Coming from a mtb background, I've found it a lot more comfortable and intuitive to be standing as much as possible. The biggest thing I've noticed with standing though is the strain (arm pump i'd guess) on my throttle arm how quickly I get tired while I'm standing. I think it's a mix of both bad wrist angle and a lot of overgripping but I never would have thought a dirtbike could work my forearms as much as it does. I don't have the problem as much on my left since I'm riding an electric bike (Ultra Bee, so no clutch and rear brake is on the left) but it amazes me how much overlap (like riding downhill) and also relearning there is between both disciplines. Much respect to you gassers out there. I have a hard enough time with just a throttle let alone managing a clutch as well lol.
Yeah, it's quite the difference, but I'm not suprised to hear that because I occasionally run into that problem as well. It's a sign that your body position is not balanced if you're having to squeeze the grip. Thanks for sharing, northern neighbor :)
Excellent perspective on this topic IMHO! I’ve heard too many guys say stuff like “…he’s no A rider, he’s on the seat”, or “you have to stand at least 85% of the time in order to be competitive”. I call BS on those kinds of brainless comments. I totally agree with you, it depends! Sure, there absolutely are times standing is essential to maximizing speed, comfort, and even safety. And in my experience (well over 50 years riding, 60+ A class) you generally want to stand more than you sit if your goal is to go fast. But there is no set percentage. It depends on the terrain and conditions. And of course injuries and age related issues are a big factor. As joints age and stamina fades it becomes much harder to remain standing for long periods and maximizing seated speed becomes a fun new challenge 😂. I know guys who sit way over 50% of the time yet routinely finish in the top 20 or even top 10 overall at races. To be honest, it amazes me, but it shows it is possible to go really fast without standing a lot.
Ha, thanks for watching and sharing, Ernie! I'm glad to hear that an experienced rider of your caliber has a similar belief :) There's a clip or two in this video of a guy riding down a rocky hill sitting down the whole time and I couldn't keep up with him. Oh yeah, he had is wife on the seat with him too...
At 60 years old, 5'6" and 130 pounds totally agree with you. Still riding, and as long as I can get my leg over the bike and my skinny butt on the seat I'm going to continue to ride. God bless be safe
Hi Kelley, another great video! I'm pretty much used to standing because of my experience riding trials bikes over the years. I had a Yamaha TY in the late 70s and a Montesa (honda) in 2002 and now the gas gas txt. Honestly I don't feel as much in control when I'm sitting. I like to shift my skinny little butt around to give myself a more feeling of control. Thanks for another great video
@@MotocrossHideout Standing: main effect comes from decoupling the two main damped masses. The increased distance between tire patch and the new combined center of mass means more rotational moment in case of a lateral impact (e.g. a wet root) - the bike get's more stable when the body mass is far away from the center of rotation (center of mass of the bike). Anyhow, if ridden correctly, the low speed forces on the frame and tires are comparable by actively sitting or actively standing and so is the tracktion. Sitting down brings the damped masses (bike & driver) closer together. The rotational moment of inertia is decreased, which makes the bike more agile and easier/quicker to turn and the feedback loops are sped up considerably because the reduced inertia. Also the amplitudes of the correction deflections are getting smaller. Anyhow, there are hundreds of other effects at different frequencies and at different directions with different causes.. Years ago I calculated a bicycle rather accurately and simulated the forces. It was immediatly obvious, why standing makes sense to stay in hard terrain. It also showed why it makes sense to bring your COG close to the COG of the bike when you are trying to be fast. But the topic is too complex to summarize theory, models, practical tests and real measurements at this abstract.
Thanks for taking the time to share that. I'm obviously not smart enough to fully understand what you're explaining. I was just trying to explain in simple terms what I feel is happening when turning on a dirt bike :) I'm still learning and growing in my communication skills.
Sit or stand - what do you think?
Coming from a mtb background, I've found it a lot more comfortable and intuitive to be standing as much as possible. The biggest thing I've noticed with standing though is the strain (arm pump i'd guess) on my throttle arm how quickly I get tired while I'm standing. I think it's a mix of both bad wrist angle and a lot of overgripping but I never would have thought a dirtbike could work my forearms as much as it does. I don't have the problem as much on my left since I'm riding an electric bike (Ultra Bee, so no clutch and rear brake is on the left) but it amazes me how much overlap (like riding downhill) and also relearning there is between both disciplines. Much respect to you gassers out there. I have a hard enough time with just a throttle let alone managing a clutch as well lol.
