Excellent tips. I’m 67, I’ve raced and rode desert for 30+ years. About 6 years ago I transitioned to motocross. Ruts have always been something I try to avoid. Next time out I’m going to try what you’ve suggested.
I’m also 67, ridden off road for years. Just discovering front brake use to plant the front tire and now see this. This channel has great real-life riding tips.
Riding a four stroke I found hitting the rut faster than what I initially comfortable with then dragging the front brake to the apex then smoothly transitioning to gas really improved my speed.
I was so naive when I started riding. When you watch somebody ride well they can make it look easy, but I quickly learned that the nuances of riding are very complex and require the finest tuning. Great video, I definitely learned more.
I have ridden mx bikes since 1984. I am a free rider and don't race but whenever you get a couple guys together they always want to make and ride a track. I always hated ruts. What you said makes complete sense. I always used to have my bike stand up on me. I remember this one time when I was really nailing the ruts and after watching your video I was going into them slow, leaning and making a nice smooth arc with some throttle and riding right out of them. Now it was softer sand and not a hard packed rut. I am going to subscribe to your channel because I'm 51 and you're never too old to learn. I'm still trying to figure out what you were saying by using the front brake but I'll watch it again later. I'm getting ready for work now.
To answer your question about the front brake, it's juts a subtle "dragging" of the front brake that keeps the front forks slightly compressed which in turns keeps the weight on the front wheel and is less likely to want to climb out of the rut.
I haven't tried the front brake drag but I've heard others talk about it. I am physically handicapped, due to the sport of motocross or more accurately my lack of knowledge at the time, and my dexterity isn't great. I have learned through taking instruction from Tyler Livesay that I wasn't looking far enough ahead, body position is crucial (needed to be more forward almost on the tank to plant that front wheel) and wherever the head goes the bike will follow. Once lightbulb went off, cornering has become easier. Thanks for the info. Definitely insightful.
Ruts were insane in walton lol they rip it so deep ✊😵 150ft long ruts/slot car racing. I set up by slowing down, lighting a cigarette reciting the Lord’s Prayer, crush a coors light, toss my cig butt then immediately cross rut and stall the bike as I fly off high siding into a mud slide on my back 👊😎 experience.
As the bike leans into the corner, the contact point of the rear tire moves slightly rearward. Imagine the bike sitting crossways in a concrete culvert. The contact vector goes from horizontal to slighly dipping down (pitch forward). This increases the anti squat effect of the rear suspension. If you are in a lot of ruts, increase sag a bit.
Yup. The amateur in me runs in hard then brakes etc. I’ve been getting much better at basically staying off the brakes a lot more. Trying to “not disrupt” the corner flow. It does feel slower at times. Great video
I ride a penny farthing, off road ruts are definitely an issue. Keeping the power laid down whilst also a high lean angle, trying to minimise that tail wiggle...sorts the men out from the boys I can tell you.
interesting, a racer taught me to be completely off both brakes and on the throttle before even leaning the bike over, so it's settled. yet on supermoto i was taught to keep the front brake on until i think the apex or until exiting the corner. some guys use throttle and rear brake at the same time?
my problem was normally just going slower than i should for the entire corner. not using that excess momentum force that allows the bike to lean over and get a bit of G-loading into the berm. gong too slow makes the rut feel too long. then i would tend to fall to the inside and have to gas it more to stay up. i lost a few championship by mere points from loosing too much time in the corners. so i can't relate to the - slow down early part.
Yes. Don't think of it so much as hard braking or hard throttle though, it's that subtle combination of smooth throttle and subtle braking that will push weight into that front tire
Great video, I used to race for a dealership when I was a kid and we had practice days and did things like this but most people when they go out for practice they just go as fast as they can I’ve never seen guys trying to do different things
I have a problem while riding in a rut on single track trails. I feel like I have a hard time staying in the center, then the front tire starts to ride up the side, throws my balance off and I feel like I need to steer into the side I’m riding up on just to stay upright. Any tips or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
hopefully he'll answer, but are you staying steady on the throttle? I know from experience what you just described will happen if you come off the throttle.
ruts on single track trails can often have similar symptoms, your front tire wants to climb out of either side. However the technique to manage this is different than ruts in corners. Typically if I experience this on single track I try to keep a couple things in mind. #1. If your tire starts climbing out stay on the throttle. The second you let off the throttle your tire will climb out more aggressively. If you can do your best to stay smooth on the throttle you will often power through it. Once you have recovered your balance focus on line choice and looking ahead. Often times if I lose focus or become lazy with my line choice I will find that my tire wants to climb out more frequently. If I look ahead and focus on where I want my front tire to be ideally I often reduce how many times I experience the tire climbing out.
