Helping Your Child Stop Blipping the Throttle

Helping Your Child Stop Blipping the Throttle

Getting your child to stop blipping the throttle can feel impossible—especially when it’s something even experienced riders struggle with! Blipping gives the illusion of speed and control, but in reality, it often holds us back from achieving true flow and corner speed.

Let’s face it: telling your child to “stop blipping” isn’t likely to help. It’s too negative, and it doesn’t offer a constructive alternative. A better phrase might be:

“Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”

It’s a classic, but the word “slow” can put young riders off before the message lands.

What we want is corner speed—the ability to roll into the turn with control, get on the gas early, and carry momentum. The key is learning to use the throttle the right way. Think of how quiet and composed Jett Lawrence is through corners. He’s using the throttle—but in a calm, intentional way that serves his speed, not just his ego.

So how do you teach that?

Start by changing the language. Replace “slow” or “smooth” with something that still carries urgency, but adds control. Try:

“Make your first turn of the throttle a fast but small movement.”

Why this works:

It’s surprisingly hard to turn the throttle just a little bit. But if you can do it—if you can master that “fast but small” first twist—the door opens to everything else.

It means your child can start rolling on the throttle earlier without needing to back off again. That increases consistency, allows for more lean and trust in the bike, and ultimately boosts corner speed.

But here’s the second half of the magic phrase:

“…and then hold it there until you’re ready for more.”

These words are priceless. They encourage patience and discipline, and help avoid the trap of “greedy throttle” that unsettles the bike.

Put the two parts together:

“Make your first turn of the throttle a fast but small movement, and then hold it there until you’re ready for more.”

When done right, this allows the bike to settle, builds confidence, and lets riders get to full throttle sooner—without panic or overcorrection.

A Drill That Makes It Click

Understanding the theory is one thing. Locking it into muscle memory is another. Here’s a drill to help:

The Tight Circle Drill

1. Start in first gear, standing, and make the circles as slow and tight as possible. Looking ahead is key—make that the first goal.

2. Let them struggle first. Don’t mention throttle technique right away. Just observe.

3. Once they hit the limit, introduce the idea of using a fast but small throttle movement, and then maintaining that small input consistently.

4. Encourage them to correct any loss of throttle with another fast but small twist.

   
   

If they grasp it, they’ll start to ride smoother, more controlled, and more consistently. Soon, those tight circles will tighten even further.

Next, progress to figure-8s:Link two-thirds of one circle into another in the opposite direction, with a small straight in between. When they’re ready, move up to second gear with slightly larger circles, and eventually third.

Final Thoughts

This process can be transformative—not just for your child’s riding, but for their mindset. And let’s be honest, if they’re riding faster and safer without the constant throttle blipping, it’ll do wonders for your peace of mind too.