How to get into fmx
08-10-2007, 05:41 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
How to get into fmx
http://www.freeridermx.com/index.php...d=24&Itemid=44
Copy this and paste it to your navigation bar, it kinda gives you an idea on basic fmxing.. It also at the end talks about image, the main reason I have a contract with Suzuki.
Copy this and paste it to your navigation bar, it kinda gives you an idea on basic fmxing.. It also at the end talks about image, the main reason I have a contract with Suzuki.
08-11-2007, 12:48 PM
#2
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
Re: How to get into fmx
Tips on how to SAFLEY get into freestyle.
First off bike selection, Choosing the right bike for you is very important, a comon misconception about freestyle is you HAVE to have a 250 2 stroke.. NOT TRUE!!! ANY modern mx bike in good condision is capable of beginner fmx. Try to sit on all ot the models you are interested in and see which one feels right. This one is really peronall prefrence so I'm leaving it there.
Setting up your bike. DON"T GRAB THE CUTTING TOOLS YET!!!!
If you are just beginning to ride one of the worst things you can do is cut your plastics. Don't do it untill you are at the point of doing the tricks that require the cuts. if you can't do the tricks and your bike is cut you allow excess dirt and water to get into your motor and you . You also look like you are posing as a fmxer.
First set your bars, levers and brake pedel to where it feels just right so you won't have to think of where they are as you ride. Then set the sag on your rear shock, you can do this by reading the thread on how to set sag in the ask the experts section- active ride.
Now that the bike is set the best thing you can do is go to MOTOCROSS RIDING SCHOOLS. this is for the beginner rider, if you are a C or better rider we can move on.
Take off ramps.
DON"T BUILD YOUR OWN!! The angle, bracing, lenth of the ramp are very important and it is DANGEROUS TO GUESS!! There is a free ramp plan out there online called the rev 1, it is a good beginner ramp but if you are looking for a career don't bother. The comp ramps are steeper now so your best bet is to buy one, most ramps cost between $1500- 7500 to buy. Building your own ( if you have the proper ramp plans) will cost 1500-2800 for materials.
LANDING RAMPS, This is the super important one. Even the rev 1 ramp at a 55ft gap will peak you out at about 17ft in the air, a 7 ft tall landing will NOT cut it.
Here are the spec of what a landing should be .
40-50ft long, 11-15 ft tall, 10-14 ft wide at top, 20-24ft wide at bottom.
Many people try to cheat the dirt needed by using shipping crates, vans and thing like this. DON"T DO IT!! I have seen these landings give out fron the weight and had the missfortune of having it happen to me at a show, i didn't crash but it was terrifying. If dirt is short use loggs, tires, any SOLID thing you can find , for the BASE ONLY!!!!!! keep at least 8 ft of dirt between the top of the landing and whatever SOLID stuff you have underneth.
The angel is up to you and there are dirt spect online you can follow. But make shure you have at least a 6ft flat "buffer" on top of the landing in case of shorting the jump.
First time jumping
To safley start jumping it is best to take baby steps, ramps are different then dirt. Push the ramp right up to the landing. It should be almost like a step up, if the ramp is higher then the landing get back on the loader and keep building, if not you'll get hurt period. Don't be stupid.
Pic 2nd or 3rd gear and just motor up the ramp and plop on to the landing, once you get comfy and land on the same spot on the landing every time you can start pushing the ramp back. Do this in 3-5ft incraments. Once you get to the 40-45 ft mark and you can jump controled and land in the same spot on the landing EVERY time you hit the jump its time to start thinking about tricks.
First off bike selection, Choosing the right bike for you is very important, a comon misconception about freestyle is you HAVE to have a 250 2 stroke.. NOT TRUE!!! ANY modern mx bike in good condision is capable of beginner fmx. Try to sit on all ot the models you are interested in and see which one feels right. This one is really peronall prefrence so I'm leaving it there.
Setting up your bike. DON"T GRAB THE CUTTING TOOLS YET!!!!
If you are just beginning to ride one of the worst things you can do is cut your plastics. Don't do it untill you are at the point of doing the tricks that require the cuts. if you can't do the tricks and your bike is cut you allow excess dirt and water to get into your motor and you . You also look like you are posing as a fmxer.