@@JeremyFoytik yeah, I’ve noticed it happening when no longer accelerating but maintaining speed (usually in 3rd gear), and standing in a neutral position or maybe slightly back.
@@ridewiththeknights thanks for the pointers. What about body position to keep the front tire from climbing, should I be putting more weight on the front or on the rear? I noticed if I have more weight on the rear the front feels like it wants to wash out / throw me off balance.
@@live4glamis the priority has to be on making sure the front does not wash out. it's better to get further forward. if its too far you will know because the rear will start spinning out or kicking out, then adjust by moving back a touch from there.
Leaning will come naturally as you get faster as long as you continue to look ahead Ive never been good at ruts but ive just bought a yzf 450 and with tips like these ive managed to hop on and send it once or twice with a tip over Managing the front brake instead of the rear is the challenge
The best way to learn how to ride ruts is to make a figure 8, nothing comes close to how many ruts you can hit in 20 minutes. ruclips.net/video/2G2Q2oysvI4/видео.htmlsi=xOe-WCO5hsumGhZz
Excellent tips. I’m 67, I’ve raced and rode desert for 30+ years. About 6 years ago I transitioned to motocross. Ruts have always been something I try to avoid. Next time out I’m going to try what you’ve suggested.
ruts are your friend and especially on a moto track , takes some head space but learn to love them 🙂
74 years old here desert raced in 60s and 70s . Now in Thailand but still ride off road here.
You’re never too old to try new things! Glad to hear you are riding!
I’m also 67, ridden off road for years. Just discovering front brake use to plant the front tire and now see this. This channel has great real-life riding tips.
Glad to see you're still out there ripping!
Riding a four stroke I found hitting the rut faster than what I initially comfortable with then dragging the front brake to the apex then smoothly transitioning to gas really improved my speed.
I was so naive when I started riding. When you watch somebody ride well they can make it look easy, but I quickly learned that the nuances of riding are very complex and require the finest tuning. Great video, I definitely learned more.
Love to hear it. Thanks for watching
Thanks for the nice tips, I am 61, motocross and enduro rider, and as much as I hear those tips the more it’s going to come natural to us
I have ridden mx bikes since 1984. I am a free rider and don't race but whenever you get a couple guys together they always want to make and ride a track. I always hated ruts. What you said makes complete sense. I always used to have my bike stand up on me. I remember this one time when I was really nailing the ruts and after watching your video I was going into them slow, leaning and making a nice smooth arc with some throttle and riding right out of them. Now it was softer sand and not a hard packed rut. I am going to subscribe to your channel because I'm 51 and you're never too old to learn. I'm still trying to figure out what you were saying by using the front brake but I'll watch it again later. I'm getting ready for work now.
To answer your question about the front brake, it's juts a subtle "dragging" of the front brake that keeps the front forks slightly compressed which in turns keeps the weight on the front wheel and is less likely to want to climb out of the rut.
I haven't tried the front brake drag but I've heard others talk about it. I am physically handicapped, due to the sport of motocross or more accurately my lack of knowledge at the time, and my dexterity isn't great. I have learned through taking instruction from Tyler Livesay that I wasn't looking far enough ahead, body position is crucial (needed to be more forward almost on the tank to plant that front wheel) and wherever the head goes the bike will follow. Once lightbulb went off, cornering has become easier. Thanks for the info. Definitely insightful.
I’m 64, still race moto and learn something new every time I ride. Thanks! 👍
Awesome! Glad to hear it!
Ruts were insane in walton lol they rip it so deep ✊😵 150ft long ruts/slot car racing. I set up by slowing down, lighting a cigarette reciting the Lord’s Prayer, crush a coors light, toss my cig butt then immediately cross rut and stall the bike as I fly off high siding into a mud slide on my back 👊😎 experience.
Legit technique 👍
Interesting strategy. We will have to give it a try!
Like these videos, clear and good tutorials and advice, clean video and clear audio, nice vids!
As the bike leans into the corner, the contact point of the rear tire moves slightly rearward. Imagine the bike sitting crossways in a concrete culvert.
The contact vector goes from horizontal to slighly dipping down (pitch forward).
This increases the anti squat effect of the rear suspension.
