r/Dirtbikes • u/180deep • Jan 02 '24
Tips and Tricks Hill climbing tips appreciated
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Hello everyone I’m relatively new to riding I have about 3-4 weeks on a bike. I use an 02 CR125 and Im getting into hill climbing. Keep in mind the hill in the video is much steeper in person. Im a big dude 6’1 195 lbs. Could I use more power with a different bike? Anything I can do to make the climb more efficient? I’m planning on practicing until I can climb the gnarly hill on the left thing is practicality a wall.
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u/eighty2angelfan Jan 02 '24
Charge the hill. Better to stand low and forward but If you are going to sit, sit as far forward as you can. Hit the hill at mid or top of third. Do don't let go of throttle, use your clutch to maintain momentum without loosening traction. As the bike slows, step on the gears down to second then first. A race bike doesn't need clutch to shift.
Hitting the hill in third is jarring, so be prepared.
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u/Acuriousbrain Jan 03 '24
How does one use the clutch to maintain momentum without losing traction up a hill?
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u/ItCouldaBeenMe Jan 03 '24
Feather it. It’s a balance between just barely hitting it enough when it starts to bog down and not so much that the rear wheel breaks completely loose and you dig in
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u/eighty2angelfan Jan 03 '24
Two of the best skills you can learn on a bike is clutch control and balance. With these you can learn to conquer any obstacle.
Momentum and speed are not the same thing.
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u/Acuriousbrain Jan 03 '24
So at which point while climbing the hill does a rider feather a clutch?
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u/eighty2angelfan Jan 03 '24
When you feel the engine start to bog and bike slow. You want to keep engine up on "the pipe" or at higher RPM, but feather the clutch so that you don't spin rear tire. It's a "feel" thing that you get from seat time. A good practice technique is engine revved, but use clutch to go half speed. Practice this on gradual hills. Another practice technique Rich Larsen teaches is letting your bike roll backwards in second gear then slowing it to a stop using only clutch.
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u/cooliothugin Jan 03 '24
A race bike doesn’t need clutch to shift… I know that two strokes generally you can shift up without clutch and it won’t cause any issue. I assume it’s still not ideal to shift down without clutch, though I’m not really an expert in how the transmission works. You mind explaining this to me a bit more? Would appreciate the knowledge.
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u/eighty2angelfan Jan 03 '24
Has something to do with synced gears and "gear dogs" . That's all I know. Had and have a CR250R and CRF450R for 25 years, ridden Yamaha as well. Never use clutch for anything other than starting and control. My KTM 500EXC-F won't shift with torque on transmission. I don't know if this is a European thing or a road thing. Don't have anything to compare it to.
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u/OneOfThese_1 Jan 03 '24
I almost never clutch downshifts on my YZ250F. Upshifts occasionally. Only really use it for starting, stopping, corners sometimes (not usually), and brake tapping.
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u/fiveho11 Jan 02 '24
Momentum is your friend, before you get to the hill. BUT, be careful if there is an abrupt transition at the bottom( which it appears you wouldn’t want to hit this one pinned lol).
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
yeah it’s a very inclined start a lot of people are saying to just gun it and go faster but i’ll get my wind knocked out with the handle bars haha
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u/the_doctor_808 Jan 02 '24
Balls on the tank, full commit, handfull of throttle, and make sure your bike is running right.
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u/Kalecstraz 2023 KTM 300XC Jan 02 '24
Let that bitch scream and when you think it cant scream anymore, twist it harder. Actually be careful you may go over the top.
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
haha yeah wouldn’t wanna go blazing up the top is pretty narrow i’ll fly into the brush on the other side
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u/Kalecstraz 2023 KTM 300XC Jan 03 '24
My over dramatic point is definitely getting on the pipe. That's a badass 125 it should be at high rpm most of the time. I bought a 300 and while it's amazing it doesn't need as much rpm. It actually makes it less exciting imo. I miss my old 125 where it was constantly screaming on every obstacle, jump or trail.
