no more trails

JM485
Posts
5824
Joined
10/1/2013
Location
Davis, CA, USA
6/8/2015 8:20am
vhlnsk wrote:
You have some of the best technical riding right in your backyard at Carnegie. (not only my opinion, talk with Rodney Smith...) Motocross takes a very...
You have some of the best technical riding right in your backyard at Carnegie. (not only my opinion, talk with Rodney Smith...)

Motocross takes a very special set of skills to excel.

Hare scrambles take a set of skills that benefit from motocross, but require something additional.

If you are interested in hare scrambles consider riding at Carnegie for specific training. When you train in areas other than your specialty, you gain knowledge of you and your bike. This lets you address unfamiliar terrain/situations with a foundation of versatile skills.

Check out Porter's videos for some of the interesting terrain that Carnegie offers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mgwQ7vt6KE
[
If you are interested in improving for hare scrambles, talk with Josh or me for specific training for technical riding. Maybe we can connect for a ride at Carnegie.

But hey what do I know; my last race bike had drum brakes and no rear suspension linkage, and my current "dirt bike" has a license plate.



If you are a fan of dirt bike racing, take a look at this Weege interview of Rodney Smith:
http://racerxonline.com/2014/08/06/where-are-they-now-rodney-smith

And an interview of Weege:
http://vurbmoto.com/blogs/industry-insiderwith-jason-weigandt/1287/
Do I know you vhlnsk? I figure I have to if you ride Carnegie a lot with Porter and all those guys, do you come out to the hillclimbs at all by chance?
holverson34
Posts
320
Joined
11/27/2014
Location
Carlton, OR, USA
6/8/2015 8:44am Edited Date/Time 6/8/2015 8:45am
My buddy and u rode our first gp race last year and our bikes were no where close where they should have been set up wise. I tipped over and stalled my bike a lot and that was frustrating. Bike set up and riding smooth and consistent would have made my day gone a lot smoother but I had fun. Definitely better than being at work
6/8/2015 9:40am
Quite a few of my trail riding buddies have a moto background. They all tend to be the fastest woods guys.
I think them being at work on Monday became more important.

Proper Suspension setup for the woods is very important.
Rekluse Clutch helps tremendously as well.
6/8/2015 10:31am
yzjs7 wrote:
I love riding motocross and generally do every weekend. I competed in hollisters 6hr relay race through the hills this weekend. Had fun but crashed or...
I love riding motocross and generally do every weekend. I competed in hollisters 6hr relay race through the hills this weekend. Had fun but crashed or Damon near fell over half a dozen times or more. I think I'm a decent rider on the track and improving;yet on the trails I sure do suck. Frustrating to say the least. I believe riding trails will make me a better overall rider,but crashing gets old and messes with my confidence. Anybody else have the same issue?
I started riding offroad when I was 20, rode moto before that. First couple of rides I hated everything about offroad. Seriously I can't remember what kept me going out but as I got better and was able to ride more technical and challenging spots I became ridiculously hooked!!!! The gnarlier the better. Going over logs and rocks becomes as rewarding as hitting triples. Stick with it and your bike handling skills will improve drastically

The Shop

Frodad78
Posts
2155
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1/11/2012
Location
USA
6/8/2015 10:31am
I'll add that I think mountain biking helps a ton for trail riding, especially when it gets gnarly. Teaches balance and being comfortable when standing.
rbm33
Posts
468
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Duncan, OK, USA
Fantasy
6/8/2015 11:21am
I have several moto buddies that cant ride single track to save their life, and its not because they cant ride a bike. its because they aren't riding it correctly for an expended single track ride.

look foreword as much as possible, relax, ride smooth, stand up when u need to stand up and sit down when u should sit down......

give it a little time, it will all click one day and all of a sudden u will feel at home on some single track.
G-man
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9342
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Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
6/8/2015 9:44pm Edited Date/Time 6/8/2015 9:51pm
My buddy and u rode our first gp race last year and our bikes were no where close where they should have been set up wise...
My buddy and u rode our first gp race last year and our bikes were no where close where they should have been set up wise. I tipped over and stalled my bike a lot and that was frustrating. Bike set up and riding smooth and consistent would have made my day gone a lot smoother but I had fun. Definitely better than being at work
Yep this is very true.
If you left your motocross settings the same for trail that's the start of your problems right there I would go with 4 clicks softer on the front and rear suspension compression clickers.

put a zip tie around your lower fork tube to see how much travel you are using, chances are you are not using nearly as much as on a track

you need to adjust your suspension to where you are using a good part of the travel.

Riding off road definitely takes a different mentality try looking ahead also learn to enjoy the surroundings and the scenery when you take a break, it can be really beautiful out there, much more than just being in the dirt parking lot at your local MX track.

