More on jumping

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.

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!

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

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.