Dunes bike question

pilotdude
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pilotdude
Edited Date/Time 2/5/2016 8:03pm
Hey gents. I am going to begin flying down to Coos Bay/North Bend Oregon regularly and have decided to buy a bike and a van to keep down there so I can ride the dunes during the day. (I have from 8:30-2:30 to do whatever I want :-)


I know everyone says the CR500 is king in the sand but wanted you guys to weigh in. What about a CR250 or CRF450?

Thoughts?

Pilotdude



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jeffro503
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jeffro503 2/1/2016 9:24am
2/1/2016 9:24am Edited Date/Time 2/1/2016 9:25am
Brother pilot....I never had any of my 450's down there , but I did hit that place a few times on my older KX250's. I ran about 6lbs of pressure in the front and rear ( no paddle ) and she ripped about every where. I used to use an old Michelin tire ( M26 I think ). And if you haven't ever ridden there....watch yourself for the first few hours until your eyes adjust to the white sand. I had to learn how to read the ground , as humps and so forth were mixed in with the flat ground.....hard to see. Started to learn how to read shadows and so forth. Had one of the scariest moments of my life when I jumped off the top of this hill ( which I didn't know was there ) and about 4th gear tapped. I remember looking down and all I could see was a small shadow of myself. Landed so hard that it hurt....every where for the next two weeks and bent both my rims from the impact. Have fun....but be careful.
Dirty Britches 2/1/2016 9:59am
2/1/2016 9:59am
I think there are other forums dedicated to dune riding at that location and many others. Some of the most fun I've ever had riding is in sand.
Joe Camel
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Joe Camel 2/1/2016 11:10am
2/1/2016 11:10am
The deep sand and a paddle of 10 or 12 reduces the hit of a 500. Think a 700 cc 4 stroke feel.

A 250 2 stroke thats strong will pull a 10 paddle. Go huge. Complete No names hit 200 feet all day over dune gaps.
Especially gaps with long sloped runouts. Land with power on.

Try the dunes in Idaho someday also.

If the dunes are wet you can still run a paddle. Its like 95% hookup
pilotdude
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pilotdude 2/1/2016 11:32am
2/1/2016 11:32am
So which bike do you think? Cr500? CR 250? Crf450?

The Shop

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Binder29
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Binder29 2/1/2016 12:02pm
2/1/2016 12:02pm
I rode there for years on a CR250 and it was great. Until I rode a friends 500. No wonder he made it look so effortless. It would chug up a steep dune like it was nothing. This was 15 years ago so haven't tried a 450 although I can imagine it would be pretty good. I would go for a Service Honda 500 myself. But yes, be careful. A head on collision with a Honda Pilot with no flag ended my desire to ride the dunes. That and going to a 250F. We had a few close calls prior to that as well. I believe it is more regulated and policed now. Less drunk quad riders than back then as they hand out DUI's for that now.

We rode somewhat reckless as well to be honest. We would ride away from the busy areas and battle each other going over blind hills and corners (not how I had my accident though). Total blast and I do miss it. But still have a 250F. I've always wanted to get a 500 as a second bike since riding that one time in the sand. Wheelies for days!

We would take a new paddle and cut the top edge of the paddle off for our 250 2-strokers.

Enjoy! It's a beautiful place.
Joe Camel
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Joe Camel 2/1/2016 12:22pm
2/1/2016 12:22pm
pilotdude wrote:
So which bike do you think? Cr500? CR 250? Crf450?
700 Maico with a 12 Paddle. But a 500 is a really good time.

A 500 will pull a 12 paddle but its a LOT of hookup.

Ted722
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Ted722 2/1/2016 12:37pm
2/1/2016 12:37pm
I've tried paddles and sand tires and always like the sand tires better. Never rode a 450 on the dunes.

A 250 or 500 work great on the sand. Each has its own positives. If you've never ridden a 500, the sand is a great place to sample the ridiculous power.
SmoothOperator 2/1/2016 12:38pm
2/1/2016 12:38pm
I have a crf450, and CR500. I really like the cr500 for "dune" riding. Its slacker head angle is nice for fult tilt runs across the sand, It's very forgiving. the lack of engine braking compared to the 450 is also a plus. It's suspension is lacking though.
I put "dunes" in quotations for a reason. The dunes in North Bend between Horsefall campground and Spinreel campground, are the best I've ever ridden. So much varying terrain from twisty sand roads to open dunes, you have everything. That's where the crf with its better geometry and better suspension shines.
One of these days, I'll update the suspension on the cr500, and make the ultimate dune bike.
Sidenote: I also had an aluminum framed cr500 for one season. Never again. That bike killed me from vibrations. Steel frame with updated suspension would be the bees knees out there.
I ride that stretch about 8 weeks out of every year. It's a family tradition.
Good luck with your decision and have fun!!
Samuel
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Samuel 2/1/2016 2:24pm
2/1/2016 2:24pm
I was there in August with an 8 paddle on an rmz450. Worked amazing. I've never ridden a 500 in the sand, but the 450 performed better than my rm250 in the sand. It did seem to get hotter though.
blusmbl
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blusmbl 2/1/2016 2:40pm
2/1/2016 2:40pm
I've ridden a YZ250, XT600 (ugh), a YZ426, and several CR500's at the dunes. I rode my '01 500 with and without a 10 paddle. If you are really using this for dunes only, buy a steel frame 500, redo the top end, put a 10 paddle on it, and go buck wild. It doesn't get any better in the sand. The dunes are one of the few places where anybody can have fun on a big bore 2 stroke, the 4 strokes were no comparison. I've ridden my current 450X in enough sandy conditions to know I still vastly prefer the 500 for the dunes.

