Loretta Lynne's: Is It All About The Money?

I am asking for motocross racers advice on a controversial subject about Loretta Lynn's. There are plenty of people disputing over LLQ and Regionals should you be allowed to qualify in multiple areas incase you have a bad moto or bike problems. A lot of you say yes and a lot say that you should only qualify were you reside because a lot of the states can not ride all year around and leaves them at a disadvantage. Then you will get a reply saying that they can go some were's warm to train for the winter just like everyone else. Well now it turns into a money issue that not all people have the money to do what they want and you get some people say that if you don't have any money maybe the sport is not for you. My only statement to that is if you are a motocross racer you love the sport why else would you take a chance of ruining your body. If you have the desire to want to ride I am not one to say it is a rich man sport. The only thing I can say is look at your options and see what you can come up with. The final question that I would really like to hear the racers and the racers parents speak out on is Loretta Lynn's all about the money after all you can register as an alternate and race too.  

The Heart of Motocross

2014 250F Shoutout Dyno Runs

The 2014 250F motocross shootout machines get a workout on the Dirt Rider/DynoJet dyno. Watch the entire video to see who is the horsepower king in the 250F class for 2014.

Reminder: Every dyno is slightly different so the important thing is to compare only numbers coming from the same dyno, not numbers from other dynes.

Instructions on How To Seat Bounce

Seat bouncing is a jumping technique where you make the bike go higher and further than would otherwise be possible for that particular speed. 

It’s achieved by compressing the rear suspension more on the face which will make it rebound and carry you further.

Typically you’ll want to do this when attempting to clear a jump right out of a corner that you don’t quite have the speed for. 

Supercross riders will seat bounce frequently while for amateur motocrossers it’s a useful technique to know that can give you an edge.

Here’s how to do it. First, find a jump with a longer and less steep face. Begin by just sitting down through the jump but keeping the front wheel up as you take off. This is important because once you start really seat bouncing failing to keep the front wheel up on takeoff may result in the rear wheel kicking you up and over the bars (the dreaded endo !).

Now you’re ready for the next step. As you approach a takeoff, sit back and weight the rear suspension. As the bike reaches the lip get more aggressive with the power forcing the rear suspension to compress as much as possible. Make sure you are in the right gear that the bike has plenty of power to keep the front wheel up as you take off. Watch as Justin demonstrates this at the 6-7 sec mark of the video. 

As soon as you take off roll your shoulders forward to shift your weight from the back to the front which will help the suspension to rebound. Make sure your legs are tight to the bike as that will carry the back end when you shift your weight forward. 

If you’re having to hit the back brake to get the front end down, your legs probably aren’t tight enough when shifting your weight.

Good luck!

How To Adjust And Lube a Chain Properly

Jordan Troxell from Troy Lee Designs teaches us how to properly adjust and lube our chain.

2015 450 Shoot Out: Who is sitting on top this year

All manufactures go to battle who do you think will win.

Supercross Motocross Tire Selection Tips from Dunlop

Broc Glover of Dunlop explains how to choose the proper off-road tires for motocross, supercross and off-road riding. From knobby size to tread patterns, the key is to understand the terrain you plan to ride in and track conditions.

Best Dirt Bike Upgrades

Caleb Hall - Rock River 

The first thing most dirt bike riders do when getting their brand new dirt bike home is check on possible upgrades. 

The first thing that same rider does after losing the checkered flag by two seconds is get those upgrades done. 

It's quite possible to change out nearly every aspect of your bike with aftermarket improvements but it's hardly necessary. However, there are a handful of upgrades that may be worth your while in order to improve power and handling, and thus your overall edge on the track. Whether you're looking for extra power, old parts finally wore out and you're looking for a replacement upgrade, or you simply want to run something better than what you've got now, better aftermarket selections can definitely improve your performance on the track. 

