obstacle hopping

Maybe more in the slippery ones?

Getting the front up is not really a problem. But the back end....well I had problems. I was feeling frisky and instead of doing my usual baby hop, hit this one a little harder. I know I could have hit it perpendicular, but what if you couldn't or didn't feel like it. Is there any trick to it? I'm assuming no but thought I would ask.



That wasn't really fun. Back tire hit, twisted me around a little. Got over ok but once again I couldn't get OFF the throttle and was sliding around and lost it into a tree.....well little ditch first then tree.
*don't really know where I'm going with this one.

I'd move over to the left where the log is closest to the ground, line the bike up as squarely to the log as I could, stand on the pegs to absorb the hit, open the throttle to get the front wheel unweighted, get my body rearward on the bike, keep the throttle open until the rear was over, then use body english and countersteering and throttle and brake to stay on the trail.
Looking ahead at where you want to go helps a whole lot.
Also, you don't need to hit it at 20 million miles per hour - just with enough speed to provide the necessary momentum.
Allow your body to absorb the hit along with the suspension in order to keep control.

You just need to practice that stuff.

Did somebody put that log there? :)

That's the path I would pick too. I doubt the log was put there though. Likely just fell at some point. It's not like the quad folks are likely to move it.

Interesting that you say getting the front up isn't really a problem inspector. That's one of my key issues running off road. Because I'm running with the little 17" front tire it can easily be swallowed up by ditches and trees. Can you really just wheelie it over the log?!?

Haha. My usual is bump the front over then walk the rear over. Was feeling good so wanted to do it all in one motion without stopping. I could have hit the log square and made it just fine (but didn't). Probably should have in retrospect.

*No i suck at wheelies, but have been practicing at making the front end light. Bigger wheels just bounce over that stuff.

Thanks for the clarification.

Yeah, slippery logs hit at an angle can mean doom. Big wheels definitely make it easier though as I learned this past season.

I dream of the day when I can loft the front wheel over the obstacle. Contemplating a 'stunt riding' course next year just so I can learn to wheelie properly.

Word of caution: Going over logs that are wet can be VERY painful if not executed just right....

SheWolf wrote:

Word of caution: Going over logs that are wet can be VERY painful if not executed just right....

Word, little lady. I don't really have any "mentor" in the area, so gotta ask questions and live by trial and error.....lots of error.

*i had to google concusion when i got home. looks like i'm good to go.

Oh and a word of note: Hitting the fuel tank as a female HURTS too. We don't have the extra hose to cushion the blow, so it's bone to steel like RIGHT NOW.

Read this article - and yes, it works on big bikes, too - http://trialstrainingcenter.com/how-to-ride-motorcycle-trials/double-blip/

ZED wrote:

Thanks for the clarification.

Yeah, slippery logs hit at an angle can mean doom. Big wheels definitely make it easier though as I learned this past season.

I dream of the day when I can loft the front wheel over the obstacle. Contemplating a 'stunt riding' course next year just so I can learn to wheelie properly.

You should be contemplating a trials riding course, not a stunt rider's course. The Trials Training Center (in my last post) will even rent you a trials bike to take the course with. You'll learn more about clearing obstacles in a couple days than you would in years of trying to figure it out yourself.

Quote :

And it’s an important technique for riders from the intermediate level and up.

Damn it man, I'm not even an intermediate yet. Start smaller.

*^whilst that is true. I'm j/k. I think I would have more fun riding(if that's possible) if I could take a few different courses and learn more.

Krabill wrote:

ZED wrote:

Thanks for the clarification.

Yeah, slippery logs hit at an angle can mean doom. Big wheels definitely make it easier though as I learned this past season.

I dream of the day when I can loft the front wheel over the obstacle. Contemplating a 'stunt riding' course next year just so I can learn to wheelie properly.

You should be contemplating a trials riding course, not a stunt rider's course. The Trials Training Center (in my last post) will even rent you a trials bike to take the course with. You'll learn more about clearing obstacles in a couple days than you would in years of trying to figure it out yourself.

I happily would, but alas, I live in a small city of only 1,000,000+ people. We don't have access to such a variety of options. Maybe one day.

Wet logs absolutely suck, and wet barkless logs as depicted, suck worse than that.

What was the diameter of that log? It looks like any where from six to eighteen inches, can't tell from the picture. If it were me riding that trail I would have just cruised over the log on the left side if it was closer to six inches. If it was closer to eighteen inches I would try to find a way around. Forty years ago I would have probably wheelied into it and hoped for the best. After breaking a few bikes and fracturing my back I am a lot more conservative in my riding technique. If you break your bike you can get another one but take care of your body, you only get one.

I'm guessing that it's closer to 8", honestly don't remember (hell, in another year I'll be saying closer to 10"). Most people get smarter as the age, or at least gain more wisdom. My guess is because I fell off a slide onto my head when I was a child, is the reason I am a little lower on the scale.

inspector wrote:

Maybe more in the slippery ones?

Getting the front up is not really a problem. But the back end....well I had problems. I was feeling frisky and instead of doing my usual baby hop, hit this one a little harder. I know I could have hit it perpendicular, but what if you couldn't or didn't feel like it. Is there any trick to it? I'm assuming no but thought I would ask.



That wasn't really fun. Back tire hit, twisted me around a little. Got over ok but once again I couldn't get OFF the throttle and was sliding around and lost it into a tree.....well little ditch first then tree.
*don't really know where I'm going with this one.

i wish i had gone with you on this ride. would have been a fun challenge taking hte x over that with beat up street meat.

That wet bald log is about as bad as it get's LOL, yer allowed to look bad on stuff like that
What I do is come up as square as possible standing, Slow up to a crawl and pop the front up with the clutch
I give the bars a pull and bump the seat with my weight and stand up quick for the rear wheel to bump over the log
I practice over small sticks and logs whenever I can so when I get to a tall one it all happens naturally
You really need to commit to log's, "Do or Do Not, There is NO Try"