Thanks Scumfrog, can you eleborate

You you only need to look at the Michelin Desert tread pattern to see what Michelin think makes for proper desert / off road tyres.

I have always found 50.50 tyres to be good on the road, ok ish for gravel tracks and hard pack, but a let down off road when the going gets difficult / pushing harder, especially the front end which loses grip on the bends.

I find the Michelin Tracker very good off road (terrible on road) but do wonder why I can buy them for £120 a pair whereas the Desert are double that. I suspect a stronger and more puncture resistant carcass in the Desert, also bigger / stronger blocks on the rear. Just stronger all round I suppose.

Thanks, appreciate the info

Bushy wrote: Sat Aug 26, 2023 7:02 pm Hello,

I have been following this thread for some time and wanted to introduce myself. My name is Steve, 55 years old, live in East Yorkshire, lived in Africa most of my younger days. Have entered Sandraiders 2024 and have a TT600r year 2000 (kick start ).

Watched all of Harry’s videos, watched Jeremy’s videos (I think I have that correct). I have ridden loads in my younger days in Zim and then SA but nothing official and haven’t ridden much in the last 20 years.

I’m overweight although my wife’s super fit and my son is a pro tennis player. So I’m hoping to find some inspiration from them to get fit for SR2024.

Hope you don’t mind me joining the party here but I’m buzzing for next year’s ride. I’ve been to see David Lambeth with my bike and it goes into him to give it some reliability mods in September.

Oh and I’m an accountant by qualification and not too mechanical so I’m reading and listening a lot;)

Hi Bushy the simple answer is you have to be very fit you are riding for around 7-9 hours a day pretty much all offroad. I thought I was reasonably fit but 45 degrees heat and rocky sandbeds did me in and I was doing offroad bike races. Weight wise you need to be at your optimum weight as otherwise it wears you down and you need time in the gymn strengthening arms and legs. I'm 58 1.72 metres high weigh 14 stone but should have been sub 12 stone and after 6 hours heavy going you know it and make mistakes as I did and dislocated my shoulder and ruptured the two tendons. I will go back in 2025 but am starting training now for that.

Scumfrog wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 9:18 am You you only need to look at the Michelin Desert tread pattern to see what Michelin think makes for proper desert / off road tyres.

I have always found 50.50 tyres to be good on the road, ok ish for gravel tracks and hard pack, but a let down off road when the going gets difficult / pushing harder, especially the front end which loses grip on the bends.

I find the Michelin Tracker very good off road (terrible on road) but do wonder why I can buy them for £120 a pair whereas the Desert are double that. I suspect a stronger and more puncture resistant carcass in the Desert, also bigger / stronger blocks on the rear. Just stronger all round I suppose.

Scumfrog on Sandraiders the access roads are 20-50 km to the off-road sections and the Michelin Deserts are softer than most and get eaten. I used Dunlop E91 on the front only because that was all my mate could get me and a Michelin Tracker on the rear and both were very good grippy tyres that lasted well and whilst not the best on the road sections were capable. A lot of people used Michelin Trackers or the Mitas Desert C21 Front and E12 rear tyres which are hard and last well although don't use their Mousses they disintegrate. I am told the only mousses to go for are the Michelin ones.

Oh and I easily got 140's onto the rear of my 3AJ.

Thanks DakarXT600, I get you caution about preparedness. No doubt how fit I get, it will not be enough :). Bike goes off to DL next week.

Bushy not wanting to scare anyone but I did a few cycle gravel races before the event but on the first day which was really tough going I felt like packing in. The 3AJ Tenere was far too heavy and too tall for me so that lesson learned (you will see me on Jeremy Miles video falling off as I struggled to get my feet down) but what I lacked was core upper body strength which you cannot get from cycling. This winter I plan to get a few tips on building upper body strength.

The other item I don't think I mentioned was knee braces - they are an essential piece of kit to keep your knees in line. I had the set by Mobius which were awesome and I never had a single knee problem.

My go to kit was

1. Helmet - I went Bell Carbon - they get expensive but Arios are also very light as well and cheap
2. Knee Braces - Mobius
3. Body Protection/Armour - I used Forcefield - lightweight and breathable. Wish I had taken shoulder brace though
4. Goggles - I liked the Leatt Desert
5. Boots - Get strong Enduro boots with ankle protection. Socks as lightweight as possible Thor MX Cool - they wash and dry in a couple of hours - your boots are gonna stink otherwise - I made my roomy leave his boots outside - they stunk
6. Rucksack - Kriega or Klim I had a Kriega and it saved my back when I had a big off as it doesn't move around. Fit in as big a bladder/camelback that you can get. We were drinking 8-10 litres a day
7. Gloves - lightweight and breathable - I went Klim
8. Clothing - Lightweight and breathable as possible - Leatt were cheap and very lightweight - you trash everything anyway.

Hope that helps.

Mike

Thanks Mike,

That is a massive help. Trying to work on strength and fitness already. My wife (who’s being a gym-goer for 30 years) is thoroughly enjoying watching me suffer:).

Steve

Its been awhile since I was doing desert trips but the Pirelli MT21 served me well, as the Michelin Desert (old version) was not available at that time.

Andy

Dropped the bike off with David Lambeth today so hoping he can work some magic. My engine doesn’t require a rebuild. Probably needs a good new clutch to be safe.