Riding different disciplines adds to your overall riding skill tremendously and you learn to appreciate it much more.

I also like to canyon carve on my FZ1 and getting in triple digits in seconds helps get the ya ya's out.

try to relax and have fun!

we've been riding these single track trails lately and after a rain it does not get any better. Smile






I've owned this little 250XCF-W over a year now and I'm just learning to really dig this bike it needs to be in the right environment which is tight single track after riding 450's and 520EXC's its quite an adjustment of the lack of power but it turns out in the right situation you don't need all the ponies.




vhlnsk
Posts
3
Joined
9/18/2011
Location
USA
6/8/2015 10:17pm
JM485 wrote:
Do I know you vhlnsk? I figure I have to if you ride Carnegie a lot with Porter and all those guys, do you come out...
Do I know you vhlnsk? I figure I have to if you ride Carnegie a lot with Porter and all those guys, do you come out to the hillclimbs at all by chance?
Hey Josh,

We've probably unknowingly ridden together while with Porter, but would be really surprised if we knew each other. I will keep an eye out for a 485 next time I am out there.

- Jay

Outsider
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10628
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1/29/2009
Location
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
6/8/2015 11:14pm
Forrest hill used to be a blast, dunno if it's still open or not
nytsmaC
Posts
5946
Joined
8/10/2009
Location
Frig Off, CA
6/8/2015 11:38pm
What do you guys typically do with a well working stiff MX setup preparing for some trail riding?i've always just trail ridden with my MX setup and struggled.
WVUpetro2013
Posts
427
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Location
Hurricane, WV, USA
6/9/2015 4:06am
nytsmaC wrote:
What do you guys typically do with a well working stiff MX setup preparing for some trail riding?i've always just trail ridden with my MX setup...
What do you guys typically do with a well working stiff MX setup preparing for some trail riding?i've always just trail ridden with my MX setup and struggled.
X2, have stock mx setting at last gncc and was getting tore up in the tighter sections.
6/9/2015 4:35am
nytsmaC wrote:
What do you guys typically do with a well working stiff MX setup preparing for some trail riding?i've always just trail ridden with my MX setup...
What do you guys typically do with a well working stiff MX setup preparing for some trail riding?i've always just trail ridden with my MX setup and struggled.
X2, have stock mx setting at last gncc and was getting tore up in the tighter sections.
G-man above said it just right...
4 clicks softer on compression front and rear..
A nice set of perfectly tuned Ohlins helps as well Smile
ando
Posts
4592
Joined
8/20/2009
Location
Perth, AU
6/9/2015 4:50am
One thing to remember about riding trails, whether for fun or racing, is that you have to deal with a much wider variety of terrain and obstacles than on an MX track, and you will be riding at a wider range of speeds. So your suspension and set-up ends up having a lot more compromises.

I tend to want the first couple of inches of travel to be quite supple to absorb the small bumps, logs, rocks etc so that on an extended rides I don't get beaten up. It also allows you to blast through the small stuff without the front wheel deflecting all over the place.

I think a lot of guys try to achieve too much with clicker adjustments, when in reality you'd be better off with a spring change.
rbm33
Posts
468
Joined
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Location
Duncan, OK, USA
Fantasy
6/9/2015 5:11am Edited Date/Time 6/9/2015 5:26am
Here is a little single track action fr0m the Bonita 100 in Texas a few years ago. If you truly like riding dirt bikes there is no way you couldn't have fun doing this. ....

Bonita 100 2012: http://youtu.be/3cbENUOqP9Y
nytsmaC
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5946
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Location
Frig Off, CA
6/9/2015 5:17am
nytsmaC wrote:
What do you guys typically do with a well working stiff MX setup preparing for some trail riding?i've always just trail ridden with my MX setup...
What do you guys typically do with a well working stiff MX setup preparing for some trail riding?i've always just trail ridden with my MX setup and struggled.
X2, have stock mx setting at last gncc and was getting tore up in the tighter sections.
G-man above said it just right...
4 clicks softer on compression front and rear..
A nice set of perfectly tuned Ohlins helps as well Smile
I saw that, I was just surprised that just 4 clicks would be enough to be ideal for trail riding. The more opinions the merrier, thanks.
6/9/2015 5:39am
X2, have stock mx setting at last gncc and was getting tore up in the tighter sections.
G-man above said it just right...
4 clicks softer on compression front and rear..
A nice set of perfectly tuned Ohlins helps as well Smile
nytsmaC wrote:
I saw that, I was just surprised that just 4 clicks would be enough to be ideal for trail riding. The more opinions the merrier, thanks.
Honestly I have no real frame of reference being a woods only guy.
I had EE set up my original suspension with great success.
Then went jumped off the deep end into the Ohlins.
Just keep clicking till you can get max travel without bottoming out is probably a good start.
G-man
Posts
9342
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Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
6/9/2015 6:14am Edited Date/Time 6/9/2015 7:37am
X2, have stock mx setting at last gncc and was getting tore up in the tighter sections.
G-man above said it just right...
4 clicks softer on compression front and rear..
A nice set of perfectly tuned Ohlins helps as well Smile
nytsmaC wrote:
I saw that, I was just surprised that just 4 clicks would be enough to be ideal for trail riding. The more opinions the merrier, thanks.
4 clicks is just a general baseline.

