More on jumping

[miko]

Hi all,

I am a fairly recent convert to the sport (got a YZ250 last october) and
I'm struggling to make some jumps at the local track.
Basically the ones that give me troubles are the small doubles that
have a short run up to the jump. I thought that was a speed problem
but now I'm not sure:

My YZ has a lot of torque, and the guys on 125 have no trouble getting
the speed between the turn and the jump.
Yesterday I was watching this guy on a YZ250. He looked like he was
going really slow around the turn, but then he would manage to
make the small double effortly. I couldn't pick up anything special
he was doing with his body (no obvious preloading or anything
like this) So at this point I'm scratching my head.
Would it makes a difference if say he is hitting the jump still
accelerating and I'm hitting it coasting ?

thanks,

miko.

 

[Anssi]

Yes it would make a difference whether you are accelerating or coasting. A video camera is priceless as a practise tool, the recorded sound telling you that you are being a wuss and not being anywhere near WFO when your head tells you that surely you never let off.

The jump faces are merciless in destroying your momentum if you don't keep accelerating.

 

[Ryone]

Like Anssi said, momentum. It's not stressed enough to new riders.

I've only been riding for about 15 months, but I can clear almost anything on my hometown track. I ride a 2001 cr125. It doesn't have much power, but I've learned to keep on the pipe and especially keep my momentum.

I was in the same boat you're in wondering why I couldn't clear jumps. I thought it was lack of power, but it was lack of skill. I'd overrev like crazy, but that didn't help. I'd try to preload every jump, but I just went higher and not much farther. Finally I hit the track trying to FLOW through corners, not overreve, and keep my momentum. You have to always be smooth. Try and keep your rear tire from spinning out of control. I now keep up with my cousin on his rm250.

Again, ROLL on the throttle around turns instead of trying to pin it at the last second, and keep your momentum.

Good luck!

 

[Nice Guy Eddie]

yup accelerate through the jump, not into it..... let off once the rear tire leaves the ground, you should be ok...

I was having a real hard time trying to drive this home to my buddy yesterday while we were practicing jumps.. he invariably would let off before he left the ramp, and he was coming up short and nose diving....

practice on a table top!!!!... they are far less dangerous when you miss it

 

[miko]

practice on a table top!!!!... they are far less dangerous when you miss it

I mentioned "doubles" but of course there are doubles and there
are DOUBLES. The ones I'm talking about are basically big woops, or
uphill jumps that have a small double at the top. These are the
ones I'm really having problems with because no matter how hard
I think I accelerate I don't clear the second one.

Next time I go to the track I'm going to try to be aware how far I accelerate. The video is a good suggestion.

Anyway, thanks for the tips.

miko.

 

[Shig]

A gentle table-top with absolutely no lip is the best place to learn jumping under full acceleration. This is where I have learned and taught seat-bouncing as well. Find a jump you can comfortably clear in 2nd gear, and learn how to do it in 1st. As you get more comfortable leaving the ground with the throttle twisted to the stop, gradually move to steeper jumps with lipped take-offs. Before you know it, you'll connect everything on the track.