Hare Scramble Racing: Seeking info!

Timo
Posts
1405
Joined
1/9/2021
Location
Wichita, KS US
12/21/2025 4:51pm Edited Date/Time 12/21/2025 4:52pm
Okay, good to know. Yes I will have to get a feel for how and when to refill if it's needed. Yes all I have is...

Okay, good to know. Yes I will have to get a feel for how and when to refill if it's needed. Yes all I have is a Ducati Monster and a smaller 125 trail bike and some other miscellaneous little bikes, nothing worthy of a hare scramble. 

I'd recommend staying away from a 450 at least getting started. It's a lot of bike to wrestle around for 2 hours. They're pretty heavy and...

I'd recommend staying away from a 450 at least getting started. It's a lot of bike to wrestle around for 2 hours. They're pretty heavy and the power will beat you up until you get used to it. As for bike prep, I always run bib mousse inserts. No flat tires ever. I recommend an oversize tank (the quick fill is nice to have but not essential right away), and brush guards, not bark busters (if you even barely graze a tree at speed with bark busters you'll be on the ground. With brush guards you won't. And you still have protection from brush, small branches, roost, etc). I also don't cut my bars. I used to when I first started, but I realized the wider bars gave better leverage and have more flex to them....far less fatiguing than cut down bars. Also if you make the bars too narrow your shoulders will hate it...

As for the bike itself, two strokes are cheaper to maintain (and you will be doing maintenance), but 4 strokes are easier to ride in a lot of conditions. also, in many cases a 4 stroke will make 2 hours on one tank of fuel with an oversized tank for an amateur rider. A 2 stroke will require a gas stop in most cases. (That's been my experience having raced both in local 2 hour harescrambles and 7 years racing the afternoon at GNCC).  Suspension wise, a softer setup is the way to go. Just be sure to keep both ends balanced, and don't go too soft or you'll bottom out everywhere and it'll fatigue you out quickly. 

Above all, have fun and be smart about how you ride! And never stop till you see the checkers. You'll be surprised how well you do some days just because you finished....

They are, being as tall and heavier as they are it would probably whoop my butt. Especially sitting at the 5'7 155lbs I am😂Wonderful advice man...

They are, being as tall and heavier as they are it would probably whoop my butt. Especially sitting at the 5'7 155lbs I am😂

Wonderful advice man thanks so much for all the info! I'm definitely stuck with the bike thing...can't decide which way I want to go. I will try to figure out though. Thanks!

I don't understand the people saying 450's are tall? It's the same frame, swingarm, and suspension travel as the 250's. The rear tire may be slightly taller, but seat height is basically the same. Weight wise I don't think it's even 10lbs more. 

rbm33
Posts
433
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Duncan, OK US
Fantasy
12/21/2025 5:32pm

I sure will, thanks! I'm not far from the Oklahoma border at all!

rbm33 wrote:
We plan on doing all the Great Plains races next season. Send me a pm if you want, your more than welcome to hang out with...

We plan on doing all the Great Plains races next season. Send me a pm if you want, your more than welcome to hang out with our crew.

I would love to reach out boss!! Any other way than instagram to reach you?? I'm not on ig anymore, I got Facebook if you got...

I would love to reach out boss!! Any other way than instagram to reach you?? I'm not on ig anymore, I got Facebook if you got that? Or I can pm you on here if that works?

Look up bryan McCormack on Facebook and send me a friend request 

12/21/2025 7:45pm
Timo wrote:
I don't understand the people saying 450's are tall? It's the same frame, swingarm, and suspension travel as the 250's. The rear tire may be slightly...

I don't understand the people saying 450's are tall? It's the same frame, swingarm, and suspension travel as the 250's. The rear tire may be slightly taller, but seat height is basically the same. Weight wise I don't think it's even 10lbs more. 

More gyroscopic effect from higher rotating mass in the engine, and a good deal more power for a 450. Also even if the weight difference is only 10lbs. It wears on you in a 2 hour race

1
12/21/2025 8:16pm
I'd recommend staying away from a 450 at least getting started. It's a lot of bike to wrestle around for 2 hours. They're pretty heavy and...

