"How-To" - Hit a Ramp

[The Snitz]

So you've just got your grubby hands on a new ramp, or you're going to go to your mates place on the weekend and hit a ramp for the very first time, but you've got no idea how to hit it? Whether it will pop you so high you won't know what to do?
Well here's a few hints and tips that will hopefully get you over that first jump safely and build your confidence to bust big soon after.

There are many variables that go into hitting a ramp for the first time. The Size of the ramp, the curve of the ramp, the distance you are jumping also. As you can imagine the smaller the ramp, the smaller your jump will be, and the bigger the ramp the bigger the jump.

General tips :

- Keep a steady throttle all through your run up, figure out what speed you will need and try to keep to that speed the entire runup.

- When you get to the ramp at a steady speed, to make sure your bike doesn't bog at all as you hit the ramp, just roll the throttle on a fraction as you leave the ramp. This will give you a little more pre-load as you hit the ramp and may pop you a fraction higher which is good too :)

- Make sure your body is centred over the bike. Keep your ass off the seat, but keep your knees bent and your elbows bent and have your head leaning forward almost over the bars. In this position it will keep the bike level throughout the jump.

- When you're in the air, you are able to control how the bike moves using the brakes and also the throttle:
If you want the front wheel to come up because it is starting to almost front flip, you simply rev the bike as hard as you can, this will bring the front up for you.
If you want the front wheel to come down because the bike is starting to almost backflip or just get too vertical, simply tap the back brakes. The front Brakes do the same job but I've found they work alot quicker, so make sure you watch it.

Also, your body weight is a great way to move your bike around, lean forward to dip the front wheel, move back and the front will come up for you. Move side to side and the bike will start to whip either way. This might help if the bike is starting to whip already, you can correct the bike with your body weight to come into centre.

- When riding a 4stroke over a ramp, remember it is not designed like a 2Stroke and can't go Brap Brap Brap, you need to keep the throttle steady the entire runup and up the ramp. Find the speed you want and keep the throttle on that, then hit the ramp and you will fly perfectly. If you chop the throttle up the ramp it will lose it's speed and nosedive very quickly.

- When you land, it's best to land with both wheels at the same time. If you're not comfortable with a downramp, you can land on the back wheel first before front wheel to make sure you won't front flip on landing.

- When you first hit a ramp, keep your eyes concentrated on the very tip of the ramp so you know when you have left, and then look straight for the downramp to know where you will land.

- When you want to start doing tricks that need a fair bit of time to do, just watch the tip of the ramp and as soon as you see it disappear under your feet, begin with the trick straight away. This usually helps in timing of jumps and also confidence in jumping.

- Always start out hitting ramps over small distances before going big, and pull the ramp back every 5 foot or so, whatever feels comfortable for you to do.

- Make sure the ramp is sitting perfectly flat. Then it won't move forward to much, or tilt to the side when all the pressure of your bike hits it.

- Only hit a METAL RAMP! Do not hit a Wooden Ramp now matter how well constructed it is, simply put wood cannot handle the pressures of a 100KG bike and rider ontop of it.

- If someone you know has hit the ramp before, try follow them up the runup and get a speedcheck by riding the same speed as them, then when they hit the ramp, you can ride off to the side. (Or if you really want, you can ride up the ramp behind them, just need to trust that they won't crash!!)

Bike Tips :

- Make sure your bike is running smoothly and won't die halfway up the ramp

- Make sure the fuel is turned ON!

- Tune the suspension to meet your needs. I like my suspension as hard as a rock, but unfortunately I haven't got any aftermarket suspension, so the Stock forks and shock are as hard as I can get them. Hard suspension means you won't be bottoming out when you land hard.

- Make sure all bolts are tight, wheels, fork clamps, and also check your spokes and tighten accordingly.


That's about as much as I can think of at the moment, if you need more advice on little things just ask in here and I'll help you out :)

Good Luck hitting a ramp for the first time, after you get started you will love it and never go back to being a spectator :afro:

[The Snitz]

If other riders here who have got tips about anything to do with hitting a ramp or the speeds they have on their bikes, don't hesitate to put them up, it will help out everyone who's just getting started or looking for some pointers to help them along.

[mulisha_fmx]

ay man i didnt no you can make 80ft in second gera will this be similar to a 01 yz250f

[The Snitz]

Yeah mate, but most people Click 3rd for 60 Foot and higher. I've never ventured out of 2nd cos I haven't had to, the way I hit a ramp I come in about 3/4's the speed I know I need, then I really pull the throttle on hard as I'm hitting the ramp and then that will give me extra height compared to others who keep the same speed all the way through. But thats just how I hit ramps, and how I've adjusted to the 4stroke coming from a 2stroke background.

I should imagine it would be the same as 01 YZ250F, just make sure you know your limits of the bike if attempting it, if 2nd gear won't make it, just find 3rd and it's about 1/2 to 3/4 throttle :)

[stavross]

either my bike is way out compared to other peoples, or i have a wired perspective of distance and how far a ramp will throw me

[m@d_FMXER]

on my 80 im hitting a 60ft double up and im in 5th gear flat out almost clicking into band

[METAL_MULISHA13]

thanx alot steve, u have helped me out with me problems;) thanx alot again lol :D:D:D:D:D:D

[NOLIMITS]

Yeah mate that's 80's for ya.. Steve top job on the "How To's" I've been reading them and they a very well put togeather..

It's OK to be really freaked before hitting your first ramp especially if you haven't had a background in racing or just outright hack riding... It helps if someone can do a speed check for you that has hit the ramp before at the set gap.. They ride in and you follow them at the same speed and bail out just before hitting the ramp. It gives you a chance to feel out the approach speed then all you have to do is stand up and lean forward (not too far) like Steve said get your head up near the guard as it comes up to you.. And it will.. Kick back and enjoy the ride..

With regard to the gears and approach speed it's basically the same on my '91 CR250.. I've hit a natural terrain setup at a mates place in mid to top third and I didn't think I was ever going to land.. It had to have been 90+ feet.. They all freaked out and I was like what's up.. Then they showed me the footage and where I landed.. Gotta say it spun me out a little too... I was like wow and there's three more gears after that..

[2old2slo]

Steve, thank for the really useful practical tips. Alot of the advice I've been getting from some of the local FMX guys is to just gun it and hold on. Being a 30yo ramp virgin..I said Ramp virgin the prosepect of just gunin it up a 6ft ramp scares the Shite out of me, so your 'how to's' may have just saved me from some fractures. Just a qik question about heading up the ramp. I've seen some guys give it a little blurt about half way up. Is this a good option for a rank amatuer like myself. Also as for the approach if u intend hitting the ramp in say 2nd gear do u recommend getting the bike into 1st, bottom end of band and short shifting to 2nd. ??
Cheers Lee

[ALLEN]

i dunno if its already been posted but if you are still unsure about spped speed check with another rider.

[NOLIMITS]

hey 2old2slo.. If you are hitting up for the first time I'd recommend that you do a run in with another rider that's hit it to dial in the speed.. Once your've got that sorted approach it at a constant speed and keep it there...

Once your've hit it a ton of times and your confident with the whole setup you can start to play with the thottle on the kicker.. Like Steve said it actually has the effect of applying preload and will punch you off that thing like you won't belive..

The hardest part is actually getting the balls up to do it in the first place.. I swear I thought I was going to faint after I hit my first one.. The best advise I had was until you are cool with it don't look down... Look at the lip of the kicker, then start looking for the downie and keep focused on it..

[The Snitz]

2old2slo, thanks for your reply, and I really do hope they reduce fractures haha, I know I wish I had them when I was getting started, would have saved myself from a few broken bones also, but alas, thats why I'm now typing them up for you to not do the things I did haha.

Anyway, as you realise the Hold it on and ride it out theory won't work as well as you hope lol. Ride past the ramp a few times at a speed you think it should be and go through your mind how fast you might need to hit it, but preferably follow these guys up the ramp that already do hit it and know the speed.

I personally like to give the bike that last Brap up the ramp, just to give me confidence that I'm going to make the distance. Other than that, there's no real reason to give it that little bit of gas. It does centre the bike a bit more when you do though, but if you have good bike control and can lean forward or back when you need the bike will be fine all through flight. I say try it out to be honest, give it a go, if you like it stick with it, if not, don't worry about it, it's better to roll your throttle on all the way up then chop the throttle and gas it quickly.

And with gearing, I find it better to click right down to first, make sure you know what gear you're in, then click back into second as your approaching the ramp, make sure you've selected the gear you want well before the ramp, so you can sense what speed you have. :) As long as you have a good 50 foot or thereabouts of distance to figure out ur speed in the one gear and keep the speed on, you will be fine :)

I hope that helps out mate, there is alot of things to know, but really when it all comes down to it, it is your confidence that will allow you to make the jump or turn out of it and try another day. I like to give myself 3 chances when hitting a ramp. 1st I ride past it the speed I think it needs and pretend i'm hitting it and floating through the air, then 2nd I will ride up to the ramp the speed I want again and then just turn off (or hit it if I feel fine), then 3rd attempt I make sure I hit the jump and just have trust in my judgement and hold on for a smoothe landing.

