what's the point

[charger]

I have been watching a lot of MX/SX videos and I've noticed that when coming over triples (which is what I pay the closest attention to) the pros nearly always land on their front wheel. Why? I was wondering if it keeps their back end from kicking up too high or what. Anyhoo, thanx for the help.:D

 

[High Lord Gomer]

A couple of reasons come to mind:

• If the bike is not pointed exactly straight, landing with the front wheel first allows you to have it pointed in the correct direction and the rear will tend to follow,
• If you land with the bike slightly nose down, you can be hard on the gas when you land. If you have the front end up, the back will hit first and you need to wait for the front to come down before you can really get on the gas.

 

[dell30rb]

I read an article RC wrote in an early MX Racer...He says he lands on his front wheel because it causes less bounce. I almost always land front wheel slightly first

 

[yam 3]

I thought it was to match the downslope of the jump:think

 

[Anssi]

Originally posted by yam 3
I thought it was to match the downslope of the jump:think

Well, obviously, but I think the above referred to the front wheel touching the ground before the rear.

Anyhow, I do think it's about control. In SX you have to be ready to break/turn pretty soon after the jump, and that's easier when you put the front down first.

 

[Jeff Gilbert]

I agree it's about control. Landing slightly on the front wheel causes less bounce, allows to be on the gas or ready to brake. The thing that scares me is when I land front wheel first and the bike isn't completely straight. When that happens the back doesn't always follow the front in a straight line...
I hate it when that happens.:eek:

 

[rockchucker]

Landing frontwheel first is all about control. It's a smoother transition to land front wheel first then hit the gas immediately... in other words it's faster Also, depending on the jump, you can keep your alititude to a minimum by keeping the nose low. Another reason.. braking. If your track has an immediate corner after a big jump you have to have that frontend settled. And it keeps your from getting slappers.

 

[roostinbe]

Landing with your front end low, makes for a smoother landing, because it activates the forks in an ideal/(smooth) way so as to provide near perfect dampening. As opposed to a "slap down" (rear wheel first) landing, which tends to draw a harsh reaction from the forks.