Hi everyone, Ive been riding all sorts of off road vehicles my whole life. Predominantly quads and even three wheelers back when they were popular in the early/mid 90s. Lately it's been Razrs and Raptors. But I'd always had an eye out in 2 wheelers but due to lack of time (I got a job, married and had 3 kids) and not too many friends with 2 wheelers, the idea sat dormant. Last week I decided to buy a new quad, seeing as the season is right around the corner. In the Arab Gulf, outdoor season starts in mid September and all the way to mid April. Temps hover around 70F (21C). I was going for a raptor but then remembered that I'd wanted a 2 wheeler. Took a ride down to the KTM boutique and the guy explained the basic two models: SXF and EXC. The power lover in me automatically leaned towards the 450SXF obviously but thanks to the Internet and people like you who contribute on forums Iike these. I decided to try each bike out. So I managed to try a motocross and an enduro. I loved the power of the MX but because I plan on cruising more than doing jumps , I decided on the enduro. When I went back to the KTM boutique, they were just pulling out 500 6 days. Love at first sight ladies and gents. I am 6 foot and weigh about 230lbs (185cm & 105kg), so the dealer swapped of the spring to one suitable for my extra small size http://youtu.be/vh8VlgDtMAQ Was testing my GoPro on handlebar mount today
Alright so I finally managed to get a ride out yesterday. I'd love to say I drove it an hour. But I'd hate to lie. It drove me for at least 30 mins of that hour. Goddamn my goodness - its an incorrigible beast! Some notes: I never claimed to be a 2 wheeler pro - but I'd love constructive criticism Tire pressure was extra low - 8 psi (0.55 bar) The sand those days is extra soft - hasn't rained in 5 months http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdnyOk9bcko&feature=youtube_gdata_player
i ride in sand like that in central Fla...... that rear tire is average in sand at best, it's the euro enduro do everything tire.... that said, i ran a Maxxis EN like that at even less pressure, 5-6lbs, and it works OK, but average...and that was w/tubliss.... get a 140 IRC M5B, don't look back.... best i've tried.... gotta buddy w/that bike, and he's gotta Kenda TrackMaster that doesn't look bad.... i'm riding a Maxxis SI, and it's ok, but that M5B is the best in that terrain..... less air is your friend, experiment w/air pressures...and speed gets you up on top of the sand.... shift up a gear or two and lug it to not break the rear wheel loose as much.... you look like you're doing good.... my first time in sand like that, i was legs out, going all over the place... :eek1 .. took me a day to almost ride at speed in a straight line....
Yes indeed,1st bike being a 500EXC,and just heading right out into sand with no problem,that's a good trick! All the Raptor driving must have helped
and the other thing is that you gotta lose those mirrors, and get something that you can push outta the way on dirt.... you're gonna break those the first good off.........my buddy did!.... i got some from this guy, he's on this forum.... great service, and a good guy.... henri baccouche, i think..... http://www.moto-science.com/product/ktm-folding-mirror-225mm-5498-each
Thanks Dave. To my enduro-plebeian eyes, that irc tire looks like my stock tires. I know they're not, would you please elaborate. I mean they're both knobs in similar pattern... Well,I am of the desert. Sand & mobility are more first than second-nature to me. Reason being, regardless of number of tires, a certain harmony must be maintained to yield said mobility. In the long run, I'm looking for better rear view mirrors (mirror?). I have the stock mirrors on now because i intend register my bike for street driving soon. Ultimately I'd like to maintain two sets of wheels/tires. An off road set & an road set. I'll be getting a motorbike hydraulic lift. My understanding is that it shouldn't take me more than 5 minutes to swap out one set for the other.
that looks like the Metzler 6 Days tire on your back?.... short knobs.... that M5B has massive honkin' knobs, kinda far apart.... works almost like a paddle in sand... if you try it, run it w/low pressures, and you'll see immediately.... lotta voodoo in dirtbike tires.... you gotta pick one for whatever terrrain you predominantly ride in..... run that metzler in the woods where there's some traction, and it'll work great on rocks, roots, general dirt.... not so much in sand....
Yes, according to the manual: 90/90 - 21 M/C 54M M+S TT Metzeler MCE 6 Days Extreme 140/80 - 18 M/C 70M M+S TT Metzeler MCE 6 Days Extreme Err, no woods here. It's just the desert with some very rocky mountains in the north. I'll keep an eye out. Any particular size suggestions?
A 130 tire should fit,the bigger the better in sand. If you were doing pure sand a real paddle tire would be optimum,then have a regular knobby on the spare wheel. Ive made sand climbs in the desert nobody else made it up,I had a new M5B on the back of a Husqvarna 610. Google the IRC M5B,its as close as it gets to a paddle tire and would be a rough ride on the street.
Gents I'm now starting to understand tire types. Does the front need to be the same type of tire as well?
Front doesnt matter as much but a good sand or soft terrain tire wouldnt hurt. Its all throttle steering to keep things moving in soft sand,hard pack sand is much different of course.
