basic jumping technique

wannayz · Sep 3, 2002

Hey all.
I've searched the posts so as not to be repetitive but still unsure. As a new older (>40) yz426 rider, my beginner track is not that easy (I'm told by many). I've been working at basic throttle, clutch, braking and body position thru corners/berms and ruts, mud but have to negotiate the jumps which are rather sharp, steep inclines of about 8 ft ,60deg or greater I think. Seem sharp to me anyway. So far I stay in 1st or 2nd and roll over them sitting and now starting to crouch through them. I would like to know basic body position, bike control for all phases. I know there are many jump questions but none that will take me thru it step by step.

I want to take this slowly and build up my skill, confidence. Please don't tell me to stay off the track altogether (i've gotthen those internet remarks). Thanks to all. :worship:

dell30rb · Sep 3, 2002

Stand up in a neutral position, and go over the jump slowly (in first if you like) First, just ride up to the jump slowly and chop the throttle before you hit it. (make sure you are going very very slow, so that you are going fast enough only to get the front wheel off the ground for a second)

The bike will nosedive. Next, approch the same jump at the same speed in a neutral, standing position. This time keep steady throttle to maintain the speed you were approching the jump. Hold it on as you go over the jump. You need to do this alot, practice at slow speeds using body position and throttle control to keep the front level when you come off the jump, and slowly increase your speed going up to the jump as you progress. You will soon learn how the bike will react to jumping, and how to counter-act a nose low situation, or vice versa.

Anyway, keep in mind that the more throttle you give it on the face of the jump, the higher your nose will be as you exit off the jump.

Good luck, let us know how it goes and try not to hurt yourself!

and if you have a question, ask.

Glitch · Sep 3, 2002

Start off hitting smaller jumps. Standing in a crouched position is good, sitting is bad. Try looking for smaller jumps, and even better, tabletops. This will help you get good jumping skills so that you can evetually hit those 8 ft jumps. Remember that as your hitting the jump, too push down on the pegs so that the suspension compresses. If you dont compress the suspension as your on the jump, then you will most likely nose dive and crash or loop out. Also, with 4 strokes, you cant let off the gas as you on the face of the jump, just about to take off, this will cause you to do a nose dive and crash. Always keep a very slow, steady acceleration as your going off a jump so that your wheels stay parallel to the ground. But practice, practice, practice. Dont forget to stay off the big jumps until you master the smaller ones.
Just some suggestions.
Jim.

wannayz · Sep 3, 2002

1)on the up incline should my weight be over the handlebars? I've been doing this to make my body a gimble on the footpegs and then shifting backward on the downslope, again to counteract gravity. What I'm doing seems a bit exaggerated but I feel that I could easily loop on the up ramp without doing this
2)compress the pegs. OK, but do I unload at the top of the ramp as if I were trying to jump for a basketball shot, OR, do I continue the compression and let the bike do it's thing?

MTRIDER · Sep 3, 2002

At the face of the jump you should be able to see your number plate...what you are looking for is neutral....under acceleration your weight is forward and braking your weight is rearward and IMHO wait on compressing the suspension till you get the jumping down

High Lord Gomer · Sep 4, 2002

I would agree to not concentrate on trying to compress the suspension right now. When you hit a jump the bike's suspension will automatically compress (and so will yours...your semi-crouched position will become more so) and they both will rebound and extend once airborne. Squeezing the bike with your knees/legs will help keep you in contact with the bike.

I would also suggest NOT using 1st gear, especially on a 426! 1/2 inch too much throttle will point the thing skyward and 1/2 inch too little will be like hitting the brakes. As you are beginning, hitting a jump at lower RPMs in 2nd or 3rd gear will make the throttle more forgiving, i.e.: the difference between 1/4 throttle and 1/2 throttle won't be so much when lugging the motor at lower rpms.

What you're doing as far as letting the bike move (rock forward and back) under you is correct, both for jumps and whoops.

linusb · Sep 4, 2002

When you talk about your beginner track, are you referring to a track that you have made yourself? If so, and other people have told you that the jumps are dangerous, they might be right. If you have a local and public track near you, it might have better (i.e. safer) jumps for you to practice on.

