Author Topic: Why cant i manual? (Read 2783 times)

fouronethreeoh! · « **on:** April 21, 2009, 08:10 AM »

Is it cos im just sh1t

Seriously though, any tips.
I just cant seem to get it, it looks so easy on vids.

lazychubs · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2009, 08:13 AM »

yes it does look easy but its down to balance and doin about a million of em
till ya get it right .oh and always cover the brake as it hurts when ya flip out

pickle · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2009, 08:20 AM »

i can't manual......and i've put it down to the fact that i am indeed Shyte!

DIRTBIKER250F · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2009, 09:42 AM »

Maybe your asking the wrong person, Q&A on here may help

http://www.wickedstyx.com/

Dex Dexter · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2009, 12:11 PM »

Just practice. Mine get longer every day and I couldn't do one at all a few months ago.

Seriously - just lean back and pull the front end up. Look for the sweet spot where you balance. Use your brake for safety. Keep doing loads of them.

It will happen.

Bushwacked · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:26 PM »

Yeah, you gotta try try try try try try and try some more.

My tip (similar to Dex's) would be lean back smoothly and let the front end come up slowly. Doing it smoothly will allow you to find your balance point easier - if you jerk the bike up it won't be smooth and the bike will more than likely loop out.

DIRTBIKER250F · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:34 PM »

As above, Manual aint gonna come over night i know alot of ppl think leaning back is the key. If you check out the link you can see a crouching stance is the real key to a successful Manual

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series.1.rs.turbo · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2009, 05:39 PM »

lodge · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2009, 06:35 PM »

If you watch john taylor in the vid you will see how he moves his lower body weight to keep his balance (dare I say like a humping motion) this is the key moving your lower body anyway you need to to keep that balance point also try and keep your arms straight.

I think its one of the nicest tricks in bmx.

lodge · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2009, 06:41 PM »

Quote from: DB250F on April 21, 2009, 04:34 PM

As above, Manual aint gonna come over night i know alot of ppl think leaning back is the key. If you check out the link you can see a crouching stance is the real key to a successful Manual

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lazychubs · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2009, 06:52 PM »

my longest so far was from the spine volcano at corby to the 8ft quarter at the back with no coping on
can just do about 6 ft now lol

harris · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2009, 06:53 PM »

jon taylors on nice bloke, frickin shat hot smooth rider to boot.

lodge · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2009, 07:09 PM »

Quote from: harris on April 21, 2009, 06:53 PM

jon taylors on nice bloke, frickin shat hot smooth rider to boot.

I'll second that, he was awesome with a front brake when he used to run one, always remember him nosepicking the volcano at rehab and stalling for what seemed like forever while he looked up at everyone on the deck.

fouronethreeoh! · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2009, 07:36 PM »

Like i said they make it look so easy.
"Lean back and just roll along on the back wheel"

Im not giving up just yet.

Stella Dave · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2009, 12:26 AM »

I'm havin same prob mate, seems impossible but I'm gonna keep at it.
No idea how to just lean back and lift it yet without jerkin it up!

macky · « **Reply #15 on:** April 27, 2009, 03:26 AM »

I can't manual for sh1t...

but my mate Sam say's... hang ya arse over ya back wheel as much as ya can....

pull up the front end... and hover ya front wheel off the ground...

use ya arse as a counter balance... and adjust ya knees/ leg's/ arse for ya balance as much as ya have to...

Now I really listen to Sam cos he's an Amazin rider.... and he know's his sh1t...

I still can't manual though... not Sam's fault... I'm just that Sh1t!! $:-\$

But the counter balance thing works for a lot ppll....

Balance ya front wheel with ya arse hanging over the back wheel...

Let us know if it works for ya though...

jedi · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2009, 10:16 AM »

i must actually take time out to learn to manual

chi11i · « **Reply #17 on:** May 04, 2009, 09:33 AM »

Same Jedi as STW?

Bushwacked · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2009, 09:43 AM »

There is only one true Jedi!

jedi · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2009, 08:29 PM »

yeah same. why?

dialledbikes · « **Reply #20 on:** May 04, 2009, 08:40 PM »

I can only manual jumps on a race track. Longest one I've ever done on the flat is about 4 or 5 parking spaces and that was a fluke because I wouldn't be able to do that consistently.

They look easier than they actually are.

HARODAVE · « **Reply #21 on:** May 04, 2009, 08:58 PM »

I can`t manual for toffee either

, i`ll have t give it more of a go ..it does look cool as fook when you get them down.....

chi11i · « **Reply #22 on:** May 04, 2009, 09:21 PM »

jedi - no real reason except you must ride a *lot* of different stuff

TwoBobRob · « **Reply #23 on:** May 04, 2009, 09:23 PM »

I can nick a cheeky manual here and there. This is what I know;

Trying to learn on the flat ground in a straight line is bloody hard, it took me ages to learn to do that - maybe even longer than learning it on ramp. Sooo, my advice would be to learn on miniramp, or out of a bowl or bank at your local spot. Summat the feels comfortable to you.

The trick is to hop the lip (kinda like a speed jump) and as soon as you feel your wheel is over the lip, kick your arms and legs out straight. This will drop the rear wheel down on the ground and automatically put your weight back over the rear of the bike. Then, as others have said, a good manual is controlled by body english. You've probably seen riders bending or straightening their legs as they manual to maintain balance. You can cheat (like I do) and feather the back brake to help your control.

The other thing that helped me was to aim for summat. It takes your mind off the job a bit. On ramp its easy, you're heading for the coping again. Out of a bank or bowl, look for summat to head for - another bowl or bank preferably - if not, then a crack in the concrete, graffiti, a coke can you've put on the floor, whatever.

If you used to do wheelies back in the day, then you have a headstart, they're not so dissimilar.

If anyone feels it might help them, I can do a wee video next time I go riding.

harris · « **Reply #24 on:** May 05, 2009, 07:24 AM »

i think you should do a video anyway twobob your soooo smooth
im learning again on my new bike,its set up well different from my last and feels odd
try leaning against a wall with your elbow resting on it,pull up on the bars and get the front up
you can balance and get the feel of the point your after then as rob said dont look at the front look way ahead.

Author Topic: Why cant i manual? (Read 2783 times)

fouronethreeoh!

Bushwacked

series.1.rs.turbo

lodge

lodge

lodge

fouronethreeoh!

Stella Dave

macky

jedi

chi11i

Bushwacked

jedi

dialledbikes

chi11i