Thinking about building a motorbike jump but can’t find much help? Here, we will discuss how to build a motorbike jump keeping in mind the neighborhood and the community’s permissions, location, and dimensions.
You have to be very careful about choosing the location for doing so. By motorbike jumps, we are not referring to the first-class circuit for the AMA series. You would need around 20 acres of undulating land for the first-class track.
You also need to have permission to carve it up with a D6 bulldozer. If you have a limited space available where you can only manage a couple of jumps along with a berm or two, then this guide is just right for you.
So, keep reading.
Location
There have been so many stories where you might have heard about a group of motorbike lovers who spent their energy, money, and time to build a motocross track.
And after just riding a couple of weekends, the neighbors and the community had the track and the property shut down and seized. This is something you should be very careful of if you want to continue enjoying your motorbike jump.
Most people don’t like the sound of a dozen dirt bikes on late Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. Then, there are those clouds of dust that swamp the neighborhood and the houses’ back deck. This is something you need to keep in mind and be respectful of the locals in the area.
Think about the neighborhood
Therefore, location is extremely important. Before thinking about building a motorbike jump, you have to think about where the noise from your screaming dirt bikes will travel. Think about the neighbors.
If the people around the area also own bikes, you must consider yourself lucky. But if that’s not the case, it’s better to talk to them first before doing anything. You should compromise with them but designating certain days on which you will ride with your friends.
If you are going to ride upwind around some houses, you might end up with a busted fuel tank courtesy of an angry old neighbor. You will also receive a notice from the local council to shut this place down right away.
Therefore, you need to be vigilant of your surroundings before you start thinking about building a motorbike jump of any kind. Get to work straight away and save yourself from wasting your time and money just for an anticlimax where you will have to tear it down.
Land features
If you don’t have much riding experience, don’t build your track near trees or pits. However, the ground doesn’t need to be flat. A little elevation or slope will make it better to build the jump.
It will allow you to conveniently dig into the ground from where you can take off. The next thing is the type of jump and how big it should be. Moreover, you need to think about the type of dirt you will use for your track.
Dimensions
If you are looking for an MX-style jump for more distance, it’s better to go for 3:1. It means for a 3-feet long jump; the height should be 1 foot. Hence, for a 9 feet long jump, the height should be 3 feet.
For a supercross-style jump, you will have to cover a greater angle for more height. Here you will have a steeper angle, and the ideal ratio here would be 2:1 or 2.5:1
At this point, you have decided where you will build this track and how much land it is going to take. Just make sure the jump is gradual and isn’t abrupt, or you will have to deal with your bike flipping in the air.
Just make sure the jump base is the take-off is more significant than your dirt bike’s wheelbase’s overall length. If the take-off is not long enough, your jump will not be smooth.
Dirt
Now it’s time to think about what type of dirt you will use to build your track. You need to have a good bit of clay on your track for better performance. So, if you have plenty of clay available, you can use it. You can even mix some soil in it.
Clay will be cheaper. Sand can be used for this purpose, but you will have to water it quite often.
How to Build a Motorbike Jump
It’s time to answer the question of how to build a motorbike jump. And first, you need to think about whether you want to go for a more permanent jump or a portable one. You will have to decide this based on available time and resources.
Portable vs. permanent jump
A portable jump will be a wooden ramp and come in handy if you have found your perfect spot in the woods or in the mountains that you will only visit occasionally. If you don’t have the permission or dig up the land, a portable ramp will work wonders for you.
You can easily tow it to your favorite spot and start practicing the jumps. For a permanent jump, you will need to have permission to alter the land for your track.
Think about the availability of tools because building such a track is not a joke by any stretch of the imagination. If you have easier access to wooden planks, beams, nails, a saw, and a nail gun, a wooden ramp would be a better choice. And if you have easy access to any heavy-duty equipment for digging, go for a dirt jump.
Building a dirt jump
You will have to start by digging a massive hole with a sharp but rounded shovel and get your friends into it as well. You can make it as wide and deep as possible according to your skillset. For starters, you should go for a hole that is two feet wide and four feet deep.
Plane the hole’s placement so that it forms the area that will be right between your jumps. Keep in mind not to throw away the dirt anywhere because you will need it later to make the take-off.
Make sure to get the ground wet for easy handling. Also, leave some room for deceleration. You can plan a loop if you have enough land available here. Using a backhoe or any other heavy-duty equipment for digging will be useful here.
After that, you will need to build the dirt mounds from the dirt that you carved out from the hole. Choose the right height for the mind based on your skillset. If you are a beginner, don’t go over 2 feet. Now pack those dirt mounts with your bike or any other vehicle.
It will significantly reduce the size of your ramps, and you can use it with more convenience. Don’t forget to wet the mounds and pack them further. It’s time to try out the ramp and see if you need to add or subtract dirt in different areas or not.
Building a wooden ramp
First of all, you need to find some plans online, like a basic FMX ramp or a freestyle ramp. If you have some mechanical skills and knowledge, go with your drawings for your ramp designs. But it’s better to draw the plan first before you start working with the tools.
Begin by measuring and cutting the supports and go with the 2×6 lumber to build that support structure. Cut four 10 feet beams for the base and cut the vertical support beams. Each of these beams has to be angled at the top.
Now build the base support and then start nailing in the first pair of vertical supports. The first base supports will measure from 36 inches to 40 inches. Maintain a gap of 30 inches and position the second pair of vertical supports and nail them in.
Now, the third pair of vertical beams leave a gap of 60 inches. And then, for the fourth pair of vertical beams, leave a gap of 120 inches. Now, install the supports in the middle that will be 3 feet long, and there will be four of these middle supports you need to use.
Nail them right where you have nailed the vertical supports at the base. After that, you will have to cut and install the plywood sheet for the ramp surface. This sheet needs to be half inches thick, 3-foot wide, and 6-foot long. In the end, the nail in the cross supports from the top corner to the bottom right under the ramp’s surface.
FAQ
How can I save time when building dirt jumps?
You can cut the time almost to half but put bricks or logs for taking the base and pile the dirt on top of them. When jumping on the hill or sloping ground, dig the dirt right below the jump and pile it up on the base to save time.
How much dirt is needed?
Plenty of dirt will be needed, and it will be more than your estimates. Just keep putting the dirt in until you see it’s plenty. After that, add a little ore. You might think that it’s quite a lot, but it will shrink in size when leveling it all out.
How to build a motorbike jump effectively?
You need to make a good lip to make a good jump. The lip of your jump is the take-off of your jump. Smooth the top and make it flow with the rest of the ramp. You need to look from a side to judge the angle.
Conclusion
There you have it. Now you know how to build a motorbike jump. Before you start thinking about building a motorbike, you need to pick the right place and get permission from the locals and the city council. After that, decide which type of dirt you will use for your track and how many jumps need to be there.
After planning the design, it is time to get to work. You can either go for a portable ramp or a permanent one based on your riding routine, location, and preferences.