If you are in a lot of ruts, increase sag a bit.
Yup. The amateur in me runs in hard then brakes etc. I’ve been getting much better at basically staying off the brakes a lot more. Trying to “not disrupt” the corner flow. It does feel slower at times. Great video
That's the key to hitting ruts - smooth is fast! Thanks for watching
I ride a penny farthing, off road ruts are definitely an issue. Keeping the power laid down whilst also a high lean angle, trying to minimise that tail wiggle...sorts the men out from the boys I can tell you.
Just keep that top hat and monocle on!
I drag the REAR brake. Works awsome in ruts
interesting, a racer taught me to be completely off both brakes and on the throttle before even leaning the bike over, so it's settled. yet on supermoto i was taught to keep the front brake on until i think the apex or until exiting the corner. some guys use throttle and rear brake at the same time?
Can’t recommend the Ride With the Knights course enough guys. Check it out Josh goes into more depth on all these topics 👍
Appreciate the kind words Coogan. Thanks for watching, see you inside the course!
my problem was normally just going slower than i should for the entire corner. not using that excess momentum force that allows the bike to lean over and get a bit of G-loading into the berm. gong too slow makes the rut feel too long. then i would tend to fall to the inside and have to gas it more to stay up. i lost a few championship by mere points from loosing too much time in the corners. so i can't relate to the - slow down early part.
and load/weight the outside footpeg :)
Did I understood right? While accellerating in the rut little frontbrake?
Yes. Don't think of it so much as hard braking or hard throttle though, it's that subtle combination of smooth throttle and subtle braking that will push weight into that front tire
@ridewiththeknights I will practice. Thanks man.
Great video, I used to race for a dealership when I was a kid and we had practice days and did things like this but most people when they go out for practice they just go as fast as they can I’ve never seen guys trying to do different things
Glad to hear it! Practicing something deliberate is fairly simple yet often overlooked.
Thank you
3:13 this dude must be spying on me while im riding. 😂
You got a new member
Good videos
Grts from Belgium 🇧🇪
Welcome aboard!
I have a problem while riding in a rut on single track trails. I feel like I have a hard time staying in the center, then the front tire starts to ride up the side, throws my balance off and I feel like I need to steer into the side I’m riding up on just to stay upright. Any tips or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
hopefully he'll answer, but are you staying steady on the throttle? I know from experience what you just described will happen if you come off the throttle.
ruts on single track trails can often have similar symptoms, your front tire wants to climb out of either side. However the technique to manage this is different than ruts in corners. Typically if I experience this on single track I try to keep a couple things in mind. #1. If your tire starts climbing out stay on the throttle. The second you let off the throttle your tire will climb out more aggressively. If you can do your best to stay smooth on the throttle you will often power through it. Once you have recovered your balance focus on line choice and looking ahead. Often times if I lose focus or become lazy with my line choice I will find that my tire wants to climb out more frequently. If I look ahead and focus on where I want my front tire to be ideally I often reduce how many times I experience the tire climbing out.
@@JeremyFoytik yeah, I’ve noticed it happening when no longer accelerating but maintaining speed (usually in 3rd gear), and standing in a neutral position or maybe slightly back.
@@ridewiththeknights thanks for the pointers. What about body position to keep the front tire from climbing, should I be putting more weight on the front or on the rear? I noticed if I have more weight on the rear the front feels like it wants to wash out / throw me off balance.
@@live4glamis the priority has to be on making sure the front does not wash out. it's better to get further forward. if its too far you will know because the rear will start spinning out or kicking out, then adjust by moving back a touch from there.
I love ruts on my YZ250FX they are all mini berms now lol.
What about leaning bike? Its the clue but its scary . How to beat that fear? Tom
Leaning will come naturally as you get faster as long as you continue to look ahead
Ive never been good at ruts but ive just bought a yzf 450 and with tips like these ive managed to hop on and send it once or twice with a tip over
Managing the front brake instead of the rear is the challenge
Nice
Is this trail braking for mx bikers?
Great advice again. I'm a recent subscriber.
Welcome to the channel!
drag a little front on the throttle out, too, usually... but not always.
Why are you calling a berm a rut? Has the nomenclature changed?
The best way to learn how to ride ruts is to make a figure 8, nothing comes close to how many ruts you can hit in 20 minutes.
ruclips.net/video/2G2Q2oysvI4/видео.htmlsi=xOe-WCO5hsumGhZz
Seriously, you're in a sand dune