Once you find a jump you are comfortable with, just keep practicing. Once you get it right at a certain speed, you'll be ready to hit it faster and faster.

slo' mo · Sep 4, 2002

Originally posted by wannayz
my beginner track is not that easy (I'm told by many). I've been working at basic throttle, clutch, braking and body position thru corners/berms and ruts, mud but have to negotiate the jumps which are rather sharp, steep inclines of about 8 ft ,60deg or greater I think.
I want to take this slowly and build up my skill, confidence. Please don't tell me to stay off the track altogether (i've gotthen those internet remarks). Thanks to all. :worship:

Shave the jumps down to something closer to 30-40 degrees of angle for the launch and no more than 20-30 degrees for the landing. Practice the technique of jumping before taking on something that steep. Otherwise you wind up launching the bike so high you with so little speed you will not be able to control the bike in the air. Loop outs are no fun. Neither are endos.

RGalesi · Sep 4, 2002

TABLE TOP!!! This is the right thing to start with... And I also think you should practice in 3rd gear (2nd if the launching ramp is too steep). 1st will only make things harder for you.

wannayz · Sep 4, 2002

Thanks to all. Hopefully I'll get out again Sunday. It IS a pro track setup I don't think I'm exaggerating the jumps but I could be wrong; they certainly are well above my head, standing on pegs., (I'm 6'2") - you can't see past the lip until you're there. But they are tabletops I believe - at least another 8 feet or so of plateau. Many jump right over it. This IS the beginner track. It reminds me of the green novice ski slopes with maybe twenty five feet to turn or else off the cliff you go. Hey, trial by fire - I just don't want to get burned!

RM250'er · Sep 5, 2002

Wannayz,

Which track do you ride on?

carlbielke · Sep 5, 2002

Ok, here's my two cents:
It's pretty hard to remember all the tips regarding bike and rider position, throttle control, what gear you should be in and thousand other things people tell you to do.
Just keep going like you do, crawl if you feel like it, and eventually boredom will lead you to go faster, gradually. You are not going to compete from what I gather, so take it easy, it's all about fun.
You might not be the most stylish jumper in the beginning, but that comes gradually anyway. Relax, that's one of the main points, and it's damn hard to relax when you try to remember twenty things to do right.
I was so scared ****less when I started out, but SLOWLY gained confidence and now jump decently. Best of all, no major wipeouts!

dell30rb · Sep 5, 2002

Sorry, I didnt think about the 426 when I said first gear.

You need to figure out how the bike will react.. you need to experience it.

How I learned was how i stated earlier... you need to go over the jump slowly, and work on it so that you get a perfect angle of attack (launch angle) every time. Then just hit it faster and faster as you progress. It took me a month or two to get everything figured out, It will come with time.

Be patient and dont get hurt.

Good Luck!

Jaybird · Sep 6, 2002

Originally posted by dell30rb
...It took me a month or two to get everything figured out, It will come with time...

Wow, dell! I wish I was that good. (btw...I've been riding 2-strokes since 1972 and still don't have everything figured out.)

You must be a phenom!

:debil:

Quinton · Sep 7, 2002

Definately take your time. I just learned the hard way. I had a 91 CR125 in 1993 and could do just about anything with it on my freinds little track we made in the woods (long jumps, vertical jumps, no hands, table top, kick right leg over the gas tank & off to the left). I was pretty good for only riding with one other person. Now I have a 92 CR250 and it dumped me the first time out. I went up a 8-9' table top and "burped" the throttle at the top like I used to do on my 125 and it launched. Front fender was in my face & I was to shocked to remember to slam on the rear brake. I can't imagine how hard it would be to learn on a 426!!! Just in the past couple days jumping is coming back to me. The best advice I can give is jump in 2 or 3, keep it steady, & slightly compress the shocks. If you don't compress them somewhat (like you're going for a b-ball rebound) the bike will in air and you will be slightly off of the foot pegs. If you compress it, it will come up to you and feel nice and snug.

dell30rb · Sep 7, 2002

You must be a phenom!

They say I'm the next ricky! :yeehaw:

LOL, I have a pretty good handle on jumping... it took me 1 or 2 months to gain confidence, basic body positioning and to get to where I felt comfortable in the air, saying I had everything figured out was an overstatement, but leave it to jaybird to pick on the smallest detail.

Jaybird · Sep 7, 2002

I'm glad you do realise your statement was very much an overstatement. I do not try to pick out the small details of your posts, it just find it amusing that a kid with not a whole lot of experience can be such an expert on riding technique. Yes, I know how kids are...I own four of them myself!
What you need to realise is that you have a long way to go and probably could read and head a bit more.