the guy sounded like he's not even sure if he wants to continue trail riding so does it make sense to have your springs changed or a
revalve and spend a lot of moolah on something you might not even continue to do?

And now your moto bike is too soft for jumping.

Plus without going through all that it's easy to go back to your motocross settings by adjusting your clickers

Ideally you'll do what I have, a motocross bike, dual sport bike and the single track bike with each set up for that particular discipline. Smile
bronwynrayne
Posts
930
Joined
11/23/2014
Location
Harrisburg, OR, USA
6/18/2015 9:07am
The best advice I ever received pertaining to riding trails was "Go as slow as you can, speed with come with technique."
I am not by any means a great rider, but enjoying the journey rather than the accomplishment seems to be a little more important out in the woods.
6/18/2015 9:18am
My buddy and u rode our first gp race last year and our bikes were no where close where they should have been set up wise...
My buddy and u rode our first gp race last year and our bikes were no where close where they should have been set up wise. I tipped over and stalled my bike a lot and that was frustrating. Bike set up and riding smooth and consistent would have made my day gone a lot smoother but I had fun. Definitely better than being at work
G-man wrote:
Yep this is very true. If you left your motocross settings the same for trail that's the start of your problems right there I would go...
Yep this is very true.
If you left your motocross settings the same for trail that's the start of your problems right there I would go with 4 clicks softer on the front and rear suspension compression clickers.

put a zip tie around your lower fork tube to see how much travel you are using, chances are you are not using nearly as much as on a track

you need to adjust your suspension to where you are using a good part of the travel.

Riding off road definitely takes a different mentality try looking ahead also learn to enjoy the surroundings and the scenery when you take a break, it can be really beautiful out there, much more than just being in the dirt parking lot at your local MX track.

Riding different disciplines adds to your overall riding skill tremendously and you learn to appreciate it much more.

I also like to canyon carve on my FZ1 and getting in triple digits in seconds helps get the ya ya's out.

try to relax and have fun!

we've been riding these single track trails lately and after a rain it does not get any better. Smile






I've owned this little 250XCF-W over a year now and I'm just learning to really dig this bike it needs to be in the right environment which is tight single track after riding 450's and 520EXC's its quite an adjustment of the lack of power but it turns out in the right situation you don't need all the ponies.




About the beautiful comment.... It sure is.





6/18/2015 9:18am Edited Date/Time 6/18/2015 9:20am
My buddy and u rode our first gp race last year and our bikes were no where close where they should have been set up wise...
My buddy and u rode our first gp race last year and our bikes were no where close where they should have been set up wise. I tipped over and stalled my bike a lot and that was frustrating. Bike set up and riding smooth and consistent would have made my day gone a lot smoother but I had fun. Definitely better than being at work
G-man wrote:
Yep this is very true. If you left your motocross settings the same for trail that's the start of your problems right there I would go...
Yep this is very true.
If you left your motocross settings the same for trail that's the start of your problems right there I would go with 4 clicks softer on the front and rear suspension compression clickers.

put a zip tie around your lower fork tube to see how much travel you are using, chances are you are not using nearly as much as on a track

you need to adjust your suspension to where you are using a good part of the travel.

Riding off road definitely takes a different mentality try looking ahead also learn to enjoy the surroundings and the scenery when you take a break, it can be really beautiful out there, much more than just being in the dirt parking lot at your local MX track.

Riding different disciplines adds to your overall riding skill tremendously and you learn to appreciate it much more.

I also like to canyon carve on my FZ1 and getting in triple digits in seconds helps get the ya ya's out.

try to relax and have fun!

we've been riding these single track trails lately and after a rain it does not get any better. Smile






I've owned this little 250XCF-W over a year now and I'm just learning to really dig this bike it needs to be in the right environment which is tight single track after riding 450's and 520EXC's its quite an adjustment of the lack of power but it turns out in the right situation you don't need all the ponies.




About the beautiful comment.... It sure is.





dak446
Posts
1052
Joined
3/28/2011
Location
Louisville, KY, USA
6/18/2015 10:03am
Sounds like the plot to a Disney movie...

