So how is the 300 in the Desert?
 

I rode a little desert for first time in New Mexico this summer on my 450 while on vacation. I really liked it. Completely different animal than eastern tight woods singletrack though. Thought it was challenging. Riding with your shadow in front of you was new to me. LOL. I plan on going back for a race in Feb by Alamogardo, Tarantula 100.

How does the 300 like the desert? We don't have room down here to get past 4th gear, so I have no idea how the 300 runs in 5th and 6th.

What gearing do ya'll prefer?

Preferred tire? My Mich S-12's seemed to work very well as it was sandy.

Have any of you had a 450? Would you prefer the 300 over the 450 in a typical desert race?

Who races a Gasser in the desert?

Thanks.

I think you would want a big 4 stroke to haul the mail in the desert. 450-650cc

I hated my 12' 300 in the desert I was way more comfortable on a 4 stroke

Did someone say "desert"? The 300 is awesome in the desert. Get yourself some desert tires with a stiff sidewall like the dunlops or the maxxis and you are good to go.

I am not a very experienced desert rider But really have fun in the desert with my 2012 300 ! I was faster in the corners and whoops on my 350 sxf though. A more experienced rider who can stay on the pipe can keep up with the 450 four strokes all day long! IMO

The 300 does fair in the desert but its forte is certainly the tight and gnarly. I believe that if I bought a bike solely for desert riding it would be a KX500. Lots of rake=stable and more torque than any stock thumper can dream of. However, I had a Husky 360 that worked very well in that type of terrain. What I like about my gasser is that I don't have to sacrifice agility for stability.

I dont know about the Gasser 300, but I can tell you that KTM 300`s kill it in the desert. I have ridden them both in the California high desert and Phoenix area.

Doing your Gasser research Marc? Welcome to GasGasrider.org.

I think I'm going to bring both bikes with me and do a little testing the day before the race. Pick the one I feel better on.

Thanks Chris!


I have lots of friends that run 2T`s in the desert and the love them. The only difference is that you keep it pinned more often. Your 300 will also be more forgiving than your 450.

Marc

I find it very interesting you say the 300 "will be more forgiving than the 450" in the desert. I know you've owned both from our converstions, so could you tell me why that is so? I was thinking it would be the opposite.

Sure

If you are blowing through the desert at top speed than you want the 450, because it will feel much more planted at speed. If you are riding fast but more technical stuff than the 300 would be easier to throw around. As you know there are two very different styles of riding. I had a WR450 at one point in the early 2000`s. It was a handful. And thats coming from someone who grew up on CR and KX 500`s. It is more of a weight thing with the WR than anything else. I also had a 05 525MXC after that in Arizona and SoCal. Loved it, but I am used to the weight.

Just my two cents.

Ok, well those same reasons apply over here. More open it is, I like the 450. Tighter it is, I like the 2 stroke. I've come to really haul ass on the 450 no matter the terrain. However, in the past I haven't been in race shape to keep up the faster pace on the heavier 450.

Id say one of the benifits of the 300 is being able to get the bike back in shape at speed easier than on the heaver 450 (I have a 08 wr450 also)

I'll let you know after June next year:D
I have done Hattah on the 07 300 and that was great but not really open desert riding.
Finke will be a good test for it.
Cheers Mark

So you are running Finke on the 300?????

Hey Chris

Just sold my 450, so I am snooping around now ;)

You will find one. There seems to be a lot of guys from Wash St. and Oregon on here. I'm sure somebody will be selling one soon. I'm going to just keep mine and run it for this season. Everything wrong with it I have corrected. I also have the suspension dialed in pretty good. It's almost like a new bike except for the motor, which is still strong as hell. Will need nothing but tires and air filters for the next year. Just going to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

There you go! Street legal to boot!

If I wanted to set my 300 for a little more top end pull for this race, what would be an easy way to that? FMF only makes the Gnarly Pipe for the 2012, so switching pipes is out. Advance timing? Maybe get another head machined?

Yep, Should be fine as I am not a top rider . A mate of mine has done it 4 times and is going to do it on his 250 6 days.
Cheers Mark

My 11 300E is going up for sale as well. Lots of extras and spares. ;)

Oh and yes a properly set up 300 2t works real good in the desert. Especially in the right hands, a guy who rides them all the time.

Roscoe

Thanks Bowhunter! I saw that also last night. Sent him a message and still heard nothing. Chris wants to swap 250 barrel if I do it.:)

Roscoe


Message me with the particulars on your bike or better yet email me at marcvertoch@gmail.com. Pictures would be great also

Upgrading to a newer bike, moving on...?! Anyone who doesn't know REVERUP...skilled rider who takes great care of his equipment.

Like Skylar Howes??? His Helmet Cam footage is awesome on the 300. Sound is amazing.

Here is some footage of Skyler in the desert. Dude is nuts. The terrain changes DRAMATICALLY at the 10:40 mark, this guy can ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkpdvKou6jA

I would assume if the orange bikes can do this well in the desert, the GG can't be too far behind. It's probably 97.4735% rider, with the remaining portion suspension tuning, but still.

That was pretty awesome, to watch. The only part of that ride I could've done with equal speed...pick my bike up, off the big rock.

Yeah all of his are good. No music except the sound of a 2 stroke.

Our race is coming up the end of January. Feb 1st is race day.

The course is a little tighter than most desert races. We have a kids race, and believe we are doing a short night race as well.

Can check some of the course on my youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/GringoLocoAZ?feature=watch

Mick

Where was that? I lived in Phoenix for a couple years and rode MM, Sycamore and Pima Dynamite a bunch. That was when Pima was still open :(

Marc

San Manual, about an hour North of Tucson.