Controlling the BEAST!

[MWV46]

As many of you guys know I had my first real ride the other day on my 450.
I have to say it that handles great but when I really got on it I felt like I was struggling to hang on. Is this just me not being used to riding, being out of shape and being out for so long and jumping on a BEAST right away, or does anyone else feel this way when riding a 450? I felt like this usually when jumping and over obsticles. Down choppy straights I could hold the gas open and fly no problem, felt natural and in control. Is it that I need to get used to the power displacment on a four stroke? I was afraid to coast over jumps like I could on a two stroke so I made sure I was on the gas when I hit the jumps face. Sometimes I would let off the throttle a little before the jump then open it back up as I hit the face. I'm hoping I just need more time on the bike to get comfortable on it and I'm sure strength conditioning would help. Comments, suggestions and tips please.

[psycho393]

Sounds to me like you just need some more time on the beast. There's mountains of power in there and eventually your right wrist will get calibrated for dosing it out at the right time. As far as the jumping thing goes, just try and have the throttle open and not be putting more power down. That will keep things flying like they should and still be comfortable for you.

[crfjedi393]

You're coming back from a pretty long layoff but you're an experienced rider for the most part. So you know about body position and such. I think this is simply a "new" learning experience for you. I ride the 250 and my buddy m2 rides the 450. He's younger and bigger than me. We switch bikes now and then and all I can say is that he has much more fun on my 250 than I have on his 450. It wears me out. I really have to "finesse" the throttle. Especially coming out of corners. I could probably ride his bike faster than I ride my own but it is just plain scary. Definitely a beast! Seat time is the key for you right now. Just take it easy and put the time in lap after lap. You'll get the feel for it and will not feel like your arms are being pulled off as you ride more and more.
#1 Be comfortable with feeling slow! I'm one of many older guys that came back after a layoff and got injured fairly quickly. Your wife won't like that at all! The speed will come on it's own. Don't push too hard.

[MWV46]

Well, I have no choice but to be comfortable feeling slow, I am slow...lol. When I road it hard after a half a lap I would have to pull off and rest because my arms where so tired. I was trying not to squeeze the bars to tight but man its hard to hold on, haha. I guess I got to get used to squeezing the bike more with my legs. I know I need more arm conditioning too. Time to get out the broomstick, string and a weight.

Thanks for the tips guys.

[superrooster]

Drink four of these and your problems will be solved

[Woody_393]

Everything everyone said is valid (although, I'm not so sure about ^^ )

Seat time is probably the most important thing for you at this point.

Also, you have to keep in mind, that in the beginning, in order to go fast, you have to go slow. Get the basics down first.

One key for feeling like you are getting your arms yanked off is to anticipate the forces (either braking or accel).

Practice this in the pits. Go slow and give it some gas, lean forward in anticipation. Then slow down, and lean back. The key is to keep your weight on your foot pegs, and not on your hands. I would do this a bunch until you get the feel for it, and then go out and try to do only that. It will help your arms a TON! Also when doing this, the key is to only lightly have your hands on the bars. You could even have a very lose grip when doing it, use your hands only to help pull yourself forward in anticipation, but not when you are already accellerating.

Hope that helps, and as unfortunate as this may sound... You just gotta ride more. Too bad I'm not a Dr, and could prescribe it for you so the wife would buy in too

[Florida 393]

MV,
Jedi, Woody and Psycho hit the nail on the head. Just take the time to get used to the power and the power delivery of the big four stroke. I went to open class (500) two strokes in 1975 from a 250 and it was an eye opener. Same thing here and now for me, especially after a layoff.

Do make sure the bar bend and position are right for you and that the grips are the compond and texture you use best. Arm pump is something we all deal with. Jedi pointed out the difference that the 250F made for him and m2g4b from the 450. I ride John's bikes and it is like a vacation for me. However the power is addicitve and once you get the bike dialed in on personal items you won't want to go back. That CRF 450R is rated the best bike to come down the track in a long time. You will come to love it believe me. god luck and make sure to get to the GMB IV

Bill

[Satch0922]

What your experiencing is normal. I came back to MX after a 15 year lay off , bought a YZ426F, hit the motocross track and was lucky to do 2 laps! It will take some time to get used to the bike, to get your body into "mx shape" and to regain your confidence. Don't rush it. Just have a plan everytime you ride on what you want to accomplish.

If make a plan and try to accomplish it every ride (rather than go out and try to push it so you don't feel slow) you will have more fun and avoid injury. Injuries at this point are a BIG set back....ask my ankle and my collarbone and my foot and my jaw and shoulder and my............

[psycho393]

Satch I don't wanna ask your and I quote "........."

[Yardpro393]

i agree with the others here. more seat time.

the cool thing about the thumpers, is that although you may feel slower, I'll be willing to bet that your laptimes are less on the thumper than the smoker.