First set your bars, levers and brake pedel to where it feels just right so you won't have to think of where they are as you ride. Then set the sag on your rear shock, you can do this by reading the thread on how to set sag in the ask the experts section- active ride.
Now that the bike is set the best thing you can do is go to MOTOCROSS RIDING SCHOOLS. this is for the beginner rider, if you are a C or better rider we can move on.
Take off ramps.
DON"T BUILD YOUR OWN!! The angle, bracing, lenth of the ramp are very important and it is DANGEROUS TO GUESS!! There is a free ramp plan out there online called the rev 1, it is a good beginner ramp but if you are looking for a career don't bother. The comp ramps are steeper now so your best bet is to buy one, most ramps cost between $1500- 7500 to buy. Building your own ( if you have the proper ramp plans) will cost 1500-2800 for materials.
LANDING RAMPS, This is the super important one. Even the rev 1 ramp at a 55ft gap will peak you out at about 17ft in the air, a 7 ft tall landing will NOT cut it.
Here are the spec of what a landing should be .
40-50ft long, 11-15 ft tall, 10-14 ft wide at top, 20-24ft wide at bottom.
Many people try to cheat the dirt needed by using shipping crates, vans and thing like this. DON"T DO IT!! I have seen these landings give out fron the weight and had the missfortune of having it happen to me at a show, i didn't crash but it was terrifying. If dirt is short use loggs, tires, any SOLID thing you can find , for the BASE ONLY!!!!!! keep at least 8 ft of dirt between the top of the landing and whatever SOLID stuff you have underneth.
The angel is up to you and there are dirt spect online you can follow. But make shure you have at least a 6ft flat "buffer" on top of the landing in case of shorting the jump.
First time jumping
To safley start jumping it is best to take baby steps, ramps are different then dirt. Push the ramp right up to the landing. It should be almost like a step up, if the ramp is higher then the landing get back on the loader and keep building, if not you'll get hurt period. Don't be stupid.
Pic 2nd or 3rd gear and just motor up the ramp and plop on to the landing, once you get comfy and land on the same spot on the landing every time you can start pushing the ramp back. Do this in 3-5ft incraments. Once you get to the 40-45 ft mark and you can jump controled and land in the same spot on the landing EVERY time you hit the jump its time to start thinking about tricks.
08-11-2007, 12:50 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
Re: How to get into fmx
Part 2 Tricks
If you have the first part down it's time to start thinking about what tricks you want to start with.
I can't stress enough this is only done when you take off and land right every time you hit the ramp.
To start just try 1 footers, do them smoothly and try it with each leg. once you have that down, start doing no footers. For now keep your hands on the bars.
These tricks will help you get bike controle , your next trick is the fender kiss. start off by just jumping and trying to put your face to the front fender, as you get this down start to bring the front fender to you as you put your face to it, this also teachs bike controle and will hepl teach you how to "work" the bike in the air.
The next trick is the 1 hander, Stay loose as you hit the jump, as you feel comfortable bring your hand ( i sugest your left hand) off the bar a little bit, keep doing this untill you can put your hand on the side of your helmet and hold it for a bit. from there we move on to bigger stuff..
If you have the first part down it's time to start thinking about what tricks you want to start with.
I can't stress enough this is only done when you take off and land right every time you hit the ramp.
To start just try 1 footers, do them smoothly and try it with each leg. once you have that down, start doing no footers. For now keep your hands on the bars.
These tricks will help you get bike controle , your next trick is the fender kiss. start off by just jumping and trying to put your face to the front fender, as you get this down start to bring the front fender to you as you put your face to it, this also teachs bike controle and will hepl teach you how to "work" the bike in the air.
The next trick is the 1 hander, Stay loose as you hit the jump, as you feel comfortable bring your hand ( i sugest your left hand) off the bar a little bit, keep doing this untill you can put your hand on the side of your helmet and hold it for a bit. from there we move on to bigger stuff..
08-11-2007, 01:42 PM
#6
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
Re: How to get into fmx
Bigger tricks.
