What riding tips would've helped you tremendously if you had known them as a beginner?

plowboy
Profile picture for user plowboy
Posts
14391
Joined
1/3/2010
Location
Norwich, KS, USA
plowboy 5/30/2018 5:33pm
5/30/2018 5:33pm
There is absolutely no substitute for seat time. When you and your bike become "one"...speed naturally follows. Suspension and engine mods are fantastic enhancements but knowing how that beast between your legs reacts in all situations is key..IMO.
FIREfish148
Profile picture for user FIREfish148
Posts
5482
Joined
1/20/2009
Location
Kirkland, WA, USA
FIREfish148 5/30/2018 5:41pm
5/30/2018 5:41pm
Get to know your transmission and have a good feel for your bike before you send it, and fully commit when you do send it. Also not to send it if I can't imagine landing it clean lol.

nascarnate326
Profile picture for user nascarnate326
Posts
3008
Joined
11/3/2014
Location
Charlotte, MI, USA
nascarnate326 5/30/2018 5:43pm
5/30/2018 5:43pm
Don't even take the bike off the trailer if your basic maintenance isn't taken care of.

Set sag.

Watch others instead of assuming you know everything.
kkawboy14
Profile picture for user kkawboy14
Posts
11486
Joined
6/5/2015
Location
USA
kkawboy14 5/30/2018 6:06pm
5/30/2018 6:06pm
“Just do it, you know what your doing!”

The Shop

See All »
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
9417
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT, USA
Titan1 5/30/2018 6:09pm
5/30/2018 6:09pm
I’d go so far as to say that proper technique is more important than suspension set and brakes.

For 90% if riders lack of technique holds them back far more than any part of their bike.

But if someone is going to spend money on their bike, spend it on suspension and brakes...and if they have more money to spend, spend it on riding schools.
plowboy
Profile picture for user plowboy
Posts
14391
Joined
1/3/2010
Location
Norwich, KS, USA
plowboy 5/30/2018 6:14pm
5/30/2018 6:14pm
To add to my earlier post about seat time...check this out. Awesome Utah Hare Scramble battle on the moto related front page. Daemon knows that rowdy blue bike like the back of his hand. That's what ya gotta do.
piscokid
Profile picture for user piscokid
Posts
322
Joined
10/22/2013
Location
USA
piscokid 5/30/2018 6:16pm
5/30/2018 6:16pm
Think Ahead
Look Ahead
Ride Ahead
wreckitrandy
Profile picture for user wreckitrandy
Posts
4207
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Granite Falls, NC, USA
wreckitrandy 5/30/2018 6:30pm
5/30/2018 6:30pm
I had people giving me bad tips. Like, "Don't touch that front brake, it'll throw ya." The only way I learned to use the front brake was when I broke the brake stay arm on my KX400 and had to use the front brake. Another was, "Start with both feet down." Once I learned to start left foot up, I could shift earlier and cleaner. I started getting a LOT of holeshots.
HusqFan3
Profile picture for user HusqFan3
Posts
719
Joined
4/30/2018
Location
Sammamish, WA, USA
HusqFan3 5/30/2018 6:45pm
5/30/2018 6:45pm
Berm505 wrote:
Ride with your legs, not your upper body. Grip the shroud, and seat with your knees and legs. Practice corners corners corners, instead of jumps, weigh...
Ride with your legs, not your upper body. Grip the shroud, and seat with your knees and legs. Practice corners corners corners, instead of jumps, weigh outside peg, keep outside elbows up.
brettmx wrote:
Don't get advice off the internet. You don't "grip" the bike with your legs and knees, if you do that the bike cannot "work" underneath you...
Don't get advice off the internet. You don't "grip" the bike with your legs and knees, if you do that the bike cannot "work" underneath you. Unless you're looking to become the next Ronnie Mac.

