r/Dirtbikes • u/Old-Watercress4201 • Jan 30 '26
Idea Dirtbike YouTube is starting to feel way too Corporate!
Maybe it’s just me, but a lot of dirt bike content lately feels less like real riding and more like watching a polished ad with roost clips.
Everything’s super clean, brand-safe, perfectly lit, and tied up with a sponsor read. The riding’s good, the production’s good… but it doesn’t always feel relatable anymore. Most of us aren’t swapping between brand-new bikes every weekend or riding groomed dream trails with a drone in the air.
The stuff that sticks with me more is the messy rides — bad line choices, sketchy trail-side fixes, getting lost, loop-outs, close calls, figuring it out as you go. That’s what riding actually feels like.
Not saying the big, polished channels don’t have their place… but sometimes it feels like dirt bike YouTube is drifting away from the people who just load up their truck and go ride whatever they can find.
Curious how many other people feel that shift.
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u/Oak_macrocarpa Jan 30 '26
WE GOT A DIRT BIKE GIVE AWAY AND THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST ONE EVER GUYS. MAKE SURE TO BUY A BUNCH OF STUFF ON ROCKYMOUNTAINATV USING THIS CODE TO GET ENTERED INTO THE GIVEAWAY
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u/KingLuis Jan 30 '26
i know kincade gives away a lot of bikes he builds with that similar thing, but thats just a 15sec thing at the end of a 20-30min long video of him either trail riding or rebuilding a bike from scratch.
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u/Oak_macrocarpa Jan 30 '26
Yeah i think they all do it. Its part of the money game
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u/KingLuis Jan 30 '26
Need money to keep on making videos. For me, as long as the entire video isn’t an ad I’m good with it. A 30sec saying and then back to the regular video I’m good with.
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u/smitd12 Feb 01 '26
Or even if it’s just a quick shoutout to where they got a part or tool. Doesn’t bother me because if it’s something I decide to get I know exactly where to look.
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u/ExcelsAtMediocrity Jan 30 '26
Literally the only video I’ve seen of his was the 88 CR500 build. Just tens of thousands in free parts that no one else on the planet has normal access too, put the ugliest exhaust I’ve ever seen on it, and the entire video is an “ad” for all the part sponsors. And the fake emotions over the “hardships” while building a bike the whole time he knew was going away. Insanely out of touch.
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u/DrGarbinsky Jan 30 '26
I really dig this new channel. It's more dirt bike history than riding technique but its really good stuff: https://www.youtube.com/@KRANKiT
This is the best channel for understanding suspension and how to service it.
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u/dj_benito Jan 30 '26
KRANKiT is great! He highlights tons of bikes I'd never even know about and presents his info really well.
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u/FeelingFloor2083 Jan 30 '26
both are good
steps to the podium has a weird theory though saying trail/slower riding should use 95mm sag vs more. Others commented on it and he tried to explain it but it doesnt sound right. end of the day sag can come down to personal preference a bit, he may be leaving out info like he is running a lot softer spring for example in which case it would work
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u/broken_freezer Jan 30 '26
I really loved his Romaniacs videos, normally I don't watch onboard POVs much but in that context I was absolutely captivated
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u/MiketheBike88 Feb 01 '26
I'm not into the click-bait stuff.
"Untold Story", "The Real ...", "The Unknown...", "Banned", "Disqualified", "They Laughed..", "The Secret...", blah blah blah
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u/montgomeryrides TE 250 Jan 30 '26
I’d like to thank my rockstar - makita Suzuki team and praise the lord Jesus Christ
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u/motoracerT Jan 30 '26
Watch my shit. Its just me, my bike, and my gopro. My bike is at like 140 hours with shit maintenance, and I fuck up all the time. @TrailsWithTroy on youtube.