Have a good one mate :afro: Steve

[2old2slo]

Hey thanks very much for all this info Steve and NoLimits. My little Bro and I are shortly heading off to Crusty's so we are fairly pumped as I'm sure u can imagine. This may sound a little...no a lot soft but I think I might actually print out your advice and take it with me when I attempt to go big. U should consider getting your own 'Ask Steve' column in FreeRider or the like :-)
Once again thanks very much for your help here....Hope you enjoy the show...

Cheers Lee

[twothreesix]

Hey steve, ur advise is great!
I always hit my ramp at a constant speed coz the first time i was hitting it i was revving up the ramp an f**kin bakfliping! as u can imagine, for the first day of hittin ramps i was scared shittless coz every time i land i was vertical. I was wondering wat could cause this? Is it im not relaxed enuf? or i could be revving to much off the lip? or mayb leanin back to far?

If u could help it would b sweet coz im freeked out about revvin to much an i cum up short way too often.

[The Snitz]

G'day Blackflag, this is a problem many of us have when we first start out hitting ramps, so don't feel to bad about it, it's just one of those things.

Constant speed is good when hitting ramps, but you have to make sure you can keep the throttle on and roll the throttle on as you ride up the ramp. When you hit a ramp at the same speed the whole way, the pressure of the g-forces on the bike slows the wheels down and thus this means the bike does actually slow down as you leave the ramp. This may be the cause of you coming up short alot. Make sure you roll the throttle on to keep power to the back wheel to keep pushing the bike up the ramp. You want to ride off the ramp with power than roll off it losing power.

With the front wheel staying high all the time, this can be caused by a couple of things. Revving the bike hard as you leave the ramp, and yes, leaning back to far. You said it yourself, you may need to relax a little bit, let the bike do the work rather than you trying to man-handle the bike. What you want to do, is be standing up on your bike, have your knees bent a fraction, have your elbows bent in by your side and lean forward on the bike. You want your helmet to be above the centre of your handlebars at all times pretty much.

So when you are riding up the runup, you're leaning forward a fair bit, head just over handlebars, then as you hit the ramp, the bike will begin to go up with the curve of the ramp, and you need to keep your head in the same place, so you'll be leaning a fraction more over the handlebars. It's quite a hard concept to explain in text, if I was there with you I'd be able to show you exactly what I mean, but I'm hoping I've explained it well enough.

Think of your feet as a pivot. Your body stays in the same position, standing above the bike with knees and elbows bent looking forward, and then when the bike goes up the ramp, the bike moves in a circular motion upwards up the ramp, yet your body stays in the same position. Hopefully that helps.

Here's a picture of me ages ago hitting my ramp when I was just beginning. See the position my body is in as I'm heading up the ramp, my body is close up to the front of the bike... Try to visualise this when you're riding and Hopefully this will help you out.

Good Luck mate, let me know how you go, or if it doesn't work, I can better figure out the problem
Steve :afro:


Thanks 2old2slo :) Doubt any publication would have me lol, but it's a great idea. Make sure to post pics up of your successes mate. Can't wait to see them :D

[twothreesix]

Well heres a pic. U cant really c much, but just thought u might b able to tell if im doin sumthing rong. lol i cant

[The Snitz]

No Probs mate, I resized that for you aswell ;)

Well, just looking at that picture, it doesn't look all too bad mate, you seem to have a good position there. But when I looked at it for a while and tried to figure out what could be wrong, you can see that your back is pretty flat with your legs. This is just my observation, I probably don't have any real bearing on it, but in my opinion, because your back is flat, when you leave the ramp, you will be automatically leaning back. I'm sitting here imagining you hitting the ramp, and what I'm imagining is that by the time you've reached that part of the ramp the picture is taken, you've actually been going from a bent back (legs aren't straight with back, more like my body) and have gradually straightened up as you've hit the ramp. This is perfect way for the front to go up into the air. It just means your weight is displaced from the front and moving more to the back, even though you are actually standing forward.

When you come to the ramp, stay pretty much in that position, just bend your knees some more and try to keep your head where it is. Here's a diagram I just did up to try show you where your body is, and where it should be, always point your self forward. Have a close look and you should be able to see those differences in your pic and my pic :) Hopefully that will work wonders :)

How are you going with coming up short mate? how do you hit the ramp?

[twothreesix]

haha that guy looks like hes takin a dump! haha

um like u said, i dont roll on the power enuf, i keep it quite the same.

Thanks for all ur thoughts on my position tho.

[The Snitz]

haha, He probably is taking a dump mate, just thinking of the ramp he's about to hit haha. Anyway, enjoy your riding mate and take it safe.

[twothreesix]

haha, good 1. Thanks for ur help man, im sure ill b hitin at big gaps real soon! Ill post sum pics up wen i take sum.

[JAYKAY]

Snitz im the same as you when i hit a jump i go a bit slower into the runup the gun it on the ramp and it pops you up way higher and helps with preload

[The Snitz]

Yep exactly right JayKay. But everyones different, some people don't like that method, but I find it the easiest. As an example, because I've never ridden with any other FMX'ers, X-Rated comp was the first time I had, and I learnt alot from that 2 days. Like I asked Matty Mac how he hit the ramp, and he was on his CRF 450, in second gear absolutely tapped, and Andy Christie (Blue Haze) was on his YZ250F in 3rd gear 3/4 throttle. On the same jump I was on my YZ250F in 2nd gear riding in 3/4 throttle and then gassed it up the ramp in second and I made the same distance as them. I'm not saying anything bad about this about their bikes in no way shape or form, it's just different to see how other riders approach ramps.

It's just how you approach the jump as to how you want the bike to react in the air, Just a useful tidbit for you all to think about :)

Steve

[twothreesix]

is that andy in the freerider? in departure lounge or sumthing?

[The Snitz]

;) Thats the man himself :D

[twothreesix]

watta legond. Oh an i tryed out the ramp hittin technech an it works like a charm! haha thanks man

[The Snitz]

Yes, young Victorian Andy is quite a legend around these parts hehe.

I'm glad that technique worked for you!! Can't wait to see you busting big and full of confidence mate :D

[I_Bleed_blue]

i wanna hit a ramp but got no access 2 one at all:(

[skaterz]

how do you hit dirt up ramps smoothly ?

[skaterz]

how big a jump for 85s

[I_Bleed_blue]

i wanna know that 2 skaterz
i got a yz85

[The Snitz]

G'day Skaterz and I_Bleed_blue, I'm sorry I can't give you any advice on this topic, I've never ridden an 85 at all, so their handling, speed and technique is totally beyond me when it comes to hitting a jump. Hopefully Robbo can help you out with it, he seems to be quite the expert on 85's and coming from a racing background would have better advice for hitting dirt hits with an 85 also :D
I'll PM him for you to see if he'd be kind enough to give you some pointers in here :)
Steve:afro:

[mulishatrooper]

thank your tip's are realy reassuring and they make sence to me

if you could help

im about 90kg and am riding a kx 125
roughly what gear should i be in for a 45 ft gap
i thought my wheight would contribute to the distance
i would go or how much power i need to clear the gap
im knot afraid to giv it a go i just want all my info right in my head when i go for it im crazy not stupid
(as my mum saidy your stupid youll kill you self )
oh well go big or go home

i am in the process of getting a ramp built
i have got all the info i have found an enginere to build it
just waighting on cost ?

[The Snitz]

G'day Mulishatrooper, thanks for the comments it's reassuring to know that it does give people the confidence to do things they never thought they might do :)

For your speed (Gearing and power) everyone is different with their approach and my tips may not be usefull at all, but on the other hand may be just what you needed to know. Anyway, a mate of mine has a KX125 and he hits my Aussie Comp ramp at 45foot in 3rd gear half throttle. He is about 60kg's though. So for a bigger build than him (he's a little fella) I dare say add on a fraction more throttle to your bike to get you up it. Make sure your standing up with your head positioned just above your handlebars with your elbows bent, knees bent. As you hit the ramp just roll the power on a bit to keep the bike at the same rev's when you hit.

Do you have anyone else jumping this jump with you? If so, get a speed check behind them, follow them all the way into the jump and get the exact same speed and then roll off to the side. Then when your ready just remember the speed, as you come to the ramp just roll the throttle on a bit to keep power up and launch :) It pays to be nervous about it, that way you won't make mistakes like if you are too cocky and confident so you have the right attitude :)

Actually, hang on, you said you are getting a ramp built... does this mean your jumping dirt at the moment? Anyway, if you have a picture of the jump that your hitting I would be able to give you a much better idea on how to hit it.

Cheers, Steve :afro:

[mulishatrooper]

most of the jumps i have been hitting have been natural and contrution sites they are building alot of estates near my place
so the have been more so distance jumps so im only getting about 5 or 6ft air and no down ramp and my tequek has been go flat out getting fasster and faster hitting it to get air
the houses are set on hills and the drive ways are steep
straight up plus any mound of dirt i can find
but my oldies just bought 10 acres so i am sweet to bulid a ramp
and i was hoping to have dirt and metal jumps but you tips have helped me already

[The Snitz]

Good stuff, well you've certainly got it made with construction sites that'd be so cool to ride :) Find some dirt, make a curve in it for a jump and go for it hehehe.
Glad I've helped out, can't wait to see the dirt and metal hits you get soon :)

[mulishatrooper]

yeah hopefully in the two months it should be done
my oldies house is is going to start getting built soon so ill pay a vist to the excavator and see if can offer some cash to build the down ramp and a jump ill get some ground paint and mark the ground for the distances and the width of the hill and show him some pic of what they should look like and stuff and get him to hard pack it and i work in the industrial colthing inds and we get metal workers coming in to get overals and boot so ill get a price on the ramp soon and as soon as i get the cash to get it built ill be sweet as

[skaterz]

thanks snitz

[Robbo66]

Hello fellow riders.

