Learn Adventure Riding With Bret
Adventure motorcycle riding video lessons from Bret Tkacs, from your first gravel road to deep sand.
177K subscribers · 241 videos · 23M views
Pick a Path, Then Watch in Order
Start Here: Your First Ride off Pavement
Drop the myths, lower the fear and get ready for your first dirt road.
First-Time Dirt Essentials
First Motorcycle Ride on Gravel
No Dirt Needed: ADV Skills Practice in a Parking Lot
Sitting Off-Road: When, How and Why
5 Things You Were Taught Wrong in Your Motorcycle Class
Practice This With Bret
Ready for dirt? This is what day 1 covers.
Body Position: Standing & Seated
Stand, sit and hold the bars so the bike can do its job underneath you.
How and Why You Stand Off-Road
Proper Grip: How to Use Your Hands
2 Common Riding Mistakes: Feet and Fingers
Raise Your Center of Gravity by Standing Up
Stop Standing Like This
Practice This With Bret
Stance is the first thing Bret corrects in class.
Traction, Clutch & Trail Braking
Use the clutch, both brakes and the throttle to manage traction instead of fighting it.
3 ADV Clutch Drills to Master Traction
A Lesson in Braking Off-Road
Why You Use Both Brakes Riding Downhill
What Is Trail Braking, and Why Should You Use It?
Rear-Wheel Slide Coaching
Practice This With Bret
Lesson 5 was filmed at this class.
Slow Speed, U-Turns & Picking Up a Bike
Turn a heavy bike in tight spaces, get on it the right way and pick it up without hurting yourself.
Slow-Speed Turns, Suspension Bridges and Balance
Making U-Turns Easy on Big Adventure Motorcycles
Six Ways to Turn an ADV Bike Around Off-Road
Mounting a Motorcycle ADV Style
3 Easy Ways to Pick Up Your Motorcycle
Practice This With Bret
Lift drills are done hands-on in every class.
Sand Riding, Hills, Obstacles & Water
Read sand, hills, logs and water, and choose your line and technique before you commit.
Riding Sand Roads With Wheel Ruts
How to Avoid Getting Stuck in Sand
Riding up Hills
How to Ride Over Obstacles
How to Cross Water
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Sand and rock, every day, in Idaho.
Requires 25+ mph on packed gravel on arrival. Can't keep pace? No refund. Am I Ready?
Set Up Your Adventure Bike
Set up your controls, bars and tires so the bike fits your body and the way you ride.
Adjustments and Ergonomics for ADV Riders
The Truth About Handlebar Risers
5 Riding Tips for Short Riders
Tall Riders: Technique and Setup Off-Road
Choose the Best ADV Tire
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Every class starts with setup and ergonomics on your own bike.
Mindset, Risk & Gear That Matters
Understand why riders crash, and wear the boots and helmet that actually protect you.
Why Motorcycle Riders Die on the Street
Myths That Will Kill You on a Motorcycle
The 100% Rule
Choosing an Off-Road ADV Boot
6 Myths About Motorcycle Helmets
Practice This With Bret
Risk decisions on real terrain are part of every class.
ADV Skill Rating
What Terrain Do You Really Ride?
It rates the rider, not the trail. Proficient means no falls and energy to spare. If you mostly sit, avoid the front brake, paddle-walk or control speed with the throttle, you're a novice anywhere.
Class 1 · Novice
Graded gravel, water under 2 inches, road grades.
ADV Training
Class 2 · Basic
Packed sand, wide shallow ruts, obstacles under 4 inches, water under 4 inches.
ADV Training · Idaho Adventure Training at 25+ mph
Class 3 · Moderate
Narrow ruts, shallow mud, short stretches of soft sand, obstacles up to 6 inches, single-lane switchbacks.
ADV Training or Idaho Adventure Training · Idaho Challenge Training at 30+ mph
Class 4 · Difficult
Snow, rocks over 5 inches, deep gravel, momentum mud and sand, fast water under 7 inches.
Idaho Challenge Training at 30+ mph
Class 5 · Severe
Dirt-bike trails, possible winching, ledges at axle height, deep sand.
Private Lessons
From YouTube to the Dirt
I began following Bret’s YouTube channel quite a while ago… it’s one of the best educational resources out there for ADV riding. I’m thrilled I had the opportunity to attend his camp in person.
YouTube Can't Watch You Ride — Bret Can
Two days on your own bike. Each location runs once or twice a year.
More Ways to Learn With Bret
The Apex on Patreon
$100 a month for an hour of coaching: video review, a call or written feedback.
Explore the ApexChoosing an Adventure Bike
Bret's ChatGPT guide walks you through the right adventure motorcycle for your riding.
Ask the Bike Guide
Ready to Ride It With Bret?
Lessons show the technique. A class puts you on the ground with Bret watching you ride it.
- Bret Leads Every Class
- Small Groups Across the US
- Rated 5.0 From 120 WeTravel Reviews