My advice find a good pro level rider who can spend some time working with you.
Interesting comment. I was just about to ask another poster to expand on his comment to grip bike with your knees which is super common to hear. I’m 36 and just started riding again for first time since i was about 10-12 so am the epitome of a beginner. I’m constantly hearing/reading grip the bike with your knees so have tried incorporating into my riding but every time i try it always feels super awkward and counter-intuitive to the equally as prevalent advice of standing up. i.e. exactly how does one grip the bike with ones knees while standing?.?. Anyways, I went and rode Washougal last weekend and rather than gripping the shrouds with my knees i started gripping the frame with my boots and not only did it feel way more natural but i noticed an instant improvement controlling the bike in virtually all situations. Interesting how common it is to hear the advice to grip with your knees yet i don’t think I’ve ever noticed a pro rider doing it but perhaps my perception is just off.
slowgti
Profile picture for user slowgti
Posts
1009
Joined
1/14/2016
Location
Monroe, GA, USA
slowgti 5/30/2018 7:33pm
5/30/2018 7:33pm
Don't forget to have fun. You don't do this for a living, actually try to enjoy your hobby.
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
9417
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT, USA
Titan1 5/30/2018 8:30pm
5/30/2018 8:30pm
Berm505 wrote:
Ride with your legs, not your upper body. Grip the shroud, and seat with your knees and legs. Practice corners corners corners, instead of jumps, weigh...
Ride with your legs, not your upper body. Grip the shroud, and seat with your knees and legs. Practice corners corners corners, instead of jumps, weigh outside peg, keep outside elbows up.
brettmx wrote:
Don't get advice off the internet. You don't "grip" the bike with your legs and knees, if you do that the bike cannot "work" underneath you...
Don't get advice off the internet. You don't "grip" the bike with your legs and knees, if you do that the bike cannot "work" underneath you. Unless you're looking to become the next Ronnie Mac.

My advice find a good pro level rider who can spend some time working with you.
HusqFan3 wrote:
Interesting comment. I was just about to ask another poster to expand on his comment to grip bike with your knees which is super common to...
Interesting comment. I was just about to ask another poster to expand on his comment to grip bike with your knees which is super common to hear. I’m 36 and just started riding again for first time since i was about 10-12 so am the epitome of a beginner. I’m constantly hearing/reading grip the bike with your knees so have tried incorporating into my riding but every time i try it always feels super awkward and counter-intuitive to the equally as prevalent advice of standing up. i.e. exactly how does one grip the bike with ones knees while standing?.?. Anyways, I went and rode Washougal last weekend and rather than gripping the shrouds with my knees i started gripping the frame with my boots and not only did it feel way more natural but i noticed an instant improvement controlling the bike in virtually all situations. Interesting how common it is to hear the advice to grip with your knees yet i don’t think I’ve ever noticed a pro rider doing it but perhaps my perception is just off.
Since you should be standing up most of the time, it would be impossible to grip the shrouds without doing a pelvic thrust then entire time...so that is poor advice (sitting in a corner is different)...

For 90% if the time you’re riding...you should be: butt over the back of the seat/rear fender, knees bent, balls of your feet on the pegs, toes pointing in, bent at the waste, head over the handle bars, elbows up...gripping the frame with your ankles, lower legs.

And then:

Hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders loose...holding yourself on the bike with your legs, and supporting your upper body with your core muscles (not your arms/upper body).
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
9417
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT, USA
Titan1 5/30/2018 8:30pm
5/30/2018 8:30pm
slowgti wrote:
Don't forget to have fun. You don't do this for a living, actually try to enjoy your hobby.
Quite possibly the best advice in the thread...
NorCalRedRyder 5/30/2018 9:06pm
5/30/2018 9:06pm Edited Date/Time 5/30/2018 9:09pm
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
Just sending it!
"If your not on the gas or the brakes you're not going as fast as you could be"
"Stop looking behind you, if you hear them, they're there no need looking back."
"Stop bump seat jumping every jump unless it's needed, the more time in the air is lost time compared to tires being on the ground on the gas."
"Stop bringing your gf to practice and showing off for her, no one is impressed by your nac nac's and heel clickers while your running fifth, also that SMP gear isn't doing you any favors and makes you look like Ronald McDonald."

