Hare Scramblers - Please help

[Guest Guest]

calling all HS vets..

Hello, I am just getting back into the sport after about 15 yrs off (rode as a kid with Dad doing the wrenching at the time). I am getting ready for my first HS on a WR250F - although I am new to motorcycle wrenching I have done most of the mods that have been posted here on TT and beleive that my bike is ready to race (mechanically, i.e. starts easily cold or after falls and stalls, no bogs, dead spots anymore, lots of power with the Dr. D, etc.)

however, after losing a front brake lever, smashing a knuckle and bending a handle bar on an oak tree ( I swear the tree jumped in front of me) - I thought it was time to step up and get new handle bars (alluminum) and bark busters (I think a better name is Knuckle savers) -

I am looking for opinions of brands that fit the WR and work well together and are easy to install for a new wrench like me. Also I am new to all the terminology, so go easy on me please (I am a little confused on what you call all the pieces parts like the clamp area???)

bonus question: Any follow on advise for an HS newbie would appreciated as well.

thanks in advance!

Mike in NC

[This message has been edited by romibison (edited 05-18-2001).]

[Sandracer_uk]

renthal fat bars/protapers

and acerbis rally pro guards

simple realy

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"when the dust storm comes they say the devil rides in"

[Bill]

Renthals and Moose guards, for the best guards Cycra triple clamp mount.

Get a hold of GNCCYZ from the 250 or YZ sides of TT. He loves to help new hare scramblers and lives in eastern Carolina.

Bill

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97 KDX220, 86 TTR225, 99 WR400f, WR timing, throttle stop trimmed, air box lid removed, White Bros head pipe, silencer and air filter. De-octopussed. Works frame guards and Thumper Rad Guards, Scotts steering damper. Odometer and headlight removed. Cycra Pro-Bend hand and mud guards. YZ stock tank, IMS seat and number plate. Renthal Jimmy Button "highs" and Renthal Soft half waffle grips. AMA, SETRA, Happy Ramblers MXC, Rausch Creek MXC, Tower City Trail Riders.

[Guest Guest]

Thanks for the help,

I will seek out GNCCYZ, Bill

cheers,

mike in nc

[Hick]

Every time I see this question I feel obligated to vociferously recommend some type of triple clamp-mounted bark busters.

I also feel an overwhelming urge to say bad things about Acerbis Rally Pros. Probably because I bought a pair and they broke the first time I dropped the bike. Bad luck, I guess.

Another advantage to the “normal” bark busters is interchangeability. You can use Cycra, GYT-R, or SRC triple clamp mounts with all of the brands (Enduro Engineering, Fredette, Cycra, Moose), in fact I think the Moose guards are either Fredettes or EEs. Whatever.

Point is that triple clamp mounts:

1) Allow more room for controls, especially brake reservoir and line.

2) Prevent guards from rotating when you drop the bike.

3) Protect bars against breakage better than securing both ends of guard to the bars.

Final observation is that Twinwalls (and prob. Azonic doublewalls, too) have ID that is too large for bar end mounts. This is less of a concern with triple clamp mounts, but I could see where it would irritate a guy if he didn’t know about it beforehand. Oh, wait, that happened to me...

[Hick]

Just reread your post, thought a picture might help. Below is a pic of some triple clamp handguard mounts, PN is on the Yamaha web site.

Link to the Yamaha Accessories page

[PMAUST]

Hick had shown me that same picture when I raised the question. I have been using the clamp mounted braces with the Acerbis guards and it is working great.

[GNCCYZ400]

Rom...

Hick is right about the Acebris, stay away from them. Their junk, I see alot of them broken on the trail while I'm racing. I also see a few of the Cycra guards on the ground. It may not be the "best looking", but I have been using Maier with the small "jug" for over 3 years, and have never bent the guards or the Renthals I use.