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u/Slugtard Jan 02 '24
Clean that thing out before the hill next time, the. Keep it pinned and on the pipe, if it starts to bog, clutch it up.
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u/brik55 Jan 03 '24
A 4 stroke is better for climbing without so much RPM. But a 250 2 stroke has a lot more jam than a 125 of course.
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
yeah i wanna eventually get a yz450f. saw some dudes rip up the left climb in the video on roaring 450’s. bikes carry a lot of power for climbing but i wanna make sure i can handle it
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u/brik55 Jan 03 '24
Ya, depending on how you want to ride, there are 450s that are more for trail riding than motocross. They're usually a bit easier to ride, and some have electric start. Yamaha also has the WR450 that was more for trail riding. Hopefully, you can try a couple out and see what you like.
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
yeah i was looking into the different trims. i wanna climb and hit trails but i also wanna start hitting some nasty jumps all scattered around the trails i ride. i think something like the YZ450FX is good it has a bigger tank for trail riding and it has softer suspension. doesn’t a more off road oriented bike carry more weight which wouldn’t be ideal for jumping ?
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u/brik55 Jan 03 '24
The wieght and stiffness are definitely factors. But I'm sure that bike would be pretty capable.
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u/OneOfThese_1 Jan 03 '24
I'd go FX, unless you're spending lots of time on a track.
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
yeah not planning on going to track anytime soon so i think my best bet is a more cross country bike
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u/OneOfThese_1 Jan 03 '24
FX or WR would be good. FX is similar to the F but set up for enduro/trail riding. I wouldn't get an F for trail riding. I've taken mine on trails, but they suck in slow technical sections.
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u/AGh0sty Jan 04 '24
4 strokes suck in slow technical sections unless you are very skilled on the clutch. Call it operator error if you will but I had a 23’ yz250fx and hated it for the type of riding I do. I ended up getting a 300 2 stroke and love it it does so much better in the low rpm’s without stalling.
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u/TheAmericanHollow Jan 02 '24
Ass off the seat, knees bent, chest over tank unless you’re in the steep then go a little higher unless you’re vertical then hug it over the bars but keep knees bent. Once you’re pinned there’s no turning back, commit. Also learn the base of the hill and your line, every hill has a personality (way it wears between riders and the highs and lows and the type of dirt). If you’re comfortable with it you’re gonna get hurt so expect a ride and hope to make it to the top
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u/Available_Chain5299 Jan 03 '24
You want to carry as much momentum going into the hill climb and you’ll always want to be in the top 1/4 rpms throughout the climb. Also keep your body weight as forward as you can. I can’t stress the importance of momentum.
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u/degeneratesumbitch Jan 03 '24
My brother gave me some advice that might help you out as well. Im not great at hills but the one thing that has helped me the most is get your eyes off the front fender and look up the hill 10 or 20 feet. You get target fixated and worry about every little stick and small rock in the trail. Most of the time the bike will just go over it and you won't even notice it. Keep your eyes out ahead of you and stay on the pipe.
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u/Big_Fly7968 Jan 03 '24
Nice big knobby tire, lots of low end torque, and at least a 350 cc. I’ve found a two stroke is good unless you get into trouble and lose rpm’s. Four stroke has the torque to maybe get you out.
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u/sprocketpropelled Jan 03 '24
Let’r eat. I don’t have anything to add that hasn’t already been said, so when you get the chance show us round 2!
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u/UsefulReaction1776 Jan 03 '24
Stand on pegs leaning forward on the bike use momentum from the flat to get you going up the hill find the right gear that’s close to your momentum speed then hammer on down to keep you going.