Yeah, it's quite the difference, but I'm not suprised to hear that because I occasionally run into that problem as well. It's a sign that your body position is not balanced if you're having to squeeze the grip.
Thanks for sharing, northern neighbor :)
Thx ❤
Thank You Very Much For Sharing 👍
Excellent perspective on this topic IMHO! I’ve heard too many guys say stuff like “…he’s no A rider, he’s on the seat”, or “you have to stand at least 85% of the time in order to be competitive”. I call BS on those kinds of brainless comments. I totally agree with you, it depends! Sure, there absolutely are times standing is essential to maximizing speed, comfort, and even safety. And in my experience (well over 50 years riding, 60+ A class) you generally want to stand more than you sit if your goal is to go fast. But there is no set percentage. It depends on the terrain and conditions. And of course injuries and age related issues are a big factor. As joints age and stamina fades it becomes much harder to remain standing for long periods and maximizing seated speed becomes a fun new challenge 😂. I know guys who sit way over 50% of the time yet routinely finish in the top 20 or even top 10 overall at races. To be honest, it amazes me, but it shows it is possible to go really fast without standing a lot.
Ha, thanks for watching and sharing, Ernie! I'm glad to hear that an experienced rider of your caliber has a similar belief :)
There's a clip or two in this video of a guy riding down a rocky hill sitting down the whole time and I couldn't keep up with him. Oh yeah, he had is wife on the seat with him too...
At 60 years old, 5'6" and 130 pounds totally agree with you. Still riding, and as long as I can get my leg over the bike and my skinny butt on the seat I'm going to continue to ride. God bless be safe
That windmill giving its all behind you!
Great vid! I learn lots from you!
Ha, yeah it was a blowy day last week when I recorded it!
Glad you're finding my stuff helpful - thanks for watching :)
Hi Kelley, another great video! I'm pretty much used to standing because of my experience riding trials bikes over the years. I had a Yamaha TY in the late 70s and a Montesa (honda) in 2002 and now the gas gas txt. Honestly I don't feel as much in control when I'm sitting. I like to shift my skinny little butt around to give myself a more feeling of control. Thanks for another great video
Less standing = more energy, ,more riding, more fun! I only stand when I have to.
I try to sit as much as possible but yesterday on our ride I had to stand quite a bit due to rocks, roots, and some whoops in the trail.
Your doing the right stuff 👏 keep practicing
whats the best beginer bike for me i am 12 but have been kearning on youtube the basics
th-cam.com/video/VlJbWNtrKW8/w-d-xo.html
I gotta say,
Seeing those bigger adventure bike guys standing all the time ,
Coming towards me on the trail ,
I think , it’s pretty silly looking. 😁
I realize they probably got a class that told them you have to do it that way.
Haha, yeah every beginner seems to think ADV bikes can do everything a trail bike can do without problem.
Maybe they just know things about riding that we don't?
Your explaination about a high center of mass is not correct, anyhow your practical experience is right again, but the reasons behind are wrong.
Thanks for your feedback - I appreciate. I'd really like to hear how you would describe it so that I can have a better understanding :)
@@MotocrossHideout Standing: main effect comes from decoupling the two main damped masses. The increased distance between tire patch and the new combined center of mass means more rotational moment in case of a lateral impact (e.g. a wet root) - the bike get's more stable when the body mass is far away from the center of rotation (center of mass of the bike). Anyhow, if ridden correctly, the low speed forces on the frame and tires are comparable by actively sitting or actively standing and so is the tracktion.
Sitting down brings the damped masses (bike & driver) closer together. The rotational moment of inertia is decreased, which makes the bike more agile and easier/quicker to turn and the feedback loops are sped up considerably because the reduced inertia. Also the amplitudes of the correction deflections are getting smaller.
Anyhow, there are hundreds of other effects at different frequencies and at different directions with different causes..
Years ago I calculated a bicycle rather accurately and simulated the forces. It was immediatly obvious, why standing makes sense to stay in hard terrain. It also showed why it makes sense to bring your COG close to the COG of the bike when you are trying to be fast.
But the topic is too complex to summarize theory, models, practical tests and real measurements at this abstract.
Thanks for taking the time to share that. I'm obviously not smart enough to fully understand what you're explaining.
I was just trying to explain in simple terms what I feel is happening when turning on a dirt bike :)
I'm still learning and growing in my communication skills.
@@MotocrossHideout as I said, your findings are correct, the physical background may be a little bit to oversimplified.