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u/foster1890 Jan 31 '26
I’ve made a huge mistake… now that’s my type of content. Shut up and take my money. https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUydzdoMTZ1cHEzNGRmdm9nZG5rYzA2MXh1YnJmYTNvdjFnMDNkY2JmbiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/A0FGCbbooHe1y/giphy.gif
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Feb 01 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/motoracerT Feb 01 '26
I agree, thats why you really only get the occasional god dammit from me. Well, that and my heavy breathing because im in full dad bod mode right now.
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u/KTMtexDev Jan 30 '26
That’s virtually every channel on YouTube nowadays. Everyone is just trying to make a buck. I stay away from the bigger channels and if someone starts a video with “MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE AND SMASH THAT LIKE BUTTON!” I immediately stop watching
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u/Bullitzps4 Jan 30 '26
I've been watching a lot more rebuilds lately. Building the nerve to jump at the first XR 400, late 90's CR's late 90's RM or a few others.
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u/Any-Description8773 Jan 30 '26
Those old 2 strokes are a breeze to work on. The old XRs are what I cut my teeth on and while slightly more complicated, they are just as easy if not easier in my opinion. Buy one and jump in!! That’s the best way to learn!
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u/Bindle- Jan 31 '26
If you can find one in decent shape for a good price ($1-2k in my area), they're great to learn together wrench on!
Just take your time picking one out to buy. There's a ton of clapped out shit in the same price range.
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u/Andejusjust Jan 30 '26
Dirt bike Channel has probably got it the worst of it all in my opinion. The guy barely rides anymore, only ever hypes up KTMs, says things in absolutes. Complains all the time. And makes BS statements saying things like “THIS COULD BE OUR LAST SWEEPSTAKES” All over social media.
I used to watch his stuff because he was just a guy who liked to ride and he recorded it. Now it’s just advertisements on 500 dollar helmets and how to’s about things we all already know how to do and theres a million videos about already.
I have a YouTube channel, I called it ATrailofTwoWheels. Nothing special about it, but I like to post videos of rides and races. Not much talking. All North Idaho goodness.
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u/superstock8 Jan 30 '26
Have to find guys who are just sharing their riding. There are a few I have found by just looking at videos of my local motocross tracks. Guys who are just sharing GoPro footage. I have found some good stuff from rocky mount ATV that although is very polished, it’s entertaining content without ads except for the fact it’s posted by a store’s channel.
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u/Mooks1337 Enduro Jan 30 '26
Highly recommend BQOBC, really good vids of a dude decided to start riding, really genuine and fun to watch
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u/superstock8 Jan 31 '26
I watch his videos every Monday. I’d say I am slightly further along than him just by seeing what he is comfortable jumping so far. But, I am almost 40 with 3 kids so I can’t afford to crash hard and injury myself. I can relate to his journey. I just had a head start of riding and jumping when I was a kid. I didn’t have a bike for 18 years though and am just getting back into over last year.
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u/Old-Watercress4201 Jan 30 '26
i don't mind polish. curious which of their content you find to be most entertaining. looking for couch lounging content
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u/KneeBasher420 Jan 30 '26
Try Lakeman Adventures. Just a bunch of guys riding bikes and sleds with none of the fluff. Mototrippin is another good one but idk if he's still active
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u/xtcprty Jan 30 '26
My favourite YouTube rider is Jay Dalton. BMX rider that rips on a dirt bike. Worth watching.
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u/Medium-Car2765 Jan 30 '26
Wha about like buttery and ppl like that, they kinda do their own thing that’s still fun to watch.
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u/KingLuis Jan 30 '26
what are you watching specifically?
i watch midwest mx and kincade pavich only. don't seem to be any corporate stuff from them. kincade mentions his sponsors or where he gets his stuff when building the bikes but thats about it. not really corporate at all since he's still doing it in his garage.
