Absolute beginner trying to get respectable air

[backwaterdogs]

As my son and I are just getting into the sport, and having a blast I might add, I would like to be sure both of us are approaching small jumps correctly.

My personal trouble is primarily fear! But this afternoon was doing a little better and felt I getting pretty high, but wife was quick to tell me that I was just barely getting off the ground.

I find my self doing a few things I think are impacting me: I catch myself sitting and staying on the throttle while in the air and then the back wheel get squirrelly when landing.

From the beginning what are steps? Should I stand and accellerate though the jump to try and keep the front end up?

One other thing, I'm kind of heavy (230#) and am riding an xr400 and sometimes when do manage a little air and a backwheel landing, it sounds as though the backwheel is hitting the fender. Is there anything I should do to this completely stock xr400 before doing much more jumping?

Thanks all!

 

[Anssi]

You should check the sag on your rear suspension and make sure you are on the throttle when you land.

Other than that, keep practising with your tires on the ground until you feel comfortable switching to a bike that is made for jumps. You should be able to at least stay on the throttle through some sort of bumps and ruts before you really start jumping.

My advice to any rider is get a video camera and see how crap you really are when you feel like a hero. Certainly does it for me every time.

 

[windsormw]

I JUST GOT MY BIKE ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO .
i am 24 and always had a bike up until the age of 15 , so a year ago i picked up my rm 125 . I wasen't to into racing i just wanted to get some air and have alot of fun . My main problem was just like ur's FEAR . The trick is just start small , get use to trying to keep the front end up when launching off the jump . There is no real secret to big jumps ( it takes big balls ) . Just get comfotable , my modavation was these little 18 year old punks @ the track . These kids were launchin there bikes. I figured if these young kids could do it so could i .

@ 1 year of dirtbikin almost every week end ( weather permiting ) i don't do any of that "super-man stuff " but even now i can launch - er , but i am still scared every time i come up to a big kicker . Sure you fall off , and it hurts but try and stay on , if you think ur going to loose it on a landing ( nose down / front " way" up ) keep ur feet on the pegs . i don'tt know how many times i have come down for a landing and i swore i was gonna bail .
On one final not if u don't got dirt-bikin boots , get em . My buddies hard headed thinkin just cost him about 4 weeks out of work .

 

[DRZ_Dad]

You need a stiffer rear spring, My DRZ400E was setup up from the factory for a rider around 175 lb
I assume a XR400 would be about the same.....
Be careful on small kicker type jumps they can be tricky, tabletops are the best jumps to learn on ..........

 

[Bullwinkle58]

Start small & work your way up. You are nervous about jumping, so I know you have the common sense to not ride over your head. Always stay in control, and practice the right techniques.

 

[LukeRips]

One piece of advice is to NEVER let off before you hit the ramp... You'll endo hard. Second is to NEVER go off the ramp pinned in powerband.... You'll loop-out hard. The bike should make a bbbrrrrrrpppp sound, this means you let off right as your back tire was at the top of the ramp. Once you get used to it, learn to tap the back brake when the front end is a little low or tap the front brake if the front end is a little high. When your going this high, you'll need a bike capable of jumping long doubles.

 

[Anssi]

LukeRips,
No.

 

[Ryone]

Once you get used to it, learn to tap the back brake when the front end is a little low...

I think he meant tap the rear brake when front end is high.

Don't worry about tapping breaks or pinning the throttle for now. Just go up the face of the ramp, and right before you reach the top, blip the throttle a little bit to send you in a straight trajectory. If you don't give it a little gas, you'll nose dive.

Just keep practicing blipping the throttle until you get comfortable enough that it becomes second nature. Soon you'll be gassing it the whole way up, and just letting off at the top of the ramp. By this time, you'll want to use body english instead of brakes or gas to keep the bike where you want it.

Good luck

Ryone

 

[will-NOOB]

jumps

i havent been doing the sport long and im not a very good jumper but if i can give any advise it woulod be to wait untill u sort that suspension out u dont wanna get used to jumpin your bike like that before u make any major changes to setup. it will make alot of difference to the way the bike reacts
on take off in the air and landing people who jump alot often have there sus slightly stiffer to absorb those heavy impacts.it could save your tail on a heavy landing. as for actual technique for doing jumps i find people all have there way of doing itsome people like to go slower and hop the bike up more using alot of body movement to keep the bike stable and some people like to hit jumps faster leaning forward a bit to keept it from looping back personally i like a smooth power delivery all the way till i spot the landing and then i let my bike dip by letting off the gas so the only other thing is your personal abillty jumps are not easy and the only real way of makin them is if u know what u r doing u might get the knack of em u may not either way know your limit and keep to it this isnt bmx anymore hope u get it sorted ;)

 

[drz400e]

I've been riding for years and still can't jump worth crap. 40 years old and scared of breaking bones.

 

[tnrider]

I've been riding for years and still can't jump worth crap. 40 years old and scared of breaking bones.

its alwasy the sudden stop at the end that gets me! :bang:

 

[shnalln]

Gary Semics has a free 4 day internet course that covers the basics of riding which also covers jumping. If your just getting started it would probably be worth your while to check it out. He gives excellent examples on how to practice properly.

Check it out HERE

 

[slappnutz]

I too am still learning to jump, i just got my bike in april. I have crashed an awful lot from some of the jumps i have tried to hit. But i just keep getting back on the bike and trying again and again until i get it. I got a few buddies that race so they help out with some pointers here and there. But i think the only way to get jumping down is by hitting every kinda jump, i have hit doubles, kickers, table tops and alot of jumps in local riding spots. Crashing is just part of the game, gear sure helps! My biggest jump to date is a 55 foot gap in a sand pit. We are working on a bigger jump, just gota get my nerve up for that one.