I Suck. Why Can't I Get Rear Wheel Traction On Soft Dirt ?

Richy
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UK, GB
7/25/2023 6:09am

This pic might help illustrate it dude, AMetts wrote it much better than I did.

s1600 GUYB2048

 Granted you can't see the tank/shroud but you can imagine how it's being worked by what you can see 👍

chevywaldo
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Roselle, IL, USA
7/25/2023 6:25am
Richy wrote:
I don't really take my foot off much to be honest, but if I do I'm sure my inner/upper leg is still up against the shroud...

I don't really take my foot off much to be honest, but if I do I'm sure my inner/upper leg is still up against the shroud, I thought the reason people always say if you're gonna take your leg off you want to keep it up high and tight to the bike is so you still have some control over it?

If I was leaving my leg out there dangling or paddling around a corner then I'd fully expect the back end to be getting out of shape.

 

AMetts wrote:
Im the same way, I hardly take my feet off anymore and stand much more, nothing bugs me more than guys that have their leg just...

Im the same way, I hardly take my feet off anymore and stand much more, nothing bugs me more than guys that have their leg just dangling out almost flat track style for no reason. 

Yeah I do a lot of "dangling" the inside leg around corners when I probably should keep both feet on the pegs.

It's year's of bad habit forming Whistling

It's also a reaction to fear of going down.  Keeping that leg dangling is a comfort safety reaction for me to prevent going down.  It's a problem for sure..

1
Gworm
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Monett, MO, USA
7/25/2023 6:36am

Dangling is also a great way to screw up a knee. 
 

1
7/25/2023 6:41am
chevywaldo wrote:

How do you grip bike with leg when exiting a corner when you are sitting on gas tank and inside leg is extended 🤔 

Just like the photo of Marvin above. Legs and knees are still against the bike so you can squeeze whether your inside foot is on the peg or not. 
 

When I’m coaching riders and I see them losing traction when accelerating out of turns and the rear end is sliding side to side it’s usually because they have no inward tension through their legs. Squeeze seat with your butt cheeks too lol!
 

If your standing make sure your knees are above or behind the pegs and not in front of pegs. This allows you to grip the bike farther back aiding in keeping it straight. Next time you’re watching practice qualifying at a Sx notice how the 250 C riders knees look through whoops compared to Jett or Sexton. 
 

If you don’t think you can squeeze the bike with your legs through a turn while seated with the inside leg out, then you’re probably not squeezing. Give it a try 

Everyone is always trying to fix the bike first and rider second. But I bet even a local A rider can get traction on your bike as is. 

2

The Shop

chevywaldo
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Roselle, IL, USA
7/25/2023 7:00am
chevywaldo wrote:

How do you grip bike with leg when exiting a corner when you are sitting on gas tank and inside leg is extended 🤔 

Just like the photo of Marvin above. Legs and knees are still against the bike so you can squeeze whether your inside foot is on the...

Just like the photo of Marvin above. Legs and knees are still against the bike so you can squeeze whether your inside foot is on the peg or not. 
 

When I’m coaching riders and I see them losing traction when accelerating out of turns and the rear end is sliding side to side it’s usually because they have no inward tension through their legs. Squeeze seat with your butt cheeks too lol!
 

If your standing make sure your knees are above or behind the pegs and not in front of pegs. This allows you to grip the bike farther back aiding in keeping it straight. Next time you’re watching practice qualifying at a Sx notice how the 250 C riders knees look through whoops compared to Jett or Sexton. 
 

If you don’t think you can squeeze the bike with your legs through a turn while seated with the inside leg out, then you’re probably not squeezing. Give it a try 

Everyone is always trying to fix the bike first and rider second. But I bet even a local A rider can get traction on your bike as is. 

Scott

Where you at?

I need some lessons..

I agree with everything you said.

There's no way it's just the bike setup that's causing my problems 

Lee

1
7/25/2023 7:32am
chevywaldo wrote:
Scott Where you at? I need some lessons.. I agree with everything you said. There's no way it's just the bike setup that's causing my problems ...

Scott

Where you at?

I need some lessons..

I agree with everything you said.

There's no way it's just the bike setup that's causing my problems 

Lee

East Texas about 2 hour and 40 minutes east of Dallas 

chevywaldo
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Roselle, IL, USA
7/25/2023 9:27am
chevywaldo wrote:
Scott Where you at? I need some lessons.. I agree with everything you said. There's no way it's just the bike setup that's causing my problems ...

Scott

Where you at?

I need some lessons..

I agree with everything you said.

There's no way it's just the bike setup that's causing my problems 

Lee

East Texas about 2 hour and 40 minutes east of Dallas 

Ok thanks.

Are you available during winter months?

Is there a place You can teach me in winter months?

1
7/25/2023 4:56pm
chevywaldo wrote:

Ok thanks.

Are you available during winter months?

Is there a place You can teach me in winter months?

