We've got a trip planned for Snake Hunt Weekend, which I believe is around April 21st. We'll also probably go somewhere around the 2nd weekend in October.

Depending on what some other friends want to do, we may also make some other trips out this year as well.

 

iv been riding for a long time and its been usally on MX types of tracks and big jumps, with ocassional trail riding. i used to be all out nuts and stuff until i had a really bad crash.i hit this huge double which probably had abotu a 60 foot gap and it was a nice jump, only thing i was coming out a turn which angeled more then 90 degrees, it was a full hairpin. i hit it about 3rd gear pinned, and right after take off i knew i was really screwed, the qaud nosed straight up, and i jammed the braked but nothing happend. i ended up coming out short by about 1 foot just clipping the rear wheeles on the landing ramps lip. i went over the bars doing a full hand stand and first thing to hit the ground were my hands and my gloves got ripped right off. i hit the ground rolled over looking at my qaud and it ran me over. (nothing like a DG bumper in the face)and everythign came to a stop. it took 2 of my friends to get the qaud off me. my helmet had been scared my body bruised and jeresy and all over riding gear hurt in someway, but most of all it totally destroied my mental side for jumping now, every time im settin up for a new jump i think of what happend that day. and oh yeah, 500 dollar lesson


The Masked Marvel





extremly tricked out blaster

 

Offroader66 brought up a good point. Landing is something that you should be prepared for. Front, back and side landings are all different. You need to be prepared for each before you jump.

 

I think the hardest mental part of jumping is what “The Masked Marvel” said.

Two seasons I did a nose dive into the face of the double. The hardest part was trying to vercome the fear of jumping again. A good racing friend of mine crashed, (not as bad) and it took him many months of practice to overcome the fear. It took me almost a year!

Once you actually crash, and I am not talking about just slamming your face on the bars. I am talking a full dismount. You actually realize just how much this jumping crap can hurt. Take this analogy…

The stove is hot and if you touch it you will get burned. I can tell you all day and night that it will hurt if you touch it. But you will never fully understand (or believe) what I am trying to say until you touch the hot stove and get burned. That will probably be the last time you touch a hot stove. But does that mean you can never cook again?

We can tell each other and ourselves that jumping will get us hurt at some time. But we will never fully understand until we do get hurt. So once we crash, should we stop jumping? Heck no. But try and learn from your crash.

The way that I was able to overcome the fear of jumping again is practice. During an actual race, I could jump within the “fear” limits, but I could not push myself any further. I was unable to jump like before the accident. So I went to the local (2.5 hours away) practice track a few times and tried to tame my fear. I actually did not want to make it disappear entirely, just use the fear to improve my jumping. First thing I did was figure out why I had crash. In mine, I had too much speed in the beginning of the run for the jump. Let off the throttle, slowed down too much and never got back on it to keep the nose up. So I practiced setting up for the jumps. Once I had this part down to a science, I still had to deal with the little voice in my head saying “Your gonna die!”

So at the practice track, I found a jump that was large enough to get some serious air. I kept trying it, using a little more speed each time. Then I went a gear higher. Until I got to the point where I could jump real far and comfortably! At the end of the day, when I was loading up the quad, I could no longer feel the fear when it came to height and distance. But I still had trouble with the doubles. So the next time I was there, that was what I practiced. Now I am able to judge if I will make the double or not.

Overall, I believe you will not fully understand jumping until you crash. Once you deal with the fear of crashing, you will be a much better jumper. You will be a smarter jumper!

 

I haven't crashed hard enough to do serious damage yet. I didn't make a jump, and tore 3 tendons in my wrist, but thats all. I will crash sooner or later as i get braver i am sure. Thanx Lasher.

 

I was on here a while ago and was telling u guys how scary it is to first hit the doubles.Well I walked out there and watched other atvers hit the jump w/ no problem,but they were 400EX's and 250R's.I was the smallest powered atv out there w/ my 250X. Well I got ready and singled the first double and went for the double on the second because it is shorter,I gave it all the gas in second and only had about 10 ft to get my speed up. I was in the air when I said to myself,oh sh*t. My front tire clipped the to pe of the second jump and sent me over frontwards. Only thing I could do to keep my quad from going over frontwards was to jump over the bars and push down w/ my feet. Well I only got a broken helmet visor so it wasn't to bad. Now i am trying to find a place to get a 330 kit from.

 

Im 20, This will be my 3rd season on my 99 Banshee.. I personally dont have much experience jumping as our motox track is still in the process of construction. As a basic look at it there is 2 guidelines that I try to remember when I jump.. 1. For every 10-15 feet in distance you will usually require 1 more gear 2. Keep the rubber down at ALL times!! (Whoops that one kinda hurt!! ) But the best way to learn is to ask the local "pro" to take you over a couple jumps.. Its much easier to follow someone who knows what they're doing, than to try a 30ft double with only the wind as your flying partner..

 

Flying partners are great, thats how im learning, and it feels great to have people sit back and watch you jump.

 

You probably love your 250x, but why spend money on a big bore kit when combining that with sale price can probably get you a stock r or lt, which can clear most doubles stock. Just a thought.
...freddie

 

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