Switching from MX to HS/GP/GNCC?

mx510
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mx510 3/10/2016 9:38pm
3/10/2016 9:38pm
Just a little piece of advice, before you do your first hare scramble (preferably a while before) do some 1 1/2 hour simulation races and see where your hands are blisters wise. When I first started my hands would bleed, some motocross guys hands aren't tough enough. Just an idea.
TopJolr
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TopJolr 3/11/2016 12:25am
3/11/2016 12:25am
Well. My 2c.

I am no Kailub Russel by any stretch of the imagination but all my injuries (broken ribs and wrist,collapsed lung, crushed collarbone, broken heel, couple concussions) all happened offroad racing. Have only knocked my head silly on MX. where I do most of my training (also not an RV2 but I ride more conservatively on an MX track).

I think injuries are a result of riding "intent" rather than environment. If you're out there to win, you're gonna get hurt at some point, no matter if its MX or GNCC type stuff.. if you just go at 80% chances of hurting yourself diminish no matter the discipline.

have at me lol

MxKing809
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MxKing809 3/11/2016 2:36am
3/11/2016 2:36am
TopJolr wrote:
Well. My 2c. I am no Kailub Russel by any stretch of the imagination but all my injuries (broken ribs and wrist,collapsed lung, crushed collarbone, broken...
Well. My 2c.

I am no Kailub Russel by any stretch of the imagination but all my injuries (broken ribs and wrist,collapsed lung, crushed collarbone, broken heel, couple concussions) all happened offroad racing. Have only knocked my head silly on MX. where I do most of my training (also not an RV2 but I ride more conservatively on an MX track).

I think injuries are a result of riding "intent" rather than environment. If you're out there to win, you're gonna get hurt at some point, no matter if its MX or GNCC type stuff.. if you just go at 80% chances of hurting yourself diminish no matter the discipline.

have at me lol

Very true point. I've never labeled it that way but you're absolutely right.
mxdude105
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mxdude105 3/11/2016 3:51am
3/11/2016 3:51am
I think the danger factor in MX stems from the large supercross-style jumps that have found their way onto many local mx tracks. A more natural-terrain motocross track with manageable jumps, off cambers, ruts, hills, etc. would be my ideal riding scenario. I don't want to feel like I have to huck 60ft gaps in order to "feel fast" (which I'm not, but i digress). While it's absolutely true you can get injured on a motorcycle in any situation, there is a direct correlation between the size of jumps and the level of injury. The faster and higher you go, the harder you hit the ground when it goes wrong. One of the things I like about trail/HS is the technical factor that you don't get on a jump-laden supercross style moto track. Ruts, roots, trees, rocks, river crossings, etc. It really takes a high degree of skill and clutch control to navigate smoothly. I tend to think big jumps require minimal skill and maximum cojones (or minimal brains, you pick).

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Titan1
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Titan1 3/11/2016 6:16am
3/11/2016 6:16am
TopJolr wrote:
Well. My 2c. I am no Kailub Russel by any stretch of the imagination but all my injuries (broken ribs and wrist,collapsed lung, crushed collarbone, broken...
Well. My 2c.

I am no Kailub Russel by any stretch of the imagination but all my injuries (broken ribs and wrist,collapsed lung, crushed collarbone, broken heel, couple concussions) all happened offroad racing. Have only knocked my head silly on MX. where I do most of my training (also not an RV2 but I ride more conservatively on an MX track).

I think injuries are a result of riding "intent" rather than environment. If you're out there to win, you're gonna get hurt at some point, no matter if its MX or GNCC type stuff.. if you just go at 80% chances of hurting yourself diminish no matter the discipline.

have at me lol

My injuries are the opposite....I've had some bruised ribs a concussion and a stubbed toe riding off road, and ive broken a ton of bones racing Moto.

