Why Off-Road Motorcycle Training Will Boost Your Riding: From Kentish Trails to City Streets

If you’ve spent any time on the Man Cave Moto YouTube channel, you’ll know Tony’s a huge fan of big adventure bikes. They’re the “SUV” of the motorcycle world—the go anywhere and do anything bikes. In fact, he’s spent years on Honda’s Africa Twin. But when it comes to the tight, technical green lanes of the UK, those big bikes are a bit too much. They can feel like a lot of work. Our off-road motorcycle training is the perfect solution for getting mucky and having a laugh in the UK.

That’s why we invited Tony along to join our Introduction to Trail Riding course at Phoenix Trails with our instructor Vince. We use smaller, nimble Fantic XEF250 trail bikes. They’re a world away from Tony’s Africa Twin. The Fantic’s light weight (115kg vs the ~230kg of a big ADV) means you can spend your energy learning skills, not wrestling a giant. He wanted to see if trading the big ADV for a nimble Fantic XEF250 would finally give him the confidence to tackle the ruts he usually avoids. (Spoiler: It did.)

So, Tony accepted, and on a scorching July day (we’re talking 32°C heat!), he met us in Sidcup with Courtney Scarlet to try his hand at trail riding with Vince and the guys on our Level 1 trail riding course. This is the story of Tony’s Man Cave Moto moments with us.

The “London Borough” surprise

One of the wildest things people don’t realise about riding with us in Kent is our edgy location. You’ll start in a London borough—busy roads, traffic, the usual city hum. Then suddenly find yourself in the middle of nowhere, thanks to a side lane Vince our instructor will lead you down. It was the same for Tony as it’s been for most of our other guests. 

“We rode out of the London borough and it was initially a little bit busy around. It wasn’t horrible, but it’s busy and there was lots of traffic. Then we just made a turn off down a country lane and were in the middle of nowhere! That was quite surprising. We were riding past the Canada Heights motocross circuit, looking out over the North Downs, and you’d swear you were a hundred miles from the nearest Tube station.”

The skills: why road riders need dirt

A lot of road-bike riders only ever ride on tarmac. That leaves them feeling anxious about the bike moving under them. Because if that’s happening, it’s usually an indication you’re losing control of your ride. If the rear tyre wiggles a centimetre on the road, it feels like a disaster. 

“What I’ve discovered on this training particularly, and in all other [off-road] training is that you get used to a bike moving around underneath you, especially if you’re on a loose surface which is something you don’t experience on the road. After a few hours on the loose chalk and dust of the Kent Downs, that feeling became second nature.

Now I’ve done this training I’m used to the bike moving around and I can just relax and let it do its thing, to a certain extent. In terms of control, I think off-road training adds a lot of skill as well as slow speed control.”

The three best things Tony picked up from our training that he’s taken onto the road with him were:

• The “Loose” Feeling: Learning to let the bike move. Relaxing and letting your machine do its thing makes riding in the wet on the road stop feeling so scary.
• Observation Skills: On the trails, you have to look way down the track to plan your line. That means you’re more inclined to let your bike flow over the path ahead and do what it’s designed to do rather than fixating on obstacles.
• Slow-Speed Control: You’ll spend the first hour on a private circuit practicing balance. It’s the kind of stuff that makes your U-turns and traffic filtering on the road feel like child’s play.

Pro Tip From Tony: If you’re riding in the summer, wear goggles. He kept his visor down to protect his eyes from the dust and ended up roasting. Take the goggles; your eyes (and your temperature) will thank you!

A day out with mates, not a classroom

Even with Tony’s experience, he was a bit apprehensive about our trail riding training day. But we work hard to make our training fun for you. There’s more to that approach than just getting great reviews (although that’s nice too!). When riders are relaxed and having fun, they learn more, retain more of what they learn, and take those skills onto the road to become better, safer riders. That’s good for everyone.

“The vibe at Phoenix Trails isn’t about “doing it right or being told off.” It felt like a day out with mates.

Vince was brilliant—he pushed us just enough to see what we could handle, taking us through rocky inclines and chalky ruts one stage at a time. It never felt forced. Whether it was watching Courtney tackle a tricky section or spotting a pair of foxes darting across the trail, the atmosphere was just… fun!”

Watch the action: Man Cave Moto x Phoenix Trails

Want to see Tony in action? See him lose it on a sandy incline or check out the incredible views we shared with him and Courtney. Tony filmed the whole day for his channel. Check out the video below to see the Fantics in action and hear his commentary.

Is an off-road motorcycle training day in Kent right for you?

You don’t need a £15,000 adventure bike or a garage full of gear to do this. We provide everything for our students, not just the YouTubers who come along to give it a try! We’ll supply the bike, the fuel, and the full kit (which is a lifesaver, even in that heat).

Whether you’re looking to improve your road safety or you’re thinking about buying your first trail bike, this is the best £275 you can spend to “try before you buy.”

Where can you ride with us? We hold introductory, intermediate and extended trail riding days on the Kent Downs, where Tony joined us. But we also run trail riding days in:

• Salisbury Plain (The legendary big-sky riding)
• The Peak District
• The West Pennines

Tony’s thinking about heading back in the winter. Chalk is dry and dusty in July. When it gets wet, it’s like riding on ice. That’s a whole new skill set he’s keen to learn.
Ready to ramp up your skills on the tarmac with some time on the trails? Check out our trail riding days, or give us a call — and don’t forget to mention Tony from Man Cave Moto inspired you!