Technique Clinic

[warewolf]

Even cracking the block seems like it would be quite likely and yet I have never seen anything like that happen. I have not been around the Adv riding traps for very long, but I have never even heard of it happening.

How do we get away with abusing them as we do?

Sometimes we don't.

When I was shopping for an XR 10+ years ago, I was continually warned about cracked heads. And vigorously warned off any that had big-bore (or big valve) kits fitted. Quite a few shops I went to had at least one XR in with a stuffed head. But that was Aussie heat induced, I'd expect, not sudden dunkings in water... but then again, who'd know?

But given the sheer numbers of XRs out there, the failure rate was probably very low.

[Cross Rider]

Mike Cotter is touring & doing clinics in conjunction with Kawa NZ for motorcrossers. He can be reached at madracing1@xtra.co.nz

Not sure of dates etc but think it's for greenies -not sure on others. He mentioned Gonzo may not make it thru some parts of the track - I just laughed -hahaha like that It's to be held on a motoross rack I think.
Contact him & see.

Thanks for that, have contacted Mike and have booked in for early Dec Kawasaki off road day training session. Good info thanks.

[XF650]

Here's one for you guys up north
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...98#post1805098

[Eddieb]

I found this DVD very good for learning the basics.

+100

Cost me about $60 to bring in from the states, I've only watched half of it so far and reckon it's already paid for itself with how it's helped my gravel & off road riding.

[XF650]

Congratulations Birchy.
Remember that part of his Trail Skills Training income helps fund his competition riding.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=87147

[Padmei]

Last Sunday I meandered over to Marlborough where Chris Cotter & Team Green were holding a Kwaka motocross training day.

As I rocked up on Gonzo I felt a little conspicuous with my 200kg behemoth whilst the little green mxers were being lifted off utes & rolled off trailers. However I had come to pick up whatever skills I could gather during the day & most importantly have some fun.

The 25 or so rockstar hopefuls were divided in three groups - intermediate/experts, novice & trail. The latter group comprised solely of myself so off with the novices I went.

After a bike assessment we went with our appointed coach for the first of 3 sessions. Mike Cotter himself took us for the rudimentaries of body position, rear wheel sliding, cone weaving & stop/start control where a lot of emphasis was placed upon clutch control & body position.

After about an hour we had lunch then rotated to new coach Ben for cornering. As the track had very few friendly ruts or berms it was a bit hit & miss with the KLR wanting to wash out with its heavy front end but driving out of the corners in attack mode was tre cool.

The next session was jumps with Brad. After taking gonzo around the track a few times I had had him airbourne a few times but definetly knew 1/2 a metre was the max height I'd like to land it. So content to sit back & watch the others attempt airtime, I was stoked when Brad asked if I wanted to ride his KX250F race bike.

Um... split second hesitation then I was on it looking for the key & starter button.Hot start? Kick start? what kind of strange talk is this? Finally figured it out then wahhoooooo I finally know what it's like to fly!

Those of you who know the sensation of your first real jump will know what I'm talking about -Crusty Demons kiss my arse. I think I jumped a whole 3 or 4 metres

After freaking myself out a few times the day wore itself out & it was time to regroup & watch the mx boys practise race starts - noise & roost everywhere.



The guys were very cool, friendly & encouraging however by their own admission didn't really know much about adventure bikes over 90kgs. The instruction on body position was much the same as described on the DSR dvd however the biggest difference in instruction was the use of knees to grip the bike to control it vs the DSR approach of letting the bike move more underneath you. With the big bike I find it easy to manouvre standing over top of it letting it fold itself underneath around tight corners.


Whilst I felt I didn't learn as much as I thought I would (especially cornering in gravel), it was a day spent riding the bike in challenging circumstances & by the end I was feeling that 'togetherness' with the bike.
A great day riding & apparently there are 3 other KLR riders in Chch tomm taking part. Good luck to them & thanks Team Green, Mike, Ben & Brad.

Now off to tardme...KX... hmm

[warewolf]

Nice one! I want to do a course like that.

The instruction on body position was much the same as described on the DSR dvd however the biggest difference in instruction was the use of knees to grip the bike to control it vs the DSR approach of letting the bike move more underneath you.

They are kinda horses for courses. Most of the time, holding the bike with your knees (or guiding it, not holding tight but allowing fore/aft/up/down but not sideways) is good - I have worked out that that is what stops the rear from slithering around in the greasy stuff. I have to consciously remember to do this lest I revert to mtb technique of keeping your knees away from the frame/headset when the going gets rough.

For the tight low-speed turns shown in the DSR vid, you have to spread your knees. Although the refined version of that is probably to keep your down-side knee against the tank as you tilt the bike, bringing it back to centre as the bike comes back up.

[buggsubique]

Nice one! I want to do a course like that.

They are kinda horses for courses. Most of the time, holding the bike with your knees (or guiding it, not holding tight but allowing fore/aft/up/down but not sideways) is good - I have worked out that that is what stops the rear from slithering around in the greasy stuff. I have to consciously remember to do this lest I revert to mtb technique of keeping your knees away from the frame/headset when the going gets rough.

For the tight low-speed turns shown in the DSR vid, you have to spread your knees. Although the refined version of that is probably to keep your down-side knee against the tank as you tilt the bike, bringing it back to centre as the bike comes back up.