But your point about intent is absolutely true.
DYE
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DYE 3/11/2016 6:53am
3/11/2016 6:53am
I started racing off road in 2010 and was hooked immediately. I love everything about it, the atmosphere, the people, the challenge. I've raced a couple of motos here and there but I started in hs/off road racing and to me is the most fun. I went to the first round of the full gas sprint enduro and the format is perfect for someone making the switch. You can still hold it wide, sprint, and take breaks to talk with your buddies.
hillbilly
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hillbilly 3/11/2016 8:39am
3/11/2016 8:39am
TopJolr wrote:
Well. My 2c. I am no Kailub Russel by any stretch of the imagination but all my injuries (broken ribs and wrist,collapsed lung, crushed collarbone, broken...
Well. My 2c.

I am no Kailub Russel by any stretch of the imagination but all my injuries (broken ribs and wrist,collapsed lung, crushed collarbone, broken heel, couple concussions) all happened offroad racing. Have only knocked my head silly on MX. where I do most of my training (also not an RV2 but I ride more conservatively on an MX track).

I think injuries are a result of riding "intent" rather than environment. If you're out there to win, you're gonna get hurt at some point, no matter if its MX or GNCC type stuff.. if you just go at 80% chances of hurting yourself diminish no matter the discipline.

have at me lol

I always motocrossed the woods, handlebar width ment nothing so i piled up .

Ran a national hare scrambles in 88 here, had been landed on in fall of 87 break my collarbone,shoulder upper arm,

Sat and slept in a recliner for 8 weeks. Hyde and Burleson were helping me on technical and were coming to town so i wanted to race.

Half a lap in i hit a cross log in tall grass wfo and landed on a stump rebreaking the collarbone. Nobody around ,had to dig the bike out and ride till finding a road back to pit.

I was stupid for wfo in the weeds ,that is why a track and ambulance work best for me.

Good times.
plowboy
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plowboy 3/11/2016 1:35pm
3/11/2016 1:35pm
hillbilly wrote:
I always motocrossed the woods, handlebar width ment nothing so i piled up . Ran a national hare scrambles in 88 here, had been landed on...
I always motocrossed the woods, handlebar width ment nothing so i piled up .

Ran a national hare scrambles in 88 here, had been landed on in fall of 87 break my collarbone,shoulder upper arm,

Sat and slept in a recliner for 8 weeks. Hyde and Burleson were helping me on technical and were coming to town so i wanted to race.

Half a lap in i hit a cross log in tall grass wfo and landed on a stump rebreaking the collarbone. Nobody around ,had to dig the bike out and ride till finding a road back to pit.

I was stupid for wfo in the weeds ,that is why a track and ambulance work best for me.

Good times.
Billy, I haven't encountered any hidden obstacles in my region...KS, OK, MO. I'm sure it's different across the country but off road has changed from back in the day, same as moto. I think a mean old bastard like you would enjoy grinding the youngsters to mush in a 2 or 3 hour race. I know I do.
Titan1
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Titan1 3/11/2016 2:37pm
3/11/2016 2:37pm
hillbilly wrote:
I always motocrossed the woods, handlebar width ment nothing so i piled up . Ran a national hare scrambles in 88 here, had been landed on...
I always motocrossed the woods, handlebar width ment nothing so i piled up .

Ran a national hare scrambles in 88 here, had been landed on in fall of 87 break my collarbone,shoulder upper arm,

Sat and slept in a recliner for 8 weeks. Hyde and Burleson were helping me on technical and were coming to town so i wanted to race.

Half a lap in i hit a cross log in tall grass wfo and landed on a stump rebreaking the collarbone. Nobody around ,had to dig the bike out and ride till finding a road back to pit.

I was stupid for wfo in the weeds ,that is why a track and ambulance work best for me.

