Race Riding

[Tom]

G'day all i've been riding alot with my mates in the bush there all on new model bikes and im on my '81' cr125 i can keep the pace with them in the corners and on the straight and sumtimes even over take them(considering these blokes race and win  i feel pretty happy with myself    but they seem to lose me over the jumps and whoops now i can jump just not properly so is there a certain way 2 do it i can jump a near 50ft table top on my mates '02' yz125 but i can bearly clear a 10ft gap jump on my bike whats goin on?? i perform the same preload at the lip hold the throttle dont do anything stupid and also in the whoops  my back end seems 2 bounce any help much appreciated Tom                                                                         

[Nathan S]

Is the rear shock healthy? Sounds like it needs a rebuild.

Older bikes are harder to jump - peakier/less power, less stable in the air, etc, but there shouldn't be that much difference.

Come to the HEAVEN meeting next weekend - Nothing is more like racing than racing!

[yzhilly]

G'day Tom .I ride my 78 and my 98 YZ400 around the same track and the engines and speed aren't that different the difference is the suspension . I dont nail the jumps on my old bike cause the suspension struggles with the big hits and whoops. Technique can make a huge difference. Have a look around and do a ride school . Honda smart usually runs them over school holidays these are good fun and at the start a few smartarse's might have a crack at your old bike but if you can pick up some tips it will worth it.