This has been bothering me for years, what is the technique for safely going over a bump at speed were the front wheel comes off the ground. I'm not talking about low speed but high. I've never had the balls to find out what happens. I know it has to be applying rear brake but when and how? This is the situation, on one of my normal runs there is a long straight off an island which ends in a long flat bridge with a bump as you leave the island to go onto the bridge, I approach the bridge at 120mph but have to go down to 80mph for the bump because I'm not confident as to what the bike will do. Given the TT is starting and will see slow shots of 170mph wheelies can anyone explain how the racers do this? Do they apply rear brake before hump to control front wheel? Do they apply rear brake a split second after the front lifts, if so do they bang it on or do it gently? TT- sometimes the whole bike leaves the ground does that mean the rider got it wrong? Thanks
The tiny amount of enduro and off road I've done I was told stay ON the gas so the bike gets a clean lift off and does not land on its nose Road bike at those speeds may be different but I would think the physics is the same
My advice, stop acting like an 8 year old girl, thats your first mistake, the second is reducing speed from 120mph to 80mph. You need to increase speed, 180mph should do it. The best bit of advice i could give you then would be to, grit your teeth, shut your eyes tight and then in quick fashion rediscover your faith in the Almighty. Only reopen your eyes after you feel the bike touch down, or after 30 seconds have past P.s Try it tomorrow and let me know how you got on...
I was waiting for this kind of reply. Talking about 120 mph speeds on the public roads isn't a great idea on an open forum.
I guess it all depends how much the wheel comes off the grond as to whether you just ride through it or apply the rear brake a little. Watching onboard footage of Hutchy you can see just how often he uses the rear brake over the bumps as he has a thumb operated rear brake. It doesn't always stop the wheel comming up but it does limit the height it goes up to. I assume you are talking about a track or closed road as public roads aren't the best place to push yourself to your limits and beyond. Often costly sometimes far worse.
What Matt and al said Keep the throttle constant and build up (ok Matt didn't say that).... but in my experience, only one way to find out. Try it. Then keep pushing it a bit more until the inevitable happens or you reach your limit. About a 14 year old girl Rear brake for bringing the front down... so wouldn't want to apply that if you actually want to get some air....
Thanks Wilbert and jimbo glad there are still some serious mature people on this site Ha Keep it Country