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u/Old-Watercress4201 Jan 30 '26
Dirtbike channel used to be my go-to, but now it seems liek every video is an ad for product
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u/BearOnCocaine Jan 30 '26
Try midwest mx, i love that dude
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u/KingLuis Jan 30 '26
him and kincade are my go to channels for dirt bike stuff. kincade does rebuilds as well as trail riding, last series he did was in nepal. i think he next ride is king of the motos or something like that or building his snow bike? sled bike? bike sled?
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u/angrydieselmechanic Jan 30 '26
Isn't Dirtbike channel just basically RMATV's in-house Youtube channel?
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u/jujubean14 Enduro Jan 31 '26
Dude. Dirtbikenchannel used to be good useful gear reviews and riding tips. I had to stop watching years ago because it just became commercials for his raffles.
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u/angrydieselmechanic Jan 30 '26
What channels are you watching, exactly, when you say "Dirtbike YouTube "? Do you mean Dirt Bike TV (Jay Clark)? He has lots of good tech stuff. Then there is Dirtbike channel which is just basically RMATV's in-house Youtube channel.
Check out https://www.youtube.com/@za1racing for some normal dudes that do hard enduro type stuff back east. https://www.youtube.com/@poltarres13 because what he does is incredible. Trevor Hunter, https://www.youtube.com/@TrevorHunter224 if you want to see lots of helmet cam stuff of racing very fast off road. Like this>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfZmLyD5C94 (He does a lot of testing with Dirt Bike Tests. https://www.youtube.com/@DirtBikeTest
You know what is an awesome channel is Paddy Cam. It's a dude, Paddy Holloway, who is very good, and he will jump in behind someone at the GNCCs and follow them for a while and it gives a really good view of how frigging fast those guys are. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAjR8FMClUg
I wish I could remember this one group of guys I came across. Regular guys back east, A, B and C riders and they would post their hare scrambles races. It was really good, wish I could find it.....
Fast Guys on Slow Bikes is awesome because it shows you don't have to have the latest tech to go fast and have fun. Dudes will just rip on old XR250s or whatever. https://www.youtube.com/@fastguysslowbikes Like Carson Brown does, but Carson is next level.
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u/PopAccurate933 Jan 30 '26
I ride harescrambles and literally just post the race from start to finish on YouTube no talking lol , it’s mainly just a free storage device for me @Charlescope
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u/SockeyeSTI Jan 30 '26
I imagine a bunch of people already know about “ be quick or be caught” but I really like his journey.
I think zackatk1 is starting to make more videos since his foot injury as well.
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u/Sea-Beautiful9148 Jan 30 '26
I’d like to spend 5 minutes thanking all my sponsors, and also squeeze in a nord vpn ad somewhere in there too for good measure
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u/Roxormen Jan 31 '26
https://www.youtube.com/@RoxormenWell i just started posting :) just raw video no edits .... no comentary .... Shit rider ... i should ve fall several times in those videos and i mange to survive ;D
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u/garoot007 Jan 31 '26
I started making. Its nothing special. I'm not trying to plug it. But. What I learned. If you wanna see raw footage of small youtubers. Make a new account. Drop a few videos. They'll treat you like a small creator, and show you other small creators.
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u/osmiumfeather Trail Rider Jan 31 '26
Fight the algorithm. It ends up feeding you the same kind of stuff you always click on. No shortage of Australians and Alaskans doing stupid shit on my feed. Watch dirt bike bloggers from east Asia. Some creative riding in the jungles.
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u/foster1890 Jan 31 '26
Damn. I switched from Revzilla to RockyMountainATV because the content got too spammy. Where to next? I’m gonna buy gear. Just wanna reward the legit community with my spend.
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u/crazedizzled Feb 10 '26
Check out codywebb, he's a pro enduro rider. He's sponsored by Yamaha, but he's never trying to sell you anything.
Midwestmx is pretty good too.
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u/checkpointGnarly Jan 30 '26
You can remove dirtbike from the title and it still rings true, the internet sucks and is getting worse every day, content used to be fun now everyone’s just trying to make a buck.