The next trick you should try is the ancle hook,
to do it simply hit the jump as you normaly would. As you near the peak of your jump start to bring your feet up, right up untill you touch the handelbars with your feet. This trick is the basis of the cliffhanger, Jackhamer ( full extention cliffhanger) ,cordova and , stripper. Don't try any of the tricks listed. I'm just giving the reason for doing the ancle hook.
The first "real" trick you should conseder is the heelclicker. You don't need to be as flexable as you may think. basicly it's a glorified 1 footer. To safley learn this we start with putting your bike eather in a truck, on the trailer or tied down in a way the bike will not move and you can move around on the bike. the best way to do it is tied down in a pickup.
Heres what to do and do it with boots on.
1- stand on your pegs as if you where riding
2- jump off of the pegs and do a no footer,
3- continue this untill you feel loose and you can do a no footer and bring your feet back to the pegs.
4- now try to bring your feet up over the bars, continue to do this untill you can touch your heels together.
5- once you can do this start trying it over the jump
The next trick you should try is the ancle hook,
to do it simply hit the jump as you normaly would. As you near the peak of your jump start to bring your feet up, right up untill you touch the handelbars with your feet. This trick is the basis of the cliffhanger, Jackhamer ( full extention cliffhanger) ,cordova and , stripper. Don't try any of the tricks listed. I'm just giving the reason for doing the ancle hook.
The first "real" trick you should conseder is the heelclicker. You don't need to be as flexable as you may think. basicly it's a glorified 1 footer. To safley learn this we start with putting your bike eather in a truck, on the trailer or tied down in a way the bike will not move and you can move around on the bike. the best way to do it is tied down in a pickup.
Heres what to do and do it with boots on.
1- stand on your pegs as if you where riding
2- jump off of the pegs and do a no footer,
3- continue this untill you feel loose and you can do a no footer and bring your feet back to the pegs.
4- now try to bring your feet up over the bars, continue to do this untill you can touch your heels together.
5- once you can do this start trying it over the jump
Last edited by flafmxer; 08-11-2007 at 01:47 PM.
08-11-2007, 01:44 PM
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
Re: How to get into fmx
That website isn't coming up right so I redid everything. this is what I went over in the fmx schools I used to teach at Bartow. The thread is for anyone interested in getting into fmx. as you can see in the first part I go over going to motocross riding schools. Don't bypass that because I posted this please.
08-26-2007, 11:17 AM
#8
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
Re: How to get into fmx
One more thing, As far as whips, DON'T TRY THEM!!! They are NOT a beginner trick, it takes a lot of time and bike skill to do them well, and safe. I'm still trying to get them back. Take my word on it if you have to ask how to do them you aren't ready.
This is me in 03
I was not able to REALLY ride for a couple of years and this is my "whip" now
I lost some bike skill....
This is me in 03
I was not able to REALLY ride for a couple of years and this is my "whip" now
I lost some bike skill....
08-29-2007, 07:05 PM
#13
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
Re: How to get into fmx
08-29-2007, 07:58 PM
#14
im nico, i do wheelies
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: O-TOWN, FL
Age: 34
Posts: 2,146
Re: How to get into fmx
i used to trailride alot but its been a couple years, i have the bike skill down pretty good but im sure i'll be a little rusty when i start again
08-31-2007, 05:01 PM
#16
im nico, i do wheelies
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: O-TOWN, FL
Age: 34
Posts: 2,146
Re: How to get into fmx
09-01-2007, 08:30 AM
#17
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bushnell, Fla / USA
Posts: 185
Re: How to get into fmx
anywhere that had ramps open to the public closed the ramps off, there are too many people trying them that aren't ready. I taught fmx classes for a short time in bartow fl. That didn't go to well, I only had 2 people show up that where capable. I had parents mad at me because i was showing their kids how to set their bikes up for them and go around corners and ( this is the worst) SHIFT properly. If you have a good freeride spot hit that up a lot, then hit the track.
09-02-2007, 12:08 AM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Age: 39
Posts: 1,800
Re: How to get into fmx
Yeah, thats the only thing that sucks about FMX. There are no "spots" like in streetbike stunting. You have to have some land to build or know someone that already has a setup. Im just hitting Croom, Bithlo, and free-ride spots.
