Finke Desert Race

[sportster]

Finke Desert Race, have you done it and would you do it again.

Thinking of doing it in 2013, this will give me enough time to purchase bike get fitand do as much riding as possible.

Looking at a xr400 or xr600 what do you think????

[ktm84mxc]

If your in Auck go talk to Greg Pratt at AMPS as he's ridden it last year & planning on this year also, he may be able to help with your planning/requirements also.

[sportster]

If your in Auck go talk to Greg Pratt at AMPS as he's ridden it last year & planning on this year also, he may be able to help with your planning/requirements also.

Great Thanks I will do. Is here related to Ray Pratt

[Padmei]

You may want to try contacting Javahead. i knowe he did the Safari so may have doen the finke as well.
Did you read Tuffys report of his go last year on Auatralian trial rider? he did it on a past winners modified Cr500 - scarily fast looking down the river bed.

[sportster]

You may want to try contacting Javahead. i knowe he did the Safari so may have doen the finke as well.
Did you read Tuffys report of his go last year on Auatralian trial rider? he did it on a past winners modified Cr500 - scarily fast looking down the river bed.

Thanks I will have a read of the report.

Any one know what it cost to get a two bike to Aus

[ktm84mxc]

Yep he's Rays son.
Greg rode a 450exc had it geared to the moon & fitted with mousse's but still blew the rear & had to ride on the rim, end result a Dnf on the 2nd day.

[tinytoolmans274]

my daughters boyfriend finished 26th outright this year riding a 505 , 2nd attempt and he loved it , i think he ran 31st last year , not sure how competitive you would be on an xr but it would be fun im sure

[sportster]

my daughters boyfriend finished 26th outright this year riding a 505 , 2nd attempt and he loved it , i think he ran 31st last year , not sure how competitive you would be on an xr but it would be fun im sure

Thanks, i have not been on a dirt bike for quite a few years now so though I would start on something with manageable power, at this stage I know I won't be competitive just out to have fun and test myself, the finke seemed like the race to do it. I have set 2013 as a goal. This should give me enough time to get a bike, get fit and get some riding in.

[slowpoke]

I scored a video of last years Finke in an ADB mag that popped up out at work, farkin' awesome event and brilliant vid. Maaaate, that is a HUGE ask if you haven't done much riding and a lot of money to throw away if you aren't prepared. So my advice is do it 100% or don't do it all. When guys like Ben Grabham tell of having factory hot rod overbored KTM's with moonshot gearing bouncing off the limiter for minutes at a time in top gear you gotta think that a wee XR400 is gonna struggle. Then again there are several class options so something a bit smaller might actually be easier work.

I reckon it'd be like painting: preparation is key and 99% of the work, the event itself is like putting on the topcoat, the easy part.....if you can call 460km's of flat out desert racing in 2 days easy!

Awesome event though, and I can definitely see why you'd wanna have a crack.

[takitimu]

There's a KTM 525 up here that was fully built for Finke/desert racing, had a lot of money spent on it, 4 speed, pretty sure it's coming up for sale if you want to go that way. You won't be short of horsepower.