You can certainly spend hundreds, if not thousands on upgrades you don't need. So, what's the best way to upgrade your dirt bike? The following is our list of what you should focus on to improve your performance on the track and overall ride-ability of your dirt bike. First things first…

Upgrade Your Dirt Bike Skills

The first upgrade, before you dump a bunch of cash into your already expensive dirt bike, is to upgrade You. Sometimes it's hard to be honest with yourself. Just how good are your dirt bike skills? If Ryan Villopoto gave you his 2014 Supercross winning Kawasaki it wouldn't do you a bit of good if you're not a great rider too. If you need dirt bike lessons - get some. If you're not sure - ask for honest feedback. This is the best and most practical upgrade. 

So before hitting the store and spending a bunch of money on upgrades make sure the problem isn't you. But, win or lose, once you're competing every week then it makes perfect sense to see where to fine tune your ride and shave seconds off your lap times. 

Suspension

We'll start right off with probably the biggest and most common upgrade which is to your dirt bike's suspension. It's one of the most expensive dirt bike upgrades to invest in and hardest to install. Most riders hire a mechanic to make the change. However, a new suspension is the one upgrade you'll notice a difference right away. Glide along whoops and save your arms on those triples. 

Pipe

Upgrading your pipe is a bit more involved. First, do you ride a 2-stroke or 4-stroke? If you ride a 2-stroke the type of pipe upgrade depends on your style of riding. Riding Supercross dictates a different pipe than Motocross and trail riding, and vice versa. You can also focus on low- and mid-range power or top end power. Check out our 2-stroke exhaust guide for more information. 

As for a 4-stroke, much of the same applies but you can also exchange the slip-on or the entire system. Upgrading your exhaust system is the best way to reduce weight. If you're seconds from the Top 5 every race and struggle every time out to pass the podium riders then shedding some weight by upgrading your exhaust is a great idea. Check out our 4-stroke exhaust guide for more information. 

Jetting

Jetting your carb is not a walk in the park. It's a pain to do but can make a world of difference. You'll usually know right away if you're running rich or lean and when all the adjustments in the world can't fix the problem, you'll want to get a jet kit. Generally, one jet kit isn't necessarily better than another, in fact many stick with OEM. However, the right jet kit can make it easier to adjust the amount of fuel/air mixture. Check out our Simple Guide to Jetting Your Carb for more information. 

If you're lucky enough to ride one of those fuel-injected 4-strokes skip this part. All you need is a power tuner that you plug-in and easily adjust the fuel and ignition maps to address riding conditions and personal preference. 

Reeds

If you're riding a 4-stroke. Move on. Reeds apply to 2-strokes only. Upgrading reeds offers better airflow into the cylinder and more throttle response. After market reeds are made from carbon fiber which open and close the reed quicker eliminating "flutter" when the engine revs at high RPMs. Most riders upgrade to a complete Reed Valve system designed to provide more horsepower and better throttle response. 

Gearing

Upgrading your chain and sprocket is probably a close second to suspension as far as noticing a boost in performance. Remember, any upgrades to your dirt bike's gearing should address what you're trying to accomplish. Faster acceleration uses a smaller front sprocket or larger rear sprocket, and faster top speed uses a larger front sprocket or smaller rear sprocket. Check out our Ultimate Dirt Bike Gearing Guide for more information. 

Steering Damper

Steering dampers stabilize your handlebars and are often cited in reducing arm pump. Some dampers allow you to adjust your steering while you ride. Helpful, especially in off-roading where you encounter various styles of terrain, steering dampers absorb the constant pounding from rough terrain riding rather than your hands and arms.  Fastway Steering Stabilizers are the best in the business. 

The Simple Stuff - air filter, brake pads, levers, etc. 

The easy upgrades won't necessarily make your bike perform better or ride faster but like any higher end product, can certainly help extend the life of your dirt bike and enable you to ride more comfortably which should equal to better results on the track. 

Upgrading grips, foot pegs, levers, even your seat, can be the right adjustments needed to feel one with the bike - an especially important aspect to dirt bike riding. Other upgrades like air and oil filters and higher end fluids can extend the life of your engine and other working parts. In some cases, like riding in hot desert dunes, it's critical you use specific air filters and coolant for the extreme conditions. 

Let us know what upgrades you swear by that helped up your game and provided personal best lap times.