Trails to MX

[03YZ250_Brad]

So im setting my bike up for this upcomming '09 season. Im moving from racing a few harescrambles and mainly trailriding to racing MX.

What pointers would everyone give for this transition, as far as bike set-up and rider technique.

I am more used to natural terrain and freeriding that man made tracks and their huge jumps

Thanks:ride:

[joekikass]

suspension !!!

[NorCal]

So im setting my bike up for this upcomming '09 season. Im moving from racing a few harescrambles and mainly trailriding to racing MX.

What pointers would everyone give for this transition, as far as bike set-up and rider technique.

I am more used to natural terrain and freeriding that man made tracks and their huge jumps

Thanks:ride:

I went from riding 100% trails to about 50-50 trails and MX.

As far as bike setup is concerned, suspension is your main focus. I had a '06

YZ450F with springs and offroad revalve. While it worked well for tight,

rough trails, it was garbage for the track. My current ride is a '08 RMZ450.

The only thing I have done to the suspension is add an RG3 link. I don't think

I'll get the offroad revalve because I don't want to bottom out and lose

speed in the whoops. I will still run an oversized tank, skidplate and

handguards on the track just to make sure the moto guys know they are

getting passed by a trail guy!

There are a few things you are going to have to get used to when riding

track. The first being dealing with traffic. Sometimes the track gets so

crowded you'll have to ride with a lot of other riders. The main thing to

remember is the fast guys are expecting you to hold your line, so hold it! If

you are not going to hit a jump, that's fine. Just don't leave your straight line

or else someone is bound to land on you.

Secondly, learn how to jump safely. Practice on easy tracks first and don't

try anything until you've seen it done. I like to follow a guy off a big hit to

gauge the correct speed. I'm just coming off a broken collar bone injury due

to a crash off a jump, so make sure you take it easy.

Lastly, turning is a completely different animal on a track. You can check the

MX forum for turning tips, but the main techniques to keep in mind are: look

ahead, keep your nuts on the tank, and elbows up. Practice makes perfect.

Hope that helps a little. Have fun and be safe.?

[VPR_KLR]

The suspension needs to be set up to handle the braking bumps and acceleration bumps. especially entering and exiting corners.

you want those tires planted!!

also, landings. especially from big doubles or tables. you need to soak those up just enough to keep the bike flowing smoothly into the next obstacle.

oh yeh you need good bottoming resistance

or the bike will be slow blasting out of the turns and over jumps

learn to seat bounce or preload for big jumps with no runway.

[03YZ250_Brad]

I went from riding 100% trails to about 50-50 trails and MX.

As far as bike setup is concerned, suspension is your main focus. I had a '06

YZ450F with springs and offroad revalve. While it worked well for tight,

rough trails, it was garbage for the track. My current ride is a '08 RMZ450.

The only thing I have done to the suspension is add an RG3 link. I don't think

I'll get the offroad revalve because I don't want to bottom out and lose

speed in the whoops. I will still run an oversized tank, skidplate and

handguards on the track just to make sure the moto guys know they are

getting passed by a trail guy!

There are a few things you are going to have to get used to when riding

track. The first being dealing with traffic. Sometimes the track gets so

crowded you'll have to ride with a lot of other riders. The main thing to

remember is the fast guys are expecting you to hold your line, so hold it! If

you are not going to hit a jump, that's fine. Just don't leave your straight line

or else someone is bound to land on you.

Secondly, learn how to jump safely. Practice on easy tracks first and don't

try anything until you've seen it done. I like to follow a guy off a big hit to

gauge the correct speed. I'm just coming off a broken collar bone injury due

to a crash off a jump, so make sure you take it easy.

Lastly, turning is a completely different animal on a track. You can check the

MX forum for turning tips, but the main techniques to keep in mind are: look

ahead, keep your nuts on the tank, and elbows up. Practice makes perfect.

Hope that helps a little. Have fun and be safe.?

Thanks for the tips, im sure this will help. PRactice starts soon!!

[Adammoto]

Re: suspension

If you are riding 50/50 trails and MX, you can do well with a compromise valving setup. An expert hare scrambles setup is a good place to start. Pure enduro is too soft. The stock MX valving is too hard on the rider in rocks roots etc.

[PDBRacer]

I love the track. You can see what the heck is coming up. No tree's popping out in front of you. Sometimes riders or track markers.

So go faster you don't have to worry about a tree/rock/Cliff/Etc.

Turning DuDE! You can LEAN over with your bike!!!!! Don't have to worry about your head hitting a branch or the big fitting inbettween the trees and not have to worry about your foot hitting a stump!!!

Im a MX dude and to me track so much safer ? But trails are fun when you get going fast.

You can use that tree bumping experiance when you get bunch up with other riders and passing. More confident = more control

[NorCal]

I love the track. You can see what the heck is coming up. No tree's popping out in front of you. Sometimes riders or track markers.

That is an excellent point and one I wish I would have made. It is very hard to

safely ride fast without worrying about a head-on collision on the trail.