Yes I train riders full time and have tracks at my house. Only time I’m not available is weekends when I’m racing SX and even then I coach riders Monday-Wednesday 

CumLadenRod
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Location
Hoschton, GA, USA
7/25/2023 5:04pm

It's soft?? Blink

CumLadenRod
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Hoschton, GA, USA
7/25/2023 5:05pm

#HammerTheThrottle....

chevywaldo
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Roselle, IL, USA
7/25/2023 5:43pm
chevywaldo wrote:

Ok thanks.

Are you available during winter months?

Is there a place You can teach me in winter months?

Yes I train riders full time and have tracks at my house. Only time I’m not available is weekends when I’m racing SX and even then...

Yes I train riders full time and have tracks at my house. Only time I’m not available is weekends when I’m racing SX and even then I coach riders Monday-Wednesday 

Ok, then I need to get to Texas...

Gotta figure out how to make this happen.  I'm in shitthole Chicago Sad

brimx153
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IE
7/25/2023 11:50pm

Putting the rear wheel back as far as u can helps , if the axel is all the way forward it won't bite as much. Plus rmz s have alot of weight on the front Id be putting sag at 110  

rdbs505
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Location
Conroe, TX, USA
7/26/2023 1:13am
chevywaldo wrote:
Ok, then I need to get to Texas... Gotta figure out how to make this happen.  I'm in shitthole Chicago 

Ok, then I need to get to Texas...

Gotta figure out how to make this happen.  I'm in shitthole Chicago Sad

Where do normally ride? Ever get out to Leisure time in medaryville IN?

chevywaldo
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7/26/2023 5:58am
brimx153 wrote:
Putting the rear wheel back as far as u can helps , if the axel is all the way forward it won't bite as much. Plus...

Putting the rear wheel back as far as u can helps , if the axel is all the way forward it won't bite as much. Plus rmz s have alot of weight on the front Id be putting sag at 110  

Thanks brimx

1
chevywaldo
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7/26/2023 6:04am
chevywaldo wrote:
Ok, then I need to get to Texas... Gotta figure out how to make this happen.  I'm in shitthole Chicago 

Ok, then I need to get to Texas...

Gotta figure out how to make this happen.  I'm in shitthole Chicago Sad

rdbs505 wrote:

Where do normally ride? Ever get out to Leisure time in medaryville IN?

I'm in Chicago suburbs.  It sucks..Evil

Usually ride at Joliet MX.

Rode for years on hard packed surfaces and developed bad habits that I'm stuck with.  Soft Dirt is difficult for me

Never rode in your Medaryville area.  Looks like your only couple hours away.  Maybe you can teach me?

rdbs505
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Conroe, TX, USA
7/26/2023 2:03pm
chevywaldo wrote:
I'm in Chicago suburbs.  It sucks.. Usually ride at Joliet MX. Rode for years on hard packed surfaces and developed bad habits that I'm stuck with. ...

I'm in Chicago suburbs.  It sucks..Evil

Usually ride at Joliet MX.

Rode for years on hard packed surfaces and developed bad habits that I'm stuck with.  Soft Dirt is difficult for me

Never rode in your Medaryville area.  Looks like your only couple hours away.  Maybe you can teach me?

Well, I'm not sure how qualified I am to teach but hey I can share what I know if you wanna come out and ride. If anything we can struggle together lol. LTMX is currently in the process of adding an over/under bridge and re-doing the track layout. They are closed all this week but will open back up next Tuesday I believe. I am pretty excited to ride the new track but it is a rough sand track. Lots of fun if you can ride sand, maybe not so much if you struggle with it. I suppose if you wanna work out this traction issue and the bad habits this is the place. Not sure how well the private messages work on here but feel free to shoot me one if you want and we can plan to ride.

plowboy
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Norwich, KS, USA
7/26/2023 2:12pm

I learned to ride in the sand of NE Texas.  Then we moved to Tulsa Ok...I rode the Arkansas river bed every day.  To this day...my favorite is floating a dry, curvy creek or riverbed.

Short shift and stay loose.  Speed is your friend.  Basically, steer with the rear...if you weight the front...it's over.  

If you can't get on top and float...the problem is your right wrist.  It's scary at first but you CAN do it.  (It works the same in deeply tilled dirt).

 

2
wwdiii
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League City, TX, USA
7/26/2023 2:40pm
plowboy wrote:
I learned to ride in the sand of NE Texas.  Then we moved to Tulsa Ok...I rode the Arkansas river bed every day.  To this day...my...

I learned to ride in the sand of NE Texas.  Then we moved to Tulsa Ok...I rode the Arkansas river bed every day.  To this day...my favorite is floating a dry, curvy creek or riverbed.

Short shift and stay loose.  Speed is your friend.  Basically, steer with the rear...if you weight the front...it's over.  

If you can't get on top and float...the problem is your right wrist.  It's scary at first but you CAN do it.  (It works the same in deeply tilled dirt).

