toofasttim Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 I've been trying to get this right for a while and would like to know how long it took others to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpa3 Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Can do the front around in circles, can't do the damned rear more than once (about 3 inches!) I'm sure there is a magice spell that you can buy to make the back wheel lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrysherco1117 Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 It was very hard for me, so i spent time watching the world guys do it, i figured out that they really keep there back as vertical as possible while they are hopping. I was allways hunched over so it made hopping harderfor me, but when i straightened out my back it accualy made it easier for some reason. Maybe it will do the same for you. So i guess it took me about a 3 weeks of alot of practice just doing hops and nothing else to really get it down.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motojojo Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Front took 6mo. back took about a year, on an '86 Yamaha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betabonkers Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Getting the back around is easy, it's staying balanced when it lands that is the hard bit!!! Work with the suspension, front or back. Slow down, and watch for the movement in the suspension. Once you realise this and get the timing right it is much easier. Even with that, i can still go in one direction better than the other. I am right handed and can hop the rear accurately to the right, but not so well to the left.... several of my mates are left handed and can do the hop well to the left.... is this the same with you guys? I used to be the same i could go to the right much better, but my mate is better at going left and always used to make sections that you had to hop left, now i can hop both ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldcake Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Hi, I need help and tipps. I can just about get back wheel around, but having a lot of trouble with front.I can get it whilst practising very small and using clutch rather than back brake.The bike just rolls back.Even when I'm in shed trying, I can't seem to get my foot to stay down on the brake. I any thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofasttim Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 (edited) Coldcake. I built an "H" frame to hold the front wheel and practiced hopping the back wheel using that. But that was bouncing the wheel at a standstill. In the real world you'd usually use a stoppie to move the back wheel around. Heath, yeah everyone has a preference. Strangely as a right hander I find moving to the left easier. Things I would like to know from those tyros who mastered hopping immediately are: a) Are you telling porkies? How old are you (I'm on the wrong side of 40 so the bod doesn't learn all that quickly anymore. I also had a period of 2 years with no bike) and c) how much time did you practice? Billy, coming from bike trials must be a huge benefit. Pic taken last night (and I was worried that I wasn't getting the rear wheel high enough). That wasn't a "static" hop but a stoppie with about a meter run-up: Edited December 7, 2007 by TooFastTim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnkennedy Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 I am 17, could do it after about 20mins of getting used to a bike (for the first time out on one in 8 years). The best tip is to make sure that your suspension is set up correctly. (The photo above has the perfect travel, try fiddling around with the rebound setting). Compress your forks (vital part) By bending knees and pull back, leaning slightly to the side you want to go When pulling back slightly straighten your knees (holding clutch and at least the bake brake, frount helps me but some mates dont need to) Compress shocker with as much force as possible (till you gat the hang) As you fell the shock spring moving back up grip with feet, lean to the desired side And PUSH forward don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montman Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 Being a real 'oldie' I have tried hopping, with very little success, over many years. Is there any other 55+s out there who have obtained those skills much later in life? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sectionone Posted December 10, 2007 Report Share Posted December 10, 2007 A key for me to hopping the back end is to turn the steering wheel in the correct direction. I used to think if you want to hop left, you turn towards the right and let the bike straighten out. This works on a bicycle, but on a motorcycle the back end will lift up but not over to the left. What works better to hop left is to start with the handlebars turned to the left. As the back end swings to the left, you start turning right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feetup Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 It should be mentioned that there is a big difference between being able to 'hop' and being able to hop reliably and consistently in a section, such that you can place your front or rear tire EXACTLY where you want it, when you want it there, and keep your balance while resting, as you set up for your next hazard in the sectiion.. BIG difference... This comes with years of practice, before you can consistently apply hopping in a competition without putting your feet down, but you'll get there if you keep at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toofasttim Posted December 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 It's mostly the consistancy that I find difficult. The hopping I can do but one day I'm Raga the next a squid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 I've been trying on and off for the last 6 months or so. Don't get that much time on the bike so its not easy - usually only fiddling round after I've finished at a Trial. Now and then I can get the front to move where I want it but rarely can I balance afterwards. Can hardly lift the rear at all! Guess I'm a bit cautious about going over the bars! Daft thing is I can hop and skip and bounce no problem on almost any push bike - I've ridden cycle trials but like a bit of hopping! Best example of hopping I've seen is on Ryan Youngs' Training video - he explains exactly how to do it and does it nice and slow and exaggerates everything so its easy to see. Still can't do it though!!! I guess I'm in the minority too being 19 and unable to hop . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swooshdave Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 About the only hopping I do is when the kickstarter kicks back, throwing my knee into the handlebar, causing me to hop around and swear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnied Posted December 11, 2007 Report Share Posted December 11, 2007 I love the poll Couldn't be a***d [ 8 ] ** [32.00%] Spot on Vinnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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