ktm46
Posts: 3
Joined: 1/23/2012
Location: NJ, USA
I have a KTM 250 2 stroke. When I hit bigger jumps -- doubles, triples, even tabletops, the front wants to nosedive. What would cause this? Is it too much de-acceleration on the jump face? I have only been riding mx for a year and admit that I have a tendency to let off the gas on the jump face and sort of coast off of the lip. Common sense tells me that by coasting off I am essentially "falling" of the jump instead of launching off of it. Is my thinking correct?
Thanks for the help.
SoCalMX70
Posts: 785
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA USA
Don't chop the throttle on the face of the jump... Don't gas it hard either. Steady throttle is key.
FYI, I haven't been a good jumper in nearly 10 years, but the last time I was it was on a 2-stroke.
Edit: Also depends on the type of face you're hitting to. If there's a kick in the lip you'll need to gas it more. It's just one of those things where practice makes perfect. Nosing down too much = Give it more gas next time. Nose too high = Less gas next time (or tap the rear brake old school style...).
All of the above, and use your body to weight the bike how it's needed. You can use no gas or wide open so long as you weight the bike correctly. Pull back, push down, or stay neutral using the handlebars for leverage. Obviously there are a lot more things you can do but this is good beginner stuff. Be safe!
huck
Posts: 13275
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: Mountain Home, AR USA
Pull the front brake in the air. It's spinning too much and causing the front to drop.
The message posted above is most likely my opinion and shouldn't be taken as fact....
DoctorJD
Posts: 955
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: The Big "E", GA USA
huck wrote: Pull the front brake in the air. It's spinning too much and causing the front to drop.
Thanks Huck, with four legit responses I was beginning to think I was in some kind of Vital "Bizarro World".
"I mean honestly, up-and-coming riders? I'd just advise them to quit, cuz' they'll never be as good as me." Ronnie Mac
MotoChief
Posts: 672
Joined: 10/18/2011
Location: Guantanamo Bay, CUB
Just panic Rev the bike. Every one will then know how hard you ride.
"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis."
Dante Alighieri
"So Pick a F#@%ing side!"
MotoChief
www.kiteboarding.com
petie11o5
Posts: 486
Joined: 1/2/2011
Location: Cincinnati, OH USA
huck wrote: Pull the front brake in the air. It's spinning too much and causing the front to drop.
That's real nice to tell the kid. Do not pull the front brake in, it will drop your front end even more. Even when you are nose high you should never pull in the front brake it is bad for the bike. The front wheel should always rotate while you are in the air.
Old Mate
Posts: 1109
Joined: 3/9/2009
Location: Sussex Inlet, AUS
Build up to your jumping,go slow towards the jump and when your confident accelerate till the back wheel leaves the jump,stand up,grip with your knees and learn a little forward just like you would to walk up the jump.
MotoChief
Posts: 672
Joined: 10/18/2011
Location: Guantanamo Bay, CUB
huck wrote: Pull the front brake in the air. It's spinning too much and causing the front to drop.
petie11o5 wrote: That's real nice to tell the kid. Do not pull the front brake in, it will drop your front end even more. Even when you are nose high you should never pull in the front brake it is bad for the bike. The front wheel should always rotate while you are in the air.
Anyone riding a 250 and jumping "bigger jumps -- doubles, triples, even tabletops" that needs help to understand what to do in the fucking air on a bike that is nose down deserves what he gets if he takes advice from an internet message board. And if he does not understand the basics of bike physics, he has no place even riding that bike, much less jumping "bigger jumps -- doubles, triples, even tabletops"
"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis."
Dante Alighieri
"So Pick a F#@%ing side!"
MotoChief
www.kiteboarding.com
Biscuit
Posts: 421
Joined: 11/13/2008
Location: Saltillo, MS USA
Practice your corners!
Chicks dig guys who are fast through the corners!
"For the loser now will be later to win"--Robert Zimmerman
StatutoryApe
Posts: 569
Joined: 10/28/2011
Location: Cerritos, CA USA
Either your throttle control on the face or your rebound in your suspension i would say, try tinkering with both to figure it out.
ktm46
Posts: 3
Joined: 1/23/2012
Location: NJ, USA
For those that have helped -- thank you.
