Need help learning to sit down!
 

Here's the deal....I've only been riding dirt bikes about 6 years now (I started when I was 32 in 2000).

I also do some trials riding. The problem I'm having is that I am more comfortable standing up than I am sitting down. I am working my way up to the long course enduros, but after standing for 35 miles I'm beat. The guys passing me are always sitting down, riding out the berms, etc.

Whenever I sit, I feel like I am steering the bike with the bars and not leaning it, etc.

Thanks,

There are many pro riders that I see standing a lot. For example, Juha Salimen is a stand-up type of rider (he also has a trials background). I'm guessing your trials background makes standing more natural for you. I prefer standing in most situations, but get seated in corners and any relatively flat sections... anywhere to give my legs a rest to conserve energy and relax my muscles.

In the World Enduro video from 05, winner Stephan Merrimen (sp?), also a former trials rider, indicated that he had to learn to sit as well. His reason was to save energy (my primary concern), but he also mentioned htat he is able to save the bike more (I assume from washing out). Funny, by stnading up, I avoid those situations.

I think you can be faster in the turns (esp if it is flat) if you sit down. I jsut have a hard to going from left to right and back without "steering the bike."

I know practice will help, but still looking for some tips :)

I learned to ride standing but as I have modified my riding style over the last 10 years I am now constantly up and down, forward and backward, depending on the terrain. Tight slow techical stuff, stand forward. Fast sand, sit. Fast whoops, stand and move forward and back with the whoops. Rocks, stand centered. Slow sand, sit waaaay back, etc.

But then I fall down alot and my screen name is barkeater.:rolleyes:

Most people would wish they had your "problem".

Your legs are the best suspension devices ever invented! Use them.

Just sit on the long straight aways.

A friend was once given very wise advise from Marty Smith...if the throttle isn't WFO, you should be standing. I feel your pain, as I too am a standup rider. A good way to get comfortable sitting is to practise barrel turns in a small area. Forces you to sit in turns and gain traction for the drive from turn to turn.

I always stood, but after some knee problems and being out of shape its getting harder to stand. Keep standing, only sit on the straightaways and if needed in fast corners.
Good luck,
Steve C

This sounds like good way to practice...

Jeff..sounds like we need ot head down to your buddies grass field and set up some barrells:) We can take Noah. He' like riding with some other kids for a change.

I stand in the whoops, or in fast smooth stuff with round bumps, but sit a lot in the technical stuff, and in tight trees. Actually I sit but with not a lot of weight on the seat, so the transition to standing is eaiser. Its just more natural to me especially if I have to get a foot down fast, maybe because I'm not tall and I have a bad right knee as well. On the faster rock studded trails, if you loose the front end from a deflection(which happens regularly) a quick dab means the difference between a save and a painfull crash. Now, don't take this as advice because I'm not that fast. What I do find interesting is that the top riders also sit alot when the going gets ugly, just watch some of the national enduro championship videos and you'll see what I mean. Its far from textbook perfect style, anything goes. I guess it depends on if you have a trials background or not.

I ride through nasty rock gardens faster and have more control if I'm standing on the pegs. That doesn't mean I'm always standing though. A lot depends on how rough the terrain is and how tired I am, but if I sit too much I get horrendous monkey butt. I'm usually all over the bike trying to keep from taking a dirt nap. During an enduro I'll go from standing to sitting so much my thighs cramp up on the way home.