I'd recommend staying away from a 450 at least getting started. It's a lot of bike to wrestle around for 2 hours. They're pretty heavy and the power will beat you up until you get used to it. As for bike prep, I always run bib mousse inserts. No flat tires ever. I recommend an oversize tank (the quick fill is nice to have but not essential right away), and brush guards, not bark busters (if you even barely graze a tree at speed with bark busters you'll be on the ground. With brush guards you won't. And you still have protection from brush, small branches, roost, etc). I also don't cut my bars. I used to when I first started, but I realized the wider bars gave better leverage and have more flex to them....far less fatiguing than cut down bars. Also if you make the bars too narrow your shoulders will hate it...

As for the bike itself, two strokes are cheaper to maintain (and you will be doing maintenance), but 4 strokes are easier to ride in a lot of conditions. also, in many cases a 4 stroke will make 2 hours on one tank of fuel with an oversized tank for an amateur rider. A 2 stroke will require a gas stop in most cases. (That's been my experience having raced both in local 2 hour harescrambles and 7 years racing the afternoon at GNCC).  Suspension wise, a softer setup is the way to go. Just be sure to keep both ends balanced, and don't go too soft or you'll bottom out everywhere and it'll fatigue you out quickly. 

Above all, have fun and be smart about how you ride! And never stop till you see the checkers. You'll be surprised how well you do some days just because you finished....

They are, being as tall and heavier as they are it would probably whoop my butt. Especially sitting at the 5'7 155lbs I am😂Wonderful advice man...

They are, being as tall and heavier as they are it would probably whoop my butt. Especially sitting at the 5'7 155lbs I am😂

Wonderful advice man thanks so much for all the info! I'm definitely stuck with the bike thing...can't decide which way I want to go. I will try to figure out though. Thanks!

Timo wrote:
I don't understand the people saying 450's are tall? It's the same frame, swingarm, and suspension travel as the 250's. The rear tire may be slightly...

I don't understand the people saying 450's are tall? It's the same frame, swingarm, and suspension travel as the 250's. The rear tire may be slightly taller, but seat height is basically the same. Weight wise I don't think it's even 10lbs more. 

This is going off if my buddies wr450 which weight about 40lbs more than a yz250, which makes the height noticeable. To someone who can have both feet on the ground it might not be as noticeable, but when you can only have one tippy toe on the ground it feels noticeable. That's what I wad meaning. They might not have any height differ3nce whatsoever.

The Shop

moto9
Posts
230
Joined
11/11/2016
Location
Waimea, HI US
12/21/2025 8:16pm

I wouldn't pick a yz or yz-x

I have a yz 300x, it's a great bike, l love riding it because it's a different experience, that and mechanically it's as simple as it gets.

I also have a two KTM 300's a 19' xc and a 20' xcw

First thing, you want estart...period

The 300 is about as good as it gets as far as pretty much ready to race and has most everything you need to compete and have a good time doing it, also they are very versital.

A 4 stroke can also be a good choice depending on what you like, you should try both and pick one.

I have raced a 350 xcf, it's a great bike, but it does have some drawbacks one being flame outs at low rpm.

Weight, killing the battery and overheating were other issues.

If I were to chose a bike today, I would look hard at the new Beta rr race and the Reuju 300's

Leaning more towards a Beta, with a suspension tweak for my personal settings.

 

1
12/21/2025 8:22pm
moto9 wrote:
I wouldn't pick a yz or yz-xI have a yz 300x, it's a great bike, l love riding it because it's a different experience, that and...

I wouldn't pick a yz or yz-x

I have a yz 300x, it's a great bike, l love riding it because it's a different experience, that and mechanically it's as simple as it gets.

I also have a two KTM 300's a 19' xc and a 20' xcw

First thing, you want estart...period

The 300 is about as good as it gets as far as pretty much ready to race and has most everything you need to compete and have a good time doing it, also they are very versital.

A 4 stroke can also be a good choice depending on what you like, you should try both and pick one.

I have raced a 350 xcf, it's a great bike, but it does have some drawbacks one being flame outs at low rpm.

Weight, killing the battery and overheating were other issues.

If I were to chose a bike today, I would look hard at the new Beta rr race and the Reuju 300's

Leaning more towards a Beta, with a suspension tweak for my personal settings.

 

Interesting, haven't heard much about Beta, where are they made? Reliability? How easy to get/,cheap are parts?

