes
- River fording/crossings
- Riding on different surfaces & gradients
- Body position (sitting & standing)
- Cornering & braking on loose surfaces
SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THIS COURSE:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO I NEED TO OWN AN ADVENTURE BIKE TO ATTEND?
For our Level 1 course, you can bring any road-legal motorcycle as long as it can reach open road speeds and has a current WOF and registration.
For Level 2, we recommend something with a bit more off-road capability (see the list above), but if you’re unsure whether your bike will suit, just give us a call.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADVENTURE BIKE TRAINING AND HARD ENDURO COURSES?
Our adventure motorcycle training near you offers a chance to build confidence on New Zealand’s gravel roads, backcountry tracks, and (at Level 2) river crossings. It’s the kind of terrain you’ll actually encounter exploring the South Island. We focus on practical skills like reading loose surfaces, body positioning, and controlled braking on shingle.
Hard enduro courses involve extreme single-track, rock gardens, and technical obstacles that most adventure riders will never need to tackle.
DO I NEED PREVIOUS OFF-ROAD OR DIRT RIDING EXPERIENCE TO ATTEND THE ADVENTURE RIDING COURSE?
You don’t need any off-road experience for Level 1—that’s what the course is built for. However, you do need to have at least passed your motorbike learner’s test and be comfortable riding on sealed roads in traffic.
However, these aren’t beginner riding lessons; they’re designed for competent road riders who want to develop off-road skills. If you’re completely new to riding and need to learn the basics, start with our motorcycle licensing courses first.
Ready to Start Your Off-Road Riding Journey?
Explore New Zealand’s backcountry confidently rather than white-knuckling your way through every gravel section. Our adventure bike off-road training courses will give you the foundation to ride with confidence.
Explore more information, such as motorbike license prices, or secure your spot in our adventure training session. Courses fill up quickly, so check available dates and book your training today.