I would take Hicks advice on the triple clamp mounts. The best think about this system is, it lets your bars flex with the rocks and roots that will introduce themselves to you when you lease expect it. The only draw back with the triple clamp mount(my opinion), if you crash hard, the flex that keeps you from getting tired, can allow your bars to bend.

Not knowing your riding level, it's hard to advise on set-up and riding techniques for h.s.. The best advice I can give you is to hydrate your body before the race. You need to drink all the water you can the day before the race. Also a couple of days before that, cut out the soft drinks and drink water with your meals, and a few extra glasses here and there.

When you get to the track, ask lots of questions to lots of DIFFRENT people.

Above all ride your first race SLOW!!! It will not be fun if your wrapped around a tree a couple of miles in.

I race along the East coast, if your in the east, let me know and I'll help you out.

If you have more ?'s, just ask.

Good luck,

Jeff

PS: Think of your first "race", as a trail ride with 400 of your closest friends.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!!!!!! ?

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'98 YZ400F

'01 YZ250F

'98 CBR600F3

[GNCCYZ400]

Mike(Rom...)

I just re-read your post and realized your in NC. I live in Rocky Mount. what part are you in? What hare scramble (event) are you thinking about? I have one every weekend for the next 7 weeks. There are a few that would be great "first" races. Let me know.

Jeff

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'98 YZ400F

'01 YZ250F

'98 CBR600F3

[Guest Guest]

Originally posted by GNCCYZ400:

Mike(Rom...)

I just re-read your post and realized your in NC. I live in Rocky Mount. what part are you in? What hare scramble (event) are you thinking about? I have one every weekend for the next 7 weeks. There are a few that would be great "first" races. Let me know.

Jeff

Jeff,

I am in the Raleigh area (actually Apex) I grew up around here. I have been talking to the NC hare scramble assoc folkes, namely Joe Hege. They race mostly in the western part of the state. I would be very interested in finding races in the mid and eastern parts also. Being here in the middle of North Carolina makes it easy to go east or west - I am never more than 2 hours away from anything. If you would like to get together with a rookie who takes direction well and have some fun also let me know. I am very flexible and love the sport!

The NCHSA only races every few weeks so there is definately time to do more races. Especially ones that are friendly to beginners. Let me know where to go and how to get involved.

Also, I am starving for good places to ride and practice. Any suggestions? an hour or two of travel is not a problem even during the week.

thanks,

Mike

[wrpunisher]

I'm relatively new to scrambles myself so take this FWIW.

The hydration advice above is good. Also, get a hydration system for drinking during the race. And don't wait until you're thirsty to use it - drink early and often to maintain hydration. By the time you notice you're thirsty, it's too late.

Practice dead engine starts. Make sure your bike is warm when you go to the line, and practice starting on the line if you can. The advise about taking it easy your first race is good, so this isn't about getting a holeshot. But you don't want to be sitting there kicking 5 minutes after your line leaves either (BTDT).

Follow course markings, not tire tracks. Even experienced racers lose (or cut) the course. Keep your head up and keep scanning ahead for ribbon.

Don't leave any preperations for the last minute. Make sure everything is ready to go (bike, gear, rig etc.) the night before. Keep your morning as stress-free as possible - reserve all of your energy and concentration for the race.

Be careful and have fun.

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Chris

99WR400F

[GNCCYZ400]

Mike,

Give me a call tonight or sat. I may be riding in Raleigh on Sunday. ?

H)252-827-2214

M)252-813-8453

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'98 YZ400F

'01 YZ250F

'98 CBR600F3

[Guest Guest]

Gncc ...........

I usually tend not to disagree with the folks on the

TT board but I can personally attest against this one............

.Rom...

Hick is right about the Acebris, stay away from them. Their junk, I see alot of them broken on the trail while I'm racing. I also see a few of the Cycra guards on the ground. It may not be the "best looking", but I have been using Maier with the small "jug" for over 3 years, and have never bent the guards or the Renthals I use.

Nothing against the Renthals although I prefer the Alumilite 2's that I have now.

As far as the Acerbis i am 100% opposite of what you said.

