Getting air?

Righty ho...

All this talk about getting two wheels off the ground on the DP & WW is making me curious. Now while it's ok for you guys with years of experience, guys like me could do with a few pointers.

I've never jumped on a motorbike on the road but I've done years of jumps and drops on a mountain bike. I know how to brace for take off and adjust for landing which is second nature for me now so I was wondering if it was the same for a motorbike.

For mountain biking the drill is...rise slightly with the bike on take off, loosen off mid air (arms hands and knees) look where you want to land and when landing let your knees act as extended shock absorbers.

Nutty said in another post to grab the tank with my knees so it immediately made think that the drill is different. I also know there's a throttle thrown into the mix and greater speed

So what's the drill guys/gals? I'm particularly keen to know about the throttle, knees where to look etc. From my reckoning, when the back wheel lifts there will be no load, wheel spins faster etc. Should I roll off slightly mid air or keep steady?


Note: I'm NOT going out to attempt a jump on any of these roads - I just want to be prepared incase I'm caught unawares.

I just **** myself!

Originally Posted by Scoobs

I just sh*t myself!

random or what? Scoobs, you're not old enough to be senile and incontinent!

I just try to hang on!

Seriously though, an SV is much heavier than a mountain bike. Not sure if anything is going to translate really.

I've only been airborne once on the Wibbly Wobbly. Must admit I tensed up a bit, including a definite pucker of the sphincter, and I think I locked my arms which is the wrong thing to do. I had 'planned' to declutch if it ever happened but I was up and down so quickly I never got the chance.

Having said all that the rented Vauxhall Astra I was driving never missed a beat.

your not in the air long enough on the wibbly wobbly to do anything really. its a case of your in the air and landing before you can t hink about anything. which is why i said grip with your knees. along the entire wibbly wobbly grip the tank with your knees and if you do lift off you will be able to walk after wards.

Originally Posted by thor

Seriously though, an SV is much heavier than a mountain bike. Not sure if anything is going to translate really.

I know that but it "must" translate.

Whether you go over a jump at 30mph on a mountain bike or 60mph on a motorbike, the suspension of both bikes behave identically. No arguments please - Mountain biking suspension was derived from motor bike suspesnion. They damp, rebound and preload 100% identically.

It's the effects of body positioning and the throttle I want to know about.... What nutty said about holding the tank with the knees doesn't really make sense to me.

Why would I want to grip the tank with my knees and make myself more rigid?

What should I be doing with the throttle?

It probably translates when you expect to achieve air or its planned, but so far on the road thats never happened to me and I've been surprised every time

Thats 'bump' on the south north was juts the best. 'Oh look a straight lets open the.........AAAAHHHhhhhh............aaaahhHHH me nuts...........'

But if I thought one might happen I would raise myself on the pegs and take the landing on my feet rather than me nads. I would lightly grip the tank sides with my legs for stability, thats all. And throttle back somewhat. But that's all academic when you get completely caught out and despite being in the air for what seems to be a lifetime and not ahve any time to plan anyhting because your life is flashing before you

Have a look and see what Travis Pastrana does

Originally Posted by nutty tart

your not in the air long enough on the wibbly wobbly to do anything really. its a case of your in the air and landing before you can t hink about anything. which is why i said grip with your knees. along the entire wibbly wobbly grip the tank with your knees and if you do lift off you will be able to walk after wards.

Just saw this nutty. Been discussing this at work with one of the moto xers. Says whatever you do do NOT grip the tank with your knees as you run the risk of being thrown off the bike if you land hard.

You said you're not in the air long enough - what sort of speeds give you lift off? How high are you in the air?

Originally Posted by stuartyboy

Been discussing this at work with one of the moto xers. Says whatever you do do NOT grip the tank with your knees as you run the risk of being thrown off the bike if you land hard.

Can you ask him about body position, back or central and throttle please