blueripps, on 13 December 2011 - 07:58 AM, said:

This helped tremendously, my older bars were short and it made me feel cramped. Since this thread started I bought a 2010 rmz 250. The bar bend is much wider and i notice a huge difference in comfort.

I've also been working on bending more at the hips and keeping the elbows up. I was standing much too vertical at first.

This is all great info, its helped alot!

I'm 6'3" and struggled with body positioning for a while. I studied pro's and read lots of stuff on here. But in the end I ended up just doing what felt most comfortable and tired me the least, at the same time being conscious what you look like. Also, I've figured out that it's really hard to ride in a "good position" unless you are riding hard. For me if I'm just cruising around the track my body positioning doesn't look all that good. But if I'm charging 100% then it all falls into place.

As far as jumps, here is a picture of me jumping straight (no whip or anything) Noticed how my head is above the bars and my elbows are up. That's the main thing I focus on in the air is relaxing and pointing those elbows up as high as I can.




This jump was a step-up that I couldn't scrub too well so I was slamming on brakes before the face. The bike was kicking me a bit so that's why I'm so far back. But notice how I'm loose and still have my head and elbows right.



Here's going off a jump straight and then in the air. Notice how I'm a bit loose in the air.



Here is on the gas in straight's. Noticed how I'm letting the bike PUSH me. This practically takes no effort to ride like this, but you have to be on the gas!



I'll post some more later, off to class. I use universal engineering outdoor bend bars. But I've ridden 4 or 5 bikes and haven't noticed the handlebars affecting my riding. But I DO like my bars a little back and lever low.

Tha Breeze: Glad to see your rocking the RMZ !!

Thanks for the tips, I noticed you take one foot off your pegs in the air, I have a buddy who does the same thing, does this help you relax and be less tense in the air?

I'll have to look into the universal engineering bars, I havent seen them around here before.

It's more of a habit. But for me sometimes I'll hook my heel under the number plate and lift up to bring the front end of the bike down. I'll attach pictures to show the effects. But also it gives me better leverage and balance in the air (but keep in mind since it's only that one foot my leverage is not symmetrical on the bike.) It has potentially saved me many times though from endo'ing because since I take my foot off and put it back when I start to feel I'm going to endo I already have my foot off the bike and I can put my leg back further which puts more of my weight back and farther out which slows the rotation. Sometimes I'll feel my foot hit the tire! If it's a super sketchy endo I'll do it with both feet which helps even more; just make sure to get them back on!!!! (but if you do do this when you endo keep in mind when your bring your feet back on the pegs for the landing it's going to speed up the rotation)

An A rider that helps me was saying that there's no need for it and he's never seen it done before. So I think it's more of a personal style but that is what makes me comfortable.

I'm 6'4", I ride a CRF450r and use the CR high bend with bar adapters. Iv'e been told plenty of times my bike looks small under me. Stretching out the peg to bar height distance made me feel like I wasn't on a pit bike. Much more comfortable, wich I think is really important. Overall, your gonna come across pros an cons of riding mx and being tall. I try to ride as much as possible, find what works and run with it. I agree on it being more of a posture issue than a height problem, but everyone has thier own style. I just stay ahead of my bike and do what takes less strain. As long as your riding the bike and it's not pulling you around the track your fine!

I am 6'3 270 and for the most part muscle..I have been told I look like a gorilla riding a tricycle even though I ride a kx450..I often get mistaken for.bein on a 125 haha..I have been riding on.the weekends for.about 2 months so.I have a ton still to learn..when I come over a jump I look like a line backer which is what I am used because of all the years of sports..I decided to try new bars and went to the RC high bend and absolutely love them..someone gave me some great advice and they just said to be an athlete..become a part of the bike.. I have started getting my butt back farther with my elbows up and out..helps me be sooo much more aggressive and looks/feels so much more natural

Yeah handlebar bend seem to defintiely help, i'll post some more pics with the advice you guys gave me once the snow melts up here! First race is April 22nd, I need to move south where I can ride all year long !

Looking at your pictures, I have one more very simple adjustment you can make that goes along with a lot of what everyone here is saying.

You want that elbows up posture because it not only looks better in photos but it is more functional. With your elbows up you have more leverage over the bars and therefore better control of the bike. Easiest thing you can do to help this is rotate your bars foward. This will almost force your elbows up and improve your stance.

I am 6'1" and have the same issues as you. Grip the seat or frame with your calves or lower leg area the best you can. Get your butt back like everyone has said. Also, stand on the balls of your feet not in your arches.