How to Jump Into a Foam Pit With a Dirt Bike

A foam pit is the secret that professional motocross dirt bike riders use to practice and perfect new tricks. This large pit is filled with cubes of soft foam to soften the impact of a landing. The soft foam can save your life in the event of a failed jump or flip attempt. You can practice the jump several times in the pit before taking your dirt bike to a dirt track to try the jump.

Instructions

    • 1

      Approach the ramp as fast as you can to ensure that you get enough height to perform your jump or trick. Hold the throttle at a constant position or pull it back at an even rate. Accelerating too much can pull the front up to high like a wheelie, while decelerating as you approach the jump can cause a nose dive landing.

    • 2

      Align the bike with the center of the ramp to make sure the bike launches straight forward and into the pit. If you are off center or riding at a slight diagonal, you run the risk of missing the pit and seriously injuring yourself.

    • 3

      Stand up on the bike in a hunched position with your feet on the pedals, knees bent and the bike gripped between your legs to keep it in line and prepare you to pull up on the bike and execute your jump.

    • 4

      Pull back on the throttle rapidly, or "blip" the throttle, to keep your rear wheel from kicking up as you launch if the ramp has a ledge at the top. Blip the throttle at the split second when your front tire crosses the ledge.

    • 5

      Cut off the gasoline right valve on the handlebars just before you launch. A gas leak from your bike can cause a spark that ignites the foam into a large fire.

    • 6

      Make your jump into the air with the bike and perform any tricks like kicks or spins that you want to try.

    • 7

      Hold onto the handlebars, put your feet back on the pegs and keep your shoulders, arms and wrist in line with the front forks to prepare for landing in the pit with your bike. You'll only have a split second to do your trick and then reposition yourself on the bike for the landing.

    • 8

      Ditch your bike and try to push it out of the way if you will be unable to execute the landing on the bike. Expect to fail many times before landing your trick, but push the bike out of the way so that your body lands in the foam and not on top of the hard, hot dirt bike.

    • 9

      Hook your dirt bike up to your lifting mechanism and lift it out of the pit to try the jump again.