There isn’t much you can do nowadays without insurance and dirt biking is no exception. Weather thats racing, road biking or green laning you will need the relevant insurance to be legal.
Your bike should be fully road legal and that means having a valid insurance policy. Green lanes are classed as public highways just like any other road so you will be covered by your insurance.
If you have doubts then simply to call your insurance provider to clarify the details.
Do You Need A License For Green Laning?
You do not need a specific license for green laning. You need a standard full UK motorbike license which is the same license you need to ride UK roads. No additional license is required.
Just like the insurance situation, if you are road compliant you are good to go.
The same applies for having road tax and a valid MOT for your bike, these are both necessary when you go green laning.
Where To Go Green Laning Near Me?
Finding a green lane local to where you live is easy and very likely. Obviously if you live in the centre of London you may have a bit of a journey to get out of the city and into the country side.
You can either use an Ordnance Survey map and plot your own routes, use an app like TRF View Ranger, or join a site that has all the info done for you like the Trail Riding Fellowship.
I have written a post that gives you plenty of detail on what you need and how to find the legal green lanes in the UK.
The post is here –https://www.projectdirtbike.com/is-green-laning-legal-how-to-be-legal-and-where-to-ride/
You will also see I have listed apps and websites as a list of resources.
How To Get Into Green Laning and What You Need?
The short answer is you just need to find green lanes and get out there. Saying that you need to be legal and it is sensible to have the correct gear to make sure you are safe.
Lets have a quick run down of what you need and the different options. I don’t go into much detail here because I have posts on most categories to give you further details and reviews on products. I’ll link to those where necessary.
Dirt Bike
An obvious first point I know, you cant go green laning without one unless you are looking at green laning with a 4×4 or ATV.
The main point is you need to be legal and thats means a uk license, insurance, mot and tax.
I will be doing a review on the best dirt bikes for green laning shortly so check back on the blog for that.
Boots
These are a must when out on the trails. A decent pair of boots are going to be money well spent. Giving adequate foot, ankle and lower leg protection is vital as you maybe riding through tight spots and get hit by branches and foliage.
Body Armour
This is an area where you want to spend some cash. Having decent body protection is going to save you from the most injuries because you will be falling off.
Again branches and bushes will be hitting your body in tighter lanes.
You will be looking at chest protection, elbow pads and knee pads.
Helmet
Obvious and only listed because you need one but you already know that. If you have a road bike then you will probably have a road helmet and you can use it for green laning. Alernatively get yourself a second helmet that is for green laning if your budget allows.
Check my post for trail riding helmets to see what helmets are best.
Gloves
I like hard knuckled gloves to give you that extra protection from branches beating on your hands, even though you should have hand guards on your bike.
Goggles
If you have an MX helmet then you will need goggles. If you have a road helmet then you will likely have a visor.
In my opinion the MX helmet and goggle combo are far better suited to green laning, a road helmet and visor will most likely end up steaming up and it’s not the most practical of options.
Clothing
Trousers and tops in addition to protective gear. If you are on a tight budget then look for second hand on places like eBay. They will get wrecked so don’t think you will buy new and keep them spanking clean. It’s not going to happen.
I read one guy using gortex trouser like you use for hiking and the like and he got his cheap from an army surplus store. Thats a great idea and a cheaper option.
Planning Your Route
It maybe wise when starting out to go with others who have been before instead of going it alone.
This could be a group of people you already know or if you don’t have any mates that do green laning then consider joining a group either on facebook or an organisation like the TRF so you can meet others and arrange a ride out.
Thats what these groups are made for and you will unlikely be the only one who’s first time it is.
If you do decide to go solo then make sure you have plotted a route, checked its legal to ride it, have you bike setup with all your gear and then let someone know what you are doing, the route and time you expect to be finished.
When you finish check in with them to let them know so they will have an idea if something has gone worng and you don’t check in.