I'm not saying don't post advise, just don't get your panties in a bunch when you get called for a silly statement. Kewl?

dell30rb · Sep 7, 2002

Look, I'm not saying I'm really good or anything, and I dont have EVERYthing figured out. I read all sorts of texts and watch riding technique movies to get better, and I realize i have alot of room for improvement.

By saying i have everything figured out, I mean I had a foothold on the technique. (not sure what that means up in indaina) :think:

Oh, and I didnt get my man-panties in a bunch. That last part "leave it to jaybird to pick on the smallest detail" was not meant to be taken offensively. I was really just joking (mabye i should have clarified this with a smiley)

Jaybird · Sep 7, 2002

Save bandwidth and spare me the smilies. I can read just fine and to me, a smiley does not change content.
I wonder how authors got by for so many years without emoticons? Hmmmm.

"Up here" in Indiana, things mean exactly what they do there in Carolina. You will just have to trust me on that one.

BTW....Am I correct in assuming that I should just forget about suggesting anything to you? I know for a fact my kids would answer in the affirmative, just wondered about you.

dell30rb · Sep 7, 2002

alright look, I think its pointless to pursue this any further, I was just trying to help someone out, and we end up in an arguement. I was not trying to insult you in any way, and i even said it, and yet you kept at it.

I'm done with this thread

Jaybird · Sep 7, 2002

Sorry, dell...but I am not arguing about anything.

Rockey5000 · Sep 7, 2002

Jaybird, I normally love your posts, but you are acting like an ass.

Jaybird · Sep 7, 2002

Rocky, I'm not trying to be an ass here. There have been many times before that I wanted to say something to dell about the advise he gives. Advise is fine, but lets keep it in perspective here. Many time young folks will tout a product simply because it is what they have, and for no other reason. Also many times a kid will post advise becasue he has seen it in a video or read it in a book, which is fine, but I would state that my advise came from such a source if I did offer it.
I tried to use a bit of sarcastic comedy to make my point, but as usual when you call a kid on something they get all defensive and start justifying their posts. Fine, but I just have seen too many times where dell gives advise that is either something he got from his xr80 experiences, or straight from a book or video. Which is fine also, but one should state the source when offering such info.
I wouldn't say a word to dell, except that I have noticed a few contradictary posts in the past.
I won't go into a large spew on dells posts, but I will offer this thread for an example, since it does relate to what was posted here. Read it and you will have to admit that it was not from a young man who has a good foothold on jumping, or has it all figured out, as was stated.
http://dirtrider.net/forums3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=55218

Sure, I seem to come off as a butthead sometimes, but I am not trying to beat up anyone....I just think that we should ALL have to account for what we offer here. Especially on riding technique, since it can be one of the most important areas that we delve into. Anyone can give bad advise on how many pounds to put in a tire, or what type of plastic polish to use and usually no harm, no foul...but when it comes to riding, we need to be spot-on with our advise or run the risk of a first time rider possibly getting hurt by following bad info.

Perhaps I am over the top here. I will back off and not say another word.

CanadianRidr · Sep 8, 2002

Perhaps I am over the top here. I will back off and not say another word.

Jay feel free to comment on my post. But I think almost any post in this forum can be picked at. I don't know, maybe you are picking on Dell? It seems like there is some hostility but like I said, I don't know.

The thing with giving riding advice over the net, is it is VERY hard to say/express/show/etc in exact detail what you mean.

I don't think I have ever given advice in this forum except for the very few basics tips. I honestly think it's too hard to do unless you are a professional.

Allthough I can't type out what im trying to say, but I think if you have to ask how to react to diffent jumps etc....then maybe you arn't ready to hit them yet.

When I encounter something new on the track, I visualize, watch others and then judge what is the best way and then do it.

Now for a first time rider, should they be jumping? That's up to them if they feel they have the skills, but if someone on here says "just give it 3/4 throttle" and some kid does that in the wrong position on the bike with no real idea on moving there bike/body in the air, it will cause a disaster no matter what throttle position they are in.

What am I saying? I don't know just blabbin on I guess, it's hard to give accurate tips. There are SOOOO many factors that go into riding that it's almost impossible. I think it's good that many people give advice, but like Jay said, lets make sure it's as accurate as possible, give all the variables etc...

(I never said that anyone gave bad advice either! Im just adding to jay's comment) :thumb:

Ride hard and ride safe :cool:

Rockey5000 · Sep 8, 2002

Jaybird, I guess I don't know all of it so im sorry I commented.

basic jumping technique

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