Jumping an 85.

General Tips

-Do not speed check a 125 or 250. (Two Stroke or Four Stroke). the power curves are completely different, and you may come up short if you follow one.

-If you are going to come up short, the best thing to do is hold the throttle wide open. Same with flat landing. This causes drive to the chain, which will tension it, and stiffen the rear shock. (Applys to any Capicity Machine.)

-If for some reason, the bike gets thrown around by the winds or anything, and the bike is sideways, the best thing to do is try and lean and turn the handlebars to try bring it back, and again, twist that throttle. It helps, because when you land, the back wheel is going fast, it should take off and prevent to crash.

(Same with a lot of things. if you back off, then you can crash. Back off up a ramp, you crash. Back off in racing when your handlebars are tangled with someone else, you will crash.)

So Basically, the throttle can save you. All of that basically applys with any bike, but i thought i would through it in just safety purposes.

well that just about raps it up about the General Tips. The bike tips should all be the same.

Originally posted by m@d_FMXER
on my 80 im hitting a 60ft double up and im in 5th gear flat out almost clicking into band

wow! whats your gearing? 5th 3/4 sends me 90ft.

here is my gear and speed check thing. Bike: YZ85 2003. (on my old bike). Gearing: 14 teeth front, 52 teeth rear. (which is stock gearing.)


Note: I have not hit a ramp on my 85, and I imagine not a lot of people do. So I'm just going by tabletops, roughly 1.5m tall, at about 40º. But most these speeds will apply with any jump. if you would like to know a specific jump, just pm me, or reply here.

20 Foot - 2nd Gear, 1/2 throttle.
30 Foot - 2nd Gear Wide open, or reccommended, 3rd Gear 1/2 throttle.
40 Foot - 3rd Gear, 3/4 throttle.
50 Foot - 3rd Wide open, or 4th 1/2 thottle.
60 Foot - 4th Gear, 3/4 Throttle. (i can just case if i do 3rd Gear, Full throttle.
70 Foot - 4th Gear, Wide open.
80 Foot - 5th Gear, 1/2 Throttle.
90 Foot - 5th Gear, 3/4 Throttle
100 Foot- 5th Gear, Wide open. (You can make either 90 or 100 foot in 5th Gear, but just depends on gearing, and the style of jump. but i have cleared 100 foot in 5th gear).

100 Foot Plus- I haven't had the honours to find a jump bigger, but i say you would be going into 6th Gear. again, it depends on the style of jump, you may only need 5th gear.

Attempt this at your own risk. That is my gear table that applys with me, and I can do them all. Feel free to add a reply, asking about a different jump you want to get off your back.

Thanks.
:D

[stavross]

no offence robbo, but i think its could be a bit misleading applying dirt hits to ramps... they change so drasticaly....

obviously guys should use a bit of commen sense before giving it a go

[Robbo66]

well if you read.. people were asking how to jump an 85 on dirt, and what speeds. and if you read again, i was applying it to dirt, saying thats how i do it, and i have not hit a ramp.

what do you have against me?

[stavross]

lol... like i said dont take offence to it... i was just trying to point make it clearer for people that there is a big diffrence between dirt and ramps... chill mate i know your trying to help, but i dont want some kid to just use guidlines as a total bible

[Robbo66]

then thats alright:). i put a few warnings there. besides, if they want to know a specific jump, feel free to reply.

[The Snitz]

Thanks Robbo, I couldn't be more happier with the way that went :) There'll probably be alot of kids who will get alot of info out of just that little tip, so good luck guys :).

[jgr1016]

hey steve, what you said about wooden ramps is bogus, i built a rev 1 from fmxschool.com and have no trouble airing it out. the only thing is they are alot more heavy and without the raised sheetmetel you need a little more speed due to tracton. they are cheap and alot of fun if you are low bugdit. plus i got my name in for the first 05 yz 250 that comes in so if ya know anyone lookin for a 99, let me know, later

[CR_NZFreestyler]

Hey steve this thread is a great idea but when i 1st hit a fmx ramp on my ol;d trusty xl175 (there are pics on this site) i only speed checked once cos i felt i was getting to nervous so i jsut went for it ay and thats it once u done u jsut wanna keep going and going the old bike didn't like it too much but i had a great time lol but if u dnt think u can do it u won't 90% mental thats al it is ay
cheers scott

[The Snitz]

Awesome Scotty!! Yeah man that's exactly right about doing it... I have mates that just freak themselves out so much that they just can't possibly do it, instead of just staying positive and knowing they have the ability to control the bike, just yeah they get over-anxious and kind of lose it. So it's good that you just bit the bullet and did it, I bet you were crapping yourself first jump and as you flew through the air, right? hehe but when you landed you probably had that much adrenaline flowing through you, you could probably do anything :D. Anyway mate sounds like the sky's the limit now that your ramping it on the trusty XL :),as long as it holds together you'll be right hehe.

Steve :afro:

[Robbo66]

Yeah. on my first ramp attempt, sure i was nervous, but i controlled it, and did what i had to do. if your nervous, then you are bound to make mistakes. i just treated it like a normal jump, and went for it, controlling the bike to the conditions the ramp was going to send me.

congrats scotty. good to hear you had a safe and fun first ramp attempt.

[CR_NZFreestyler]

hey cheers guys i sold the xl and got me a real bike now cr 250 but havn't hit ramps on it yet and i was shitting myself a bit cos i took ages 2 get up the ramp lol it's like going up a big hill then at the top u jsut pop into the air a few things started falling off the bike wen i was landing but apart from that it's was so awesome and can't wait to get my ramp and hit it up

[Tanti]

As travis Pastranor said on the dunes, "HEY! everyone is chicking out man, All you gotta do is go 5th pinned as faast as the bike will go and you will land perfictle on the down side" hahaha I totaly agree, just get your bike skill right 1st and hit the ramp with some power and You will go straight over. And do yous realy speed cheak??????????? I say your brain just works it out how fast to go? mying dose?? U no... the hight+lip+speed+gap+run-up= nice landing? Hey hey nzgmxer post up a link of you juimpin the xl :)

PS: I DIDN'T READ MANY POSTS.

[CR_NZFreestyler]

ok man here they are man my take off stance is dangerous lol

[CR_NZFreestyler]

no 2

[CR_NZFreestyler]

thats al i got put up u can go to this link and view the rest cheers scott http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=687&perpage=10&pagenumber=1

[The Snitz]

Holy Moley Scott-o! That's crazy..... I LOVE IT!
hehehe, no wonder things fall off the old XL!
ah well, It'll be good to see this new CR hit the ramp, you'll think your on a cloud when you hit a ramp compared to the XL, it'll just suck up the ramp and land and you won't even know you left the ground hehe.

Cool pics anyway, thanks for sharing :afro:

[CR_NZFreestyler]

lol yea it was pretty insane steve but good times i got a little ramp bout 1 metre high that i jsut hit at the mo for a bit of fun and yes the cr is way betta than the old piggin rig
cheers scott

[FrEe_ RiDiNg]

SNITZ or WHoEVEer the only fear i have of jumping is that when i jump and get fair air the bike drops down from me man its like im not holding it or something i have an 03 ktm 250 if i learn to do this then i will get so confident with big air but thats my only worry like i dunno wat to do when im riding i will hit the jump in the air sometimes i may loose it and when the bike lands my B*lLs are gone u know what i mean now SO ANY HELP WILL DO THANXX GUYS

[I_Bleed_blue]

it shouldent drop from underneath:s

maybe ur not standing right

[Mx_Rider105]

haha robbo teaching ppl thats wierd haha wat a nice old skool bike crankin there

[The Snitz]

G'day Free_ Riding, as I Blee Blue has said, it could be that your not standing just in the right position as you hit the ramp. Make sure you have knees and elbows bent and your in the "attack" position. When the bike starts to drop, you may want to try and "man-handle" the bike, so pull hard on the bars or push down to help you get softer landings.
Also, what kind of jump are you hitting mate? It could be that the jump is far to kicky and your getting sent sky high but not very far... If you have a picture, post it up and we'll have a look :)

Steve :afro:

[rustyyz]

as iv learnt what other rider say u may jump differntly, if ya aint 100% dont jump it, start small and move the ramp out as ya get more confident, i hit a new ramp when i was at the freeride pro am and cam sincleair hit it at a speed i hit it the same and my front wheel barly made it to the top of the landing and i went flat into the face of the landing, then later that day i was told to hit a bigger ramp at same speed, as i was hittin the other when i got it down pat, so i did being told from pro's but over shot by alot and impact of landing shaterd my leg, so my advice start small on a new ramp and move it out as u get used to it, as it sez up top best way to hit it is at a crusen speed and i little throttle as ya hit it is good, and dont forget u can use ur body as u leave the ramp to get ur bike in the desired position, and the brakes come in handy if u use a bit to much throttle, :) happy jumping

[that_guy_jeff_]

can anyone help me with this iv got a cr125 02 model n i just cant get my head around only using those gears to hit a 80 footer also how do u pre load n should i bother using it

[atwelltheaussie]

thanx alot thats really helped me out alot. have u's got any idea wat kind of gap/ramp i should do on my first try? thanx again

[allbonesbroken]

size of ramp 2.4 by 6.0 or auzzie comp ramp

gap close as possible at first then just start pulling it back slowly

[The Snitz]

G'day mate, every ramp is going to be different. The ideal way to start off is on a small ramp on a small gap and build up to it. But if you only have an Aussie Comp ramp, there is nothing wrong with learning on that. Look at a ramp and figure out if you are uncomfortable even thinking about it. If you're not, then go right ahead, push the ramp in as close as possible, 20 foot is great, and just roll over the ramp for a little jump :)

What bike are you riding?

