I was riding on a track this weekend that had some pretty big jumps. I had to think about hitting a few of them. I came up short on one and it didn't feel good at all. I'm trying to figure out how to time them and land on the downside of the next jump. I did hit one of the jumps that was going up hill in 4th gear and manage to launch it 50ft(length...lol), and yes I did land like a ton of bricks. If anyone has any tricks about how to time the big doubles let me know. I know that I get get enough speed with a Raptor but I don't want to come up short or long. All you big jumpers know what I'm talking about. Later

 

it's all trial and error. Key factors are speed that you are going, how much you weigh and angle/height of launching pad. Even though I ride a utility quad, the basics remain the same.

Testing out any new launching pad, I always start out with making several baby jumps to get a good feel for the launching pad. Then I'll increase the length of my jumps, slowly but surely. This way I know how much throttle I need to be giving the quad in order to make a jump that provides maximum air, maximum length with a smooth landing.

 

Here is my question about jumps... I have rode very little on MX tracks, but have fun doing it. One of the two tracks I ride has some very short (length) but high doubles. I wasn't brave enough to try and clear the double so I had been hitting one of them hard enough that I could get good air, but slow enough that I landed between the two jumps. That worked fine till I tried the second set of doubles. I jumped off the first one and landed picture perfect (back wheels JUST before front.) At least it felt like it was going to be perfect. I hit so hard I bottomed out the shocks (which I have since adjusted) and smacked my helmet on the handle bars.

Is there any way of working on jumps like this to find out what speed you need w/o repeated smashing you head?

Is there a secret to landing that I don't know about?

Is there a good web page that gives allot of pointers about jumps?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

From a short supercross dabble, I know this method. You need a bobcat or 5 or 6 friends with shovels:

1. get a pen and paper
2. make a jump exactly up to your knee
3. hit it flat out first, then measure how far you went and write it up: "knee high, 1st gear = 5 steps" (learn to step out distances well)
4. hit it flat out 2nd gear (repeat above)
5. repeat for all gears

You do above for 3 types of jump (gradual slope, medium slope, and steep slope) and for about 5 different hights (measure against your body, right up to head-height).

Now you know why need pen and paper. We are talking about 100 jumps (hey, good practice!).

The Result: When you see a double, check what gear you can hit it, stride out how far you got to sail, measure jump against your body, decide how steep, then check your notes. Look good? Nail it!

What you will learn is that you can sail an amazing distance from a small jump if you are game.

euroraptor

 

this isn't too much i don't think but i thought i'd mention it because you were talkin about getting pretty good air off small jumps. well out in the trails where i ride there is this nice but small jump. its only about a foot high. i can jump about 53 feet off of it. we have jumping contests off it all the time and so far i hold the record by about 8 feet. some of the local racers were out in our trails one day and they couldn't beat it. oh well i just thought i'd brag for a while.

 

Well heres what I have learned. When your at the track just practice on a tabletop. Hit it in second almost pinned stand up and see how high and far you got. Then hit it in third and do the same thing. Then hit in fourth and do the same thing. Then when you want to jump a double you will know how the bike feels in the air and how far each gear will take you and so forth. Then just get in a good gear and nail it wide open!!! Remember it is better to land a little too far then to come up short and CASE it!!! Oh and remember DONT CRASH!!! lol

 

i have jumped my raptor several times...i have learned how to control the bike in the air...i have progress in my education and skills to clear 50' tabletops...i am in fourth gear pinned and i clear the jump...flying the raptor is awesome and once you learn how to do it...it's a thrill....takeoff body position is key to long jumping...body weight on the pegs has to be centered or the bike will rotate in the air...you can correct a bad takeoff...but that is limited due to the weight of the raptor...i hug the bike with my legs at takeoff and use my hips and arms to adjust in the air...i also with my arms lift the front of the raptor up and forward kinda like doing a bunnyhop on a bicycle...this enables my to stay low and fast...remeber this jump style is mine and is matched to my suspension settings and how i ride....so take this as information only....what you do my differ...goodluck...herbdon out..