 

Floating on riverbed sand was never my deal.  I grew up in Oklahoma, River Racing was very popular in the 70’s.  Some of those guys on tall geared TM400 Suzuki’s would fly down the South Canadian River at crazy speed.  I stuck to the hard pack MX tracks.  I still suck on loose stuff.

chevywaldo
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158
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Location
Roselle, IL, USA
7/26/2023 2:57pm
chevywaldo wrote:
I'm in Chicago suburbs.  It sucks.. Usually ride at Joliet MX. Rode for years on hard packed surfaces and developed bad habits that I'm stuck with. ...

I'm in Chicago suburbs.  It sucks..Evil

Usually ride at Joliet MX.

Rode for years on hard packed surfaces and developed bad habits that I'm stuck with.  Soft Dirt is difficult for me

Never rode in your Medaryville area.  Looks like your only couple hours away.  Maybe you can teach me?

rdbs505 wrote:
Well, I'm not sure how qualified I am to teach but hey I can share what I know if you wanna come out and ride. If...

Well, I'm not sure how qualified I am to teach but hey I can share what I know if you wanna come out and ride. If anything we can struggle together lol. LTMX is currently in the process of adding an over/under bridge and re-doing the track layout. They are closed all this week but will open back up next Tuesday I believe. I am pretty excited to ride the new track but it is a rough sand track. Lots of fun if you can ride sand, maybe not so much if you struggle with it. I suppose if you wanna work out this traction issue and the bad habits this is the place. Not sure how well the private messages work on here but feel free to shoot me one if you want and we can plan to ride.

Thanks bro..

1
chevywaldo
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Roselle, IL, USA
7/26/2023 3:01pm
plowboy wrote:
I learned to ride in the sand of NE Texas.  Then we moved to Tulsa Ok...I rode the Arkansas river bed every day.  To this day...my...

I learned to ride in the sand of NE Texas.  Then we moved to Tulsa Ok...I rode the Arkansas river bed every day.  To this day...my favorite is floating a dry, curvy creek or riverbed.

Short shift and stay loose.  Speed is your friend.  Basically, steer with the rear...if you weight the front...it's over.  

If you can't get on top and float...the problem is your right wrist.  It's scary at first but you CAN do it.  (It works the same in deeply tilled dirt).

 

Wow, that's great information.  I've never even considered steering with the rear.  I get it.  Now it's time to practice 

1
plowboy
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Norwich, KS, USA
7/26/2023 3:05pm
chevywaldo wrote:

Wow, that's great information.  I've never even considered steering with the rear.  I get it.  Now it's time to practice 

Lol...I'm not sure you can get it without doing it....a lot.  There is absolutely no substitute for seat time.  Find some sand...ride til you puke...then ride some more.

1
SPODEBOY
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Location
Apple Valley, CA, USA
7/26/2023 3:35pm

Put the edge corner of the seat in your butt crack, weight the outside peg, elbows up. Or by a Beta and push one button on on the stem above the tank. 

chevywaldo
Posts
158
Joined
10/12/2013
Location
Roselle, IL, USA
7/26/2023 3:44pm
plowboy wrote:
I learned to ride in the sand of NE Texas.  Then we moved to Tulsa Ok...I rode the Arkansas river bed every day.  To this day...my...

I learned to ride in the sand of NE Texas.  Then we moved to Tulsa Ok...I rode the Arkansas river bed every day.  To this day...my favorite is floating a dry, curvy creek or riverbed.

Short shift and stay loose.  Speed is your friend.  Basically, steer with the rear...if you weight the front...it's over.  

If you can't get on top and float...the problem is your right wrist.  It's scary at first but you CAN do it.  (It works the same in deeply tilled dirt).

 

wwdiii wrote:
Floating on riverbed sand was never my deal.  I grew up in Oklahoma, River Racing was very popular in the 70’s.  Some of those guys on...

Floating on riverbed sand was never my deal.  I grew up in Oklahoma, River Racing was very popular in the 70’s.  Some of those guys on tall geared TM400 Suzuki’s would fly down the South Canadian River at crazy speed.  I stuck to the hard pack MX tracks.  I still suck on loose stuff.

I feel your pain bro.  I learned on the hard packed stuff.  Now riding on loose stuff.  I basically have to learn all over again.  Like I said,  embarrassing and frustrating spinning my wheels and sliding around watching everyone go by..😒

1
Falcon
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Menifee, CA, USA
7/26/2023 4:16pm

Sorry man, I had to!

raptor 0

 It's a journey. You'll get there! 

2
chevywaldo
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Roselle, IL, USA
7/26/2023 4:22pm
Falcon wrote:
Sorry man, I had to!  It's a journey. You'll get there! 

Sorry man, I had to!

raptor 0

 It's a journey. You'll get there! 

Frickin Hilarious 😂 

Thanks 

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