Stairs & Urban Warfare - Hooliganism

So really... what is the best way to learn how to do this kinda stuff? Just start doing it and expect to replace some parts after the inevitable crashes?

There is a sumo group that rides here every Tuesday night. I need to hook up with them sometime and get some pointers. I didn't grow up with offroad bikes so I'm learning from scratch.

Arkmage wrote:

So really... what is the best way to learn how to do this kinda stuff? Just start doing it and expect to replace some parts after the inevitable crashes?

Yes, but wear your gear so your not replacing your parts.

Sounds fair. I want to get some nicer riding gear for my commute so my current stuff will likely become hooligan gear soon. I need to get a dot offroad helmet and some goggles. I don't want to screw up my $500 arai when I go down.

Quote :

So really... what is the best way to learn how to do this kinda stuff? Just start doing it and expect to replace some parts after the inevitable crashes?

Pretty much. I would suggest you invest in as much crash protection for the bike as possible. Strong handguards and axle sliders make a world of difference in a crash.

Start small and slow and work your way up. It just takes practice and experience. I haven't binned it big over a jump yet but I have come close a few times and my bikes have been on the ground lots of times. A sumo just doesn't look right if it doesn't have a few scratches.

Quote :

There is a sumo group that rides here every Tuesday night. I need to hook up with them sometime and get some pointers. I didn't grow up with offroad bikes so I'm learning from scratch.

Me neither. I spent 20+ years on sportbikes and roadracing and everything sumo seems bass ackwards to me. Before my first sumo I had for all intents and purposes never ridden a dirtbike before. At first curbs seemed big to me. Now I am dropping off loading docks.

It does help to have a group to ride with. Our group seems to inspire each other to try new things and go bigger. We all have different skill levels and different experience levels. The Mohawk brothers only did trail rides and stuff like that till they met us. We never rode walking trails or did the big jumps or much offroad till we met them. Now we are all certifiable maniacs together. You should see the stuff that doesn't get on the videos.

Here is a couple of pics cause the vids go by so fast it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the scale of things or the lunacy involved.

I dig it. I've already got hell bent for stout hand guards and sliders (that have been used once already). My bike is no show queen. I've crashed hard a few times already offroad and it shows. I think I might roll up to cycle gear and try on some hooligan lids tonight, got invited for a trail ride on Monday anyways... so it's about time to get one.

well, now I've got an offroad helmet, goggles, and a CE armor suite... guess it's time to huck gnar.

We rode a really cool location last night. It is a deserted housing complex that is being readied to be buldozed. However at this point it looks like a ghost town where the aliens swooped in and adbucted everyone. There are even curtains in the windows of all the houses. It is a wee bit creepy but a whole lot of fun fun to ride in because you can go anywhere.

jump.

September 19, 2011

There a ramp hiding back there or did you seriously get that much height off a curb? Has that curb got a slope to it or a square edge?

just stacked an old pallet up against the curb. I'll get some better shots from the entire night up soon!

I got stock suspention, how should I change it to start doing jumps and loading docks???

I would strongly suggest sending your rear shock for a re-valve. It isn't too expensive for just the rear and it will react in a much safer way than stock on jumps.

I sent mine to fastbike and it was worth every penny for the cornering stability and the predictability on jumps, curb/log crossings, etc. It's only tried to buck me off once since the re-valve and that was because I didn't get my ass far enough off the seat.