[The Snitz]

Noel (NGX) just sent me this picture from the weekend just passed, and it is showing my body position as I hit the ramp.

Notice how far forward over the front of the bike I am. Knees are bent, elbows are bent. My eyes are directed right at the tip of the ramp until I leave the ramp and then I'll look straight for the downramp.

That and i just think its one of the coolest pics I have :p Enjoy :)

[FrEe_ RiDiNg]

yeah snitz i got a assignment for school and its a magazine we have to make one and i done one on motos is it ok if i use ure hitting a ramp info cheerz
allen

[The Snitz]

G"day mate, Yeah thats not a problem, though remember to make sure to put my name on it as Copyright, you don't want to plagiarise anything ;)

Thanks for letting me know what you're doing and i feel priviledged u'd want to use my guides :D

Steve

[dirtjumpin]

ive also found that when you hit a ramp for the first time you notice the bike will either be front wheel heavy or back wheel heavy so after one jump you will know were you weight has to be and after you've got that figured out you can start tearing the ramp up!

[kingy_9]

hey man thankx for those tipsim sure they will help me with my fmx career and through my moty career too thankx bro

[kingy_9]

hey man what type of bike do u have ???

[The Snitz]

Thanks mate :) I'm glad that it's helped out

I ride a YZ 250F 04 Model :)

[kingy_9]

wicked so wats the biggest length off a ramp uve ever hit and landed

[The Snitz]

Off a Ramp - 80 foot
Dirt - 100 Foot

[that_guy_jeff_]

Hey steve or anyone for that matter do you hold the throttle on for the whole ramp even off the lip if ur riding a 2 stroke??? Is it the same for doin dirt hits aswell??? thanx

[meesh]

I don't have no ramp experience yet, but when I hit dirt hits, I don't keep the throttle pinned, I just give it a squirt of gas at the bottom of the jump and then another squirt off the lip....

[that_guy_jeff_]

Thanx man just had to clarify that i was havin a heap of trouble off the tabletop the other day i was doin it how u do n i was goin nose down n i was pinnin it up n goin nose high ill just work on my body position n im still workin on the ramp as soon as soon as i get it up ill tell ya n u can come out itll be sweet then well both get some ramp experience

[CR_NZFreestyler]

Hey steve if i move the ramp right in wen i hit the ramp i nearly want 2 be stalling on my CR 250 in 1st gear is that rite just crawling up it .
cheers scott-o

[penuts]

wel basically the way i hit it is get my speed up then as i rool on i preload it then as im doing that i just give the gas another crack and hold it on just a little more while imon the ramp it happends so qwuick its basically just goin braaap off the ramp and thats it then you just land thats how i do it anyway

[CR_NZFreestyler]

Yes but the speed for that wud be slow as say 10 ft i have jumped ramps b 4 but not on a 2 stroke so real slow at 10 ft and yea jsut keep the throttle on a bit and consistent ?anyways i will c wats happens i jsut dnt want 2 over jump ay

[mad_mike56]

i have a 01 yz125, but not sure of how to hit a ramp with it, ive hit a few 40ft tabletops but thats about it, and also ive been told you should pin it when you hit the bottom of the ramp

[mad_mike56]

oh and thats wat i do with my dirt hits as well.
also there is a moto track being built on our property in crows nest qld. should be good.:D

[Easty]

what bike is better yz125 04 or cr125 04???

[meesh]

I'd say a cr125, but then a lot of people wouldn't agree with me, if they are both new then see which one feels more comfortable.

[2old2slo]

Hey Snitz luv reading ur 'how to' posts. Any chance we can get a how to hit the 'Red Bull' sign post.....Hahahaha only joking.
Gr8 2 see u ridin at KOTC. Whens ur next comp ??
Lee

[M.r Mulisha]

im building a ramp out of hard wood! it might sound crazy on a CRF150 i am only 11 the ramp is 1.7 mters high and 2 and a half meters long with 1 acere land

when im out riding and i have a problem my mind is always thinking about snitz and wot he would do

but when im gonna hit my ramp il always be thinkin of the snitz

[The Snitz]

Well M.r Mulisha, I hear alot of people have that problem, just keep thinking of me when their riding and they do silly things, i guess it's something to do with my charming personality or extremely good looks.... LMFAO! ahhaahahaha ahh deary me I crack myself up sometimes haha.

Yeah Lee, I've been meaning to do some more How-To's... and why not... How to Hit a Red Bull sign and not break your neck would be a good how to :p.... Next comp will be X-Rated next year at same place :) I'll be healthy for that one, hopefully my shoulder will be fully healed by then :) Great to meet you too mate, sorry I didn't have much time up my sleeve to have a big chat, but no doubt see you again :)

Steve

[jbay]

this is the first "how to" post ive read. good job snitz, keep it up. ill be sure to read the others

[Skeletor666]

how fast would i need to go on a 95 cr250 on a competition ramp

[The Snitz]

95 CR250... I have absolutely no idea, It would just be about the same speed as a new 250. Just get a speed check off someone, if someone has a new 250 and hitting the ramp, see if you have the same gearing as him and just test his speed compared to yours and have a go. Keep the ramp in close when starting of course, just go have fun mate, those 95's were meant for big dirt hits ;) (Sethro in first couple of Crusty's :p)

[meesh]

I don't know what the hell i'm gonna do for my first hit, well actually I do, I'm just gonna hit it like I would any other dirt hit, Keep the ramp in as close as possible which is about 10ft for the first time and hope it all works out, I have to say i'm a little worried about the actual curve of my ramp, I just don't want none of that endo shit happening to me lol, I don't usually have problems with endoing mid flight so I should be right, just gotta keep the gas on and it should stay level, if it don't, I'm bailing lol.

[2old2slo]

Hey Steve,
I've been checking ur threads for awhile, got some good advice over the time but had to sell the KX post J.P...(Wife wears the pants) LMAO
Anyway a bit of times gone by and I'm about to get another bike with the sole intention of jumping, mainly on my little bro's ramp (mx_rulz).
Been Checking out some 4's CRF 250 and YZ250f.
Any thoughts on jumping 4's on a ramp..Heard theres a few subtle differences..
Cheers
Lee

[The Snitz]

Meesh - 10 Foot, just roll over the jump, you'll find it to be a very very slow jump so you won't feel much of a kick in the ramp to do any "kicking" on the bike, so yeah just hit it as you would a dirt jump :)

[The Snitz]

Lee - How are you mate? Yeah, it's hard if the pants of the relationship forces the selling of a bike, but the main thing is you're getting a newie ;).

With jumping a 4-stroke over a ramp, there is alot of myths but there's really only one thing you need to know....
Keep the power steady.
When your coming into the ramp, find the speed you need and just hold the throttle in that position, you don't need to do the "br...br..braap...Braap... BRAAAAP" like a 2 stroke does up a ramp. Keep the power on, stand up in the normal jumping position and then feed the power to the bike as your riding up the ramp just to keep the momentum up. It will jump just the same if you do it that way.
IF you chop the throttle like "brap brap brap" you might find yourself nose-diving or launching yourself backwards, so yeah.
4 strokes in my opinion are the safest to jump with, if you pick your speed and hold the throttle open, it's just like jumping with auto-pilot.

Can't wait to see you out there hitting it Lee, might have to get a bigger ramp though ;) the 250 might fall through the little one :p
Steve:afro:

[2old2slo]

Cheers Steve,
Mate I just earn the 'folding green stuff' never get to see much of it though. ;-)
Hahaha at least if the ramp gave-way I've got something else to blame... Apart from my lack of ability :-)
Thanx for the advice here mate. Think Ive sorted out my 'Braap Braaps from my 'baaaarps' lol...Seriously though this is gr8 advice, I'll take it on board.
Probably wont get a bike now till after my work trip O.S. Heading to NYC in December. Might grab some duty free stuff thought...Want anything ?? :-)
Oh btw where r u keeping that mobile downie of yours ??
:-)
Lee

[mad_mike56]

i hit my first ramp today, perfect first jump, but second jump i nose dived and ate sh** bad. i had my position right, but is it because i didnt give it enough while going up the ramp'
i have a yz125 by the way

[mad_mike56]

Originally posted by The Snitz
Anyway, a mate of mine has a KX125 and he hits my Aussie Comp ramp at 45foot in 3rd gear half throttle.
Cheers, Steve :afro:


3rd half throttle???
i hit my 20ft gap ramp pretty much pinned it in 3rd when i got to my ramp, and still shorted. didnt have much of a runup tho, bout 20-30m

*edit. my brother did the same as i did with double runup and majorly over jumped, so strike wat i have said.

