Help going down hills

[rocketman1]

I dont have trouble on my trail bike , going up steep hills, or through rocky streams, dowhills in general and consider myself an average to good trail bike rider
BUt I do have trouble going down real steep hills, like wet damp clay, these downhills are so steep you could not walk down, you would probably need to slide down on your backsides.
My bike is a 250 4stroke, it never seems to stall going down hills but I have lost the front traction several times, with dire consequences, with bike and me sliding most of the way down the hill together. My tires are slightly used running about 10psi
I would say that half the other riders were losing it on this descent, but others made it look easy.
If you are reading this and you can ride very steep slippery slopes, can you share your secrets.

[Ocean1]

Biggest improvement I ever made in that area was learning to get my arse back further. That, and practicing riding with the front brake as close to lock-up as possible whenever there was nothing else immediately threatening...

[gwynfryn]

As soon as you can release the brakes and coast the better.

[Coldrider]

As soon as you can release the brakes and coast the better.

brakes, should be the front one only, and engine braking will destabilise the rear and send the rear out sideways. When it goes pearshaped release the front, let the bike settle and back on the front brake. Arms straight, ass over the back and never put a foot down.

[gwynfryn]

The idea is to use the most of both brakes but not to the point of locking up. If its possible to get away without touching the brakes even better.

[scott411]

brakes, should be the front one only, and engine braking will destabilise the rear and send the rear out sideways. When it goes pearshaped release the front, let the bike settle and back on the front brake. Arms straight, ass over the back and never put a foot down.

i disagree with not using the rear brake, or engine braking,

i use the rear brake as much as i can, and the engine braking as well,

the front brake however is your greatest control of speed,

standing up is also a massive help, once you sit down you have lost a heap of control,

[nzspokes]

i disagree with not using the rear brake, or engine braking,

i use the rear brake as much as i can, and the engine braking as well,

the front brake however is your greatest control of speed,

standing up is also a massive help, once you sit down you have lost a heap of control,

My problem is trying to use engine braking and rear brake at the same time. She stalls. 2 stroke thing I guess.

[Coldrider]

i disagree with not using the rear brake, or engine braking,

i use the rear brake as much as i can, and the engine braking as well,

the front brake however is your greatest control of speed,

standing up is also a massive help, once you sit down you have lost a heap of control,

That was my experience of riding enduro bikes, with the object to get round a loop in the fastest possible time. That is how I rode, and it worked for me. The only time this went wrong was when catching up to a bunny on a one rut downhill.

[gwynfryn]

My problem is trying to use engine braking and rear brake at the same time. She stalls. 2 stroke thing I guess.

Pull the clutch in on the nasty stuff or you will stall all right.

[scott411]

My problem is trying to use engine braking and rear brake at the same time. She stalls. 2 stroke thing I guess.

definatly keep a finger on the clutch, two strokes are a touch harder on this sort of thing,

[scott411]

That was my experience of riding enduro bikes, with the object to get round a loop in the fastest possible time. That is how I rode, and it worked for me. The only time this went wrong was when catching up to a bunny on a one rut downhill.

i just feel i have more control using both brakes, and being able to slide the back around is needed as well,

[Ocean1]

Pull the clutch in on the nasty stuff or you will stall all right.

The OP, however has a 4T, and I'd suggest that he leaves the clutch alone. In fact if it's got a decompressor it's a useful way to keep the rear sorta self-modulating without undue risk of stalling, and keeping the rear turning, even at speeds considerably slower than bikespeed tends to keep it tracking.

[Coldrider]

Best way to learn is to pick up a pre 83 enduro bike with drum brakes XR,(even XLS were used) PE or IT KLX. Ride up and down a riverbed for 30 minutes, drown it in a muddy bog hole for another 20 mins, ride up a steep hill and then descend a steep slippery downhill and apply any brake that might still work, throw in the odd log across the rut to jump over. Then get a modern enduro bike and repeat, there is no comparison.

[oldguy]

i just feel i have more control using both brakes, and being able to slide the back around is needed as well,

+1 real steep and slippery it works for me, also head up and looking ahead

[browny]

i use both brakes on steep downhills and as someone suggested my decomp, works like jake brakes.( you'll hear them on the big trucks when they slowing or on downhills, rumbling engine braking). most of the problem tends to be a mental thing tho, its really no different to braking hard from high speed. except that you are usually standing. just a brake balancing act. that works for me. i couldnt get away with just using front only, would end up on the ground.