How Do I Build A Berm?

[MitchAustralia]

I want to know if there are any special techniques on how to build a berm
Or do I just get a picture and copy it as best as I can...
All I have is spades and maybe one mate to help with...
Just something simple like this
http://motocross.transworld.net/files/2008/08/003.jpg

Thanks, Mitch.

 

[sean01]

mate thats a pretty decent berm....

best way to start a berm is to cut it in with a bike and keep hitting it. but always stay on the same line.
once you have the basic angle and wat not them you can start shoveling it...

lol if ya got any mates with big bikes get them to hit it up for a while....instant berm

 

[MitchAustralia]

yeh I know, but im just thinking of my mates one he had and it was perfect but wasnt even that big.
hmm, the reason I want the berm on this corner is cause its really dodgy and I've fell off a few times going around it.
so cutting it in wont be an easy job and plus, after months of riding my track I havnt made any berms, just little grooves.
yeh my neighbour has a Honda 80R

 

[TyD]

mate, what about a bit of dirt and water?? make a hard berm.. thats how all my mates made their 180* berms.. but they are pretty big, 4-5 foot.

 

[MitchAustralia]

yeh good idea.
cause I need it to be hard, or compact because otherwise when I tear around I will probably go straight through it and mess it up.
the problem is that the ground around that area is soft ontop but has hard stuff underneath almost like clay..
got any suggestions?

 

[TyD]

best thing I can say is experiment!! Dig it up a bit, and see how you go, you will find that you learn the best when you are doing hands on..

 

[MitchAustralia]

Yeh, I tried that today
But started raining so I went in.

 

[mattbombers]

best time to build it is in the rain... while the ground is wet, then compact it while its still wet, then when it drys it will be well compacted and pretty hard.

 

[MitchAustralia]

yeh thanks

 

[coolmodee01]

need 3 things

line in so either a rut or good berm entrance

apex

line out rut again usually

the easiest way of building a berm is to pile dirt about 1/2 a metre high all the way around the corner pack it down a bit get the bike out and start riding it you will find this will eventually pack it down a bit and push the dirt into the right line to suit that corner

warning stay LOW on the berm until it wears a good line in the berm and packs out up high

here's some pics

 

[hman]

why not just duck down to bunnings and ask them for a berm shovel. they should be about $30. or try ebay. im sure ive seen berms in a box for $45.99 plust post.

 

[MitchAustralia]

Thanks heaps coolmodee01!
Yeh is there any way I can compact the dirt up high because just stomping it and hitting it with your spade wont put any where near as much weight as riding on it will.
And if you ride right up high I can just see the top collapsing...
Looks like a nice track you got going
Thanks again, Mitch.

 

[MitchAustralia]

why not just duck down to bunnings and ask them for a berm shovel. they should be about $30. or try ebay. im sure ive seen berms in a box for $45.99 plust post.

Didnt think there were such things as berm shovels or are you messing with me
And im almost certain you cant buy berms in a box
Haha, nice one.

 

[coolmodee01]

um you will find as you ride it more and more it will pack out higher water helps or jump in a ute or 4wd and drive on it

yeah the first track is reefy's and it's awsome the second track is ours and it's great but has been under water for most of the winter

we wnt and pumped it out today so we can ride tomorrow

 

[I_THUMP]

Heres one of the berms we built on a little track we have. Its been carved in nicely and serves its purpose well. Building one is as simple as piling up some dirt in the desired riding line of the corner, compacting it down, watering it and riding it a few times to get the line right. It will harden up to a solid berm but will require some work to get it right.

As coolie mentioned stay low at first to wear in the berm coz u dont wont to be caving it in when its still fresh.

Ill get some other pics of some berms on this track which we built in different ways.

And this was the reason the berm is so crucial on this corner coz if you over shoot it then you end up down here vv

 

[SnItChY]

looks like a nice spot to put some off those mexican tomato plants in

 

[Satchy]

^^ loool ^^

 

[MitchAustralia]

Haha, nice effort I THUMP
Yeh the problem is that this corner is heading down a hill
So your riding down the hill and then you turn left, so the bike has slipped out from underneath me.
So I thought if a built a berm I could use the to guide me through the corner...

 

[I_THUMP]

LMAO snitchy, unfortunately we get too many curious people passing by along with a few kids that ride the track as well so I dont think that type of plant life would survive too long around here. I think they tend to have a better life expectancy indoors

 

[I_THUMP]

Haha, nice effort I THUMP
Yeh the problem is that this corner is heading down a hill
So your riding down the hill and then you turn left, so the bike has slipped out from underneath me.
So I thought if a built a berm I could use the to guide me through the corner...

There is a kinda small berm going down hill on this track as well but its into a right hand corner. This is a **** pic of it which was taken when the track was neglected and overgrown. Its actually a 180 degree right hand corner which slopes down into the corner and then goes uphill out of the corner.
I will get some better pics of it for ya in the next few days.