XR400 enough power?

[mladen]

I'm buying a hard enduro, and I like the old fashioned XR, just as I like the old fashioned AT.
I have only one real doubt about the XR400, does it have enough power? I like to drive in the desert (Tunisia) and my AT feels a bit underpowered on high dunes. I plan to go to Lybia the next year with a group with hard enduros, so do you think the XR400 will do it?

[Pete Rock]

They keep finishing the Dakar with stock engines, so I guess they can cope with soft sand. A 600 would probably be more fun though if you really want to surf the dunes

[Jenna]

the 400's are still the bike of choice for the amateur raid riders, certainly more power is helpful but then the extra weight has big effects on stamina, general rule seams to be if your light framed go 400 and a lard arse go 600

[DaveS]

And after having experienced my XR400 today for the first time over terrain that the went over the AT with, the XR is miles ahead in usability, lightness and power.
Ok it doesn't have the power at 60+, but lower down it pulls like a train and is very nimble.
I'm really pleased with my choice its a beauty!

[mladen]

Thanks for the replyes.

I was considering the xr600 also, but where I live, I have a lot of off road tracks in the forests and for that it is better the 400. The 400 is also lighter and it have better suspension. But I'm pretty shure, that for the desert the 600 would be better.

Considering your replyes, I think I will go for the 400.

[mladen]

And after having experienced my XR400 today for the first time over terrain that the went over the AT with, the XR is miles ahead in usability, lightness and power.
Ok it doesn't have the power at 60+, but lower down it pulls like a train and is very nimble.
I'm really pleased with my choice its a beauty!

I have two questions on this reply, 60+ is probably for miles (I hope so) and what does exactly mean nimble?

[Tim Cullis]

I took my XR400 to Morocco in May (on the back of my pickup). It was great on the desert and mountain trails. You'd need to be really quite skilled (or on extremely easy tracks) to want much more power. I found the fuel lasted 185km on tracks.

On tarmac I cruised at 90-110 kph. According to my GPS the highest speed I attained was 128 kph. Higher gearing may help here.

Tim