Help with technique

[Tharkûn]

Only been riding dirt for a few months but picking it up pretty quick. However I have a couple technique issues, for one I try to stand as much as possible but I can't smoothly up shift while standing to save my life.

Also I get arm pump like crazy. Happens to me in all forms of riding (track, work practice, dirt) for about the first 15 minutes of riding then it starts to go away during the course of the day. But it's by far the worst on dirt and my buddy is convinced it's because I'm holding the bars too tight, which is partially true because I find it hard to balance front to back while standing on my 300 or his 450. Coming on and off the throttle or to the brakes has so much lateral movement I have difficulty maintaining balance while standing, I'm usually just holding on for dear life which also leads to whiskey throttle occasionally.

Any tips or just ride ride ride and work it out over time?

 

[thedub]

My advice would be the same as to anyone on the street or track who has a death grip on the bars; grip the bike with your legs more. Can be done standing or sitting.

 

[dbc]

Could be many things, where exactly are ya at?
One on one bike setup advice might be of some help.
I'm in the north bay, holler back if your close..

 

[Tharkûn]

My advice would be the same as to anyone on the street or track who has a death grip on the bars; grip the bike with your legs more. Can be done standing or sitting.

Thanks I'll try that, I definitely don't grip the tank while I'm standing

Could be many things, where exactly are ya at?
One on one bike setup advice might be of some help.
I'm in the north bay, holler back if your close..

Actually I meant to send you a message a while ago, check PM in a minute

 

[byke]

Only been riding dirt for a few months but picking it up pretty quick. However I have a couple technique issues, for one I try to stand as much as possible but I can't smoothly up shift while standing to save my life.

It takes a long time to get comfortable enough and familiar enough with dirty biking before you learn to keep your body in just that right spot while standing and accelerating. If you're weighted the slighted bit too far back, it puts tons of load on your arms and you'll wear yourself out in 30 seconds. Don't force yourself to stand up all the time because you know it's works better in most situations, just baby step your way to it. Stand up for five minutes, then sit for ten. Just increase it until you're comfy. As for shifting, yeah, it's a little awkward when standing no matter how you slice it. You might try getting a longer shifter and raising it up a notch or two. Check out the Hammerheads.

Also I get arm pump like crazy. Happens to me in all forms of riding (track, work practice, dirt) for about the first 15 minutes of riding then it starts to go away during the course of the day. But it's by far the worst on dirt and my buddy is convinced it's because I'm holding the bars too tight, which is partially true because I find it hard to balance front to back while standing on my 300 or his 450. Coming on and off the throttle or to the brakes has so much lateral movement I have difficulty maintaining balance while standing, I'm usually just holding on for dear life which also leads to whiskey throttle occasionally.

There is so much that goes into arm pump it's silly. And, correcting it is somewhat of a black art. Some riders, even pro's like you see on TV, simply can't get rid of it. There's not always a formula for success, but you can almost always make improvements. Endurance riding is best, but diet is big too. If you're dehydrated and your blood is running like molasses, it will never drain from your arms. Yes, you can hold on too tight. Yes, it's great to use your legs to take some load off your arms. Sometimes it's as dumb as running a fat grip, or using gloves with too much material in the palm. Anyway, if you're having it early on and it goes away after 15 minutes, that sounds pretty good to me! Start with the basics: hydrate, stretch, use your legs so your arms can do less, etc.

Any tips or just ride ride ride and work it out over time?

There is no question that seat time does tons for people. You don't even need to go crazy with technique and training, just studying a little bit with tons of seat time will yield fairly quick results.

 

[Tharkûn]

Stand up for five minutes, then sit for ten. Just increase it until you're comfy. As for shifting, yeah, it's a little awkward when standing no matter how you slice it. You might try getting a longer shifter and raising it up a notch or two. Check out the Hammerheads.

Cool thanks.

Yeah the arm pump might be closer to 30 minutes actually, but I guess its kind of the opposite from most people. I get it almost immediately but if I take a short break it goes away and I can ride for the rest of the day without issue.

 

[BEN-ZX-14]

Adjust the shifter lever up a knotchm the shaft is splined. Depending what boots i wear i get a complete diffrent feel.

As for arm pump;
avoid caffeen
hydrate
more cardio (if you cant run for 30 minutes you tire out while riding)
put the bike on a stand and imitate your riding standing position and then take your hands off the bars. bent knees tucked into the tank.
warm up before you ride, or ride slow for a bit, take a break then hit it hard.

 

[Norcalslowpoke]

I'm not greatly skilled dirt bike rider and I don't ride that much......but I thought I'd throw this out there.