[The Snitz]

True? Hmmm may have a look at what gearing you have....
That and all bikes are different, it's just a general statement really...
Were you in 3rd when you hit the ramp at 20 foot full throttle?? Maybe get a tape measure to check it out for starters, secondly, check see if your bike is working properly... as I'm sure the guys who rode King of the Coast on 125's hit the ramp in 3rd gear pretty pinned and jumped 70 foot...

Let me know what you find out, sounds a little strange, maybe speed check a mate??

Steve:afro:

[mad_mike56]

well i was sort of going slow for the runup and then pinned it. do u reckon i shouldve just picked a speed and stuck to it. seeing as ive only watched 250s hit the same ramp i thought do it that way. worked the 1st time

[The Snitz]

I've never jumped a 125, but from what everyone tells me, you have to get your speed up before the ramp on a 125. A 250 you have the power to just go slow and then gas it, but a 125 doesn't work like that... Give it a go, hopefully you'll be sweet :D... If any members on here who hit ramps on 125's could give you some advice that would be great... *cough* Guys...?

[mad_mike56]

yes, that would be great!

[mad_mike56]

hey guys dont worry, i kinda get the drift of it. wen i watched some footage of my mate ridin the ramp....well lets just say i certainly wasnt hitting it like 250. i had a fair bit more sped than that.

[twothreesix]

did u say ur underjumpin 20ft 3rd pinned?? id say ur doing what im doing when i jumped my 125 an thats come up to it fast enuf, an put nearly no revs on the ramp. I couldnt figure out wat i was doing wrong till i watched the video cam footage.

[xmaster]

robbo mait i have a yz 85 03 model and im kind of scared to hit
ramps i can never do it. i always shit myself at the last second.
i give up too qiuck.

can u pleas please give me some tips mate?

[kingy_9]

yo snitz was that u in the latest freerider!!!!! and by the way what is the longest you have ever jumped???

[The Snitz]

Hey Kingy,
Hehe, yep, that was me in frmx :) Glad you noticed hehe.

My longest hit is 100foot on my old 98 RM250, it was out of a dam, like a huge step up over a hill... I had to hit it 3rd pinned, so gives you an idea how kicky it was :D

And Hey Robbo, if you're reading this, just attend to xmaster's post on 85's :p My 85 Tip's Sidekick hehe

[milo24]

Those tips are spot on steve thanx for puttin em up. Ive got a small ding in my expansion chamber and was wonderin how much of an effect it has on power you reckon?ive got a stock 02 cr250.
The ding is about as round as a coke can and about 1-2 cm deep

[GStylEr]

I'm not Steve obviously, but I shall offer my thoughts anyhow. That's a fair size ding, not too deep I guess, it probably doesn't affect power too much, however it's still my recommendation to get it fixed as soon as you can if you have the money and resources. It's not overly crucial, but from personal experience, if you let dents go too long they build up on each other every crash and you may end up with a pipe like mine... Dented to hell with an inch long crack where the dents are. Then you get oil coming out of it and all kinds of nasty stuff, so best to fix it sometime before that happens. Plus it doesn't look so great with a smashed up pipe.

[The Snitz]

G'day Milo, thanks for the appreciation :)

Like Grant has said, that ding probably won't affect Power, but there is a chance it could AND the chance of more dings in the future.

What I did with my old 98RM was plug up both ends of the pipe. I used a stick of nylon, and put it on the lathe to lathe it down to the right size for the pipe. Use a hammer to hit the nylon into each end of your pipe, and then drill a hole in the middle of either end (doesn't matter). Now what you do is put an Air Compressor nozzle upto the hole in the nylon, and then heat up the actual dint in the pipe with an oxy-torch. Get the surrounding area of the ding hot, and then slowly add more air-pressure into the pipe through the hole. Keep doing this slowly and you'll see the pipe eventually pop back into it's original position.

If there are any cracks you will need to weld them up before you can do the oxy heating.

Hope that helps mate

Steve:afro:

[freestyler_kris]

hey steve me and mi friend are having trouble in the air... when we both leave the ramp we r standing and then as soon as we get in the air we sit down........ hve u got n e tips or hints to get us standing!!

[Rosie125]

oh trusty steve n hit lil "how to" guides, im not one for instructons but that was well presented my big man!
im still to pussy to hit a ramp unless im withthe right ppl n they kno exactly what there doing, my only fear is face planting cos i always do it! lol

GOOD WORK STEVE-O!!!

[Rosie125]

Originally posted by freestyler_kris
hey steve me and mi friend are having trouble in the air... when we both leave the ramp we r standing and then as soon as we get in the air we sit down........ hve u got n e tips or hints to get us standing!!

put a pin on ur seat, then try not to let ur bum go down :D

[CR_NZFreestyler]

haha so simple but no haha

[freestyler_kris]

yeh i agree with scott...... we r being serious ok

[Rosie125]

nah like really, my dad used to come up with crazy stuff like that when i used to do athletics, we had to try n sprint round the track on the balls of our feet n he would pul thumbtacs in our shoe so we didnt get lazy! lol it worked for me tho

[twothreesix]

yea but what if ya have a mad bail and it goes through ur heart...lol, an also as soon as i land i like to sit down so i can calm down and relax after that close call....

[Rosie125]

lol, fair enuff, its only a tiny thumbtack on the seat, i think u guys are like thinking its some massive spike!
heh heh heh, i have this problem with bailing mid air (on my pushy) so im hoping im not the same on a moto, fiddys are ok but i dont wanna try anything bigger yet in case i still have that bad bad habit, id hit the ramp sweet then if im mid air on a pushy i have sum spaz attack - throw my arms n legs up and yell then throw the bike n bail!
i dont do it on fiddys cos i dunno, its weird! but thats about the only probs i have with hitting a ramp rite now lol

[The Snitz]

G'day Guys how are ya's?

So when you leave the ramp you are standing? and then sit whilst in the air, then sit as you land?

Well it sounds like a bit of laziness to some degree, but it sounds more like bad habits. You're just going to have to hit the ramp in the attack position, so your standing, but your standing up over the bars a little, elbows bent, head forward, as you leave the ramp, try to hold yourself in that position all the way through, and as you land, just stand up over the downramp as you're coming in. Visualise the downy and make sure your standing up. Thats about all I can give for tips, its just a matter of doing it over and over and get the right habits :)

Steve:afro:

PS... Thanks Rosie ;) Have you read the 3000 other guides i've done :p :)

[Freaky_FMX_Star]

Now for one last tip. if you see you not going to make the full distence the all you have to do is put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye. :D im good at that part.

[freestyler_kris]

yeh we stand up to land its just in the air.



see scott in this pic

[freestyler_kris]

its like the front of the bike is going down for scott because he leans back like every jump and tht is why he sits down.... i keep telling him to like lock his knees but he dnt..... and wen u r sitting like this^^^^^^ it is really hard to do over the seat tricks.... maybe he just needs to concentrate more!!

[twothreesix]

Yea, just concentrate, as soon as your in the air just rember to stand up. Do it for a while and you should be standing automaticly every jump.

[KottonmouthKING]

Hey guys, im not the man to be talking bout big gaps, but i have hit ramps on my 125 on a few occasions. First off its a Honda CR125 2000 model with stock gearing. The first time i hit a ramp it was a aussie ramp with the same dimensions and all that stuff. I had the ramp pushed up to 20 feet cause i was a bit nervous, my friend did a speed check for me on his 450, even though this is a completedly different bike it gave me an idea of how fast to do it on my 125, i was a bit scared riding up to the ramp cause i was in first gear and it felt like i was going about walking pace to a brick wall. but i flew over it and landed fine. i hit it a few more times and got comfortable. When i was going up to the ramp i was cruising in first gear not pinned, as i hit the bottom of the ramp i powered up it a bit more from the speed i was going, but still not pinned, u lose alot of speed when u hit the ramp so powering up it with that bit more throttle keeps u at the same pace as when u were riding up to it. We moved the ramp back to 30 feet and i did the same but was in low 2nd gear and gave it a bit of a zip when i hit the up ramp. Doubt this will help, but this is what i did. I think it is important to have someone with knows what they are doing and can give u and idea on how fast to go, because they are so much different to dirt jumps it would be silly to compare them on speed. i know if my friend had not been with me i would have hit it alot faster and injured myself due to overshooting, so try to have someone who knows what they are doing, if that isnt possible then i reccomend pushing the ramp as close as possible so your pretty much rolling over it and then move it back when you have gotten used to it, but move it back slowly maybe even a few feet. I doubt this will be much help, but this is my expierience with ramps. I do know if jumped successful hitting a ramp can be the best feeling youve ever had on a dirtbike was for me anyway. good luck guys:)

[I_Bleed_blue]

Originally posted by freestyler_kris
its like the front of the bike is going down for scott because he leans back like every jump and tht is why he sits down.... i keep telling him to like lock his knees but he dnt..... and wen u r sitting like this^^^^^^ it is really hard to do over the seat tricks.... maybe he just needs to concentrate more!!

try pulling the bike as high in the air as you can, it helps

[The Snitz]

KMK... Very nicely said mate. You touched on a few important things there.. most importantly.. Ride with someone who knows what they're doing. That is the biggest help you'll have, otherwise you'll be jumping a ramp with absolutely no idea how fast to go. Also try push the ramp in as far as possible... I've seen people think they can hit 60 foot up first go at a ramp and axe themselves terribly... so try do 20 foot or so first.