Also, I do understand the physics of the bike. If you read my post I had pretty much diagnosed my problem already, I was just trying to confirm what I thought and maybe get a couple helpful bits of advice as well.
huck
Posts: 13275
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: Mountain Home, AR USA
ktm46 wrote: For those that have helped -- thank you.
Also, I do understand the physics of the bike. If you read my post I had pretty much diagnosed my problem already, I was just trying to confirm what I thought and maybe get a couple helpful bits of advice as well.
You're welcome.
Here's a video that RC did a few years ago...when they had those "pro tips" on RacerX. Pretty cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlelHTHy7QE&feature=player_embedded
The message posted above is most likely my opinion and shouldn't be taken as fact....
Sheriff245
Posts: 351
Joined: 12/22/2010
Location: CAN
I always push on my front end on the face of jumps. I want it to dive so the bike lands in the same angle as the landing..
NetMXer
Posts: 528
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: Woodstock, VA USA
In addition to changing your technique, make sure you have your suspension set up correctly. Too much rebound damping on the forks or too little on the rear will cause the same symptom.
huck
Posts: 13275
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: Mountain Home, AR USA
ktm46 wrote: I have a KTM 250 2 stroke. When I hit bigger jumps -- doubles, triples, even tabletops, the front wants to nosedive. What would cause this? Is it too much de-acceleration on the jump face? I have only been riding mx for a year and admit that I have a tendency to let off the gas on the jump face and sort of coast off of the lip. Common sense tells me that by coasting off I am essentially "falling" of the jump instead of launching off of it. Is my thinking correct?
Thanks for the help.
BobbyM wrote: i wanna see how many losers actually take this guys question seriously.
how many losers we got so far?
sorry old mate.
So people don't 'get it'... that's for sure.
The message posted above is most likely my opinion and shouldn't be taken as fact....
When you hit the jump, your suspension compresses. Your forks compress first and then your shock. As soon as your front end is airborne, in space.... the shock is free to unload (rebound) because there is no longer an opposing force compressing it. Just like releasing a compressed spring. This is what causes the bike to nose dive. You must therefore counteract the force with throttle and body positioning. Starting out small, staying centralised with the motorcycle (support your weight with your legs, NOT with arms) and most importantly as SocalMX70 said, steady throttle control is the key. Depending on the jump face in question and with experimentation over time, you'll find a certain amount modification to your technique appropriate.
Best of luck.
CR250Rider
Posts: 6989
Joined: 4/1/2008
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
ktm46 wrote: For those that have helped -- thank you.
Also, I do understand the physics of the bike. If you read my post I had pretty much diagnosed my problem already, I was just trying to confirm what I thought and maybe get a couple helpful bits of advice as well.
huck wrote: You're welcome.
Here's a video that RC did a few years ago...when they had those "pro tips" on RacerX. Pretty cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlelHTHy7QE&feature=player_embedded
Great vid, pretty much explains everything
in a past life, I was myself
when opportunity knocked, it waited because I was busy
I gave my father a talking to
RandyS
Posts: 2318
Joined: 8/16/2006
Location: Grass Valley, CA USA
ktm46 wrote: I have a KTM 250 2 stroke. When I hit bigger jumps -- doubles, triples, even tabletops, the front wants to nosedive. What would cause this? Is it too much de-acceleration on the jump face? I have only been riding mx for a year and admit that I have a tendency to let off the gas on the jump face and sort of coast off of the lip. Common sense tells me that by coasting off I am essentially "falling" of the jump instead of launching off of it. Is my thinking correct?
Thanks for the help.
BobbyM wrote: i wanna see how many losers actually take this guys question seriously.
how many losers we got so far?
sorry old mate.
What are we missing, do you and fuck actually spend so much time living for a message board that you can instantly tell when someone is fucking around? Cuz if that post is someone like Ringer that is a pretty sad attempt at being funny. On the other hand if it's someone looking for advice who asked nicely and wasn't an asshat why fuck with him?
#10v