Ditto the MTB technique - It's actually all I know (BMX, MTB, DH, now Trail / adv riding). I prefer to keep myself separate from the machine and let it do its own thing in the gravel, but sometimes in the loose dirt / mud it is a full body fight to get the bike in the right direction. I did about 15km up a river (yes, in / through / up the river, not a 4wd track beside a river). Was hellishly hardwork on the clutch hand and kidneys, but I did find sitting tight, narrow knees and a sense of balance worked well to get through very rocky / bouldery sections. In those situations I was finding the loose body would end up with the bike kicking out in a certain direction... like the man says, horses for courses.

[pampa]

Last Sunday I meandered over to Marlborough where Chris Cotter & Team Green were holding a Kwaka motocross training day.

As I rocked up on Gonzo I felt a little conspicuous with my 200kg behemoth whilst the little green mxers were being lifted off utes & rolled off trailers. However I had come to pick up whatever skills I could gather during the day & most importantly have some fun.

The 25 or so rockstar hopefuls were divided in three groups - intermediate/experts, novice & trail. The latter group comprised solely of myself so off with the novices I went.

After a bike assessment we went with our appointed coach for the first of 3 sessions. Mike Cotter himself took us for the rudimentaries of body position, rear wheel sliding, cone weaving & stop/start control where a lot of emphasis was placed upon clutch control & body position.

After about an hour we had lunch then rotated to new coach Ben for cornering. As the track had very few friendly ruts or berms it was a bit hit & miss with the KLR wanting to wash out with its heavy front end but driving out of the corners in attack mode was tre cool.

The next session was jumps with Brad. After taking gonzo around the track a few times I had had him airbourne a few times but definetly knew 1/2 a metre was the max height I'd like to land it. So content to sit back & watch the others attempt airtime, I was stoked when Brad asked if I wanted to ride his KX250F race bike.

Um... split second hesitation then I was on it looking for the key & starter button.Hot start? Kick start? what kind of strange talk is this? Finally figured it out then wahhoooooo I finally know what it's like to fly!

Those of you who know the sensation of your first real jump will know what I'm talking about -Crusty Demons kiss my arse. I think I jumped a whole 3 or 4 metres

After freaking myself out a few times the day wore itself out & it was time to regroup & watch the mx boys practise race starts - noise & roost everywhere.



The guys were very cool, friendly & encouraging however by their own admission didn't really know much about adventure bikes over 90kgs. The instruction on body position was much the same as described on the DSR dvd however the biggest difference in instruction was the use of knees to grip the bike to control it vs the DSR approach of letting the bike move more underneath you. With the big bike I find it easy to manouvre standing over top of it letting it fold itself underneath around tight corners.


Whilst I felt I didn't learn as much as I thought I would (especially cornering in gravel), it was a day spent riding the bike in challenging circumstances & by the end I was feeling that 'togetherness' with the bike.
A great day riding & apparently there are 3 other KLR riders in Chch tomm taking part. Good luck to them & thanks Team Green, Mike, Ben & Brad.

Now off to tardme...KX... hmm

Good on ya mate, i'd like to do such a thing but always hesitating due to lack appropriate bike (an skills)

Cheers,
Pampa

[Cross Rider]

Mike Cotter is touring & doing clinics in conjunction with Kawa NZ for motorcrossers. He can be reached at madracing1@xtra.co.nz

Not sure of dates etc but think it's for greenies -not sure on others. He mentioned Gonzo may not make it thru some parts of the track - I just laughed -hahaha like that It's to be held on a motoross rack I think.
Contact him & see.

Did Mikes course today in CHCH, cost was $50. He had 2 other pro riders giving instruction plus himself. Mate and I turned up on KLR's another 5 fellas ranging form 12yrs to 45 on motor cross bikes. Both my mate and I will never ride the same again. The 'one on one' stuff got us from learning to stand up when riding off road, using clutch and brakes properly( thats how green we are ). Do small jumps, take corners at pace in sand and by the end of the session we can now both pull wheelies on our KLR's. Best $50 I've spent this year. Learners on dirt like us guys appreciate any help we can get. Put me on a road bike and I'll take a 70k corner at 120. Different story on dirt. Thanks very much for the heads up about mike mate.

[Padmei]

we can now both pull wheelies on our KLR's. .

I was believing you up until I read this.

[Cross Rider]

Ask Mike, no better learning than one on one. No better student than one who doesn't know what can or cannot be done. A life lesson to take away, if it can be done once it can be done again. Eventually it becomes the norm. Once again thanks for talking to a lessor rider.

[Padmei]

Ask Mike, no better learning than one on one. No better student than one who doesn't know what can or cannot be done. A life lesson to take away, if it can be done once it can be done again. Eventually it becomes the norm. Once again thanks for talking to a lessor rider.

Mike tried on my bike but the bald tyre on wet grass meant it just kept spinning. When I put my new tyre on I'll give it a go

[XF650]

Borrowed from Survival Skills forum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_dB6...=43864&page=18

[CrazyFrog]

Borrowed from Survival Skills forum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_dB6...=43864&page=18

Hee hee, that vid made me larf.....what a winner.