stalling in corners

[motocrossjake12]

hey guys i noticed that when i try to corner and i hit the rear brake hard that i stall out almost every single time i do it. i was at the track the other day and i stalled out and almost got ran over another rider. its really scary sometimes just stalling out like that. and everytime i stall, i fall over cause im leaning over so much. when i dont stall out, i corner very well. so can anybody help me? does anyone know what the problem is? whether it be with the bike or my riding style. anything would help. thanks

[cowboyona426]

I'm no pro by any means, but here's what I'd suggest- try down-shifting before you enter the corner so you're not lugging the engine. And/or, you could try turning up your idle just a tad, that might help keep things spinning. What kind of bike?

[motocrossjake12]

ive got an 06 yz250f with a dr. d pipe. the only time i really hit the brakes hard is when i have to go into a really tight turn. i usually go into it in 2nd but it still stalls. my idle speed is fine. naybe its the carb. ill try cleaning that out and see if that helps. also i plan on i getting the boyesen quick shot. i hear it really helps alot. ill get back to you after i clean the carb. please keep the tips coming! thanks!

[cowboyona426]

Are you lugging it going into the corners, or is it revved up some? If you're lugging, you probably need to downshift. If you aren't, then you just suck! Just kidding man, it may just take you a while to figure it out. If you just came off a pinger then you probably just need to get used to thumpers and you'll have it down in no time. Good luck!

[motocrossjake12]

ha ha. good one. ya i am lugging it. thanks for the tip. ill go out and try it right now.

[ken_atm]

stupid question but.... when you slam the brakes....do you pull in the clutch?

[motocrossjake12]

ya. im not that dumb. i just went out there and im in that berm really low now. it feels really good. i am going literally 5 times faster through the berm. thanks a lot.

[cowboyona426]

Thumpers are different than pingers, if you slam on the brakes without the clutch in, they will die almost every time where pingers will usually keep going. Glad to hear you're getting it worked out

[ken_atm]

Originally Posted by motocrossjake12

ya. im not that dumb. i just went out there and im in that berm really low now. it feels really good. i am going literally 5 times faster through the berm. thanks a lot.

I didnt mean to say you are dumb if you took it that way...just had to ask cuz you didnt say anything about the clutch. Sorry if you took it that way

[motocrossjake12]

no i didnt take it that way its just i make fun of myself cause i do some pretty dumb stuff.

[ken_atm]

good

[jimz360]

4 strokes are known for lugging a bit when you let of the gas due to there compression, i think most factory riders use slipper type clutches to combat this, i could be wrong

[Billyboypaints]

does your bike idle good? maybe you need to mess with the idle .maybe when you slam on the brakes it doesnt idle so you cant gas it quick enough and it stalls? i dont know dudee

[mxmama393]

The past two weeks...6 rides or so, I have been working on my cornering and the same darn thing happens. A LOT!
I ride a KX250f

My plan of attack as I enter a turn is this.....

*down shift to the lowest gear I can come out of the corner in. Usually 2nd

*overlapping the the engine break, I brake using rear and front together.

*then my goal it to immediately hit the throttle while ever so lightly still dragging the front brake through the corner.


Is this correct?

Sometimes I get it and it feels great.

I am nowhere near being consistent, its just what I started working on. Sometimes I use the clutch when I break, sometimes I don't.
I find myself stalling both ways.

I have been trying not to use it, cause I have been told I shouldn't.

Also the clutch lever hits my fingers on the grip when I pull it in, so maybe its not engaging all the way? Not sure how to solve that.

Any corrections to what I am doing would be helpful.

[dhighlan]

MXMAMA
I was thinking about your last few comments on different threads about stalling on the corners. Have you ever tried scrubbing all your speed while still straight before entering the corner then a smooth throttle all the way through. The bikes seem to turn better with the throttle on and even though the brake will shorten the bike slightly caution is advised since it is way more prone to tuck under or side out. The brake does tend to stand the bike up as well. Do you find that you are going down 2 gears or mostly just one? Mine, even on the 2 stoke, will stall when going down 2 and stomping the brakes. Also I have noticed if I lock the rear for a power slide it is more prone to stall. If I come down just hard enough but keep the rear rolling a tad it lessens the stall effect. I went to a Rekluse on my 450 and I don't think it will ever come off.
Some corners require brake to throttle at the apex but if it doesn't I try to do all my braking in a straight line(more braking power) then roll the throttle all the way through the turn. It seems for me to turn better, less sliding, and if I need more I can throttle the back-end to square up if necessary. I feel faster when hooking up and have drive coming through and out of the corner. Only if trying to hold a rut do I feather the front brake or square it on a dime.

