[M3zy6]

I was just wondering how everybody prefers to control their quad in the air. I use the throttle and by shifting my weight. I just cant seem to be able to use my rear brake at all, guess I'm not coordinated enough.

 

[Schmitthead]

I pretty much do the same thing, except the 450R's nose tends to come up so im getting used to useing my body more. My 450R is alot easier than that brick (raptor) I use ride.

 

[TRX450rlude]

Im getting it down pretty good.....this thing jumps like a dream....lastnight I was practicing on a small table top that I have and I got to where I can down shift in mid air, so when I land Im in the right gear to take off. Its kind of tricky on my track becasue as soon as I land I have to turn a 180 degree corner and gain speed before my next jump....its really awsome when you have so much control of your bike in the air that you can downshift without even thinking about it. The first time I did it was an accident....then I was like wow that was pretty cool.....That may be easy for some of you but a first for me.....I practiced so much lastnight that my but and legs are sore, and that never happens....but downshifting in mid air feels natural now....If you havent tried it, give it a try and see what you think...

 

[Schmitthead]

sounds good man!! i will try it on the track asap

 

[M3zy6]

Lude, when you downshift, are you on the throttle when you land
or do you grab clutch? Seems like you'd be putting alot of stress
on the tranny if you land in gear.

 

[TRX450rlude]

Originally posted by M3zy6@Mar 2 2004, 12:53 AM
Lude, when you downshift, are you on the throttle when you land
or do you grab clutch?  Seems like you'd be putting alot of stress
on the tranny if you land in gear.

No, Im not on the throttle until I hit the ground. Everytime you jump and land you are in gear, so its no more stress on the tranny. Most of the time I dont use the clutch at all, but sometimes I do on accident...You also have to understand that I dont land on a straight away. On this track I have to start to turn out of the jump as soon as I land. Thats why I need it in 1st gear...If it were a straight shot after landing I would have enough momentum to stay in the gear I jumped in. ..

You dont always have to downshift on jumps, but in this case I cant do the corner in 2nd gear, wich is the gear I left the jump in...(still factory high gearing) ..So what I started doing was shifting into first while in the air, and that gave me tons of power to powerslide through the corner, then I could nail 2nd and get some speed up before the next jump on that straightaway. its a 26 ft. double and you only have about 15 ft to get your speed up or wipeout. When I was landing in 2nd gear and trying to take off, I couldnt get enough speed. Then I started downshiftind durring the table top and that way I landed in the gear needed....It really improved my lap time by 1.5 sec.....I just thought it was a neat feeling when I did it the first time, and it worked out. so that made it even better.

 

[TrX450rKiD]

I started down-shifting the same way, by mistake.....

I was just ridin today and the down-shifting in mid-air really helps you get goin a few feet after you land. I hold in the clutch for a split-second when I land, then let go and nail the gas! Let er' rip!!

 

[TRX450rlude]

Originally posted by TrX450rKiD@Mar 3 2004, 06:51 PM
I started down-shifting the same way, by mistake.....

I was just ridin today and the down-shifting in mid-air really helps you get goin a few feet after you land.  I hold in the clutch for a split-second when I land, then let go and nail the gas!  Let er' rip!!

B) feels pretty cool dosent it.....you dont have to use the clutch if you dont want to.....its works just the same.

 

[Jibrille]

Seeing all this, I can't wait until I get my 450.

With my Raptor I use the throttle, and brakes a lot for most control, but if I screw up in the air, i use my body movement.

 

[fast]

also if you race you don't want to use the rear brake in the air unless you have to because by locking up the rear wheels in the air u will lose some forward moment and that will slow u down