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pilotdude
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pilotdude 2/2/2016 8:31pm
2/2/2016 8:31pm
Thanks for your input guys. I think I'm going to go with a CR500 and put a paddle on it. I will probably make a video of one of my days down there from pre-flight to return home and post it here.

Pilotdude
George Costanza 2/2/2016 8:51pm
2/2/2016 8:51pm
I personally would go with the 450... But if you are a two stroke guy get the 500. 250 two stroke just didn't do it for me, and I got sick of the vibration of the 500, power all day long though.

450 had plenty of power to do whatever I wanted...
loftyair
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loftyair 2/2/2016 8:58pm
2/2/2016 8:58pm
If you go big, better suspension helps!
George Costanza 2/2/2016 9:06pm
2/2/2016 9:06pm
My brother has his cr500 for sale now, in a modern aluminum frame, smart carb, and also a timbersled kit...




Myke
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Myke 2/2/2016 9:08pm
2/2/2016 9:08pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Brother pilot....I never had any of my 450's down there , but I did hit that place a few times on my older KX250's. I ran...
Brother pilot....I never had any of my 450's down there , but I did hit that place a few times on my older KX250's. I ran about 6lbs of pressure in the front and rear ( no paddle ) and she ripped about every where. I used to use an old Michelin tire ( M26 I think ). And if you haven't ever ridden there....watch yourself for the first few hours until your eyes adjust to the white sand. I had to learn how to read the ground , as humps and so forth were mixed in with the flat ground.....hard to see. Started to learn how to read shadows and so forth. Had one of the scariest moments of my life when I jumped off the top of this hill ( which I didn't know was there ) and about 4th gear tapped. I remember looking down and all I could see was a small shadow of myself. Landed so hard that it hurt....every where for the next two weeks and bent both my rims from the impact. Have fun....but be careful.
This is good advice. I was told the other thing to be careful about is the sand can move over night so always be careful when approaching a hill, even if you went over it the day before.

I rode there a few times when I lived in Oregon on an '06 RM250 in the winter with just a knobby, it was fine because the sand was damp. I did think to myself that a 450 would be the way to go because I really had to keep the revs up high on the RM all the time and I wouldn't want to deal with the vibration of a 500 two stroke all day long.
Bineano
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Bineano 2/2/2016 9:44pm
2/2/2016 9:44pm
I took both at the same time, a CR250 2 stroke and a CRF450. Before I say any more, I am a die hard 2 stroke fan and almost want to NOT like the 4 strokes...
Anyhow, I happily rode my 250 for the first day at the exact dunes you are mentioning (Florence, Dune City, Winchester, Coos Bay). The last stretch around Spinreel Campground was pretty sweet...
The next day I took out the 450 (brand new, my first 450) and...I couldn't believe how crazy good a 450 was. I also own a CR500, and given my pick, it would be 450 every time at the dunes.
As a side note, we had a friend that brought a 300 KTM 2 stroke (which I thought should equal or surpass the 450)...nope, not even close IMO. Again, I LOVE the 2 strokes, but...fo-fiddy's are pretty hard to beat in the sand :-)
FI2T
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FI2T 2/2/2016 10:47pm
2/2/2016 10:47pm
Heading to Glamis tomorrow myself! I'm bringing two bikes 04 yz250, 13 kx450 and a 100hp banshee (everyone laughs till they try it). The yz is fun, you have to wring the piss out of it but it will do anything. Kx is fun cause it's easy to do anything. The Banshee is just insanely fast and a good break from the bikes. They are all fun but every time I go to the sand I miss my kx500. Get some Flex bars, a paddle, do some suspension work and your ready to work! The rear K5 fender is a perfect shovel to if you want to build sweet jumps!

