Best riding technique advice you've gotten?

IanMac138
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400
Joined
7/30/2018
Location
West Linn, OR US
3/23/2021 2:31pm
Riding on the balls of your feet with your hips unlocked is the foundation for riding a motorcycle. Having grown up riding BMX, you naturally do this. Then when I jump on my MX bike it's natural. Seeing riders hunched over and flat footed makes me scratch my head as I can't think of a more uncomfortable position to be in.
2
wwoberg
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749
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11/19/2010
Location
Soddy Daisy, TN US
3/23/2021 2:34pm
Look up
1
murph783
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1355
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3/2/2011
Location
CT US
3/23/2021 2:39pm
Frodad78 wrote:
My Dad." If you don't get your ass off that seat I'm gonna take it off" ( the seat that is) It worked, I stand like...
My Dad." If you don't get your ass off that seat I'm gonna take it off" ( the seat that is)

It worked, I stand like crazy.
My old man did take the seat off. And the rear brake pedal. I still sit a lot but I’m definitely not scared of the front brake
3/23/2021 2:43pm
Frodad78 wrote:
My Dad." If you don't get your ass off that seat I'm gonna take it off" ( the seat that is) It worked, I stand like...
My Dad." If you don't get your ass off that seat I'm gonna take it off" ( the seat that is)

It worked, I stand like crazy.
murph783 wrote:
My old man did take the seat off. And the rear brake pedal. I still sit a lot but I’m definitely not scared of the front...
My old man did take the seat off. And the rear brake pedal. I still sit a lot but I’m definitely not scared of the front brake
Mine did the same thing to me with the seat. 95% of the pictures I have of me riding I'm standing up.

I hated him back then for that shit, but I'm very thankful for it now.
1

The Shop

Titan1
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2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
3/23/2021 3:25pm
IanMac138 wrote:
Riding on the balls of your feet with your hips unlocked is the foundation for riding a motorcycle. Having grown up riding BMX, you naturally do...
Riding on the balls of your feet with your hips unlocked is the foundation for riding a motorcycle. Having grown up riding BMX, you naturally do this. Then when I jump on my MX bike it's natural. Seeing riders hunched over and flat footed makes me scratch my head as I can't think of a more uncomfortable position to be in.
This!

I see so many D/C level riders spending thousands on their bikes to go faster...all the while using poor technique (just like you mentioned...flat footed, hips toward and locked, bending at the knee rather than the hips, etc.). And further spending money to modify their bike to make them comfortable with their improper technique, rather than modifying their technique to fit their bike (which is really and engineering masterpiece...if ridden the way they are designed to be ridden, they work!)
1
EngIceDave
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2431
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8/16/2006
Location
Merritt Island, FL US
3/23/2021 3:27pm
Ride your bike with respect. Treat it with respect.
1
PNWRider
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474
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1/31/2021
Location
Stanwood, WA US
3/23/2021 3:41pm
Leave the clutch alone. I used to hammer it through/out of turns. Made me feel fast but go slow.
1
Ted722
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4575
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9/21/2011
Location
Sacramento, CA US
3/23/2021 4:26pm
Bike setup story. Sorry, long winded.

Obviously varies from track to track / bike to bike. But, there are some folks out there more knowledgeable than you/me about it.

Remember like it was yesterday, racing at Oatfield (NorCal) 2006 OTHG "National" and did ok Saturday (38-Int) with 5-5 finishes(or thereabouts). But, I was not comfortable with the bike. Bone Stock '06 RMZ450 and me at 190lbs. Went to a respected local suspension tuner (who had his rig there / doing re-valves etc.) and asked him. "Anything I can do to make my stock Zook a little more plush on the rear?" His first response, "back the high speed out...way out" I might have been at 1.5 / 2 out and he said take out to 3 or more. Went out Sunday morning, got some good starts and went 1-1. Bike was confidence inspiring.

Fast forward to the next National which was in Reno (Fernley) and sand. Don't remember if I changed any settings, maybe slowed the rebound a bit and went 1-1(by a large margin) on Saturday. Race director comes up to me and says, welcome to Experts. Went 5-4 on Sunday in 38 Expert (which translated to a 5-5-5-4 because of the promotion). Ended up 3rd overall in 38-Expert.

Long story short. Suspension is not rocket science and finding the best settings might involve a purchase or simply asking a question. Wherever you are in that equation, make it the best you can. It's that important. Shout out to Josh Boykin in Modesto (at the time) for the tip and creating some good racing memories.
3
vetmxr
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1113
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1/10/2009
Location
NE US
3/23/2021 4:27pm
weight the outside peg through turns.....slow down through the turns to set things up correctly to go faster.....
FIREfish148
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5482
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1/20/2009
Location
Kirkland, WA US
3/23/2021 5:06pm Edited Date/Time 3/23/2021 5:08pm
Stay in the balls of your feet.
SLAPAHO
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1918
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8/15/2006
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Newport Beach, CA US
Fantasy
3/23/2021 5:27pm
elbows up
FahQ
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862
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7/5/2015
Location
NJ US
3/23/2021 5:49pm
Don’t tighten the valve stem nut.
Every time I see a new rider with a flat I share this.
7
Nairb#70
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Location
Ivoryton, CT US
3/24/2021 7:43am
"Slow down to go fast". You know, smooth it out a bit"
fins227
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1098
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7/1/2014
Location
Chillicothe, OH US
3/24/2021 8:01am
Rickyisms wrote:
Mine was simple, from a buddy who got me back into racing. I always tried to grip with my legs, but being 6'2 and bikes only...
Mine was simple, from a buddy who got me back into racing. I always tried to grip with my legs, but being 6'2 and bikes only being slimmer as time goes on I always felt goofy trying to squeeze them together. He taught me about standing on the balls of your feet and pointing your toes in, which naturally flexes muscles in your legs to make your knees grip. I don't even think twice about gripping with my legs now. My forearms are very thankful.