All quotes by my Pop. They still give me a good laugh and happy memories to this day. He knew his shit with every piece of advice he gave me pertaining to life or moto. I sure miss those conversations.
APLMAN99
Profile picture for user APLMAN99
Posts
12496
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Tualatin, OR, USA
Fantasy
354th
APLMAN99 5/30/2018 9:10pm
5/30/2018 9:10pm
From a simple technique standpoint, I'd have to agree with the guys who mentioned front brakes. I too was basically told to stay away from them at all costs, and even after I "knew better" it just wasn't natural to grab a handful and feel comfortable. Thankfully I'm a recovering front brakaphobic and probably use my rear brake on the street less than 20% of the time anymore. And most of that is just so that the rotors don't get rusty and get squealy at the wrong time!
FWYT
Profile picture for user FWYT
Posts
3553
Joined
5/25/2014
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
FWYT 5/30/2018 9:56pm
5/30/2018 9:56pm
Man, good question.
I mean, when we started riding back in the QA50 and XR75 days, it was strictly about just having a good time
and zipping around the fields. Looking back, I've often wished we could have had some basic skills instructions
to develop good habits.
TbonesPop 5/30/2018 9:58pm
5/30/2018 9:58pm
Lots of good advice in this thread. I'll add to it. Have someone you ride with video you riding so you can see what you look like on the bike (technique, body position, etc). You may think you have the right body position, but until you see it yourself and then compare to a pro who does it correctly, you don't know for sure.

Advice #2 - take lessons
sumdood
Profile picture for user sumdood
Posts
8865
Joined
3/11/2013
Location
San Clemente, CA, USA
Fantasy
557th
sumdood 5/30/2018 10:52pm
5/30/2018 10:52pm
Learn how your bike works, spend practice days playing with your suspension, do a few laps with the clickers all the way in, then do a few laps with them screwed all the way out and play around with every knob there is, and not a couple clicks, go from one end of the scale to the other, slide the fork tubes up and down in the clamps, play around with every setting there is and try to really understand how your bike works and what changes do what on the track. Most of my friends (me included) would maybe go in or out one or two clicks here and there and then call it, like we were afraid we were going to ruin it or something. Fuck it spin those things all over the place and see what they do.

feelit2morrow 5/30/2018 11:08pm
5/30/2018 11:08pm
When in doubt, throttle out! (if you feel sketchy pin it)

Pit Row

See All »
murph783
Profile picture for user murph783
Posts
1355
Joined
3/2/2011
Location
USA
murph783 5/31/2018 5:07am
5/31/2018 5:07am
brettmx wrote:
Don't get advice off the internet. You don't "grip" the bike with your legs and knees, if you do that the bike cannot "work" underneath you...
Don't get advice off the internet. You don't "grip" the bike with your legs and knees, if you do that the bike cannot "work" underneath you. Unless you're looking to become the next Ronnie Mac.

My advice find a good pro level rider who can spend some time working with you.
HusqFan3 wrote:
Interesting comment. I was just about to ask another poster to expand on his comment to grip bike with your knees which is super common to...
Interesting comment. I was just about to ask another poster to expand on his comment to grip bike with your knees which is super common to hear. I’m 36 and just started riding again for first time since i was about 10-12 so am the epitome of a beginner. I’m constantly hearing/reading grip the bike with your knees so have tried incorporating into my riding but every time i try it always feels super awkward and counter-intuitive to the equally as prevalent advice of standing up. i.e. exactly how does one grip the bike with ones knees while standing?.?. Anyways, I went and rode Washougal last weekend and rather than gripping the shrouds with my knees i started gripping the frame with my boots and not only did it feel way more natural but i noticed an instant improvement controlling the bike in virtually all situations. Interesting how common it is to hear the advice to grip with your knees yet i don’t think I’ve ever noticed a pro rider doing it but perhaps my perception is just off.
Titan1 wrote:
Since you should be standing up most of the time, it would be impossible to grip the shrouds without doing a pelvic thrust then entire time...so...
Since you should be standing up most of the time, it would be impossible to grip the shrouds without doing a pelvic thrust then entire time...so that is poor advice (sitting in a corner is different)...