All you need is to put on some nail polish and go ride in the hills. You'll come back to racing and start gapping the pros.
Seamorbutts
Posts
1510
Joined
4/20/2013
Location
Lake Charles, LA, USA
6/18/2015 10:36am
yzjs7 wrote:
I love riding motocross and generally do every weekend. I competed in hollisters 6hr relay race through the hills this weekend. Had fun but crashed or...
I love riding motocross and generally do every weekend. I competed in hollisters 6hr relay race through the hills this weekend. Had fun but crashed or Damon near fell over half a dozen times or more. I think I'm a decent rider on the track and improving;yet on the trails I sure do suck. Frustrating to say the least. I believe riding trails will make me a better overall rider,but crashing gets old and messes with my confidence. Anybody else have the same issue?
Weak homie.
Twist1
Posts
382
Joined
1/3/2015
Location
EI, NC, USA
6/19/2015 7:04am
Quite a few of my trail riding buddies have a moto background. They all tend to be the fastest woods guys. I think them being at...
Quite a few of my trail riding buddies have a moto background. They all tend to be the fastest woods guys.
I think them being at work on Monday became more important.

Proper Suspension setup for the woods is very important.
Rekluse Clutch helps tremendously as well.
ditto to all points

look at lines you take differently- some moto, some surf/skate/ski/board, some MTB/trials, and have fun with terrain like you are a kid. hit a lip, gouge a little bowl, take pride conquering a rock section smoothly.

slow down, you will go faster and crash less.

G-man
Posts
9342
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
6/19/2015 10:14am
I don't think the original poster raining yellow needs to worry now about how to negotiate trails his wife bought him a new bike and I can't see him taking it out there as he might scratch it

if he was a smart man he would take his existing YZ and turn it into offroad weapon keep the new bike for Moto it's a win-win for everybody! Smile







kkawboy14
Posts
11486
Joined
6/5/2015
Location
USA
6/19/2015 10:20am
Jump for show, corner for dough, trail for fun
G-man
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9342
Joined
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Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
6/19/2015 10:24am
This is the kind of stuff we encounter out in the Wild Wild West.

The Brothel helps sooth the aching muscles, especially the BIG one. Woohoo



kawirider819
Posts
707
Joined
10/18/2006
Location
st petersburg, FL, USA
6/19/2015 10:29am
DPR250R wrote:
The last time I rode trails I thought to myself... I would rather be at work.
Hahah did a harescramble for charity with my brother a month ago. 15 minutes in I realized why I don't do trails. Boulder fields up the side of a mountain, logs, the whole nine. I never cursed while riding so much in my life. Needless to say we never left so quickly after a race.

Huge props to the endurocross guys. Idk how
they do it but I'll stick to the track.


G-man
Posts
9342
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
6/19/2015 10:56am
DPR250R wrote:
The last time I rode trails I thought to myself... I would rather be at work.
Hahah did a harescramble for charity with my brother a month ago. 15 minutes in I realized why I don't do trails. Boulder fields up the...
Hahah did a harescramble for charity with my brother a month ago. 15 minutes in I realized why I don't do trails. Boulder fields up the side of a mountain, logs, the whole nine. I never cursed while riding so much in my life. Needless to say we never left so quickly after a race.

Huge props to the endurocross guys. Idk how
they do it but I'll stick to the track.


Haha
Did it look like this?

Style points are not awarded negotiating some of these goat trails. Smile









kawirider819
Posts
707
Joined
10/18/2006
Location
st petersburg, FL, USA
6/19/2015 11:22am
DPR250R wrote:
The last time I rode trails I thought to myself... I would rather be at work.
Hahah did a harescramble for charity with my brother a month ago. 15 minutes in I realized why I don't do trails. Boulder fields up the...
Hahah did a harescramble for charity with my brother a month ago. 15 minutes in I realized why I don't do trails. Boulder fields up the side of a mountain, logs, the whole nine. I never cursed while riding so much in my life. Needless to say we never left so quickly after a race.

Huge props to the endurocross guys. Idk how
they do it but I'll stick to the track.


G-man wrote:
Haha Did it look like this? Style points are not awarded negotiating some of these goat trails. :) [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/06/19/95163/s1200_s1200_Syc_Creek5.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/06/19/95166/s1200_ResizedImage951397950158746.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/06/19/95167/s1200_ResizedImage_1397950218097.jpg[/img]
Haha
Did it look like this?

Style points are not awarded negotiating some of these goat trails. Smile









Definitely that steep lol. They have a hillclimb on the same mountain we raced on if that says anything. Eastern PA too so plenty tight in the woods.

One thing is true after talking to the trail riders. A motocross setup just doesn't work in the woods.

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