it hurts!!
alot!!
even when you don't fall off!!
But great fun and worth it, but very limited as to where you can ride, particularly in the south east.
I would book an offroad weekend or get some mates to let you have a go first then find out if you would get the use from it first. Also need to consider if you would get a road legal bike or a motox bike as you will need to think about transport (van/trailer) if the later.