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FYI, I own and ride every size of bike. And yes, even on my 125 I always know what gear I am in. It's just how I ride. It's integral to my technique. If anything, I consider it even more critical on a 125 since it is much more important to keep the bike in the perfect part of the power than on, say, a 450 which is very forgiving due to the broad power.
Not saying it's better. Not saying others should do it. But it's how I do it and it's worked for me for more than 30 years of riding MX.
On this gear topic....
On a 125 I always listened to the bike for the most part.
With that said,I wonder how Fiolek knows when to shift.....?
That is something that always baffled me.
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On a second note, I had a similar discussion with a buddy, and I was doing one of the table tops at Crowhill (MA) and I managed to clear in in third on my KX250F revving out, and he also had a KX250F and was a bit frustrated seeing me doing it, while he couldn't (he was a chicken shit), the discussion didn't make sense at all for him because he said he would land half way in third. Turned out that the 11 KXF gearing was totally different than the 09, so third basically meant fith on his sucker? Still sounds a bit weard, but in the end he cleared it in fifth I think. We figured we both had stock gearing, at least he claimed that, while I knew mine had it... One of those WTF moments...
So somethings gearing makes no sense at all...
I think many pros also know what gear they are in at any given time, especially in SX where being in the proper gear is absolutely critical. If you ever watch a pro explaining how they do a certain section they almost always say "..this corner 2nd, grab 3rd, upshift to 4th in the air..next jump downshift to 3rd in the air to setup for the corner, upshift to 4th before the whoops...." etc.
With 13/50 gears on a smoker you better wick it up good thats for sure ! Ive cased that thing lotsa times in 4th and found that 5th was the fix. Of course Im a wannabe, Ive seen Robbie Reynard clear it and looked like he was barely outta 2nd.
No idea why he didn't ask me at the time!
Some pro's wil count, others don't. Counting is a way for you to ride relaxed and smooth. Others ride relaxed and smooth by feeling the pull, hit and overall powerband of the bike. I do both actually, some sections i count while others i go by the feeling.
Streetriding is purely by feel. I never count on a streetbike and don't want/need a gear indicator for it.
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Most big jumps on most tracks can be done in about three gears. WRUNG right out in a lower gear, coasting half throttle in a gear thats close, or running a gear high and clutching it up the face to control attitude.... or a combination of any of those. I dont know what gear I am in most of the time, but I know I can make things work out by screaming the bike, clutching it a bit, etc. Although, now that Im old, crusty and creaky, its usually the gear high method....
If possible I'll ask one of the better riders if I can follow them over a jump.. that way I know I'll have about the right speed.
Did that a few years ago on this step-up at a local place.. it was down a long straight... had a 5' tall single, then flat ground for another 30' until the hill, which was about 10' higher than the single. I was in 4th gear and probably had no business jumping it.. Anyway - I followed two of the fast guys (asked first, they made sure I was following and gave me thumbs up in the corner before). Cleared it and turned around and did it over and over and over for another 30 minutes.
In either case I have to feel confident and focused or I roll it until I do.
When learning a new jump, I usually roll it a few times to size it up, then take a deep breath and go for it. I pretty much never get it wrong. It amazes me that I can subconsciously calculate the speed required so accurately. I do try to steer clear of unforgiving jumps these days, though.
my dad use to be absolutely flabbergasted that i never knew what gear i was in when i did this that or the other, he just couldnt believe it.
i would tell him "gee, dad im just trying to concentrate on the jumps, bumps, whoops, ruts, berms, my physical condition, how much time i got left, how far behind i am, doubles, triples, quads, rocks, roots, trees, power poles, and occasional tractor parked too closed to the track, unpredictable spectators, squids, nutbars, lapped riders, dangerous riders, im not worried about what gear im in ... if i ever run out of gears and need more speed, i'll let you know"
This reminds me a few years ago there was a thread about listening to music while riding. Some guys said they loved doing it while there is no way in hell I could. It would distract me way too much (I wouldn't be able to count gears!
I wouldn't be surprised if there is some correlation between the riders who don't pay attention to what gear they are in and those who can enjoy listening to music while they ride.
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