For 90% if the time you’re riding...you should be: butt over the back of the seat/rear fender, knees bent, balls of your feet on the pegs, toes pointing in, bent at the waste, head over the handle bars, elbows up...gripping the frame with your ankles, lower legs.

And then:

Hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders loose...holding yourself on the bike with your legs, and supporting your upper body with your core muscles (not your arms/upper body).
I think what people mean by that is essentially what you’re saying, toes in and grip with your legs. Grip with your calf would almost be a better way to put it. The only time I’ll make a conscious effort to put my knee into the shroud is when my leg is up in a corner, keeps it from dragging and catching. That and I try to make a lot of movement from the hips. Keep the legs in contact with the bike, upper body loose, and try to hinge there and use my core. Video is also great if you can’t work with a riding coach
ga_pike
Profile picture for user ga_pike
Posts
2650
Joined
7/14/2011
Location
Valdosta, GA, USA
ga_pike 5/31/2018 5:14am
5/31/2018 5:14am
Lots of good advice here. My advice, practice and get used to riding out of the main line. Always played too much follow the leader and had difficulty passing because I wasn't comfortable (or didn't consider) alternate lines.
aharper33
Profile picture for user aharper33
Posts
69
Joined
12/13/2016
Location
Laramie, WY, USA
aharper33 5/31/2018 5:41am
5/31/2018 5:41am
One tip I learned from an old pro when I first started riding was to wear ear plugs. His philosophy was that most people ride to a noise level. So the louder your bike is the perception is that you must be going fast.

Another thing is I wished I would have tried more than any riding technique is trying different types of racing, not just motocross. Like hare scrambles, desert, GNCC type racing, WORCS type racing, just anything to test your skills. I think the skills you need for racing in one form translate to another form more than people realize.
BMR179
Profile picture for user BMR179
Posts
506
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
East Texas, TX, USA
Fantasy
358th
BMR179 5/31/2018 6:41am
5/31/2018 6:41am
Look ahead, way ahead
Use the front brake, try dragging it in corners/ruts (especially right hand turns)
Stand up - on practice days, ride 3 to 5 laps at a medium pace without ever sitting down.
Balls of your feet on the pegs - After 44yrs of riding/racing I still have to make myself do this.
Have fun!!! If you are not enjoying yourself, sell your bike.

A lot of god advice in this thread.
enketchum
Profile picture for user enketchum
Posts
4397
Joined
2/6/2012
Location
Pasadena, CA, USA
enketchum 5/31/2018 6:49am
5/31/2018 6:49am
Don't race

Looking back at it now, racing was boring and I didn't enjoy it. I wish I would have ridden for fun more. I might be riding more, now, if I had ridden for fun and not races
ga_pike
Profile picture for user ga_pike
Posts
2650
Joined
7/14/2011
Location
Valdosta, GA, USA
ga_pike 5/31/2018 6:58am
5/31/2018 6:58am
enketchum wrote:
Don't race Looking back at it now, racing was boring and I didn't enjoy it. I wish I would have ridden for fun more. I might...
Don't race

