The 2022' NORRA Mexican 1000
1,300 Miles of Off-Road Motorcycle Racing in Baja Mexico!
Keeping with the 'vintage class' theme I'm considering staying stock and just go with stiffer springs in front and maybe rear if it needs it. That will be easy. I'll ride that and compare it to the XR400R on my Cheeseville Baja training course. The rear shock has spring preload and rebound damping adjustment, it will be fun to play with that. This will be a good summer
Vintage Baja Race Bike ----- Modern Baja Race Bike for Training
I installed the new Acerbis 4.25gal tank the first week. Preparing for a Baja race always requires a big tank, unless you're lucky enough to have a big chase crew with a truck and gas. That's another thing that help seal the deal for me picking the DR350, there are several providers for bigger tanks.
New sprocket came in and this time it fits. I paid a little extra and got aluminum with a stronger teeth section for better ware.
Loctite everything for Baja
I increased the front sprocket one tooth to a T15 so I needed to put the rock guard to the grinder to make room. I almost have it but it's still too tight at the start and tail. One more should do it. I wonder if I can get a stock guard made for the T15, I know some models in 1990 offered the 15. ??
New sprockets and new chain are on. I went with the beautiful Gold mega chain just 'because' ...
The stock street sprockets 14/43 have a ratio of .326
The stock dirt sprockets 14/47 have a ratio of .291
I know I want lower then what i got now, 14/43 but not as low as the dirt model, because I'm racing. I picked 15/48 to start, ratio .313
Time for the taller bars and steering damper on. Taller because I'll be standing a lot in Baja, steering damper because I'll be racing in Baja :wink: I can't get the stupid nut off the steering head, I need to do that for the damper bracket. I don't have the right wrench, bla bla bla. Time to pull out the manual :*sip* Awesomeness and fun to the Nth degree
Alright! Picked up a 30mm socket I guesstimated I'll need, perfect. Now I can get the big nut off the steering head so I can start installing the steering damper kit.
Comes off smooth as butter witrh the right tools.
Looks like it should work.
Everything fits. I'm always concerned about cable length when I go with taller bars, this time it is painless.
Now I just need to cut this to size, shine up the steel on the frame, jeg it up and have her welded on. When looking for bikes for this project the availability of aftermarket parts like tanks and damper kits was a big deal. This Damper installation is going smooth so far.
Yesterday was a test ride day to see how I like the new handlebars and the new gearing, and since I've been out hammering on the XR400r now will be a good time to compare bikes and look for anything lacking in the 350 for Baja racing.
The bike felt really good on my twisty and hilly firelane trails. I just have to prepare myself for the late onset throttle response from the diaphragm carburetor. It's all about throttle control. I did notice on the big rocky bumps the front end felt stiff, like it was punishing me. I do believe the XR400 is a lot softer feeling on the handlebars. Maybe that's just the lack of modern valving, or a sign the springs are about to bottom out. I'm not sure but this a concern. I will be trying things later for sure.
I love love the higher handlebars. Standing for long distances is a world of difference compared to the original bars. I wish they were an inch taller but at least this feels good.
Opening her up I see almost 10 mph less top end. I'm running T15/T48 which is between the stock 350S and the dirt 350 stock gearing. I can still hit 75 which is good enough for the majority of Baja racing but there are times when you run across a dry lakebed and such where you want to open it for everything it's got. I'm thinking when I start the performance tuning and open up the breathing I'm hoping to be able to hit 85 again with this gearing, we will see. A good 80 mile loop on firelanes and connecting ATV trails, fantastic. I practice standing as much as I can to train the legs. They feel toast, so that's a win day.
I know what I need to know, so back in the shop to continue the build. Here's a pic of the Damper bracket without the damper mounted. You can see it mounted just under the main steering head nut and it rises over the handlebars. I start grinding off the paint where the damper post will be welded on. Next I'll need to do some custom filing and grinding on the post to make it match my setup.
I did have one problem yesterday that would not go away, the fuel would not shut off inside the carburetor. Every time I stopped or slowed down gas poured out. This happened once before but stopped. I have to fix that now.
I have a feeling I ordered the wrong carburetor rebuild kit, at the time I ordered a lot of stuff I didn't realize about the two different carbs on the S model.
Yup, the wrong kit, but at least the needle-value and o-rings are the same and some of the jets. I upped to the next bigger main jet because now that I have the carb off I may as well open up the air box. And next will be exhaust mods but one thing at a time, I need to make sure the bike still starts good and runs good with this jet and airbox mod.
This is fun stuff to the highest degree. Nothing better in my book then working on and modifying a bike that you plan to do a Mega Adventure on, and then carrying out that adventure. I found what I like to do in life now all I have to do is to pursue it to an art. Anyway I feel like that's what I'm trying to do, and I think it's working
Inspecting the carb I notice this! Looks like JB-weld epoxy to me. WT_!
<Hang on, there's more fun!
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