CRF's Only Forums

Okay...for all you critics out there, please keep your "flaming" comments to yourselves. Keep in mind we are a couple of 40-year old beginners who absolutely would love to hear CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, but can certainly do without the negativity. We suck and we know it...don't need to hear it from you.

No music, just the good sounds of nature (wind and the thump of a good 'ol CRF450R.) It's just a few laps around the track by each of us. I tried to edit it down, but it still turned out longer than I intended.

Anyway, thanks for watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJsi5YlVJ0A

The above was posted on TT also. I know the good quality people we have here and that "flaming" comment was not directed at CRFsOnly members. Sometimes, you just get that little 13-year old know-it-all over there and gets old.

Awesome! I've heard that sticking out your leg in front of the bike in corners makes it track better, and stand as much as you can. It really lowers the center of gravity a lot! O yeah, keep the elbows up in turns!

You guys rock!

Very cool Mark!!!

Let me preface this by saying I don't know shiite about riding, but on the jumps that you come down nose heavy, you can hear that you let off on the throttle.

The jumps that you land more neutral, you are staying on the throttle.

You don't want to panic rev and loop it out, but with the 4 stroke you get some engine braking and it kills the rear wheel inertia and brings the nose down.

I agree on the leg. Stick it out more toward the front wheel. It will be more useful there than just dragging it along.
Joe

nice vid man... and the track all to yourselves im jealous!!! when can i come down there??? haha.

bobfromomaha looks more my speed on the track

Bike looks great in white!


</jealousscotia>

Thanks for the tips guys. Yeah, it seems like here and TT, the biggest criticisms (constructive) are:

- get the elbows up
- the leg position during turns
- some vaious body position comments
- throttle control (as Agen mentioned)

Anyway, thanks for watching and commenting guys. Appreciate the tips. I will be working on them for sure.

woodsman wrote:stand as much as you can. It really lowers the center of gravity a lot!

Standing actually raises the center of gravity...

It does however, move the center of gravity forward on the bike.

Standing, I was told, puts the weight down on the pegs instead of the seat... I think the seat is higher. Am I missing something? That is the argument DB magazine used anyway.

That down hill jump looks fun! Great riding guys!

ThumperX wrote:That down hill jump looks fun! Great riding guys!

I was gonna say the same thing but he beat me to it.
It also looks like it could really mess up your day if you hit it short... a downhill-facing over-the-bar launch would definitely ruin my day. You hit it pretty good each time!

On the standing/sitting thing:
When riding standing-up, half of your body mass is now even higher above the bars than it was when you were sitting. So the center of gravity is now taller (like stacking 5 pallettes of bricks ontop of each other in the center of a flatbed truck, vs. stacking only one). The benefit to standing is that it takes the seat out of the mix, and allows you to move the bike beneath you as you maintain control. (instead of being at the mercy of whatever the seat is doing if you ride sitting down all the time).

I have been told I sit down waaaay too much when I ride, and am working to correct that. One guy told met to keep in mind: sit down when you need to turn or seat-bounce, and other than that, ride in the standing/attack position. (What that looks like kind of reminds me of what you might look like if you snuck up behind someone and were getting ready to scare them -- knees bent, back slightly bent, arms up, butt sticking back, using rowing motions to smooth out track bumps). When you need to sit for a corner, you go from that attack riding position and step right down into your turn, in 1 motion: sitting up front on the seat, leg out, elbows up, butt crack on the outside of the seat).
If you have a workstand, put the bike on it and try it. It feels really strange at first.

It's getting that 1-motion transition between the standing and sitting that's the hard part. At first it will feel like you're actually stepping off the bike while it's in motion. So go slow when you try it. When you get comfortable with it, cornering is pretty fun, and it's flat out awesome on a groomed/watered track. The motion is a little harder on a dry track I think, because you have a natural tendency to want to sit early and get the leg out to save the front-end if the dry dirt slips out from under the front.

Great riding. Sweet track too.

Work sucks. Can't view Youtube...

124 wrote:Work sucks. Can't view Youtube...

I look forward to any tips!

BTW, I posted this on TT also and between CRFsOnly and TT, got some tips. For the most part:

- Leg out and more forward when turning
- Elbows up
- Keep on the gas

There were other tips also, but these three were, by far, the most popular.

Went to a more technical track this past Monday (Memorial day.) Was working on everything, but really worked on the leg thing. I believe I really noticed the difference. It seems to help the front tire dig in and felt more stable at higher speeds through the corners. Will continue to work on it. Forgot to bring the videocam that day. Will most more once I have some more time working on the techniques.

nedirtbikr wrote:

124 wrote:Work sucks. Can't view Youtube...

I look forward to any tips!

BTW, I posted this on TT also and between CRFsOnly and TT, got some tips. For the most part:

- Leg out and more forward when turning
- Elbows up
- Keep on the gas

There were other tips also, but these three were, by far, the most popular.

Went to a more technical track this past Monday (Memorial day.) Was working on everything, but really worked on the leg thing. I believe I really noticed the difference. It seems to help the front tire dig in and felt more stable at higher speeds through the corners. Will continue to work on it. Forgot to bring the videocam that day. Will most more once I have some more time working on the techniques.

Technique is very important. You should work on them in stages. Practice one technique at a time on one section of the track at a time. Start on one corner or jump until you feel comfortable and do it until you don't really have to think about it to get it done. Then start linking in the next corner jump, then the next, etc, etc. Remember when your tired and feel like you can't hang on anymore is the best time to dig deep and stay out there. (Ofcourse safety being the #1 factor).

With all that said, remember speed comes with a little stupidity. Remembering all the techniques in the world isn't as important if you just go out and have fun. Go as fast as you can and all the little hints, tips, and taught techniques will come in time.

I guess the biggest lesson my "fast guy" friends have taught me is all the practice in the world won't make up for sheer ugly speed. Sometimes you gotta turn the brain off to go fast... Cover up the little part of your brain that tells you what you're doing "isn't smart and let off". Crashing sucks, but it means you're pushing your limits. Stop thinking and pin it!!! haha...

I didn't see any obstacles on that course, but remember that momentum will carry you a lot further than plain skill or muscle.

124 wrote:Work sucks. Can't view Youtube...

Don't feel bad, I got the same issue. And then when I get home, I'm like "OK, what message board was that youtube video on that I wanted to watch?" It's hell gettin' old.