materials?

[bryan]

most of the ramps i've seem have been mainly made of 2"x2" steel tubing.

would angle iron with the same dimensions be just as strong?
and could some of you guys that have built ramps tell me what size of what you used?

[crustyfmx250]

on mine, i used angle iro, just as a kinda "secondary" meal under the face of the ramp. When the wood was screwed onto it, the metal bent up! The plywood was stronger than angle iron :D hehe

[bryan]

ok maybe i shouldn't use angle iron.

here are some plans i just drew up, the ramps 22.sometihng ft long, 8.5 ft tall and has a 44 degree lip to it.

tell me what ya think of it

[star_fish]

looks pretty cool to me
im no ramp expert or nothin but it looks to me it migh kick the back end up a bit cause of the sharp anlge
im not sure though
but it still lookd cool to me

[bryan]

thanks, that's the stuff i want to hear, i don't know if the angle and stuff is right.

[star_fish]

well, dont forget
i dont know much about jumping ramps
it just looks like thats what it would do to me
the only things i realy know about ramps are things i heard my buds that i ride with talking about

[shaolin]

im no expert either but it looks like you will need to make the curve more gradual

[star_fish]

all you guys from aus?

[shaolin]

look under the screen name it says where everyone is from

[crustyfmx250]

hmm the design looks ok, but only if your not planning on doing really big gaps (its a bit steep for that, itd would most likely have too much of a kick)

Still, I await slider's rsponse, he'll know for sure :)

[Nex corporation]

Yea wait for slider man , he builds by far the best ramps in the world. Do you think if I want to build another ramp about 3 metres high i could give him the length and hight and he could get mesurments for a good curve, cause i really want the REV. 3 ramp design but i want the ramp about 3 metres tall. How talll is then REV. 3 ?

[chuck]

looks good bryan, it may need some more upright supports but i don't know. i think the angle looks good, a ramp with good pop makes your tricks a lot easier. you need a ramp that will put you high enough at 70' to do all your tricks, but can still pull it to 80'. thats really as big as they get at comps now.

[bryan]

yeah, i think fmx ramps are only going to get steeper because arena's aren't getting any bigger.

the supports were actually designed by my dad, who an engineer and should know what he's doing but we might be missing something.

there's 4 perpendicular supports (to the face) for the force of the rider hitting the ramp and one going the opposite to support against the power being transfered from the wheel to the surface, and to reduce ramp flex. the back of the base extends 1 ft to both sides and 2 ft back so it shouldn't wobble at all. i think it should be about the most stable ramp out there.

what would be a good surface? chuck, how's that truck-bed liner ramp holding up?

[chuck]

it was holding up good, but i sold it when i was in houston. my new one has expanded metal. if you'd get out and ride with us, you'd know. ha. tell your dad i'm sorry for contradicting him. i don't build them, i just jump them.

[homegrownmaniac]

Hey Chuck hope your leg heals quickly so we can see you riding again, but on the other hand if you aint riding maybe you'll have more time to hang out here and mix it with your greatest fans!!!

Anyway Back to the topic, Im building a replica Ramp to the one Noel "Shagga" Cotter uses at his compound the dimenions are actually pretty small for a Pro Freestyler? 1.8 metre's tall and 5 metres long with the upramp bent to a constant radius of 8.0 metres??? But I have seen him jump 80 foot on it and bust some Sick Tricks off it!!! This "small" Ramp might make him sound like a little pathetic, But the Man is Sick!! He's always the first Fella to Hit the gnarly Jumps, Just check out Homegrownmaniacs 2 when it comes out, He comes up short on a jump that the rest of the crew thought was too dodgy and hit his head on the bars and got concussion but rode it out with out crashing, when they talked to him afterwards he couldnt even remember doing the jump so he did it again straight away and nailed it sweet as!!!!

Anyway back to the topic again im using 40mm x 40mm galvanised square hollow section tube with 2mm thick walls
and ofcourse the expanded mesh surface!!!!!

Go the Aussie Freestylers!!!!! And ofcourse the American Boys too!!

[bryan]

thanks for the specs dude,

hey chuck i hit your yellow ramp set up to side at 60ft today, i like that metal surface.

[Nex corporation]

Hey homegrownmaniac, i think the ramp your building should be a fair bit like mine, i used shaggers mesurments they ran in freerider mx, and i made them a little bigger, like i took the 1.8 to 2 metres and made it 5.5 metres long, i also flatened the last metre off, and angled the front to down supports farward a little like what bryan has drawn on his. I also use the expanded mesh surface, and the way things are goin every ramp wll have it on it soon. Is ply a whole lot different to steel?. Anyway my ramp feels real nice to jump and works real well at about 75-80 foot. The only problem with having such a low ramp is that to use a big landing ramp it is kind of a little step up. Have fun,
Bryan, plans look good, my dad used to be an enganier too befor ha started farming so he came up with the same kind off supports, but i scrapped a few off his ideas cause they looked stupid, but your ramp looks like itl be nice.

[slider]

Bryan,
I build the lightest ramps out there and the lean you have toward the low side is not needed. Just go at 90 degrees at the bottom / upright #1. Your cuts will be easier and it won't move either. Doesn't hurt to have this, just not needed.

The support you have going the opposite way is not needed at all. Remove it from your plans and save some weight.

44 degrees is too steep for any gap if you want big tricks. At 44 degrees you will float from the bike and fall out of the sky. Back it down to 35 to 37 degrees and you will be much happier.

You are from CA so use 2x2 square tubing at either .065 or .120 wall. You can use 1.5" if using the .120 wall and it will be plenty strong.

Put cross supports every 12" and use 1x1 the same thickness as your side rails.

I would add about 3 more supports to your ramp, esp. if using .065 wall, just to be sure.

The full length gusset down the center is not needed if you adapt the above advise.

Use 1/2" or 3/4" expanded metal. Everything else is sub standard. Be sure to put a solid sheet of metal under it so you don't see through it. Seeing through the expanded metal makes it harder to judge the angle.

The rest looks good. I like the X bracings as these are critical to big whips and extra strength if ever hit by a tractor...

Well, I just gave away several things I sell with my ramp plans. It is now up to 49 pages and grows every week as I find out more helpful ways to build ramps. Hope all works out and keep us all updated to the results.

Hey Chuck! Nice meeting you in San Diego this past weekend. Get well soon.

[slider]

Bryan,
One more very critical thing.

The angle on your ramp goes all the way to the top. This will kick the back of the bike regardless. Make the last 3 to 4 feet flat. i.e. Don't keep increasing the angle to the end.

[bryan]

thanks so much slider! so i don't want a constant radius, atleast not on the last couple feet?