Best Dirt Bike for riding in the Glamis Sand Dunes?

GLAMIS WEATHER
EastMT said:
I asked a group of riders why there were not any CR500 or KX500 in the dunes. They said that the suspension was better on the newer bikes. Most bikes I saw were YZ450’s.
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I ride an 01 cr500. Owned it since 02.
Went to Moab with a bunch of guys on newer 450s and 250s a few years ago. They were way less worn out than me at the end of each day. Plus the easy button. Every intersection I stopped at to wait for them they just hit the button and were off. I had to get in position to kick my beast over. Which is getting harder with age and knee issues.

Started spending some money on shock upgrades and blew it up a couple years ago in Glamis. I need to get on that project.
 
MegansDad said:
All you guys with the 2 stroke 500’s from the ‘90s must be driving a 7.3 to Glamis also.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the classics but everything has advanced in 25+ years.
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People say that, then you see Tons of 450s for sale because it costs more to rebuild them than just buy another. You could put a new piston in a 500 for a couple hundred bucks all in....and you didn't have to do that very often.
 
Realbadlarry said:
People say that, then you see Tons of 450s for sale because it costs more to rebuild them than just buy another. You could put a new piston in a 500 for a couple hundred bucks all in....and you didn't have to do that very often.
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Just in time.
 

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MegansDad said:
All you guys with the 2 stroke 500’s from the ‘90s must be driving a 7.3 to Glamis also.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the classics but everything has advanced in 25+ years.
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02 was a good year for me.😆 Still rocking the 7.3 24 years later too.
She isn't the fastest or most comfortable. But gets the job done. Much like my cr. 20260315_064716.jpg
This was just last March. 🤙🏻
 
Between me and my kids we have tried about all of them! KTM 2 strokes and 4 strokes, new YZ's and new 450's, all Honda 2 strokes from 85-250cc.

I rode a 04 CRF450R for 7+ years. 6-8 trips a year. maintained a clean air filter/oil and never had a problem. that bike was fast and started easy. likely had over 1000Hrs on that bike when it sold. I never opened the top end of the engine except for valve checks/adjustments and did several clutches. loved that bike, but have a car now!

Compare this to my sons 02 cr250, we had to do a top end every 25 hours, he would average 20hrs per 4 day trip.. about 120 bucks a pop. While easy to do, it adds up quick. not to mention race gas, silencer re-packs etc... 2 Stroke maintenance when done correctly far exceeds modern 4 stoke maintenance even if you perform your own work and I don't care what the dealer says, what your buddy had luck with etc.. if you ride a 2 stroke in the dunes, you need 100 octane minimum. you wont find a SX style 2 stroke OEM manual that doesn't say 98 octane minimum. todays gas doesn't agree w 2 strokes.

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but I will say, the best bike I've ridden in the dunes is a hard tie between that CR and a new 2023 YZ250 2 stroke. ya just cant beat a good 2 stroke.
 
I rode my 2001 CR 250 for 4 years in Glamis. Never needed race gas *shrugs*. Face it, basically any 4 stroke 450 made since 2003 is about perfect for G. Plenty of power, easy to maintain. Choose your preferred brand. They just work
 
mc22 said:
Between me and my kids we have tried about all of them! KTM 2 strokes and 4 strokes, new YZ's and new 450's, all Honda 2 strokes from 85-250cc.

I rode a 04 CRF450R for 7+ years. 6-8 trips a year. maintained a clean air filter/oil and never had a problem. that bike was fast and started easy. likely had over 1000Hrs on that bike when it sold. I never opened the top end of the engine except for valve checks/adjustments and did several clutches. loved that bike, but have a car now!

Compare this to my sons 02 cr250, we had to do a top end every 25 hours, he would average 20hrs per 4 day trip.. about 120 bucks a pop. While easy to do, it adds up quick. not to mention race gas, silencer re-packs etc... 2 Stroke maintenance when done correctly far exceeds modern 4 stoke maintenance even if you perform your own work and I don't care what the dealer says, what your buddy had luck with etc.. if you ride a 2 stroke in the dunes, you need 100 octane minimum. you wont find a SX style 2 stroke OEM manual that doesn't say 98 octane minimum. todays gas doesn't agree w 2 strokes.

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but I will say, the best bike I've ridden in the dunes is a hard tie between that CR and a new 2023 YZ250 2 stroke. ya just cant beat a good 2 stroke.
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My favorite Single track trail bike was a 1996 YZ250, light and nimble with plenty of power.

All our kids are now riding 350's in the dunes, but the heaviest rider might be 170lbs, they also do tons a trail /track riding. A couple of them had 450's, but downsized to a bike that is better for everything.
 
My first 2 wheeler in the dunes was a CR500, went to a YFZ426. Both were great but very different.
 
Cookie said:
My favorite Single track trail bike was a 1996 YZ250, light and nimble with plenty of power.

All our kids are now riding 350's in the dunes, but the heaviest rider might be 170lbs, they also do tons a trail /track riding. A couple of them had 450's, but downsized to a bike that is better for everything.
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KTMs ? They do more trail rides overall?

250s too small for my son and the 450 is too much a handful (right now at least).

I'd have us all on XR400Rs if people would let them go...CRFs are cheaper, it's crazy.
 
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Crusty said:
KTMs ? They do more trail rides overall?

250s too small for my son and the 450 is too much a handful (right now at least).

I'd have us all on XR400Rs if people would let them go...CRFs are cheaper, it's crazy.
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350's are the best comprise of both trails/desert and Sand IMHO. I also like the 300 2-stokes. If you look at the HP and weight, the 350's have the same HP of a 450 from 2005, and quite a bit lighter. E-start and FI, just ride
 
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