Looking back at it now, racing was boring and I didn't enjoy it. I wish I would have ridden for fun more. I might be riding more, now, if I had ridden for fun and not races
I agree with this. Growing up, we raced somewhere every weekend... spending whatever amount for gate entry, class entry for 2 classes only to get maybe 10-12 laps tops. Why? I know my dad wasn't keen on me racing hare scrambles when I was on small bikes because he couldn't see me all the time like he could in MX. But the value for woods racing compared to MX is significant. That said, we could have saved the $$$ and joined some friends for a full day of practice track stuff. Most likely would have benefited speed wise more too.
potatoflake
Profile picture for user potatoflake
Posts
472
Joined
9/28/2015
Location
Kennewick, WA, USA
potatoflake 5/31/2018 7:10am
5/31/2018 7:10am
Two words, Leg day.
GeorgiePorgie 5/31/2018 7:13am
5/31/2018 7:13am Edited Date/Time 5/31/2018 7:18am
I loved racing. Wish I could race more now....I don’t get the same intensity during practice. But when I’m racing oh isnt it a feeling....can’t capture that on open practice day.

Back to your question:Watch B riders. And not the flashy scrub B Riders. Watch vet 30/35. Old school calculated style. Try to mimic what you see.

Take 5 lessons from a local PRO.

Focus on technique when riding. Speed will come later.

Buy some videos from Gary Semics. Watch them....the man knows his shit. Guys like Gary semics don’t “look” fast like scrub-queens when they ride, but holy shit theyre fast.

Guys that come to mind are Vince Karnow, mike katin. Not flashy riders at all. Look like they’re barely moving but they’re so fast and smooth.

Josh lichtle was another non-flashy style. Didn’t scrub much. Sat down alot. Bizarre. But so fast.
JWACK
Profile picture for user JWACK
Posts
2577
Joined
8/7/2009
Location
USA
JWACK 5/31/2018 7:13am
5/31/2018 7:13am
Better long than short.
HusqFan3
Profile picture for user HusqFan3
Posts
719
Joined
4/30/2018
Location
Sammamish, WA, USA
HusqFan3 5/31/2018 7:46am
5/31/2018 7:46am
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
Just sending it!
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
"If your not on the gas or the brakes you're not going as fast as you could be" "Stop looking behind you, if you hear them...
"If your not on the gas or the brakes you're not going as fast as you could be"
"Stop looking behind you, if you hear them, they're there no need looking back."
"Stop bump seat jumping every jump unless it's needed, the more time in the air is lost time compared to tires being on the ground on the gas."
"Stop bringing your gf to practice and showing off for her, no one is impressed by your nac nac's and heel clickers while your running fifth, also that SMP gear isn't doing you any favors and makes you look like Ronald McDonald."

All quotes by my Pop. They still give me a good laugh and happy memories to this day. He knew his shit with every piece of advice he gave me pertaining to life or moto. I sure miss those conversations.
That’s awesome man. Sounds like your Dad lives on through all the sage advice he imparted!
JeepnMike
Profile picture for user JeepnMike
Posts
2525
Joined
10/18/2012
Location
Enumclaw, WA, USA
JeepnMike 5/31/2018 7:51am
5/31/2018 7:51am
I think it is possible I may have held my breath for the better part of my entire motos. At times my forearms would be rocks and my hands locked into the grip position. I was as fit as the fastest guys on the track (still not bad for a 44 year old man), but never got beyond the intermediate class, because I for whatever reason, forgot to breathe properly.

Sad that I had amazing equipment, bikes always spotless and very fresh, sweet gear, so I looked badass, but was too stupid to realize I was the one holding myself back.
agn5009
Profile picture for user agn5009
Posts
6750
Joined
6/8/2012
Location
State College, PA, USA
agn5009 5/31/2018 7:55am
5/31/2018 7:55am
devindavisphoto wrote:
Use your back brake less, control the bike more with your front brake. Grip with your knees. Stand more. Click up a gear and don't over...
Use your back brake less, control the bike more with your front brake.

Grip with your knees.

Stand more.

Click up a gear and don't over rev the engine.

Be confident, but ride within your limits.

Don't do anything you aren't comfortable doing, it will come in time.
People look past your first one. I could easily ride/race with no rear brake. It's all about front brake control.

Post a reply to: What riding tips would've helped you tremendously if you had known them as a beginner?