Jumping doubles

[Scott_F]

Jumping is a cumulative skill, you have to build upon your experience. First, you should become totally comfortable doing 20-30' doubles. Then, you can start increasing your jump distance about 10' at a time. It is a good idea to jump tabletops first, to get used to the height and distance. It will build your confidence for equal sized doubles. Eventually, you will become used to doing 60' doubles with no fear at all. The double jump that you see me doing in the photo is about 60' or so. I have a 50T rear sprocket, and jump it in third. I clear most doubles under 60' in second, and use third up to 90-100'.

When I go to a track and it has big doubles I haven't done before, I look them over closely and watch to see if anyone else is doing them. If a few guys are, I know it is possible, so then I determine how much speed and aggressiveness will be required. Then I just hit it hard and try to overjump it a bit. If I overjump, I back off to land it just right. Some guys like to follow someone else over a new jump.

Sometimes I will be riding around a track, and I will come up to a new double. If it is small to medium size, I will just gas it right over. The highly technical or big air doubles require more careful analysis, and sometimes a large dose of courage.

The more abrupt the takeoff ramp, the more difficult and technical the double will be. These ramps tend to throw you higher vs longer, the faster you hit them. They can also kick the rear end up if you are not on the gas. Also, if a ramp has a lip, or kicker, at the top, it is important to be on the gas hard to keep from nose diving or endoing.

A shallow ramp is the opposite. The faster you hit it, the further you will fly, while not gaining a lot more height.

The easiest double is one with a tall, steep face, but with a gradual transition at the approach. You will get good height and distance, and it will practically throw you over the double with little effort.

A well designed double is forgiving and it will allow a landing zone of 10-20'. This will accomodate different speeds and jumping skills. But for any double or tabletop, there is a sweet spot landing, where it will feel like cloud nine. That is your target.

Big jumps are both a physical and a mental skill. First you have to have the basic jumping skills, then you need the courage, confidence and ability to calmly overcome your fears.

Since you are in the Mojave, we could meet sometime at LACR, and I could teach you some of the jumps there.

Scott F

Originally posted by Chris in the Mojave:

Scott F and anybody else....

When you go to a new track, how do you go about finding speeds for the jumps?

I've only experiance with one double and I'm getting ready to try some other small doubles. Is the face angle such that more speed (within reason) just puts you higher? Is there really a pretty wide range of speed that will work on a well constructed double?

It seems like mostly it's a mental challange.

How did you go about learning?

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Scott F

'00 YZ426F

'99 YZ400F sold

'98 YZ400F sold

[Chris_in_the_Mojave]

Scott,

Thanks for your input. I'm getting a little bolder each time I go to the track. The one double I've done is a "baby", you couldn't case the landing I you tried. The next one I'm thinking about is a little tougher, Higher, farther. I'd guess the first one was maybe 10 feet peek to peek and the landing area was well rounded on top. The next one is a bit farther, maybe 13 feet peek to peek but the ramps are steeper on both ends and it can be tripled as well, which is a little spooky, you do the double then a single right after....but the guys I've watched are almost coasting over it when they double it.

I'm still not clearing any of the table tops at Sunrise, they are all much longer that these two doubles.

I'm a little gun shy because I bottomed both ends hard comming up short when I got agressive on some of the jumps. I may need to stiffen up things a bit before my next trip.

When are practice days at LACR? I sure wouldn't mind some pointers ? I'm 39 and I'm tring to AVOID broken bones!

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Chris in the Mojave

'98 YZ400F

[Chris_in_the_Mojave]

Scott F and anybody else....

When you go to a new track, how do you go about finding speeds for the jumps?

I've only experiance with one double and I'm getting ready to try some other small doubles. Is the face angle such that more speed (within reason) just puts you higher? Is there really a pretty wide range of speed that will work on a well constructed double?

It seems like mostly it's a mental challange.

How did you go about learning?

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Chris in the Mojave

'98 YZ400F

[Bryan 1]

Wow Scott! AWESOME info on jumping!

I'm going to copy it into an archive and maybe post it elsewhere for others to read.

Thanks for the time!

Bryan..

[holeshot]

Now all I need to find is courage. Chris, I'm familiar with the small triple at Sunrise. I can't (or don't)triple it the because the face of the last jump is pretty steep, so it could result in a abrupt landing if I come up short. Doubling is pretty easy though, and you can probably do it in any gear, although I snick into fourth and coast over.

Those who actually know how to ride (not myself) always tell me that the proper way is to go a gear or two lower, gas it hard and hold on. Good riders could easily do the triple in second (I imagine Scott F. could).

[Chris_in_the_Mojave]

Ya, I'll be trying that one next. Pray for me ?

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Chris in the Mojave

'98 YZ400F

[Bryan 1]

We need pictures here! Don't you think?

Bryan...

[Sandnut]

Thanks for the info Scott F. I just picked up a YZ450F and am looking forward to taking it to the track up here in Seattle. I'm a 37 and also don't want to break any bones. These tips will help much. Thx!