[mulisha_fmx]

yeah i reckon that is some of the smartest things you could do when hitting a ramp.
Unfortunately a mate of mine is getting a ramp and getting a few people around and no one has ever hit a ramp before so i spose we will poush it right up and pretty much roll over it .

Thanks for all ya help steve and kmk.

Cheers.
Mitch

[freestyler_kris]

yeh man we have both hit ramps before and we are out to 35ft... its just scott was having trouble getting tricks because he was really close to the seaT!
thanks for all the tips and stuff tho.
Cheers Kris

[twothreesix]

I saw a video of scott hitting that ramp, It couldnt really tell all that much because of the crap quility but my best bet after watching it would be for him to rev more smoothly up the ramp. And also approch the ramp at a steady speed. It looked kind of like he almost chopped the throttle just before the lip which would obviously be a good way of keeping the front end down in the air. Scott, you could try rolling on power when you are going up the ramp until you are in the air, or if you are already doing this try to lean a little further back when going up the ramp. Practise makes perfect:)

[freestyler_kris]

yeh i rekon aye, see i told u to give her more revs lol

[CR_NZFreestyler]

thanks for all the advice peoples i no what i have to do now i must do it
cheers scott

im stoked me and my mate are starting my downy 2 morrow waa hooooo still saving for the ramp

[FoXRaCiNG.2]

i hit a ramp today at bout 30ft. we couldnt pull it back further cause the run up was so sketchy. thanks steve for the advise

[The Snitz]

Good stuff for both Scott and FoxRacing.2 :) Always gotta love the fast learning curve of Freestyle :D Enjoy it guys, post your jumps when you get it ;)

Steve:afro:

[that_guy_jeff_]

Hey i am having trouble im sitting here thinking to myself ok i do about 20ft dirt on my 02 cr125 which has just been fixed so there aint nothin wrong with it in 3rd gear about mid range i dunno it just scares me to think thats only 20ft n im already in 3rd gear like maybe i come up to the jump too fast n dont put enough power goin up it i dont no but ill have my ramp done soon... well see how that goes ill be gettin a bigger bike soon anyway hopefully that helps...

[I_Bleed_blue]

yeah when your starting out that is common, you tend to ride fast and give it no revs up the ramp.just have a go a little slower and rev it up the lip, do it gradualy. i dont jump any other way anymore:)

[mad_mike56]

yeh well said, i sorta learned that at black duck, i used to nose dive a lot, like the time when i hit my ramp for the first time, did it perfect, second time came up short whilst nosediving, i think the bike came out best as it was on top of me while i was being scratched lol.

[that_guy_jeff_]

thanx guys iv been practicing n i can just about double my distance in the same gear now thanx again catch you guys later

[I_Bleed_blue]

were glad we could help....now hand over the money:p

[Tanti]

Steves guides are very good, But here is my "how to hit a ramp"

Go bahHhHhHh! and then when your up the ramp go Brap! and then when your in the air to make it look good go winGgGgG! then land and go breeeehhh!

[The Snitz]

Thanks Jeff :) I'm glad it helped, the more you can get out of a gear, the better it is for judging your gaps.
And thanks everyone else, except you Mike, lousy mooching war widow :p haha j/k

[I_Bleed_blue]

steve how can you say such a thing? ever since my johny died in the war i have had nobody to support me.

steves just jealious because martos how to hit a ramp was more helpful than his

[twothreesix]

Haha yea I_Bleed_Blue is correct, Thanks Tanti That has helped me sooo much with my riding, Before i could never get my revs right, but after that i feel i could judge ne gap!

;) Good work Steve, You seem to help Nearly everyone with every problem.

[2old2slo]

Hey Steve,
Hows it going mate.
I finally decided to stop procrastinating (check the spelling).
After watching Brendan(Mxrulz) hit the little 6ft ramp i decided it was time.
As I was the designated photographer all I had on was my shorts a t-shirt and sum shoes.Brenny kindly leant me his helmet which I just squeezed my boof head into.
After about 87 speed checks I hit it.
Came up short but made it .
Did it about another 10 times with the wife and kids watching.
I thought I looked like Brian Deegan, the family where laughing at how lame I looked compared to Brenny.
Can only get better....or crash !
Oh and btw we just brought 5acres in Samford so should a new riding place soon.
Cheers Lee

[The Snitz]

G'day Lee, great to hear you've finally given that new 125 a thrashing and up over the ramps :D It sucks that it takes so many speed checks just to do one jump sometimes hey... I get that alot too so don't worry about it :)
5 acres in Samford!! Must have cost a pretty penny! So you're putting up a new compound then?

[2old2slo]

Hi Steve,
When the earthmovers get started on the house I'll put in a compound. My little boy absolutley loves bikes so I dare say most of the earthworks will be devoted to little berms and tabletops :-)
Lands not cheap out Samford way so after the house gets built I'll be hard up just buying fuel for the bike.
Cheers Lee

[twothreesix]

Hey Steve.

I would work this out for my self but im bored due to im stuck home with the flu.

My ramp has next to no kick. Its only 2.2 metres high and 5.1 metres long.

The aussie comp ramp is now on its way and im just wondering will i have to go quicker to clear the oz comp ramp or slower than i did on my one?

I just dont wanna be like "oh its 60 ft, ill have to go way faster than i used to" then end up over shootin by like 100 ft and braking ever bone in my body. lol

Cheers....
Sam...

[The Snitz]

Ahhh Tough question Sam... It all depends on what the radius of your ramp is now. Generally, I think, The bigger the ramp.. the slow you need to hit to make the distance, because it is already higher to get you up and over the downramp. But that said, it all comes down to radius aswell as height and length.

Just start in at 30 foot and see how you go, rather than trying 60 foot straight up. 60 foot Aus Comp, you're looking at 2nd Gear half to 3/4 throttle, so that's a little indication of what to expect :)

Got a picture of your ramp?

Steve :afro:

[twothreesix]

um yea i do, ill post it soon, the ramp at the moment you cant go bigger then 50 ft in second on my 03 yz250, thats 2nd tapped. so i must have to go slower eh. um the ramp isnt steap at all

[mulishatrooper]

hey snitz

since we spoke last on page 4
i said things will be going through in about 2 months and thats was back in june well im still waiting on the ramp so i had the excavator that was there on the week end to fix me some dirt hits there like a table top's about 25ft but without any specs to work from is there any tips on dirt hits so i dont end up eating the dirt ill get a pic a.s.a.p

thanks
mal :)

[_fmx_]

hey dus any1 know wat speeds u should hit a ramp on a 2000 CR125?
if any1 has like the speeds in like gears and turns of the throttle it would be really helpful. if any1 knows wat speed to hit ramps at 20,30,40,45,60,70,and 80 it would be really helpful. thankz guys

[denko_yzf]

dude just stick the ramp up close and work ya way back and that way u cant wreck yaself usin someoneelses speeds cos anything can change the amout of speed ull need!

[GStylEr]

Only instinct can tell you how fast to go. Instinct you need to build up by riding your bike. If you don't know how fast to hit it, you shouldn't be hitting it.

[denko_yzf]

yer thats it how r u gunna no how fast ur goin anyways u got a speedo or something lol! jus have it close and go in like second gear and get the feel ull be sweet! or fith pinned and not worry about comin up short as they say always better to over shoot!

[Pete]

Ive done the math dude, and ive come up with this formula: FULL NOISE.
Seriously there are so manny variables that its impossible to answer. Ohh im slow, just listen to the master up a few posts ^^^ Gstyler knows all :Z440:

[beaumont_138]

yeah mate that really isn't somthing that you should have to ask people. Pull the ramp all the way in as far as you can if your talking about a first jump of a ramp. Stick with that for a while and when you can start landing on the bottom of the downramp then SLOWLY started moving it back.
take it easy and have fun.
cheers.

[scrap kid]

yeh stooopid.... everyone hits ramp different too... ride ur bike on allsorts of jumps an terrain...love it
ras

[tudge199]

depends how big ya run up is n all different things but like they said move it up close n get use to it n slowly move it bak

push it to the limit

[Skeletor666]

yes push it to the limit!!! the more u change the places of the ramp the better ur skills will be

[tudge199]

dont push to hard tho lol that wen ya get cocky n hurt ya self

[twisties]

yeah you should be able to tell from instinct. no one has a formula

[tudge199]

yea know one does just enjoy your riding

[FREESTYLEMX17]

haha put it at 80ft pin it in 6th and if u go to far u know ur going to fast:D

[cazza17]

gosty the bike in the gear u thinks right and if it makes it then get on and hit it

[mcrkrew]

gosty the bike in the gear u thinks right and if it makes it then get on and hit it

Dont do this.. im not 100% sure... but i think it might just wreck your bike...