[Satch0922]

YP...how much money?

[KX02]

Just take it slow, if you can, find somewhere to ride besides a track where you can just get used to riding, shifting, breaking, and of course experimenting with the suspension. I didn't think you would have too much of a conditioning problem with all the martial arts you do though. I'll tell you what, like I said before, I used to be able to ride in the woods behind my house. The first time I rode my bike back there I just cruised around an open field and didn't see anyone else. The second time I ran into this guy who is a very experienced rider, I'm still nowhere near as good as he is. Anyway, he's "like follow me around and I'll show you the ropes". That was probably the worst day I EVER had dirt biking! We're talking wet slippery clay hill climbs with wet leaves covering the clay. I had brand new boots on, I was missing all kinds of shifts, the suspension was not set up for me, way too hard. I rememer panicking going down a hill and locking the front brake. I crashed probably 4 or 5 times and was practically in shock at what a lousy job I was doing of navigating those trails. I thought I might just sell the bike and forget all about dirt biking. Now I'm looking forward to my 4th season coming up. I'm still pretty slow, but I keep it rubber side down and enjoy myself. So anyway, just keep riding!

[MWV46]

As I sit here reading this I am squeezing my new homemade stress ball (a rag and some duct tape) and have made the famous forearm pump machine (dowel, twine and a weight) which I have started using.

I do think the bars may be set a little forward for me I am short guy, maybe I'll try to turn them a little more towards me. I know the clutch lever was set way to high so I have turned it so it would force my elbows up to use it. Oh ya and this sucked to, I could hardly shift, my new boots where so stiff I couldn't get my toe under the shifter, I have raised the shifter one notch so we will see next time.

Satch, I am glad to hear that I'm not alone I thought maybe I was just an old wuss that can't take it any more. You have said exaclty what my plan was. When I went out the first time I had a plan to just take it easy learn the feel and get a little of my confidence back. Well I took it easy for the most part, not totally comfortable yet and did gain a little confidence. I wasnt as scared of getting a little air as I thought I would be. I didn't get crazy but I did clear a couple small obsticles. There was a nice set of double doubles which I just couldnt bring myself to do yet. It was a little greasy and I wasn't going to chance it. Next time though if its dry I'm doin it...lol.

My goal for next time I think will be to work on my arm strength between rides and put in two or three consecutive laps before I have to stop and rest the arms.

[Vintage Dave393]

Think 1 gear higher everywhere. This is a common problem for long time 2 stroke riders. If you are reving the 450 you are going to get worn out in no time. Most turns can be taken in 3rd on a 450.

Do this as training. Ride the entire track in 3rd gear. Don't shift. If you are riding on a fast track you might try the entire track in 4th gear. Stay low in the powerband (Buffyband) and use the torque to pull you around. You will go faster with less effort. If you are shifting more than 10 times a lap you are riding a 450 wrong.

[MWV46]

I'll try that Dave. I was in 2nd and 3rd most of the time. I kept stalling it too, was getting worn out kicking it over too...lol

[CRF731]

Originally Posted by MV930

I'll try that Dave. I was in 2nd and 3rd most of the time. I kept stalling it too, was getting worn out kicking it over too...lol

Try setting your idle a bit higher. I used to stall my 450 all the time too when I first got it. I set the idle a bit higher and it helped.

[Vintage Dave393]

Ditto on setting the idle higher. Also, get an adjustable fuel screw and play with it. If the low end mixture is too lean that will lead to stalls as well.

Remember, momentum is your friend on a 4 stroke.

[Slick393]

MV,
The most important and beneficial tip an instructor told me recently was to 'roll on the throttle and power smoothly coming out of corners .'

He said that I was trying to ride my 450 like my 2-smoke. I was going into a turn and then hammeing the throttle wide-open on the exits. It was causing my 450 to jump all over the place out of ruts and yanking my arms off. Once I learned to practice the roll-it-on technique, the 450 turned into my dream machine and made riding it a lot more fun. Inside ruts are now my buddies.



well, maybe just acquaintances.

[m2g4b]

Dont mean to still the topic, but question for vintage Dave....that was some great advice about riding a gear higher. When I was behind you at Splendora, CRF #248, was you riding in 3rd thru the corners and 4th on the straights. I was dropping to 2nd in alot of the corners and never made ground on you!!!!! Just wondering, might be something that I need to look at!!!

also, what Slick said is something I had to learn quick!!! You pin the throttle on a 450 and it will start breaking loose and dancing around everywhere!!! Roll the throttle and let the bike pull you around the track!!!!

AND MORE SEAT TIME!!!!!

[MWV46]

Thats exactally what I have not been doing! I was shutting it down and then hammering it back on coming out of the turns. I do need to learn to roll-off roll-on. I need a lot more seat time. When the weather gets better I can get out once a week but right now its still touch and go with the weather.