Good times.
plowboy wrote:
Billy, I haven't encountered any hidden obstacles in my region...KS, OK, MO. I'm sure it's different across the country but off road has changed from back...
Billy, I haven't encountered any hidden obstacles in my region...KS, OK, MO. I'm sure it's different across the country but off road has changed from back in the day, same as moto. I think a mean old bastard like you would enjoy grinding the youngsters to mush in a 2 or 3 hour race. I know I do.
Lots of old dudes, still haul the mail off road. There is a couple 40+, 45+ guys that still put the hurt on the teenagers at the races (I'm 35 and some of those guys put the hurt on me too).
plowboy
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plowboy 3/11/2016 3:08pm
3/11/2016 3:08pm
Titan1 wrote:
Lots of old dudes, still haul the mail off road. There is a couple 40+, 45+ guys that still put the hurt on the teenagers at...
Lots of old dudes, still haul the mail off road. There is a couple 40+, 45+ guys that still put the hurt on the teenagers at the races (I'm 35 and some of those guys put the hurt on me too).
I'm 57 and usually enter the 250 class instead of my age class cause those old bastards are too fast and mean to beat. True story. Hell, I finish better in the pro class than against the old guys.
hillbilly
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hillbilly 3/11/2016 6:50pm
3/11/2016 6:50pm
hillbilly wrote:
I always motocrossed the woods, handlebar width ment nothing so i piled up . Ran a national hare scrambles in 88 here, had been landed on...
I always motocrossed the woods, handlebar width ment nothing so i piled up .

Ran a national hare scrambles in 88 here, had been landed on in fall of 87 break my collarbone,shoulder upper arm,

Sat and slept in a recliner for 8 weeks. Hyde and Burleson were helping me on technical and were coming to town so i wanted to race.

Half a lap in i hit a cross log in tall grass wfo and landed on a stump rebreaking the collarbone. Nobody around ,had to dig the bike out and ride till finding a road back to pit.

I was stupid for wfo in the weeds ,that is why a track and ambulance work best for me.

Good times.
plowboy wrote:
Billy, I haven't encountered any hidden obstacles in my region...KS, OK, MO. I'm sure it's different across the country but off road has changed from back...
Billy, I haven't encountered any hidden obstacles in my region...KS, OK, MO. I'm sure it's different across the country but off road has changed from back in the day, same as moto. I think a mean old bastard like you would enjoy grinding the youngsters to mush in a 2 or 3 hour race. I know I do.
Titan1 wrote:
Lots of old dudes, still haul the mail off road. There is a couple 40+, 45+ guys that still put the hurt on the teenagers at...
Lots of old dudes, still haul the mail off road. There is a couple 40+, 45+ guys that still put the hurt on the teenagers at the races (I'm 35 and some of those guys put the hurt on me too).
Trails and the mountains is where I learned all my techniques and skill. In 74 75 I raced a 360 Yamaha that I still have.

We would go across the mountain to a little store to refuel but it wouldn't make it so I'd ductape a gallon in an antifreeze jug against the number plate on the fender. Haul ass with a bomb on board.

What broke me from mountain riding was one day in 84 I'd just gotten a yz490 and was with about 8 others . I'd run ahead then change a jet which I was doing when a guy rides up and stops asking if all is ok.

I was just finishing a jet change and told him so,he went on. I wondered how he made it past my group. The fire road was straight for half a mile with a little chicane that you could about go thru tapped in 5th

I get going ,go thru the gears, and can see way past the chicane but dont see dust and think this guy must haul. Right as I flick it sideways this guy had went around the chicane into the blind spot and comes back around dead inside the corner on the wrong side.

We hit fork to fork ,I had to be doing high 60s ,it snapped the triple clamps and pinched my thigh between the bar and tank the bike cartwheeling wildly as I go over the edge of a very steep drop. Lucky they had pushed the trees under a lot of dirt.

The bike leaves me to sail on into the woods and I tumble into a pile of limbs sure my femur is broke. After a minte of gathering my shit the others appear ,the guy I hit was moaning ,they get me up to the road and I figure the femur is just smashed. The guy I hit is looking for his pinky,cut clean off.

I asked him,wtf? He said he was coming back to help,after already stopping like i said. Just a hell of a place to turn around,knowing someone could be coming,the spot was so small ,just inches out of my sight.

My 490 was junk,front wheel collapsed,forks bent. I borrowed a 80s from wheel and got back to the truck ,that was the last time i went to the mountains.

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