Team XRV Cambrian Rally - join in!

[fewtrees]

My brother challenged me to do one of these Welsh Rally things "down the pub".. and of course conversations greased up with beer usually mean no backing down etc.. but at least I've managed to drag him into this too..

So.. what's out there and when? Plus if anybody has some good tips for modding an AT so that it could get through one of these things rider intact then I'd appreciate the knowledge..

I guess I'm looking to..

Harden up the fork with new springs
A fork brace
Put a decent shock on the rear
Remove the front end clocks and fairing and replace with something lighter
Remove dead weight like a center stand etc..

As a last thought - Do these things also include road stages?

[YEN_POWELL]

My brother challenged me to do one of these Welsh Rally things "down the pub".. and of course conversations greased up with beer usually mean no backing down etc.. but at least I've managed to drag him into this too..

So.. what's out there and when? Plus if anybody has some good tips for modding an AT so that it could get through one of these things rider intact then I'd appreciate the knowledge..

I guess I'm looking to..

Harden up the fork with new springs
A fork brace
Put a decent shock on the rear
Remove the front end clocks and fairing and replace with something lighter
Remove dead weight like a center stand etc..

As a last thought - Do these things also include road stages?

Which rally do you mean in particular?

[fewtrees]

Is it called the Haffren Rally and/or the Cambrian Rally? That type of thing..

[Sharribee]

I think Mudwiz does quite a few of these, it may be worth PMing him

[YEN_POWELL]

Is it called the Haffren Rally and/or the Cambrian Rally? That type of thing..

Cambrian Rally is mostly gravel fire roads where a big bike is an advantage. The timed sections are a mix of fire road with a bit of mud thrown in, maybe a gentle climb or too which in wet weather can be a bit greasy. I've seen an Africa Twin fly through those with decent tyres. I reckon all you need is decent tyres (MT21 maybe or T63s) hand guards, a headlight protector for when the fast boys go past you on the gravel and crashbars for if you drop it.

The rally has arrows on the course telling you where the corners are and it's easy to get carried away and go into a corner too fast. It's also easy to forget not to race on the untimed parts especially as they may also be public roads with families wandering along them on foot. You start the actual rally in pairs at 1 minute intervals so it's not a mad dash at the start like a motocross race, but of course you soon catch up with people or have others fly past you.

The timed sections, you start alone and keep going until you see the END signs when they stop the clock. You have to be at the next timed section at the time on your time card. You fill out your time card at the start from a list on a wall somewhere by copying down the details next to your number. Having somewhere to hold your time card isn't a bad idea and your AT clock will be very handy.

[Mudwiz]

Is it called the Haffren Rally and/or the Cambrian Rally? That type of thing..

This year's Hafren, Oct 7th ish, is a 1 day event, but I can't make it, the Cambrian, 20th ish of Oct is a 2 dayer, and I'm already sent in and paid for that one!

The Cambrian is meant to be the gentlest of the rallies, and quite OK for bigger bikes, although I've not done it. The Tarrenig is probably the hardest, such that it was not included in this years big bike challenge due to being a little hard for the big ones. We were just really lucky with the weather, I doubt I'd have finished if it was this weekend!!

You could probably get away with very few mods, TKCs as a minimum, brush guards and crash bars/sump guard ideal, and after that whatever takes your fancy. Stickers are good

The low mudguard can be a pain, but that depends on the weather, speedos/clocks/multiple trip meters all help.

I tend to write stage times on the tank in indelible pen, then petrol them off before the next event.

Big thing is the scrutineering, make sure your bike will pass an MOT - wheel bearings, spoke tightness, steering bearings, bits like that, they're not worried about lights etc. Helmet - current ACU sticker (think its 1 line, not the old 2 around the outside)

The rallies have a very cosy feel to them, , compared to enduros, people are often on hand to help out if you are stuck, either mechanically or physically.

There are lots of other bits you can do, boots gloves goggles etc. I also use big clear tape over the headlight to try and give it a little help!

The next one is the Ryedale, in North Yorkshire, a fab rally, with really good social on the Sat night! (July 7th?? ish, 2 days).

Any specific asks? Please do.

They are just fun, I spend my time chaseing a mate on a KTM 950 Adv., and consistently loosing time!!

(The Ryedale does have road stages, Hafren didn't last year, neither did the Tarrenig. Red Kite also does, not sure about the Cambrian, but it is by the Red Kite people, so it might.)

[fewtrees]

Thanks for all the info mudwiz and everyone else, I think I'm going to look closely at the Hafren Rally, the Cambrian looks like an easier day out

I'd be happy to do a team XRV or something like that - does anyone think this may be of interest?

[iswoolley]

I'd be happy to do a team XRV or something like that - does anyone think this may be of interest?

I want to fit at least one rally in this year. Cambrian would be the obvious choice, but I could be persuaded to another event by safety in numbers! I wasn't going to make any major mods to the bike, maybe just fit some MT21s and remove the mirrors!

[Mudwiz]

I'm in the Ryedale and Cambrian, can't do the Hafren. Would be fab to have a "Team XRV.ORG.UK" though!!

[YEN_POWELL]

I want to fit at least one rally in this year. Cambrian would be the obvious choice, but I could be persuaded to another event by safety in numbers! I wasn't going to make any major mods to the bike, maybe just fit some MT21s and remove the mirrors!

I've done the Cambrian twice and if I did it again I'd keep the mirrors. Half the time I thought there was someone up my chuff revving away and waiting to get past. If I looked over my shoulder there would be no one there, it's the noise of bikes on very close parallel tracks. Usually when I looked forward again I would find myself about to plummet off a steep drop onto a few thousand sharpened tree stumps. Mirrors would have allowed me to look behind more easily.