DaBaum44
Posts
356
Joined
1/21/2017
Location
IN US
12/21/2025 9:07pm

Here’s a few tips I haven’t seen others mention yet. Drink water, lots of it. And do it all week before your race. Buy a USWE hydro pack if you want a good quality product.

Try out all the different series around you and see which one you enjoy the most. You’ll be surprised how different each one is. Don’t be afraid to try the other forms of off-road racing if they are available in your area. Sprint enduros, time keeping enduros, restart enduros, grand prix, etc. They all help build skill along the way.

If pre-registration is an option, it is probably a good idea to get it done ahead of time. You’ll save yourself a bunch of time and worries.

3
12/21/2025 9:47pm
DaBaum44 wrote:
Here’s a few tips I haven’t seen others mention yet. Drink water, lots of it. And do it all week before your race. Buy a USWE...

Here’s a few tips I haven’t seen others mention yet. Drink water, lots of it. And do it all week before your race. Buy a USWE hydro pack if you want a good quality product.

Try out all the different series around you and see which one you enjoy the most. You’ll be surprised how different each one is. Don’t be afraid to try the other forms of off-road racing if they are available in your area. Sprint enduros, time keeping enduros, restart enduros, grand prix, etc. They all help build skill along the way.

If pre-registration is an option, it is probably a good idea to get it done ahead of time. You’ll save yourself a bunch of time and worries.

Awesome, thanks so much for all the great advice! I will definitely be looking into all sorts of off road racing.

moto9
Posts
230
Joined
11/11/2016
Location
Waimea, HI US
12/22/2025 11:28am
moto9 wrote:
I wouldn't pick a yz or yz-xI have a yz 300x, it's a great bike, l love riding it because it's a different experience, that and...

I wouldn't pick a yz or yz-x

I have a yz 300x, it's a great bike, l love riding it because it's a different experience, that and mechanically it's as simple as it gets.

I also have a two KTM 300's a 19' xc and a 20' xcw

First thing, you want estart...period

The 300 is about as good as it gets as far as pretty much ready to race and has most everything you need to compete and have a good time doing it, also they are very versital.

A 4 stroke can also be a good choice depending on what you like, you should try both and pick one.

I have raced a 350 xcf, it's a great bike, but it does have some drawbacks one being flame outs at low rpm.

Weight, killing the battery and overheating were other issues.

If I were to chose a bike today, I would look hard at the new Beta rr race and the Reuju 300's

Leaning more towards a Beta, with a suspension tweak for my personal settings.

 

Interesting, haven't heard much about Beta, where are they made? Reliability? How easy to get/,cheap are parts?

Beta's motors are pretty much bullet proof.   The race edition comes with kyb both ends, they have a factory build program where you can order it with all the goodies you want, including setting up the suspension for you.

Check their website, 3seas motorcycle shop sells a lot of Betas, but I'm sure there's a somewhere near you.

What I really like about them is they are still carbureted, a much easier design to maintain.

Fuel injection is great but it adds a more complicated system that adds initial cost, harder to diagnose run issues and cost of ownership is higher.

You really need to do some hard core research before you drop grands on a bike, super important to get the right bike...one that you'll like owning for the next few years.

 

12/22/2025 11:42am

Better google Beta Main Bearing while you are researching 😀

1
dcg141
Posts
2310
Joined
11/30/2009
Location
MS US
12/22/2025 12:33pm

Ride at whatever speed keeps you from falling. Staying consistent is better than going fast and falling. Be very disciplined about doing this. The speed will come. It’s going to seem very chaotic the start and most falls happen there. Just ride the trail in front of you and don’t get caught up with what other riders are doing. Settle into a grove and stay upright, even if it feels slow. If you enter the beginner class and don’t fall, you most likely make the podium.

2
rbm33
Posts
433
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Duncan, OK US
Fantasy
12/22/2025 12:52pm

One more thing.... When someone comes up behind you and revs their motor or yells, move over. There are many classes on the track at the same time and faster classes will catch you and if you don't move over after a few revs you may get parked in the trees.

1
ab5772
Posts
699
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
SLC, UT US
12/22/2025 12:52pm

Image of Go that way really fast. If something gets in your way, turn.

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