I just recently bounced off of a 90'er at about 88' and crashed fairly hard in 4th probably about 50 MPH and on my 250 crashed in 5th pinned on a two track. Both times the Acerbis Rally Gaurds saved my hands and suffered nothing more than scratches!

On my 250 with PRO TAPERS the same except the bars were tweaked by about 1" on the right and 1/2" on the left yet the Rally Gaurds suffered NO DAMAGE!

I have had other brands and have found nothing as tough! They offer quite a bit of coverage too! the aluminum offer little or no protection from wind or roost.

They make the Acerbis with the alum. molded into the plastic now if that is your thing but they are quite a bit more $$$$$$

Just my opinion not trying to stir the pot.

I guess it is kinda like the FORD/CHEVY thing.......everyone has a preference!

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NOPE..........BOY.......

That's not thunder ridin' your BUTT .........

It's a whole Damn HURRICANE!!!!!!

[PMAUST]

G4racing, I agree with you about the Acerbis guards. Evidently so does Ty Davis, Team Greens Joey Hopkins, Destry Abbott, and many others who tend to finish first! I have also crashed and battered my Acerbis guards and they are still holding up just fine. If they were not working for me I would replace them faster than you can read this reply. P.S. They look pretty good too. ?

[GNCCYZ400]

Mike,

give me a call, I don't have your #. Can't get up with you.

Jeff

[This message has been edited by GNCCYZ400 (edited 05-21-2001).]

[Greg_C]

Yea Jeff what's up with bashing the rally pros you know I've had them from day one with no problems. My real question is will the triple clamp mounts work with the WR front head light and the rally pros. The WR has the brake line guide already there.

[Hick]

(nit)

I’ve never seen Davis or Abbot with Rally Pros on their bikes.

(/nit)

Other observations:

Acerbis’ molded shields cannot be replaced separately like barkbuster hand shields, most of the “broken” Acerbis Rally Pros I’ve seen had the plastic torn away from the aluminum (they weren’t really broken, just maimed).

Barkbusters in a similar crash could be straightened and the shields replaced, saving expense and hassle.

As for the triple clamp mounts I snapped a pair of DoubleWalls (with standard mounts) just inside the inner mount in an average spill. It seemed to me that the barkbuster reinforced greatly the portion of the bar it was fixed to, which only focused the impact on the unsupported portion between the inner mount and bar mount, where it snapped in two.

If the t-clamp mounts allow more flex this may save you a pair of handlebars. I recently executed an above average fourth gear spill, the bike cart wheeled nose first and bent one guard slightly but the bars appear unharmed. I broke my scapula and two ribs, so you’re welcome for the field testing. ?

[wrooster]

mike,

re: installing the yamaha GYT-R (OEM cycra) triple clamp mount handguards...

check out https://www.thumpertalk.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000361.html

and https://www.thumpertalk.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000458.html

and https://www.thumpertalk.com/ubb/Forum10/HTML/000616.html

ps: the full installation routine is at http://losdos.dyndns.org:8080/public/wr-handguards/wr-handguards-instructions-1.jpg http://losdos.dyndns.org:8080/public/wr-handguards/wr-handguards-instructions-2.jpg

the wrooster

[PMAUST]

Hick and all, Yes! Please accept my apology. I was not addressing the "Rally Pro" per se but Acerbis guards in general. Should have been more specific. But, Destry Abbott and the others I mentioned do use Acerbis guards.

See page 52 of the May 16th issue of Cycle News for a picture. Thanks, Paul

[PMAUST]

Back again. Hick is right about the plastic tearing away from the aluminum. Mine are pretty battered around the edges but the main body of the plastic is still intact. I'm not selling or defending these guards. I am learning from this post too. And, when I go to replace them I will use this post as a reference to make my next buying decision. But, since I added the triple clamp mounts these guards have taken quite abit of abuse and are still holding up for me so far. Hick , thats one hell of a way to test your guards! ?