Going to live in the desert

[Banjo Rob]

I'm off to live in the desert (Dubai) which means selling my London commute Transalp and getting a serious off road bike for weekly dune bashing. Any advice? CRF450 X seems popular out there but I want something with lights and electric start at least that I can register for very occasional on-road use.

[jasonbc]

I'm off to live in the desert (Dubai) which means selling my London commute Transalp and getting a serious off road bike for weekly dune bashing. Any advice? CRF450 X seems popular out there but I want something with lights and electric start at least that I can register for very occasional on-road use.

Be careful with the crf450, and check with other people about this just incase i'm wrong. The crf450 have suffered from valve problems they are soft and wear into the head. Most enduro teams remove them and fit stainless valves, so they last the distance also very short oil change intervals as in about every 6hrs of racing as thay only take about a pint or so. If it's going to be for serious off road use anything is going to require constant maintenance

[Banjo Rob]

Thanks. I'm busy researching and have started looking at XR400's and 650's. I want a bike that I can register for road use so the CRF is out I think. Like the idea of a big 650 but have never driven off road before, and the dunes look like a serious undertaking. I'm guessing a bigger, more powerful bike will add to the challenge.

[jasonbc]

Thanks. I'm busy researching and have started looking at XR400's and 650's. I want a bike that I can register for road use so the CRF is out I think. Like the idea of a big 650 but have never driven off road before, and the dunes look like a serious undertaking. I'm guessing a bigger, more powerful bike will add to the challenge.

GET charlie boormans Race to Dakar and see what they are practising on when they are in the desert, might give you a bit more idea of whats good out there

[XRDAVE]

The CRF valve issue is a thing of the past, you just have to keep the filters nice and clean. Oil changes every 15 hours riding are fine if you're not racing. I think it would be a good choice, especially in the dunes.

[DaveS]

I was just reading about the CRF450X being the enduro version and easier to road register. It also comes with an electric start.
One article said they ran it in to the ground without changing oil at the prescribed interval for a few thousand miles without problems.

[meljordan]

Ihave the crf as my other bike and the lighting kit and trailtech kit is about £200 well worth it as it is now mot legal and no stress from the politzie and the bike- oh my god fast light controlable brilliant if you go for it then T63s front and rear if your greenlaning and not full on racing then service every 500 miles cost about 25 pounds the titanium valves are still fine on mine but will go s/s when they stretch out i think you may want to do the mick extance oil mod if you run it in the penninsula

[Mudwiz]

I recon any XR or CRF-X will be fab fun.

CRFs much more modern, LC so could be better in the heat. Mel, do they have a fan fitted? XRs rugged, the 400s seem to do the Dakar with not many mods.

All are easy to road reg in UK, NOT CRF-R, which is an MX bike.

[meljordan]

hi mudwiz no fan as standard uk too cold ? but lings sell the kit some of the fellers in the usa use them apparently easy fit and about £30 ish and warranty compliant