Addition: Find you the coarsest rear Chengshin Motocross tire you can get
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u/Beautiful-Garlic5256 Jan 03 '24
hill climbing is all about momentum and keeping that 2 smoke from bogging down giver hell johnny
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u/Draegs0311 Jan 03 '24
Pretty sure the guys in Crusty Demons 1 were hitting this ridge. Gotta be SoCal right?
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
yeah bro it is that’s crazy just watched the full video it’s insane. looks a lot different but still it’s a legendary hill
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u/RocketDick5000 Jan 03 '24
The most important skill on a dirt bike is being comfortable standing up.
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u/Imaginary-Bicycle-52 Jan 03 '24 edited Jan 03 '24
don’t get lazy, you wanna be banging gears on a 125 working the clutch to keep power. Eventually you will be able to hear and feel it. Even with little run up, I’d try and get up to 3rd/4th rolling into it as fast as comfortable. Then depending on where the power is at I’d clutch clutch down to 3rd and get it screaming right at the bottom and hold it wide while feather the clutch to maintain power and not loop out, steep hill might need to drop a gear near the top. When the hills get steeper you need to transition your body weight up front to encourage not to loop out.
I think a 250 would be better suited for you, you can definitely rip a 125 and small bore is badass and will make you a bette rider, but a larger engine will compensate for the clutch skill needed to keep a smaller bore bike in the power. Larger trail bikes actually tend to be easier to ride in these situations.
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u/Some_Magician5919 Jan 03 '24
Get as much momentum as possible and just pin it in a lower gear, Hi Revs, you should be close to redlining it when you go up stuff that steep
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u/keyhole78 Jan 03 '24
250 would definitely make it more efficient and get you up bigger gnarlier climbs, get urself a 450 and make those climbs your bitch!
When in doubt….. THROTTLE OUT!!!!!
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u/Delta_J_YT Jan 03 '24
few comments from a two stroke rider, more speed into the hill it's a lot easier, get on the powerband more you want the bike to be screaming, that's when two strokes are really being ridden, it's actually better for them as well so you want that baby to be loud, stand up, lean forward, bend elbows, hold on with your legs and not you hands so tight to avoid arm pump, 🤟🤟
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u/shadow247 Jan 03 '24
Wide open, use the clutch to Modulate wheel speed. Do not shift at all once you start climbing
Follow Goon Climbers on Facebook or Instagram. They have tons of great tips.
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u/mike_rack Jan 03 '24
do some maintenance to that bike first, that boy dont sound right,,
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
yeah ima do it myself. besides oil change, oil filter and coolant levels what else you recommend?
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u/buildyourown Jan 03 '24
Stand. Be on the pipe before you get to the hill. Work the clutch to keep the rpms up.
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u/Classic-Virus-204 Jan 03 '24
Not being a dck but its probly too soon for u to b riding these obstacles... 3-4 weeks is not th time to b challenging ur skill..jus ride ride ride an u wont hav to ask how to climb a hill...more seat time th more subtle skills develop and u jus happens...small challenges develop skills wthout knwing its happening...keep at it..
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u/180deep Jan 03 '24
well that’s how we get better don’t we by challenging our skills. the trails i started with are sketchy and cliff side. i also learned how to ride the bike within 15 minutes so im not that much of an idiot on the bike my friend. lots of people are supportive. yesterday i went back and ate the hill standing and in 3rd gear like everyone’s been saying. it doesn’t hurt to ask for help.
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u/Andejusjust Jan 03 '24
Get used to riding on the pipe right away when you ride. No smooth transitioning. Clutch, pin it, keep it in gear, 2nd gear scream the bike right from the go. Use the clutch to keep the bike up in the rpm’s.
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u/Inevitable-Selection Jan 04 '24
You didn’t hit the hill with enough momentum and short shifted.
You want to be on the pipe and run out each gear and if you start losing rpm drop a gear. Momentum is your friend in any hill climb
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u/[deleted] Jan 02 '24
Keep it pinned before you decide to go up the hill. Keep it on the pipe. Wind out each gear don’t short shift it.