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thinking of switching

By The Hopper Show,
in WR400F/426F/450F

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Grand Master

KennyMc

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I recently rode a stock KTM 500 exc I noticed it very torquey and the suspension very plush. However when I pushed it over the woops it was all over the place and while the torque was nice it was overgeard by the owner and barley made the hill my WR flew up. Booged in third and hit the rev limiter low on the rpm's in second.

The PDS suspension loses its plushness in the whoops. And if that stock bike had stock gearing ?
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FORMA MOTO

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The PDS suspension loses its plushness in the whoops. And if that stock bike had stock gearing ?

 

If there aren't too many whoops in a row, I am finding the PDS to work pretty good. Much better than I expected. 

It's the forks after the last whoop, and the lack of  power on the 350 (or the excess weight on-board) makes it hard to keep that front end from landing harshly. 

Edited by Kah Ran Nee
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KennyMc

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If there aren't too many whoops in a row, I am finding the PDS to work pretty good. Much better than I expected. 

It's the forks after the last whoop, and the lack of  power on the 350 (or the excess weight on-board) makes it hard to keep that front end from landing harshly. 

Even stock I don't feel mine "land harsh".  So far I am ok with the suspension out in the desert.  Even going to JV, I can find my way around the big whoop fields.  I will be re-springing them here shortly though, cause I am supposed to :goofy: .  I have yet to run out of power on the 350.  Will my WR go up the hill faster, yeah, but will the 350 also make it, yeah.  The desert areas I ride just don't need the difference between the 350 and 450 to actually make it up.  The fastest up the hill, sure the 450 ?

 

It's funny, I did Barstow in consecutive weekends.  The first on the 350 (you missed a good ride) :naughty: , then on the 450.  I came home, took off the brand new Tusk wheel set (1st ride on them) and promptly sold them and am now putting the WR up for sale......again.  For me, much more tiring, again.  For me and my style, the 350 just works better.

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letitsnow

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Even stock I don't feel mine "land harsh".  So far I am ok with the suspension out in the desert.  Even going to JV, I can find my way around the big whoop fields.  I will be re-springing them here shortly though, cause I am supposed to :goofy: .  I have yet to run out of power on the 350.  Will my WR go up the hill faster, yeah, but will the 350 also make it, yeah.  The desert areas I ride just don't need the difference between the 350 and 450 to actually make it up.  The fastest up the hill, sure the 450 ?

 

It's funny, I did Barstow in consecutive weekends.  The first on the 350 (you missed a good ride) :naughty: , then on the 450.  I came home, took off the brand new Tusk wheel set (1st ride on them) and promptly sold them and am now putting the WR up for sale......again.  For me, much more tiring, again.  For me and my style, the 350 just works better.

Have you ever ridden your 350 at Dumont?

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FORMA MOTO

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Even stock I don't feel mine "land harsh".  So far I am ok with the suspension out in the desert.  Even going to JV, I can find my way around the big whoop fields.  I will be re-springing them here shortly though, cause I am supposed to :goofy: .  I have yet to run out of power on the 350.  Will my WR go up the hill faster, yeah, but will the 350 also make it, yeah.  The desert areas I ride just don't need the difference between the 350 and 450 to actually make it up.  The fastest up the hill, sure the 450 ?

 

It's funny, I did Barstow in consecutive weekends.  The first on the 350 (you missed a good ride) :naughty: , then on the 450.  I came home, took off the brand new Tusk wheel set (1st ride on them) and promptly sold them and am now putting the WR up for sale......again.  For me, much more tiring, again.  For me and my style, the 350 just works better.

 

Yes, the 350 does tire me out less.

The weird thing is that at 'normal' speed, the bike requires much less body english and muscle control to ride smoothly; it just does it.

But when I try and push, it, I can't seem to keep the bike on a tight line to save my life.....it's a game of constantly crawling all over the bike to try and regain control. 

The WR is the exact opposite.....a bear to go slow and rough on, and effortless to go fast on.

 

So strange...

 

Last night I pushed the 350's rear axle back as far as it would go (+ a second master link), so we shall see how that works.

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SteveThe Snakes

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Yeah, but can it pass the Bean Canyon test ??

 

 I understand it went pretty well. It had an experienced adopt a rider aboard but there was nothing bad to report. So I would say quite acceptable. I heard Piutes fan and Ben had some issues but both are very new to the area and it takes a while to get used to Bean.

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SteveThe Snakes

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Yeah, but can it pass the Bean Canyon test ??

 

By the way the rider on board wasn't very heavy. But the stock 350 EXC was a dog until remapped, air box opened and a new rear pipe section was added. Still however wouldn't make the real tough stuff now at 400cc it looks like its doing well. The owner is a light weight female expert rider that has done some amazing feats on board of lightweight modified bikes. However out with some post back healing for a while. I think she will shine on this bike as it's light and also lowered for her. Well we will know more next year.

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KennyMc

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Yes, the 350 does tire me out less.

The weird thing is that at 'normal' speed, the bike requires much less body english and muscle control to ride smoothly; it just does it.

But when I try and push, it, I can't seem to keep the bike on a tight line to save my life.....it's a game of constantly crawling all over the bike to try and regain control.

The WR is the exact opposite.....a bear to go slow and rough on, and effortless to go fast on.

So strange...

Last night I pushed the 350's rear axle back as far as it would go (+ a second master link), so we shall see how that works.

Yeah, weird. I don't have any experience being tall ?

I think it's funny how people continually try and compare a smaller cc bike to a larger cc bike in terrain where cc's is the most important factor. ? It's pretty hilarious. And to how well other riders do on other bikes. I can only compare the bikes I ride in the terrain I ride in and then make an informed decision. Like you do on your various bike options. ?

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FORMA MOTO

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I rode the 350 today on very steep, rutted hard/sandy terrain, and it worked, just not very agressively.

The low weight makes it climb better, but the low power makes it climb worse. Really gotta ring it out, for my weight.

The biggest benefit is down hills!  Much easier to control on sketchy down hills.

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KennyMc

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Ok.  I've ridden a CR125 out there, so I wasn't implying anything about the 350 being small - was just curious how they do in the sand.

I have been going to Glamis since 1984 when I had my 200x 3-wheeler :jawdrop:   I went through the 250R quad, the Banshee, 450YFZ quad and then finally a CR500.  Sweet bikes those 500's ?  I did take my CRF450R out there once, wasn't anywhere near the "wow" factor the CR500 was :goofy:  :goofy:

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offrd beatr

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I have been going to Glamis since 1984 when I had my 200x 3-wheeler :jawdrop: I went through the 250R quad, the Banshee, 450YFZ quad and then finally a CR500. Sweet bikes those 500's ? I did take my CRF450R out there once, wasn't anywhere near the "wow" factor the CR500 was :goofy::goofy:

This is very true. Stock for stock nothing hangs with the 500 smokers in the sand. They really benefit from the aggressive and abrupt power delivery in that environment.

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