As far as hitting your knuckles with the lever, i am sure the engagement pt is further out so I wouldn't be concerned with that.

[The Baron]

All of your braking should be done when you are straight. I would imagine that you probably have more stalling issues when there is a turn right after a jump, right?

Brake when you are straight, before the turn. The front brake does the majority of your stopping, use it with authority but be sure to let off prior to leaning in. The front brake does the stopping while the rear brake is there to keep the rear end planted. If you use too much rear you will stall out, slide out or both. If you use the front correctly it will stop you, if you use the rear correctly the bike will stay planted without the rear end trying to pass you up.

If there is a corner right after a jump, set up in the air. Plan your line and jump so your bike is pointed in the right direction when you land. Downshift in the air.

Don't panic. If you stress out and lock the brakes up the bike will do any number of things, like stall, low side, go over the berm, etc.

Relax and set up the turn before you get there.

Another trick for the rear brake draggers, or stompers for that matter, is to lower the rear brake so it's tough to slam it and lock the rear tire up.

Body positioning is important as well. As you are coming to the turn you should be standing, squeezing the bike with your knees and leaning back slightly to keep from getting tossed over the bars when you brake hard with the front brake. Just as you enter the turn, smoothly go from standing to leaning the bike as you sit as far forward as you can while also setting your butt on the outside edge of the seat, stick your inside leg out, push your outside knee into the shroud while also pushing down/back ont he outside peg, let off the brakes and start rolling on the throttle while letting the clutch out.

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn't it? Pretty complicated sounding when it's all written down but if you practice one thing at a time you'll slowly start doing it all without thinking about it and you'll be railing turns.

One more thing about thumpers. Use the engine braking to help you slow down. Downshift and work the clutch as you brake. The engine braking can do wonders to help slow you down when working in conjunction with the brakes. It's all abotu control. You have to have throttle control, clutch control, brake control along with proper technique and body positioning.

[mxmama393]

Great... 1st thing I am definitely doing wrong is breaking into the turn... I start breaking when Im straight but I have been trying to time it so I am breaking into the apex.

I have been drilling my corners on a double figure 8 thats over a mile long. So, I am down shifting many gears. Sometimes I go as fast as I can handle in what ever the highest gear is on my bike while on the straights.(trying to work on my fear of speed) Sometimes I just keep it in 4th. Depends on what turn I am approaching. No Jumps on this track. No berms either.



Ok this is about to get kinda technical....


I was told that when you hit the throttle it should be at the apex and to sit at that very moment to help push the bike into the dirt and keep it grounded. Basically Throttle and sitting take place together.

I have been focusing on closing the gap between breaking and throttle.

If I am finish my breaking before I enter the turn. Would I need to hit the throttle at that point and throttle through the turn? Then still sit at the apex or when I hit the throttle.

Hope that makes sense.


Thanks for the help guys... I think this is really where my problem is!

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by The Baron

Body positioning is important as well. As you are coming to the turn you should be standing, squeezing the bike with your knees and leaning back slightly to keep from getting tossed over the bars when you brake hard with the front brake. Just as you enter the turn, smoothly go from standing to leaning the bike as you sit as far forward as you can while also setting your butt on the outside edge of the seat, stick your inside leg out, push your outside knee into the shroud while also pushing down/back ont he outside peg, let off the brakes and start rolling on the throttle while letting the clutch out.

Yes I practice all those things... still have to remind mind self about weighting the outside peg sometimes, but if I stay standing long enough, it automatically happens

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by The Baron

One more thing about thumpers. Use the engine braking to help you slow down. Downshift and work the clutch as you brake. The engine braking can do wonders to help slow you down when working in conjunction with the brakes. It's all abotu control. You have to have throttle control, clutch control, brake control along with proper technique and body positioning.

So you believe after down shifting using the clutch (on a 4 stroke) is necessary. I get mixed advice about this. From riding a two stroke, its automatic for me, but I have a mental battle with myself to NOT use the clutch

[mxmama393]

Originally Posted by dhighlan

As far as hitting your knuckles with the lever, i am sure the engagement pt is further out so I wouldn't be concerned with that.

Well I have some slack in the lever so I can reach it. Doesn't that make it engage further in?