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Olson
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Olson 2/3/2016 11:59am
2/3/2016 11:59am
Double tire locks...
KMC440
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KMC440 2/3/2016 2:31pm
2/3/2016 2:31pm Edited Date/Time 2/3/2016 2:33pm
In the dunes we never ..... EVER .... rode over the lip. Always came up to it and turned along it till we could see what's on the other side. If you're going jumping it's critical to have a spotter. I wouldn't stray too far from camp if riding alone, yeah I know big pussy, but the risk isn't worth it. The "superbowl" at Sand Mountain is an awesome part of that place but knowing how to read terrain is critical to not getting your teeth smashed in by the hidden hump in the wall (Dude was a bleeder too). We would go play "grab-ass" .. someone is the leader then the rest follow, the object is to pass the leader making you lead. Leader can go wherever especially when your fender is spotted by him (left turn Clyde) ... as for the rest of the pack ... well let's just say you do whatever you gotta ta git to the front!!!
p.s. do this where there a lot of bushes to use as natural turns... and few people... you'll ride harder than in any moto I promise.
Tracktor
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Tracktor 2/3/2016 3:42pm
2/3/2016 3:42pm
I kind of got out of dune riding when 450's were becoming popular but always preferred a 250 to a 500. That said we rode the dunes like MX. Looked for big jumps and chased each other through the trails. One of my favorite dune bikes was a '98 CR250. Hated it on the track but it rocked in the dunes for some reason. Getting ready to take my boys now that the youngest is on a 85

Hit St Anthony's in Idaho if you get a chance. It's even better, riding wise, than Glamis, IMO. Huge bowls & no crowds. Choke Cherry hill is like nothing else. Oregon coast dunes are fun but inland dunes are better. I spent many years at Florence, Winchester & Spinreel/Hauser..............
pilotdude
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pilotdude 2/3/2016 7:46pm
2/3/2016 7:46pm
Any others want to weigh in on which bike is best for the dunes?
gsxr6
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gsxr6 2/3/2016 8:28pm
2/3/2016 8:28pm
Went thru all those dunes in two trips this summer. Learned two things: my yz450 has 95mph in 5th with stock gear. And finally I could use all the power the bike has. I seemed to pull well with most anything that opened it up with me. Nothing like 5th gear wheelies in the sand ha-ha. I'd get a 500. The sand is the graveyard of alot of four strokes. My yz did fine didn't even boil, and I pushed it pretty hard. Buddy's rmz and crf 450( 07 and 05) boiled over alot.
gsxr6
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gsxr6 2/3/2016 8:30pm
2/3/2016 8:30pm
My yzf is a 14. Plenty of bike, and the suspension was awesome in the whoops. If u don't know,.don't try to go third gear ha-ha. Click er up into 4th and 5th and twist the wick that'll smooth that sand highway out of spinreel right out.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 2/3/2016 8:31pm
2/3/2016 8:31pm
I've only been there on KX450s...never ran a paddle, either.

Always a blast and always amazing scenery
gsxr6
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gsxr6 2/3/2016 8:53pm
2/3/2016 8:53pm
I had a paddle for first time this summer. Def prefer
Josh422
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Josh422 2/3/2016 9:05pm
2/3/2016 9:05pm
You can thank Jarrod, Dayton, Bryson, Brett and Jimmy B. for these. Looks like you'll have fun on whatever you take to Coos Bay.





Coolotisdog 2/4/2016 4:48am
2/4/2016 4:48am
Here in Arizona we go to the dunes down in the Glamis area every year. I rode my KTM 300 for a few seasons and then two years ago decided to get a kx450 that somebody I knew made a deal with me on. I still don't like the 450 for all the desert riding we do, but at the dunes I won't ride anything else. The dunes is probably one of the only places any average rider could use all the power a 450 makes in my opinion. Plus theoretically you'd have better suspension on a newer bike which also makes a difference. I don't know how the dunes up there are, but deep soft sand just robs power no matter what you do.
cslacker
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cslacker 2/4/2016 7:58am
2/4/2016 7:58am
I ride my CR500 at the dunes and nothing else anymore. A 450 is a great bike out there, especially for doing wheelies but the torque of the 500 makes it really fun. I stopped taking my cr250 because it is just so much load on the smaller engine. Honestly pick between the 500 or a 450. You can't really go wrong with either. The best part about the 500 though is that even if you buy a basketcase of a bike you can get it back in good shape for a couple hundred bucks. Then change the piston every year or 2. Really low maintenance bike if you have it jetted correctly. I'm still one of those guys who is hesitant about buying used 4 strokes... You can get yourself into a money pit really quickly.
nascarnate326 2/4/2016 10:33am
2/4/2016 10:33am
Ive taken a 450 and absolutely loved it. Modern suspension, EFI, etc make it a great bike for dune work.

Instant torque is awesome. A paddle tire should be law to ride dunes, so much better with one.

Not that it really matters but the fuel economy of a 4 stroke is much better than a 2 stroke. Riding in the sand eats fuel regardless but you can get a bit further on a 4 stroke I would imagine.

The 500 is great too but would you use the 500 for all your other riding?

Oh, and post pics!!
I love drag racing at Silver Lake

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