Regarding the abrupt throttle on/off: I installed a G2 throttle cam (400 cam) system on my husky and it softened the initial hit to a much more sedate level.

http://www.g2ergo.com/

Used to hit a rock/bump, which would move my hand and the turn the throttle...and then upset my line.

Not affiliated with the company blah blah, but it does work.

Cheers

 

[HellFyre]

Cool thanks.

Yeah the arm pump might be closer to 30 minutes actually, but I guess its kind of the opposite from most people. I get it almost immediately but if I take a short break it goes away and I can ride for the rest of the day without issue.

Weird, this is EXACTLY the same way it happens for me. :thumbup

First ride, barely a few miles in and my arms are pumped and my hands are hurting. Just a short break, or even riding at 50% for a few minutes alternately shaking my hands in the air, and I'm good for the rest of the day.

 

[SVJ]

I've found that the vibration of my 300 contributes to arm pump. Dampers for the bar and different grips help a lot. I am thinking of trying those carbon bars to help even more.

If you aren't balanced on the bike while standing it can make it seem like your feet are glued to the pegs, making that reach for the shifter awkward.

More seat time!

 

[DefyInertia]

Let that bike dance under you and +1 on using your legs/knees to hold on and direct the bike.

 

[Butch]

Let that bike dance under you and +1 on using your legs/knees to hold on and direct the bike.

"dancing with the trail"... lots of good advice here. Controls need to be adjusted for standing; the positions are different from sitting, especially the shifter.

 

[NoobCorpse]

Have you spent any time / $$ on suspension work? The on-off throttle disruption will be smoothed out by a good suspension setup, but as others have said here, less grip on the bars = less fatigue. If you're not comfortable standing on the pegs and you're holding on for dear life, go ahead and sit on the seat but just move around more. As you get more confident you'll be on the throttle more and standing up more, and this will help smooth out your ride and keep your grip lighter on the bars.

I'm no expert, but in my 2+ years riding dirt as an adult this has helped me out.. I used to get arm pump bad, and as I got more confident after I had suspension work done, it got less and less with experience. Hope this helps.

 

[Beauregard]

Also I get arm pump like crazy.

I have a technique I call "the chicken" where I kind of flap my elbows like wings whenever I catch myself tightening up. It's a good exercise in remembering to stay loose.

 

[terdog55]

"dancing with the trail"... lots of good advice here. Controls need to be adjusted for standing; the positions are different from sitting, especially the shifter.

+2

The KTM has an adjustable power valve. Have you set it to where its comfortable for you? If its trying to kill you, soften the hit. That will help you relax.

When you stand, are the bars in the right position for you? There are 2 positions in the top clamp, and the riser has 2 positions. Enduro Eng makes shims for elevating the risers. Also, consider a different bend of bar.

Have you adjusted your levers for the right angle while standing? It looks wierd at 1st, but adjust them so that when your standing, your arms, wrist and fingers all make a straight line to the levers. Adjust your handguards too.

Also, depending on your hieght, consider a tall saddle. To this day 1 of my top mods. GUTS RACING makes some good stuff.

 

[Gary856]

Also I get arm pump like crazy. Happens to me in all forms of riding (track, work practice, dirt) for about the first 15 minutes of riding then it starts to go away during the course of the day.

I didn't know what arm pump meant so looked it up - a very good explanation here:

http://www.racerxvt.com/article/arm-pump

According to this it makes sense that you'd get arm pump in the first 15 minutes and then it gets better - it's a matter of your body starting out cold vs. being warmed up.

 

[terdog55]

Do you stretch out your wrist/forearm before riding?

 

[Tharkûn]

Do you stretch out your wrist/forearm before riding?

Pretty much never. Ill give that a shot this week


Thanks for all the advice guys, good thread

 

[SFAMike]

I used suffer from arm pump. I had the same symptom, first 15 or so minute arm pump really bad, then stop for 5 or ten and it would go away. Cures for arm pump range so much. I've heard many and I've tried many. What worked for me was, as mentioned before, no caffeine or energy drinks AND I use a forarm excerersize tool. The one that is just a big spring that you squeeze in your hand. I do a 3 sets of 50 each arm before a race. This plus making sure I'm fully hydrated made my arm pump woes disappear.

Edit: I might add that Paul Wiley had a write up in one of the mags, that he pumps his arms up using an excersize tool, then wraps his arm starting from his wrist to just past his elbow. He did this three time per arm. I've tried it and found no difference between my routine and this one. So I don't wrap my arm.