[pointless]

i hit my first ramp a few weeks back at a mates and just followed himm into it

[_fmx_]

i hit my first ramp a few weeks back at a mates and just followed himm into it

hmmm ill try that! this was a stupid thread to start but what the heck!i only had the idea coz i read steve sommerfields thread on how to hit a ramp and at the end he included like wat speeds he hits ramps on his 2004 YZ250F so i thought maybe sum1 might hav 1 for a 125 but meh!

[#000]

GO RACING GO RACING GO RACING!!!!!!!

A good rider can judge what speed wif out even knowing the gap, they can just look at it and go oh yeah BRRRAAAAPPPPPP that fast... do u think racers go out there with a tape messure when ther're walking the track and messure every jump? No.

Thats why ex racers make the best FMXers (e.g. Maddo, Urek, Kinnaird, Dan Hall ect ect ect...) to these guys jumping a ramp jump is the simpelest thing, there's no ruts, the jumps are the same every place they ride, and the downies are sooooo big and friendly... no wonder most racers think us FMXers are kooks, compared to them we are!

so there's my advice to u my friend, join a local club, get ur ma licience and have fun racing for a couple of years. Trust me u'll love it and be a better rider for it at the end of the day....

Now go racing and learn how to ride your bike...

Luv Joel.

[cazza17]

i race and that is true theres no muking about just hit it no fear and have fun

[Leroy Brown]

Hey FMX just hopping up onto my soap box.
Steve's thread on how to hit a ramp is a good place to start.
I've got the same bike CR125 cept a 02 and have just started hitting my little bro's Ozzy Comp ramp.
Here's a little advice from me after todays ride, if for instance your 90kgs and you follow someone who's say 50kgs dont expect to make the same gap at the same speed.
We moved the ramp out to about 30ft so I did a speed check just to be safe as the downramp now comes up to a peak....I'm only very new to hitting ramps.
Hit the ramp in 3rd just under band and came up short, nosed into the peak of the Down ramp, F@$ked the right fork, got winded and felt like i'd just been king hit.
Rolled off the edge of the downy, sat down, had a smoke then did it all over again.
Came up a little better the next time but still need loads more practice.
As for the Racing thing....If u enjoy racing well great then go race if u enjoy FMX then great go hit ramps.
I have no doubt that it (racing) will improve your riding skills and probably make u a better FMXer quicker but it cost loads more and is just as if not more dangerous.
I watched a fair few (pro B) competitors at the recent KOTC doing speed checks so I guess even the pros dont like taking too many risks..
Maybe they need to go race for awhile to get their skills up lol ??????
For the record I've been bush/enduro riding for the past 10years, just a newbie to the ramp jumping thing.
Ok down I hop.....Didnt upset too many ppl did I :-)
Leroy

[fmxcht]

how to do a no-hander

approuch the ramp keeping the reves up and grib fuel tank titly with knees

once you have left the ramp take your hands of the bars make shore you keep knees titly gribed

bring hands back in and grab bars



ooc.sorry short but dont no how else to explain it

[katoom]

Thats fair enough.
If youve never done a no hander before, try just taking the one hand off, and doing small one hander landings. Just a little hint

[mcrkrew]

Yeah bro thats how i learnt, take one hand off and get cosy with gettin it behind your back n shit, then do the other then do both, pretty easy trick just gotta get used to lettin go of the bars.

Ride on :headbang9

[fmxcht]

i thort id post how to do a no-hander because i lot of beginers dont no how to do a no-hander

[GStylEr]

How can anyone not know how to do a no hander? All you do is take your hands off... Weird.

[[FMF_FATTY]]

True that granto

[Skeletor666]

thanks for the info i never ne what a no hander was before this thread

[katoom]

hes just trying to help. Everybody has to learn somewhere and everybody starts off small.

[Skeletor666]

i was being serious

[[FMF_FATTY]]

i was being serious

yes thats why we all get a little bit worried about you sometimes...............

[z_fiddy]

thanks for the info i never ne what a no hander was before this thread
how could u not no wat a no hander was,the name of the trick is pretty self explanitory

[FMXmitch69751]

hey guys .. i just bought a kx 125 and im heading out to blackduck soon and im keen to hit the freestyle ramps on it .. ive hit them many a time before but only on four bangas soooo.. how should i hit them on a 2 stroke cos i dont want to hit it wrong n have power band kick in and flip me onto my arse lol..
any help would be appreciated..

...Mitch<<

[lil McCann]

if you need to ask how, maybe you shouldnt hit em lol

[FMXmitch69751]

im gunna hit em anyway.. use trial and error i guess if your not gunna tell me.. just thought it might make it easier if someone sayd like how to hit it .. eg when i should hit powerband n stuff

...Mitch<<

[allbonesbroken]

powerband does fark all really straight stand right and hit so u come up abit short intill u get the fell or ride the tracks first

[METAL_MULISHA13]

agreed.

if you ask how to jump them, then i dont think you should jump them at all.

asking how to do a trick is total different if you were thinking, but if you seriously ask how to jump a ramp, then you are not ready to jump them.

ride tracks to get used to your bike, no point hitting the straight away and your out for a few weeks with a broken bone because you didnt learn how your bike reacts.

[FMXmitch69751]

agreed.

if you ask how to jump them, then i dont think you should jump them at all.




ive hit them before so im just gunna hit them they same way and speed i

always do.. and why are u saying i shouldnt hit it if im asking .. i ask you

if everyone did that .. if everyone took your advice then

where would freestyle be at today..

theres nothign wrong with asking questions ..

its how u learn things...

...Mitch<<

[click_click]

yeh good goin mitch like i understand where hes coming from in askin coz he isnt sure how his 2 banger reacts in hitting a ramp because of band but his four banger he knows speedwise and gear wise how to hit a rmap but with powerband there he doesnt know how to hit it

[FMXmitch69751]

yeh good goin mitch like i understand where hes coming from in askin coz he isnt sure how his 2 banger reacts in hitting a ramp because of band but his four banger he knows speedwise and gear wise how to hit a rmap but with powerband there he doesnt know how to hit it


yeh click_click's got it .. all i really want to know is where i should be hitting

band .. liek 10 m away 5 m away right at the foot of the ramp?

...Mitch<<

[FREESTYLEMX17]

we cant tell you exactly when to hit 'powerband' you have to figure this out ur self
depends what gap size of bike, size of ramp we just cant go eyr hit powerband here you have to test it out

[click_click]

mate wqat id do i sget a mate over that has a 2 stroke 125 and speed check with him like ride beside him but not actually jump the jump and then when you think you got it right hit it and remember over jumping=better than under jumping

[FMXmitch69751]

ok well yeh thanks to those of you who gave positive help .. i think ill just get my bike .. ride it at my track here a bit and just gueess as to how i should be hitting the ramps..

...Mitch<<

[METAL_MULISHA13]

yeh.

you probably took it the wrong way.

but honestly, my mate had a 99 rm125, and that was a real clunker to jump on the ramp. he got a 05 yz125, and he needed to a adjust to the bike, before he did the ramp. and he aint no gumby, hes one good rider, he had to ride around for an hour or so to get used to the bike and the way it reacts.

[cat]

5th gear pinned works ebery time... :D

[click_click]

or you can to wat cat does. it a guaranteed way of making the jump. i just dont know about actually landing on the downramp

[FMXmitch69751]

yeh.. sounds like a fun way to get back to your car tho lol.

...Mitch<<

[weeman_911]

dude im with fmxmitch on page 1 lyk if u dont ask questions u aint gunna learn as much but with sum of the other fellas sumtimes its good 4 u 2 figure it out 4 ur self

[flangin-muddy_1]

ive seen some guys, when hey hit a ramp power up it hard, but evry time i jump (not on a ramp , ive neva hit a ramp) i hit the power band on the run up then back off almost completely then blip it off the top. will this work if i hit a ramp or will i get completeley farked? coz ive neva seen any one hit a ramp lyk this.

[yz_rooster_125]

i think this might help a bit http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3853 except that "how to" was on a four stroke i think which doesn't exactly solve ur problem but it helps. just try and be in powerband before you hit the ramp but still have enough gas so that it wont run out of revs up the ramp. just go slow the first few times if its the blackduck ramps where theres basically nothing to clear.

[I_Bleed_blue]

hit up some dirt hits first, get the feel for it.

[weeman_911]

hey wood hitting a ramp on a cr125 be like hittin on ur yzf?

[The Snitz]

Hey mate, naa it's a different feeling. The 125 doesn't have power down low like a yzf does. So a little quicker on the runup because there isn't that extra drive up the ramp.
Keep relatively the same speed as what you've hit a ramp before and you should be fine. Push the ramp in, if that makes you feel better :)

[Molez01]

thanx heaps bro i wz so confussed wit wat i did in my last crash but ya helped me heaps nxt time that ramp is my b!tch

[mick34]

When hitting ramps on a 2-stroke do you jump in power band, I jump a ramp at the moment thats got about 30ft gap and i ride up to it in band then click up a gear so iv got the spot before band when it pulls smoothly, im hitting the ramp in third before band and landing down the bottom of the down ramp but getting told its wrong but its how i do any jumps and when i jump in powerband it feels like its overreving and slows down to much when it lands if that makes sense.

