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6352
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2/25/2009
Location
Mankato, MN
US
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583rd
Edited Date/Time
5/4/2018 12:07pm
I went to a local race today (just watching) and I
Was amazed at how everyone was doing most of the jumps
Especially a 30 foot or so triple
I didn't measure it but guessing ..anyway
I saw maybe 2 or 3 people on big bikes not hitting it
In the early to mid 90,s only the A and B riders would have been doing this jump
It looked intimidating to me
And there where people jumping it that looked like they had no business jumping it lol but still not crashing so there is that , but people with slower lap times to put it nicely ...
Must be the four strokes
Just make it easier I'm guessing ??
Was amazed at how everyone was doing most of the jumps
Especially a 30 foot or so triple
I didn't measure it but guessing ..anyway
I saw maybe 2 or 3 people on big bikes not hitting it
In the early to mid 90,s only the A and B riders would have been doing this jump
It looked intimidating to me
And there where people jumping it that looked like they had no business jumping it lol but still not crashing so there is that , but people with slower lap times to put it nicely ...
Must be the four strokes
Just make it easier I'm guessing ??
Little rutty but nice
And I was surprised a how fast everyone looked (most)
I don't really care about the 2 vs. 4 thing as I have owned both and both are fun to me.
The Shop
Tarz see the same thing when I ride. Guys jumping things all looped, no skill but they still get it done.
My closest track is made by and for A/B riders. There really isn't much I feel comfortable trying. Most everyone clears every jump on the track, but I'm good only jumping halfway. Yesterday I spent a lot of time on the figure 8 track to keep out of the way of fast guys.
There was another double-ish style jump at the finish line that I did most of the time. It had a long straight leading to it, and a 150 straight into a sweeping left after. It was super safe.
Loved the dirt at ICR more than anything.
Imagine what the guys from the double shock days, said about the beginner riders buying single shock bikes in the 80's..."those shocks take all the skill out of riding", "any beginner can get on one and go fast", "they are ruining racing...it's all about jumping now", "it takes no skill"...aka: all the same stuff guys now days say about the four strokes...and they blame the four strokes, but really they are just blaming bike progression.
And yesterday I was on my 450 all day, hopped on my buddies 17 YZ250, and sent the 90’ double first lap. So it’s definitely not a 2 v 4 debate, more like new v old. (To be fair I do own a 13 YZ250, it’s just in pieces right now)
I remember one summer, I jumped that decent sized step up from the bottom section, and almost landed on a huge rattlesnake chilling on the track. Why did it ever close? Proximity to residence??
Pit Row
If I would have stayed on a 125 or 250 2 stroke instead of going to 250fs and 450s, there would have been plenty of jumps that I wouldn't have even thought about jumping. One thing I'm looking forward to with being back on a 250 2 stroke is the fact that I won't be tempted to jump certain things because I won't have the same power that I would on a 450. I'd have to hit everything perfect leading up to the jump just to even think about going for it, but with my 450 all I had to do was twist the throttle a little further and it carried me over almost everything. I see guys at the track all the time rolling slow through a corner then grab a handful and have no problem clearing jumps out of corners. Not the case with guys on 2 strokes
Landings with convex faces verse concave. Large rounded landing decks that have enough break over so the frame doesn't catch if shorted, proper run out after a jump section, etc. all make things safer. It's not hard to make big safe jumps that beginners to pros can have fun on and be safe you just have to plan them out correctly.
Thumpers may be part of it but it's mostly just how times change. My kids jumped/jump things on 2-stroke minis that 20 years ago wouldn't have even been considered simply because it's common now. Suspension is also better but mostly it's just because riders see other riders doing it and learn from that. Look at the backflip. Once it was done once it quickly went from impossible to commonplace..........
Those pictures of the ruts going down the hill don't do justice for how gnarley they were. I'm still surprised they even pulled the race off since there was still snow on the track on Thursday !
I think stock spring rates are part of it too. They have gone up a lot over the years. I look at rates on some of the vintage bikes I'm familiar with-- 85 KX 125 had .27 fork springs. 86 CR 500 .37. Now a 125 is at .42, my 250F came with a .47, 450s are a .49-.50 I think? I ride that 86 on modern tracks, and I can tell you when I had the stock springs, I wasn't even thinking about most big jumps because it would bottom even on the takeoffs! I upgraded to modern rates and now it's really not an issue to go for bigger air on that old bike.
Post a reply to: Evolution of the sport/jumps