You know you're not supposed to ride with a death grip on the bar, but did you know you're supposed to regrip every time you go from accelerating to braking then back to accelerating? This tip from MX School instructor and former 500cc supercross champion Gary Semics may not feel natural right away, but work on it a bit and it can become instinctive.
"The overgrip is for acceleration. This allows you not only to open the throttle further but also to ride over the front of the bike in the forward position a lot better. If you don't do the overgrip, when you open the throttle your arm, elbow and wrist position would be so low you'd be forced to ride in the middle or to the back of the bike."
"When you're braking, your hand and wrist should be aligned more straightly because you're absorbing the bumps. If you tried to brake in the overgrip position your hands would pop off the handlebar because the only thing holding you on would be your thumbs."
"Usually when you're accelerating you're riding in the front of the bike more, and when you're braking you're back further."
"When you're learning this, be careful of 'whiskey throttle' because it's easy to get a handful of throttle, especially if your weight goes back. I suggest trying this in a safe riding area at first, maybe just some corners until you get comfortable with it."
"I don't agree with running the levers so high that they're straight out. It makes it more difficult to use them when you're regripping."
"When you're sitting it's important, but the effect is multiplied when you're standing because without this overgrip it's difficult to move forward and still operate the throttle correctly."
"Watch the top guys. Sometimes their lap is on the handlebar because they're riding so far forward. Without doing the overgrip that wouldn't be possible."