[_fmx_]

ok i know its not a good thing, but sum of us might accidently hit a ramp a bit fast and be going to land to flat so yeh, i cannot speak from experience coz ive neva landed to flat, but after watching footage of fmx nats 06 i saw a few guys land to flat and i thought maybe sum pros that have done this before might be able to shed a little bit of light on the situation and offer up sum advice for if anyone gets into that situation, eg lean back, try to land both wheels at the same time, power on or sumting im not sure but yeh maybe sum pros could shed sum light on it
cheers all
- T o M -

[Ash_SKIN_fmx]

i have been told that if this happen's to gas it hard just before landing and land a bit rear wheel first and just brace for the landing

cheers

[phat_pat]

the ya go man, a little "how to" our supermod steve did up, hope it helps.
http://www.fmxaustralia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4560

pat

[FMX_4_free]

someone please correct me if im horribly wrong so somone doesnt bust them selvs up.
land with one foot a bit foward and one foot a bit back on the pegs, dont lock your back, or legs straight ors ull compress your spine, and gas it hard b4 u hit the ground,,, and as spud says "u gotta slam the c*nt into the ground" hahahah, they taught us that at the academy so im hopin its right.
cheers

[kendawg]

i did all of that n still broke both of my legs... i must hav weak ones

[click_click]

hold on tight and hope for the best. nah i dunno try and take the stress off your wrists is wat i thoiught would be good and yeh land back wheel first like pretty decently far back if that made sense. coz thatlll take stress off your legs. and also if you know you absolutely screwed just leave it till your bout 3m far from the ground and BAIL but make sure you jump to the side or youll land on the bike

[GStylEr]

Don't bail on an overjump. Unless you feel like destroying everything below your waist. Bikes have suspension, people don't, always remember that.

Also, keep your face away from the bars... Poke your butt back so that you sorta fold down and your head just pops down between your arms, rather than slamming into the bars. Also saves your back being compressed by the seat.

[...HOLLIS...]

lol bail 3 metres before the ground the suspension in my legs will help.. lol.. like grant said stay on the bike but you can never really prepare yourself for a flatland before it happens as u will forget all about this as u will be more woried wat is about to happen ..when u get in the situation your not really gonan be thinking of moving your feet back and wateva else.. just let the back suspension take most of the impact and hope for the best

[FMX Scott]

Also Boots and knee braces are and important factor i know a guy who was hitting a 75ft gap and flat landed at like 95ft and knocked him self out. But he was walking the next day and thats main thing. He wears Alpine star Tech 10 boots and some very expensive knee braces.

[randy_rhydah_kx]

but what about the poor people like me.. lol cant afford tech 10s

[allbonesbroken]

wat i do is just before i land is give it some revs back wheel first watever u do don't let the bike stop cause u just bang straight into the ground make sure your head isn't going to bounce into the bar pad and grip tight against your frame with your feet

[FREESTYLEMX17]

pretty much the same i was doin 65ft and landed 90ft to flat and just lent back held on and just wished that i didnt die,, its pretty much a sure thing that if u flat land to far ur gunna break a wrists or really hurt one,, but eh what can u do

[SHANEO]

reasantly i got a yz250. i have always had 4strokes but now have moved 2 a 2stroke an i was just wondering how 2 hit a ramp in band im still very scetchy whith it an yer
how should i sit my weight
an what will the bike wanna do?

[FREESTYLEMX17]

dont hit a ramp until u figure this stuff out over dirt hits,, if u dont know what the bikes gunna do u shouldnt be hittin ramps

[scrap kid]

if u have to ask that then dont even think about hitin a ramp.. just ride ur bike love it and after time u will just no wat to do and wen to do it..

[mcrkrew]

^^^ What he said. Smart man.

[flangin-muddy_1]

yer man i really wouldnt hit a ramp if u only just got a new 250 2 stroke man after riding 4s your whole life

scrap_kid is a smart man

[scott_855]

just go around ridin if u have some real small mounds where u might get a little bit of air off, just hit that in like 1st ban just getting used to how the bike will react, i did this wen i first moved upto my 125, it took me a few days to get used to a bigger bike wif the suspension and the power ban, after u get comfortable wif the bann then go and hit ramps

[rmx250]

Hey Snitz (& everyone else who had good advice.), thanks for the "How to" guide. I've just finished doing up an old second hand "aussie comp" ramp & building a downie to go with it. I'll be hitting it this weekend with the help of you advice.

I think i would have over jumped it otherwise. The ramp looks so steep that I was expecting i would have to hit it pretty quick to clear 30foot. I have a 35foot dirt table top that I clear in 3rd gear 1/2 throttle. (but its only 1-1.5m high)

With an aussie comp ramp do you almost go as high as you go far (distance) ??

Thanks again.

[allbonesbroken]

dirt is way different to ramps dig the downramp out more at the front so u can put it right in then hit it in 2nd or 1st really slow

[FOUR20]

how can some one tell you on the internet, how to hit a ramp. there is one way and one way only, just try it...... at most some one who is jumping it could tell as you watch them jump it. your obviously not goin to hit it 4th wrapped of somthing. its all about leaving your comfort zone and giving it a go. no disrespect 2 any one but for god sake. some things cant be thaught, because in the end your the one who has 2 hit it for a first time.

[Molez01]

^^^ yer fair comment but i ****ed it on a ramp and this thread helped me realise why i crashed. jumping and fmx doesn't have theory but when you prepare to nut up and are starting to feel comfortable with the idea of doing it, these wise words can only help. this thread helped me anyway.
cheers to the great alknowing sniz for the words of wisdom

[rmx250]

There is a lot of theory that can be easily shared over the net. but there is also a lot more practical experience needed that you can only get by doing it. Having the theory first makes getting the practical experience easier & much safer.

For me, the most important thing I learnt from this tread was the rough speeds. I would have hit it a significantly higher speed other wise. My first jump on the weekend & I was trying just roll over it & felt like I was going way too slow (as instructed), but ended up almost jumping straight over the down ramp. Ramps just seem to throw you along way compared to dirt hits.

[wally]

k yeah i agree dirt jumps dnt have half ass much pop ay, ive never jumped a big ramp tho

[bear_beckett]

dude dirt can have just as much pop , but ramps dont get ruts in them... unless... mm
anyway hitting ramps is alot different to hitting a dirt jump, probly a little simpler cos u dont have to worry as much about the line ur taking up the upramp.
but if uve never hit a ramp befor i would strogly advise hitting some doubles about 30ft or 40ft first just so u get used to judging the gap..
hope that helps yall
chris

[volja]

Hey i would not recommend jumping a 40ft jump on a crf230. they dont like it very much and tend to bottom out when they come down. sometimes they bottom out going up. not good for jumping :Z440:

[syme fmxer]

wat do u rekon bout an xr400 its an 05 would that be able to hit ramps i siad to my dad it wouldnt be good but hes like nah it will take it

[FMXmitch69751]

i hit the ramps at bdv on my dads xr 400 but it doesnt work too good lol ..

[syme fmxer]

ok damm lol..do u rekon if i get tighter suspension or something it would be ok. im trying to convince him 2 go halfs with me on a crf450x but he thinks the xr would be fine

[waadofmx]

hey would some one be able to right the speeds for a rm250 02 model plz
thnz
waade

[JoNy.B]

no one can tell u the right speeds because they dont no the angle of the ramp and dont no the distance....like the guy said b4 u hav 2 judge ur speeds on dirt jumps first 2 get a bit of a idea..

[FMXmitch69751]

or you could figure out the physics of it all. soo dont be saying noone can tell you how fast you have to go to hit a ramp. you can tell some one very easily.

Mitch

[sirandrew]

i pretty much just worry about it in the air, you'll know if ya coming up short or going too far, you'll be able to adjust your body position to make it hurt the least as possilbe.... then judge ya next just by how pumped ya get on that 1 hahaha

but i seem to be hurt alot.... so.... hahaha

[waadofmx]

haha dude that sucks lol but yeah ill just do it and hopefully do it ruight lol but i havea f air idaea
thnx boyuz
waade

[[REEGAN]4519]]

just go whatever speed u think u need.
or the first time i did my friends i just rode along beside him a few times to feel how fast he was goin... that was pretty helpful :)

[Zach M]

make sure your fuels on :)

[FmxJoshie]

speed checks help... but u can also try by pushing the ramp in close and gettin a feel for a small distance say 40 foot or so... then u can push it out and slowly step up the power

[fmx_dude]

yer man i really wouldnt hit a ramp if u only just got a new 250 2 stroke man after riding 4s your whole life

scrap_kid is a smart man

it depends what bike he had last and if he jumped a ramp...
ive had a shitty crf150 for 3 years jumping 55 foot off an aussie comp and i just brought a cr125 n hit the ramp first try n dragged it back to 55 that day n i had never riden a 2 stroke before??
haha but i still guess you do need to know waht your doing and feel confident so your right in a way haha
thats just my view..