What's one of those simple things it took you too long to learn regarding riding position or bike setup?
You beat me too it. A women’s pro rider walked right up to me at a practice track and told me to point my toes in. Yes ma’am!
1
bvm111
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10112
Joined
7/1/2008
Location
Las Vegas, NV US
3/24/2021 8:11am
from my friends step dad in the 80s when i first started riding on a track... now stop being such a pu$$y about it and twist the throttle!!!

i miss Harry... he was an awesome dude, always had a bud heavy in his hand... didn’t matter when i was over at their house!
Rotaholic
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NZ
3/24/2021 11:37am
Light hands, heavy feet
forensic
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12/3/2011
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Madison, WI US
3/24/2021 2:12pm
when positioning on your seat for your start, stand up and sit down ahead of where you want to be, and then slide rearward into position. it removes slack in your pants so you stay in place better when taking off.
1
MyBobbym
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725
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11/23/2020
Location
Apache Junction, AZ US
3/24/2021 2:31pm
Rickyisms wrote:
Mine was simple, from a buddy who got me back into racing. I always tried to grip with my legs, but being 6'2 and bikes only...
Mine was simple, from a buddy who got me back into racing. I always tried to grip with my legs, but being 6'2 and bikes only being slimmer as time goes on I always felt goofy trying to squeeze them together. He taught me about standing on the balls of your feet and pointing your toes in, which naturally flexes muscles in your legs to make your knees grip. I don't even think twice about gripping with my legs now. My forearms are very thankful.

What's one of those simple things it took you too long to learn regarding riding position or bike setup?
Never look back, it slows you down and makes the guy behind you go faster. Then again most of the simps on here probably never led a moto. 😁😳
2
2
bh
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12/25/2016
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Piedmont, SC US
3/24/2021 3:30pm
Front brake dragging and consistent rpms while cornering or doing any type of obstacle for that matter.
thehenk
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89
Joined
10/15/2016
Location
NL
3/24/2021 4:21pm
This tip i got is for big braking bumps. Entering from far outside at the last moment go to the inside. The bumps are way less Steep that way
sumdood
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8834
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3/11/2013
Location
San Clemente, CA US
Fantasy
3/24/2021 4:57pm
1 tip that helped the most ? Sounds like basic advice but it helped me when I first started racing. “Treat every straight like the start straight and never coast, you’re either on the gas or on the brakes”
1
luke11
Posts
679
Joined
6/4/2018
Location
Worcestershire GB
3/25/2021 11:49am
Rickyisms wrote:
Mine was simple, from a buddy who got me back into racing. I always tried to grip with my legs, but being 6'2 and bikes only...
Mine was simple, from a buddy who got me back into racing. I always tried to grip with my legs, but being 6'2 and bikes only being slimmer as time goes on I always felt goofy trying to squeeze them together. He taught me about standing on the balls of your feet and pointing your toes in, which naturally flexes muscles in your legs to make your knees grip. I don't even think twice about gripping with my legs now. My forearms are very thankful.

What's one of those simple things it took you too long to learn regarding riding position or bike setup?
This all day. The most important thing I’ve ever learned, riding came on night and day once I got taught this properly.
Another really good one that’s helped tremendously is with deep ruts either straight or in a corner is to get in then look at the end of it and pin it. Works a treat for Sandy rollers when you have a million and one ruts crossing all over the place, just look up at the very last roller and pin it.
3/25/2021 9:06pm
I've seen all the videos from AJ, Ryno, et al on unlocking hips, toes inward, etc. It never fully clicked in my mind visually until a good friend and very fast rider explained more simply. He said the following:

Visualize a professional downhill snow skier going down the mountain in moguls making turns right and left. Their chest and head are always pointing down hill, but their hips are allowing them to make the turns. Now, turn the dirtbike the same way - like a downhill mogul skier. Its impossible to do that without squeezing with your feet and It forces you to unlock your hips.
2
3/25/2021 11:29pm
ONE HAND DRILL!

You literally have to do just about everything right to do the one hand drill while standing, sitting, turning and jumping all around the track. You are not going to clear triples and set fast lap times, but if you can do it while actually riding all the way around the track, you must have very good fundamentals.

Jett vs AJC One Handed
MotoDogg
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94
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2/28/2019
Location
Temecula, CA US
3/26/2021 1:14am
Ryno: Think that you were born to ride, not that you have choosen to ride. Probably the best advice to start with.
4

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