First Hare Scramble, looking for advice!

[mslow]

Well fellas, I'm a 38yr old ex-track guy that transitioned to dirty bikes last year.

A group of us started out on the bigger adventure bikes and have been gravitating towards the smaller bikes....and for some of you the WR is hardly small, but when you were riding a DR650, KTM690 or KTM950...these things are super-light!

So anyway, my competitive nature is coming out and I'd like to throw my hat in to the hare scramble ring.

I need some advice....

Here's what I'm working with:

2005 WR450

valves, pistons and rings all are spot on

DRD muffler repacked and in 94dBA range with spark arrestor, still have stock as well

suspension worked by Custom Axis (Penske)

Gearing is currently 15/47, also have a 50rear and thinking of getting a 14front

tires are Pirelli XCMH front and rear

acerbis 3.3gal tank, still have the stocker as well

MSR skid plate

acerbis handguards with medium and large brush guards

all the typical mods are done

all new bearings and bushings

Here's my questions:

What other mods are a must to do hare scrambles in the north east? trials tires? gearing?

What is the format like for a hare scramble? multi-lap for a time period? no idea how it works.

Any other info you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[L. Euler]

Can't give advise as I have never run one, but this may help www.harescrambletalk.com

[n16ht5]

you look good.. make sure your damper settings on the shocks are soft to soak up the bumps. stock gearing is fine

[Hans Schmid]

Your bike setup seems to be well thought out. Does it work for you? My advice for your first HS is to just ride to finish. Dont try to be the hero, dont try to win it on the first lap and enter a class that quick but not blazing fast. If you say your an intermediate bush rider, enter a class that is one down from that. Racing is a whole different metality then just a casual sunday ride. Just finishing is winning, especially in your first race. Have fun!

[mslow]

good advice on the suspension, i did a 145 mile dual sport event this past weekend out in PA near Penn State and it was probably 125 miles of rocky trails or rock gardens with 25 miles of connectors...that kicked my ass!

As far as the class to ride in, I figured veteran C would be a good start, and yeah, riding to finish is my priority at this point.

I'm in pretty decent shape, but I'm also not used to riding at a faster pace for that long, usually just bursts and then chilling at the end of each section or option.

another question, my bike had renthal bars on it, more of a motocross bar..low and very stiff...would i be better served with a bit more of a woods bend?

I was thinking a taller bar with more pull back and no cross brace so it has a little flex. My forearms are actually still sore from the 145 miler on this past Sunday.

Edited June 27, 2012 by msanna

[ckny]

you look good.. make sure your damper settings on the shocks are soft to soak up the bumps. stock gearing is fine

Don't go out too far on shock rebound or your rear will pogo and harshen up the front end. Find a place with some braking or acceleration bumps and go as far in as posible until the shock starts packing, then go out 2 clicks at a time until it stops.

I completely ruined a race a few weeks back by running my shock rebound too slow. Getting the bike balanced will make a huge difference.

Hydration and conditioning is huge. You need to stay hydrated and in shape as well. I started riding MX to help with conditioning and endurance, it also helps you get used to riding at higher speeds.

Just take your time and finish the race, ride at your own comfortable pace and concentrate on being consistent. That is how you win a scramble.

[Just_a_trail_rider]

I have an 05 wr450 also. I race it in the desert.

My only comments to your setup is that your gearing seems really, really tall. In the the somewhat technical stuff I ride in, I like 14/49. When I am riding in the woods, Iike 14/50

For a street ride, I'd have the gearing you'd have. But remember, in a hare scramble, your top speed, especially in the C class, probably won't be much more than about 50mph at most. Even at 14/50, you may spend a lot of time in 2nd and 3rd gear.

Just finish the race, learn something, then come back and make adjustments.

Have fun!

[RuggedRadios1]

Bike looks pretty set up! Bars wise, If your comfortable with what your running I'd leave it.

As far as the race itself, like stated before, just go out there with the mindset that your just out on another everyday trail ride. Hare scrambles are a blast, but they have a weird way of making you tired very quickly if you don't pace yourself. Go out, have fun, focus on consistency, and at the end you will be surprised with how well you finish i bet.

[RasmusDK]

Be sure you dont get flats, it just sucks at a race. Mousse is the best way to go imo, but i heard tubliss is good too i havent tried them myself..

[mslow]

awesome advice fellas, here's a question I have:

I'm pretty fast in the technical stuff, rocks, sand, mud and comfortable with high speed maneuvering, what I have a hard time with is whoops and jumps...we don't see them very often on the asphalt tracks...at least not on purpose...lol

So do most hare scrambles have these to the point it will discourage me?

mauricedoris, good advice on the gearing, I'm actually putting the stock 14/50 back on...i learned that the hard way this past weekend while running through a ton of rock gardens with my 15/47 setup...just wasn't working well for me.

[n16ht5]

Don't go out too far on shock rebound or your rear will pogo and harshen up the front end. Find a place with some braking or acceleration bumps and go as far in as posible until the shock starts packing, then go out 2 clicks at a time until it stops.

I completely ruined a race a few weeks back by running my shock rebound too slow. Getting the bike balanced will make a huge difference.

Hydration and conditioning is huge. You need to stay hydrated and in shape as well. I started riding MX to help with conditioning and endurance, it also helps you get used to riding at higher speeds.

Just take your time and finish the race, ride at your own comfortable pace and concentrate on being consistent. That is how you win a scramble.

yeah definitely.. I would start with the compression all the way soft and damper a few clicks from soft.. start adding to the damper two clicks at a time then work compression

I have never heard of asphalt on a hare scramble.

[n16ht5]

Be sure you dont get flats, it just sucks at a race. Mousse is the best way to go imo, but i heard tubliss is good too i havent tried them myself..

good advice.. I run Tubliss as Mousse doesn't work on the street. I have run flat tires with tubliss all day on trails.

[ckny]

Mousse is great for MX with constant tire changes and relatively low hours, unfortunately they degrade and break down over time so a $100 Tubliss system is a better choice. I run one on my YZ. My KTM is a track bike so I don'r worry much about flats.

[mslow]

I have never heard of asphalt on a hare scramble.

I'm an old road racer and supermoto guy, I was referring to the experience I have there not helping in the least when it comes to whoops and jumps, lol

Great advice on the suspension guys, thanks

[MANIAC998]

I've never seen any whoop sections in any HareScrambles that I've ever done, and I've done alot of 'em! Jumps, well they might have a few. You just never know. The thing is, you don't have to hit them! You will not win or lose a Harescrambles race by your jumping ability!!! Harescrambles are generally 2 to 2 1/2 hours long. So conditioning is key.

Maniac

[mslow]

I've never seen any whoop sections in any HareScrambles that I've ever done, and I've done alot of 'em! Jumps, well they might have a few. You just never know. The thing is, you don't have to hit them! You will not win or lose a Harescrambles race by your jumping ability!!! Harescrambles are generally 2 to 2 1/2 hours long. So conditioning is key.

Maniac

That's good to hear for sure, although i may try to get some seat time in at a local mx track.

You guys really got me pretty hyped to do this!

[MANIAC998]

I used to MX, but got landed on by too many damn kids tripling while I was doubling!!!

I switched to Harescrambles, and never looked back! Harescrambles takes way more conditioning than MX at the Amateur level.

2 1/2 hours vs. 10 minutes, you do the math!!!

Maniac