Bunnyhopping...

cgarossi

Ok so I've never actually bother to learn some tricks before, but now im trying to learn a few basics to get myself faster on the trails/show off.

I watched the MBUK video on bunnyhopping. Aside from the fact that Doddy was using a squat trials bike to demonstrate, it was a little vague. I understand the principle, rise the bike up then use your feet/legs to raise the rear end.

However, im trying this on a full sus bike, when I want to bring the front of the bike up it just absorbs my effort making this a little difficult.

Does anyone have any advice for this? I can acheive it with some success on my hard tail but full sus = no.

supersonic

It can be hard on a full susser. But with some practice, you can use the rebound stroke to help you in the air. Push down on the forks hard then let them rebound, then pull up on the bars.

zero303

As SS says, your rebound damping won't be helping as it's designed to almost prevent what you're trying to make the bike do (pogo back up).

Practice on a HT if you can or turn your rebound damping all the way off to begin with before putting it back.

When I was a nipper, I also found having a tiny ramp helped. Find a small speed bump or something and do the front wheel lift over it and when you try to raise the rear it will smack into the speed bump and ping upwards - it will sort of feel a bit like you've bunny hopped, but assisted. It will help you get a feel for it and your timing right, the goal is try and then clear the speed bump unassisted.

Keep trying!

supersonic

I also found that practicing independant rear wheel lifts helped get the technique of the 'claw back'. Or a cherry hop, where you lift both at the same time.

cgarossi

Thanks chaps.

Yesterday I was practicing along some trails with some success, I think it does help to have a bit of an assist via a root or some such, but that won't always be available. But I did manage to skip over an entire puddle of mud (at least a 2 feet in length woo!) but using a root to assist. It felt good.

Bringing up the rear wheel is easy as im using crank brothers spd pedals, its just getting that initial lift from the front. I also run my suspension fairly soft as I like the plush feel. Maybe adding some air to the front might help a tad.

Anonymous

supersonic wrote:

I also found that practicing independant rear wheel lifts helped get the technique of the 'claw back'. Or a cherry hop, where you lift both at the same time.

Yep, learning to lift the back wheel on it's own can definitely help you to learn how to bunnyhop quicker.

If you want to get the front of the bike really high, for hopping over large obstacles, it can also help if you slam a quarter turn on the pedals (as though you're doing a wheelie)whilst snatching the front up.
Once the bike is near vertical, you can then pick the back end up with your feet, whilst pushing the bars forwards to level the bike out in mid air.

Getting the timing right between the pedal slam and picking it up can be really tricky at first though.

cgarossi

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Getting the timing right between the pedal slam and picking it up can be really tricky at first though.

Yep I tried this but found my legs were not 'ready' to pull up after they have just slammed down on the pedals to rise the front of the bike.

Anonymous

cgarossi wrote:

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Getting the timing right between the pedal slam and picking it up can be really tricky at first though.

Yep I tried this but found my legs were not 'ready' to pull up after they have just slammed down on the pedals to rise the front of the bike.

It's just practice pratice practice

Once I managed it, I found that it helps to visualise a kind of circular motion to your feet, forwards and down for the slam, then down to dig into the pedals, then finally back and up for the lift.
It's all a matter of being able to do it quickly, really. Keep trying, you'll get there.

Daz555

cgarossi wrote:

Bringing up the rear wheel is easy as im using crank brothers spd pedals.

Learning to hop with SPDs is not always the best - as it allows you to cheat by 'lifting' the bike with your feet.

I learned to bunny hop on my bmx almost 30ys ago but from my old perspective there are two elements to consider - the two kinds of bunny hop.

1. American - front wheel first followed by rear.
2. English - both front and rear lift at the same time.

English is easier to learn and even more true on a full suss where suspension can make timing an American difficult. Ride along a smooth road, compress (bend knees and elbows) and then immediately explode upwards bringing the bike with you by pulling on the bars. If this is not working after many attempts, try bouncing (trampoline style) on your suspension as you roll along to get a feel of the timing, then try an English again.

I'm old (37). Got a question for the the young uns - are bunnyhops still classified English and American?

supersonic

Ah, I call the English a cherry hop!

Simon430

I learnt by pulling back on the handlebars lifting the front wheel up, as it neared roughly a foot off the ground. Jump up with your feet and push forwards on the handlebars making the rear end come up.

At Daz, not too many people really focus on american or english, a bunnyhop is a bunnyhop, as long as both wheels go in the air.

ewan323

If your always going to use SPD's then where's the problem, I know i'll never go back to flats so if thats how you manage to bunnyhop there's no problem. Is there?

Anonymous

ewan323 wrote:

If your always going to use SPD's then where's the problem, I know i'll never go back to flats so if thats how you manage to bunnyhop there's no problem. Is there?

Well, controlling the bike with your feet is an useful skill regardless of whether you use spuds or not. :roll:

whalley665

spuds indeed

Fully

I wish i used flats occasionally, i have completely lost the ability to bunny hop without spd's now . Well, i can probably get the back end about an inch off the floor when not clipped in.

nwmlarge

if i was you i'd practice trying to jump something it will coax you into getting it right faster.
a few mates and i occasionally set up some short cones and a stick to jump over then balance things on top to make it higher. the competition helps you push yourself.
i end up doing the "american style2 to get the extra height but this can sometimes lead to landing in a massive manual which you may flip out of so its best to practice in flats

cee

another thing to try and help with the timing, is to bunnyhop up a kerb....

but slow the movement right down so that the front wheel is over the kerb before you claw the back end up and over it.....

So rolling towards the kerb at jogging pace, push into your front sus, then when they bounce back up, pull....hold this until your front wheel is over the kerb, then scoop the back up and over...

This can help by breaking the move down into two parts....divide and conquer!

cgarossi

Cheers guys.

I've only ever used clipless pedals. I'm not going to put flats on just to practice this. If I start doing downhill then I'll put flats on.

All good advice thanks!

nwmlarge

doing it up kerbs is a quick way to pringle shaped rims. jump a football or something

cee

nwmlarge wrote:

doing it up kerbs is a quick way to pringle shaped rims. jump a football or something

nahhhhhh.....

even if you screw the front wheel lift, the fork will take the impact and suck up the kerb....

if you dont manage to get the back wheel up....well...OP is on a full suss bike...it will also just roll up...

I am not talking about sprinting dead into the kerb !!! jogging pace up a kerb, even with a rigid fork is unlikely to taco your front wheel, and even a hardtail will manage to roll its backwheel over a standard kerb....

If you like though....try it with a white line on the road instead if you are worried....

problem with a football, is that if you get it wrong and land a wheel on the ball....you do not know what direction your wheel is going to fall....front wheel to the 90degree left in 321....no thanks.

cgarossi

Think I'll stick with twigs and puddles for now :P lol.

nwmlarge

cee wrote:

nwmlarge wrote:

doing it up kerbs is a quick way to pringle shaped rims. jump a football or something

problem with a football, is that if you get it wrong and land a wheel on the ball....you do not know what direction your wheel is going to fall....front wheel to the 90degree left in 321....no thanks.

added danger gets you learning faster lol

like diving in at the deep end so to speak lol

cee

nwmlarge wrote:

cee wrote:

nwmlarge wrote:

doing it up kerbs is a quick way to pringle shaped rims. jump a football or something

problem with a football, is that if you get it wrong and land a wheel on the ball....you do not know what direction your wheel is going to fall....front wheel to the 90degree left in 321....no thanks.

added danger gets you learning faster lol

like diving in at the deep end so to speak lol