XR400 still a competitive Bike

[dazzerrtw]

I was lucky this year to team up with Jenny Morgan for a two day off road event held each year in the north of Spain.
we were both riding Honda XR400R's

The route is set out by Austin and some friend's, and they do a great job.

This event is run over two 12 hour day's ,starting at 8am and ending at 8pm,with point's being lost if your late back.
you can use any size bike and team size is between 2 and 4 rider's.

There were 42 check point's this year spread over the largest area that we have used.

Jenny was brillent at map reading.

we rode for all 12 hour's each day with out a break and managed to get 40 of the 42 check point's and covering almost 800 km in 2 day's, of which 90% was off road.

At the prize giving it was close because I made a mistake writing down one of the check point's { sorry Jenny } so we were very lucky to win the event by only 5 point's

This year was the 5 th P-up event and it was the first time that the team leading on day one ,came through in the second day still in first place to win the event.

Photo's of Jenny and I after the win.

[Xman]

I agree the XR 400 is a great bike.

I recently strapped a gallon of fuel and a toolkit in my rucsac. Rode 20 miles to a Track & Trail event near Warminster. Payed the entry fee...stuck my no.s on the bike. Rode the Hare & Hound style event in the Trail class, and rode home again no problem.
They sent the results the other day... I had won the class.

There's still life in the old dog yet!

[dazzerrtw]

[URL=http://s691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/SXland/?action=view&current=PB020023.jpg][IMG]http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/vv275/SXland/th_PB020023.jpgI agree the XR 400 is a great bike.

I recently strapped a gallon of fuel and a toolkit in my rucsac. Rode 20 miles to a Track & Trail event near Warminster. Payed the entry fee...stuck my no.s on the bike. Rode the Hare & Hound style event in the Trail class, and rode home again no problem.
They sent the results the other day... I had won the class.

There's still life in the old dog yet!

Excellent

[phil w]

Nice pics and well done Took my XR out for a good blat yesterday and Im gettin at the point where I really fancy changing to something else maybe orange But I also cant help but love the ol XR4 for its ability and general ruggedness

[tendays]

hey dazzer

i've been scratching my head for a couple of days thinking I didn't see you at the HUMM, how could you have won it? And how come you were riding til 8pm? I've just realised you were doing the mega-exclusive Pyreneesup not he HUMM. Congratulations mate! Did you take a van down?

[dazzerrtw]

hey dazzer

i've been scratching my head for a couple of days thinking I didn't see you at the HUMM, how could you have won it? And how come you were riding til 8pm? I've just realised you were doing the mega-exclusive Pyreneesup not he HUMM. Congratulations mate! Did you take a van down?

Hi
Thank's.
it was the hardest 2 day's riding I have ever done,trying to keep up with the mega off road godess Jenny.

Jenny rode her xr400 down and I took my bike down on a trailer.

Leigh and I make a holiday out of this trip and stay in Spain for 2 week's so the car is needed to take all our Kit and camping stuff down.

Anyone doing the Humm next year is in for a real treat.
I think this was the best area that we have used in Spain.

Phil...I to have looked at KTM's...but the XR can do just about anything.

My bike is almost at 30.000 and going strong ...I just love it

[416cc]

Having both a KTM 450 & a Honda XR400, I find them both really good at what they do. The XR is ideal for pottering around & taking newbies out on the local green lanes. But the KTM is a balls out racer that just wants to pick up & go everywhere...fast. The service rota is a lot differant between the two bikes. I change the oil a lot more often on the Katey than on the Honda, but then they're used for differant things, so...you makes your choices.

[dazzerrtw]

Having both a KTM 450 & a Honda XR400, I find them both really good at what they do. The XR is ideal for pottering around & taking newbies out on the local green lanes. But the KTM is a balls out racer that just wants to pick up & go everywhere...fast. The service rota is a lot differant between the two bikes. I change the oil a lot more often on the Katey than on the Honda, but then they're used for differant things, so...you makes your choices.

If I ever sell my XR400 I will add that line... Mature rider , only ever used for Pottering

[Jeff Kirby]

Hi,

Just intrigued, I've done the HUMM (really good fun) and fancy something different - whats the Pyreneesup? Not heard of this before - is there a link somewhere or is it an invite only?

[JMo]

Aha, I thought my ears were burning!

Just checking in... as Dazzer says, it was a long time coming, but the 'Dream Team' pairing finally got the top prize this year!

The 'Knees-up is invite-only I'm afraid Jeff, but don't worry - essentially it is Austin's way of 'testing' out the route with a limited number of riders for the following year's 'commercial' events like the HUMM...

I went down a few days early and helped lay out some checkpoints for next year, and as Darren says, this region is absolutely stunning!

Here's a photo of the check-point that very nearly cost us the win this year - we went back a couple of days later to see how and why Darren had written down the wrong number - turns out there were TWO signs at the viewpoint, and Daz had looked at the one on the left, rather than the right! Doh!



And while we are lording the virtues of the XR400, here is my favorite photo of all time - taken by Julie (the original Peanut Smuggler) on a £20 ebay pocket camera!



I love that bike!

J x