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irich
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| Joined: | Fri Apr 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | Manama, Bahrain |
| Posts: | 656 |
| Occupation: | | | My bikes: | KTM 450 EXC-R 07 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 08:52 pm |
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I organise a weekly desert run here.
It isn't for pussies. We do 50 - 70 km through dunes, rocks and soft sand like flour. It can take 3 hours on a bad day.
It's now 100F and climbing. You get stuck and fall a lot. You can lose 10 lbs in half a day.
So on Friday this new guy decided to come. Just bought a Honda 450 from another ex rider who is injured. Never been on the sand before. He rode 50 km with us and kept up all the way. We had a sandstorm and got lost. He was cool. He has decided to join our Rally later. He is 66 years old.
He has inspired me. You should do a piece on this guy. write to me if you want to know more.
Hats off to Chris:
Last edited on Sun Apr 6th, 2008 09:09 pm by irich
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irich
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| Location: | Manama, Bahrain |
| Posts: | 656 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 09:00 pm |
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The KTM's.
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TimmyMagic
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 16th, 2006 |
| Location: | Bedford, England |
| Posts: | 5715 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 09:13 pm |
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Just shows how shit YOU must be  
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TimmyMagic
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 09:15 pm |
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Seriously, sounds awesome. I've never ridden in sand and I'd love to have a go at that.
And he sounds like a top bloke!!!!
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irich
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| Joined: | Fri Apr 13th, 2007 |
| Location: | Manama, Bahrain |
| Posts: | 656 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 09:22 pm |
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One of the guys that rides with us is on a CR 500 two stroke Honda and an ex road racer from Ireland.
Another is a nuts off road French competiton MX rider (again, CR 500)
Yet another is an Aussie KTM enduro guy. Great MX rider too.
The best guy is the Finn who rides a Dominator in dunes that would have Simon Pavey casting admiring glances.
We have a German guy called Frank who can jump anything.
A Swede called Dave rides is Yamaha like his old snowmobile.
We stick together. Nobody gets left behind in the desert.
I'm the novice. But I don't get stuck anymore.
Its great
Last edited on Mon Apr 7th, 2008 08:06 am by irich
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TimmyMagic
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| Location: | Bedford, England |
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Posted: Sun Apr 6th, 2008 09:26 pm |
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Never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually a bit jealous of you 
Mind you, if I had a CR500 stroker, I'd get some supermoto wheels on it and tear around the roads like a knob when I wasn't in the sand
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irich
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 05:09 am |
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TimmyMagic wrote: Never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually a bit jealous of you
Mind you, if I had a CR500 stroker, I'd get some supermoto wheels on it and tear around the roads like a knob when I wasn't in the sand
You'd love it. It takes a while to get used to sand riding but when it all clicks it is great.
I'll get some pics of the CR 500's next time we are out. They are quite something.
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TimmyMagic
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 08:34 am |
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I guess it's all about keeping the weight over the back wheel more than anything...
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irich
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 08:49 am |
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What works for me is to keep a neutral balance on the bike.
Stand on the pegs, no strain in the arms, flex the knees to cushion the bumps.
Keep the speed up. Only stop on a dune ridge or facing down.
Read the sand ahead (thats the bit that takes some practice).
Get used to the idea that the bike slides and drifts and shakes its head at times.
Have a light touch on the bars. Let it find its own way, don't fight it.
Keep the power on, don't roll off or brake. As soon as you lose momentum you get bogged down if you are in the real fine powdery stuff.
Crest the dune ridges at an angle. This lessens the change when you go over the top and gives you more opportunity to assess the dune face on the other side.
And steer using your weight on the footpegs..
Last edited on Mon Apr 7th, 2008 10:38 am by irich
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TimmyMagic
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Posted: Mon Apr 7th, 2008 09:00 am |
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I might buy an old munter one day and head for Weston
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