What gear - desert long trail riding ?

[UK4X4]

I go today to purchase my first offroad bike, used to be a sports bike guy but
have gone over to the dark side as there's more desert here than roads.

I'm looking for some gear reviews, desert tuned for trail riding

ie the bikes a 2008 left on the shelf 450 CRFX with lights and street legal

conditions rocky trails through to dunes

Most guy's here seem to to do more long distance desert rides than technical trails.

So I'll be needed a larger fuel tank or aux tank fitted
I need to change the ratio from dirt track- to higher gearing suitable for long open trails.

For Tank's I see acerbis has quite a choice

For sprokets- not sure what I'll need

So what Boots

Protection

helmet etc

The only thing that crosses over from my road bike gear is my goretex jacket with built in armour for winter wear

What gear do you guy's wear on trail rides ?

 

[R_Lefebvre]

AFAIK, a GOOD skidplate and rad guards are MANDATORY. It's a wonder they don't have rad guards from the factory. I have Moose Racing on both those items. The skid plate needs to wrap up the sides somewhat, not just a flat plate on the bottom. The rad guards should offer side protection for when you drop it on rocks, some only offer back bracing protection against bashing from the front.

Tank will be mandatory for you I think. My 250 will do... I think 150km on one fill which is fine for a day of forest running. But a 450 in the desert will be more thirsty.

Sprokets, I'd try it out first, go from there. I found the stock gearing perfect for me.

For riding gear, you might want to look into the armor suits for off-road riding. I have a Fox suit, it's mesh with a real good back protector and elbow and arm guards. These systems are much much better than "roost" guards which are designed for motorcross guys. The back protector in particular is important. I've gone over the handlebars once, landed on my back on rocks, and I was fine. You might also consider a Leatt brace depending on how hard you're pushing.

For boots, again, most of the stuff is made for motorcross, the soles are too smooth. Look for boots with a real traction sole for when you have to walk (which apparently MX guys never do?)

Helmets, the hybrids like an Arai XD are nice, but aren't great for serious off-road use. They'll fog up when you're working, get dust inside, etc. Stick with a normal MX helmet, since I have glasses, I have to wear contacts when riding.

 

[goodtimes]

For most of the riding I do, which generally consist of actual roads (just not very well maintained...), I find the BMW Rally II Pro gear to be fine. This is what I rode the western TAT with. The only thing I wish it had was a spine protector...of course, you can always wear one underneath it...which many people do.

For the days I am pushing it, I wear a pressure suit from Acerbis, along with Klim "baja" riding pants with hard shell knee/shin guards underneath (don't recall the brand). I have bounced off of the ground with this gear on...and I was glad to have it.

For helmets, I usually (99%) wear a Shoie Hornet DS. Yes, it can fog when you are working hard...but you can also open the visor and get good air flow (make sure you have safety glasses or sunglasses on). This isn't the safest thing to do...but then again, either is riding a motorcycle. I find wearing goggles all day long sucks, and I simply won't do it. The DS works for me. YMMV.

Boots, I really like the Sidi Discoveries. Good traction, break in quickly, easy to walk around in. The down side is that the ankle is not very stiff, increasing the liklihood of an injury when your bike takes a high speed nap. Not the safest, but again, either is riding a motorcycle.

What ever gear you end up with, you will be compromising something...comfort, some degree of safety, $$$, what ever. Do yourself a favor, make sure that the gear you invest in is gear that you will actually wear. It does no good if your riding jacket is so bloomin' hot that you end up strapping it to pillion seat instead of wearing it. Your boots are no good if the ankle is so stiff that you leave them at home because you want to walk around the town you are riding to. You can talk degrees of safety all day long, but in the end, if the gear is not comfortable enough for you to wear on the rides you take, then there is no point because you won't wear it.

 

[ntsqd]

Boots: Look at the ATV/Quad offerings rather than the MX offerings. My Fox's have old school Vibram hiking boot sole.

Goggles: Smith (& others) offer OTG versions. I went with a set of OTG's because while I don't wear glasses I find that I can wear my sunglasses or not much easier than changing the goggle lens. Not to mention that the tinted goggle lenses that I found were all geared towards contrast, which I can't use.

I've suspected that the "roost guards" weren't really what I need. I'm glad to see other thinking or saying the same thing.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Oh, for the pants, I use the over the boot style, which is somewhat of an ATV oriented thing. I went against the advice of a friend who's a pro rider on this one, he warned that the pant leg could catch on the footpeg when you're trying to dab a foot. It has almost happened once, but I haven't had a real problem yet. The upside is that the OTB pants keep my much much drier than MX style pants. Much more of the water is kept out. Probably not an issue in the desert, but something to think about.

 

[UK4X4]

"Much more of the water is kept out"

rain..mmmm around 3 times per year here


so not much of a worry- insurance tomorrow and pick the bike up the day after

A budy of mine has some spare gear to loan me before I head back to UK for shopping.

all info apreciated

 

[ntsqd]

I also went with an over the boot riding pant. I'm a bit like Grant Peterson of Rivendel in that when I step off the bike I don't want to be immediately ID'd as a bike rider by my clothing. For serious competition riding I can see the inside the boot pant being the better choice. I don't ride that way.

 

[UK4X4]

Some good pointers guys,

pressure suit ordered

jersey and MX pants ordered.

Boots will have to wait, I'm not keen on ordereing shoes and helmets on the net.

So far I'm using borrowed gear, the heat here is opressive when still

yep some one trashed their rad this weekend. story in other thread

 

[Ozrockrat]

Shopping in the UK

If you are going shopping for Kit in the UK I would suggest you look at the BMW Enduro helmet. I have used mine for off road - touring (both USA and when following the Dakar in Chile) and have had no problems. It is the lightest most comfortable helmet I have ever had.

For riding gear I use Rallye 2 jacket and Santiago pants. Pants are a bit hot in the desert but they protect well. I wear the jacket either with the armour in or a pressure suit depending on my view of the possibility of crashing.

This gear works for me but I do more allroad type touring than real dual sport. (read that as being an old fat whimp when it comes to technical stuff) The benefit of the Rallye jacket is that it can handle all seasons we get in AZ.