Skill First
Balance, clutch control, throttle control, braking, body position and line choice matter more than outright horsepower.
New to Motorcycle Trials?
Less About Speed. More About Skill.
Trials is a technical motorcycle sport built around balance, control, precision and problem-solving. You ride short marked sections over natural obstacles and try to complete them with as few penalties as possible.
What Is Trials?
A Motorcycle Sport Where Control Beats Horsepower
Instead of racing wheel-to-wheel around a track, riders take turns attempting short sections marked through rocks, logs, banks, creeks, hills and tight turns. The aim is simple: keep your feet on the pegs, stay inside the section and finish with the lowest score.
That makes trials very different from many other motorcycle disciplines. The challenge comes from technique and accuracy rather than outright top speed.
Why People Choose Trials
Big Challenge Without Chasing Top Speed
Every motorsport has its own appeal. Trials suits people who enjoy technical riding, steady progression and a strong club atmosphere.
Lower-Speed Competition
Sections are technical rather than high-speed. You can still be challenged enormously without spending the whole day chasing maximum speed.
Progress at Your Pace
Different classes and section lines let beginners build confidence while experienced riders tackle much harder obstacles.
Compact Competition
A trials event can create many different riding challenges in a relatively compact property because the focus is on individual obstacles and sections.
Often Lighter on Consumables
Trials riding generally involves lower speeds and less distance than many racing disciplines, which can mean less fuel and some consumable wear. Actual costs depend on your bike, maintenance and how often you ride.
Family & Community
Riders spend the day moving through sections together, watching each other ride and helping run the event. Families, juniors, observers and volunteers are part of the day.
Pathfinders in Action
Real Riders. Real Sections. Real Club Days.
These are Pathfinders riders and sections from our own events — from juniors and modern bikes through to twinshocks and the people who make a day at trials what it is.
WA Trials in Motion
A Taste of the Riding We Get in Western Australia
From juniors learning the sport to natural rock and property sections, these clips and photos have been supplied from our own trials community.
Compared With Other Motorsports
A Different Kind of Adrenaline
Motocross, enduro, speedway and road racing reward their own mix of speed, fitness and racecraft. Trials puts much more emphasis on slow-speed control, precision and reading terrain.
- You compete against the section and your own score rather than fighting for track position.
- Technique can overcome obstacles that horsepower alone cannot.
- Riders can stop between sections, watch others and learn throughout the day.
- A beginner can ride the same event environment as experienced riders while using an easier marked line.
- It develops fine bike control that can transfer to trail, enduro and general off-road riding.
The Basics
How a Trials Event Works
Walk the Section
Riders inspect the marked route, choose a line and work out where the grip and turns are.
Ride Your Line
Enter the section and complete it without leaving your route or needing to put a foot down.
Get Your Score
The observer records the penalties for that attempt. Lower is better.
Complete the Laps
Ride each section over the required number of laps. The lowest total score wins.
0Clean
1One dab
2Two dabs
3Three or more dabs
5Failure
Event rules and scoring requirements are governed by the applicable regulations and supplementary regulations. The simple guide above is intended to help a new rider understand the basic idea.
What You Need
Getting Started
- A suitable trials motorcycle — electric or petrol depending on the rider and class.
- An approved helmet and suitable boots, gloves and protective riding gear.
- Your Pathfinders membership, rider licence and event entry are all managed through RiderNet.
- A willingness to start simple, listen, learn and have a go.
Your First Day
You Do Not Need to Know Everything
Come and watch an event, talk to riders and ask questions. If you are planning to ride, RiderNet is used for membership, licences and event entry. Contact the club before the event if you are unsure about the correct class, equipment or entry process.
Open RiderNetThe quickest way to understand trials is to see it in person. You will immediately see the range of bikes, ages, abilities and riding styles involved.
Why Pathfinders?
Come for the Riding. Stay for the Community.
Pathfinders is built around riders, families, volunteers, officials and the property owners who make our events possible. New riders are welcome, but being part of a club also means learning how events work and helping where you can.