Dirt Rider Magazine

I know how you feel here Dag. I really couldn't find info on my fisrt scamble either. I basicaly just showed up for the race and learned first hand. I went there knowing the basics (description of race) Wasn't till the riders meeting that I learned how the start was. It only takes one time and then you know more of what to expect. I can't wait to do one again. If you do it just set some realistic goals for the first time.

If you know who is putting the race on contact them and ask questions. Maybe you know someone who's do it before, I didn't.

Need to change sprockets? Guess that depend on how yours look. If the teeth are worn might be a good ideal. How bad are yours? If you do change spockets change the chain as well.

Got what you mean now about sprockets. My first thought was ware on them, didn't think about # selection Dahhhh.

I've never riden desert so I'm know help there on set up. Could be wrong but I'd go to a 19/90 120 rear tire. I know wider efects handleing but i would think that it would keep you on top of the sand better?

csullyi don't know where you'd find info on them, other than the AMA site...although, my brothers and I are checking one out on Jan. 11th in Spangler (near Red Mountain in the Mojave Desert...District 37)....maybe i can figure some stuff out for you...haha



i'm not sure the best tires to run out there for a scramble...but in the desert we keep the pressure pretty low 12-13psi; and use heavy duty tubes...some people don't like them because they make the tired heavier...i'm not really sure if they're beneficial in a scramble or not...but for the longer races, definitely.

Thanks sully and Rockies. I got a copy of the rules and left an email for the captain of the250 class for district 38. Any tips you can pick up on the 11th ,tire size etc would be appreciated.

Just don't try it on a quad Court lol :)

Hey Dag finished 2nd in his first race! You can do it sully!!!!! :)

hahaha...just bash in the competetions knees? hahaha

that's no fun...i want to win fair and square....problem is, i just don't want to loose fair and square either!

wise words my friend

daggitMy bike can't compete with the 4 strokes in MotoX (neither can the pilot), And desert racing ffor 100s of miles is also not the bikes strong point. So Desert Scrambles seem to be a match. How do i get information on hare scrambles, Is there a site. I have been to AMA district38 site,but I want a idiots guide to hare scrambles. That covers prep to finish. The bike is a cr250

Hey Dag have fun! The sprocket thing doesn't really matter at this point in your racing career. Once you race your first time, you will know if you needed more speed or not. If you can go 75 mph (top speed) you're fast enough for now. Some-times the hare scrambles have some gnarly hills to climb, with lots of rocks. If you geared for speed you'll regret it in the technical sections. Court is dead on about the heavy duty inner tube. Your chances of getting a flat are greatly diminished with one. Go over your bike really good! Tighten all your nuts and bolts. Of course your air filter should be clean! I bought a second air filter I keep handy for race day, because you'll be riding a lot on Saturday (I assume). If you go out on Saturday, you can fine tune your bikes jetting. I like to run my bike slightly rich on the main jet during a race.

The bomb run: When scouting out your bomb run watch out for severe gullies or rocky outcroppings. I look for the smoothest route, even if its not the most direct, because you can safely assume you won't be in the lead, and you will be riding almost blind in the dust, assuming the desert hasn't had any rain. Once you have a good line picked out, practice it several times (if they let you) to get it memorized.

The start: On my starts I always use 2nd gear. Try it a few times to see if this will work for you. If it's a LeMans style start, practice it a few times as well. If you are in the habit of turning your gas off everytime you kill the engine, break the habit! I've messed up more than one good start because the gas wasn't on! I always start the bike with it in gear, and can get the bike moving almost before I hit the seat. But it takes practice.

The race: Have FUN! I like to just get into a fast tempo and pace myself. Dang I'm getting jealous as I write! At the end of the day it only matters that you went out there and had a good time. Don't get shaken by some hotshot blowing by you early in the game. He's probably blowing his wad right then, and you'll see him later, either crashed or broke down on the trail. Or you won't see him at all because he got lost, or he really was a pro who got a bad start. Either way, ride at your own speed. If you get passed by a rider who is about your speed, that's where the fun begins! Reel him back in, wear him out by dogging his rear fender and make your pass when he loses his composure. As the race wears on remember how tired everyone else is getting, and remind yourself how pumped up you are, and get ready to pour it on near the end. You have to mentally block out your tired muscles and focus on those last ten miles!

Racing the desert: My style is unique for me and works well, but everyone has their own style. I like to stand "crouched" with my weight back on the rear tire, pulling on the handlebars with the throttle pinned wide open. I tap the rear brake now and then to slow myself for rough sections, and speed shift (no clutch) for most of the race. I keep my rear suspension on the soft side for endurance and comfort, where I don't mind bottoming out the rear end occasionally on the really big hits. I dial the suspension for whoops, not jumps. On downhills when everyone else is freaking out I just imagine the tail is level, and instead of using my engine for speed I use gravity. If you get to a gnarly uphill with riders strewn all over, it sometimes pays to stop and get yourself composed at the bottom before attacking the hill. Plan your route and stick to it. Finding a route around the hill takes much longer than taking two attempts.

I can't wait to read all about your race! We snow-bound computer racers are counting on you to come back in one piece so you can give us a good write-up.

daggitPaul That was great Thanks, What about tire size and pressure? Also I have taken my bike to a dirt road and really reved out each gear, I didn't get past 1/4 throttle. lol It is a 5 speed and in fifth gear it was flying ( I would guess 70ish) and had more to give when I let off. Still about 1/4 throttle. So for me the top speed is there, so the sprockets at stock work fine.

Wow, if your doing 70ish at 1/4 throttle you're plenty fast! Yeah, stock gearing is where I go for the desert. My top speed with stock gearing is 92 mph. Tire size, I don't know. I just like to have good tires. If it's rocky, put a little extra air in your tires, or you might get a flat or ding your rims (like mine). I run 12 lbs in the front and 14 lbs in the rear. If it's sandy I run 9 lbs in front, 11 lbs in the rear. The most important thing you can do in the desert is run the heavy duty tube. What area are you riding in? I've ridden just about every inch of the Mojave desert, and there is such a wide variety of terrain, but maybe I can help you out...

After adding up the expence to do the scrambles, entry fee, tires, tubes, bike reg for 4 years, spark arrestor, and new tires for the Van, mine are bald. I am not going to be able to race the scrambles. But the spring Motox season starts the same day. There is a youth league that has a 40+AM and an open class named "Old Pharts" I will do them instead, Feb is looking good for the Scramble though. Thanks everyone.

I finally got mine positioned correctly.