desert bike

[ninjamonkey_16]

i would like to get into desert racing, and i would like to know what people think is a good bike to start with, i have a cr250 now, so im not new to a lot of power.
i just want to know what a good bike to start with would be, since i cant take my cr with me.

[Woody_393]

I think another CR or 2-stroke 250 would be great!

[KKXR400R]

Originally Posted by ninjamonkey_16

i would like to get into desert racing, and i would like to know what people think is a good bike to start with, i have a cr250 now, so im not new to a lot of power.
i just want to know what a good bike to start with would be, since i cant take my cr with me.

Kinda of a vague question but I'll give it a shot. If you talk to the "old school" desert guys they swear that the 250 2-stroke is the perfect desert bike. It's enough to get you through the valleys(where the 500's rule the roost) but light enough to smoke most in the technical. Personally I would think about a KTM 250/300 but everyone has their preferences. I spent way to much money trying to get the Honda ready for the desert as compared to the KTM, all I put on was a skid plate, hand gaurds and radiator cages on it....that's it, nothing else. The low end doesn't fatigue your hands and I have topped it out at 87 on the dry lake bed....it's a little freaky when the front end twitches at that speed... The bike flat out rips with stock every thing.

The YZ's are also great bikes. with a little gearing you can get those things to scoot along. I rode one at a night race and it took all of 10 minutes to get used to, trials tire and all. The motor felt punchy but smooth like my CR. The downfall was the gearing. We got 2nd in class that night and beat the crap out of bike.

The CR's are a dying breed with Honda killing them a few years ago. I raced an 01 for the my first year of racing. This bike "powerwise" was perfect but the rigid frame beat the snot out of me in the chop, even with suspension work my hands would be completely numb after 40 miles. My only gripe about the newer CR's are the powervalves make the bike "surge" but the handling is far better.

Hope this helps.

-Kevin-

you can get a feel (see pic below) for what your going to have to invest in to protect the bike.

[ninjamonkey_16]

thanks, ive been thinking about just getting another 2 stroke, since they are generally cheaper.

i agree withthe handling of these newer bikes. i rode my buddy's crf250 and it was like a dream, it went wherever i wanted with no effort whatsoever on my part, i almost didnt have to think about it.

well, compared to my 1990 cr250. but i love it's power.

maybe ill just stick with the 250s then. thanks guys.

[deuceshigh7]

not "too much" experience here, but i just got into d37 races, and have done three so far, (only finished 2 haha) but i am riding a yz250 2T, and love it! i just got the suspension revalved and it rides so nice it is ridiculous. however, i am selling my bike next month, (after our next race) and am buying a yz450f. am getting a ridiculous deal on it, and am sorta tired of the constant shifting, powerband, and timebomb factor MY bike has. i say my bike cuz not all 2T are like that, but i have had to catastrophically rebuild my bike 4 times in 2 yrs... but that's the way it goes, ill upload a pic of the protection i have on my bike and STILL, the desert managed to sneak by an blow a hole in my waterpump and not let me finish my second race ever, (the DNF mentioned earlier)


so ya, u could def. ride a 2T, and out here, the classes are by displacement, meaning u ride with 2504T and 2T... so u def. have the advantage over the 4T 250. the 300 would be a dream ride for me but i just dont have the money...


kinda rambling here, but hope this helps
-nic