Reh-day for the sand!

[RCWells]

So I don't have fronts, but budget is tight at the moment. If these don't do well enough, I may fork out the rest for some sand fronts.

Can't WAIT to get to SandHill tomorrow to try these things out!!

Is there ANYTHING I need to know about riding on paddles? There are some areas that are more hard pack sand out there, do I have to be careful on the paddles? Will they damage easily? Will they slide at all?

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/3703/img1627large.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3695/img1628large.jpg

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/2537/img1629large.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6420/img1630large.jpg

[bkelley]

What paddles are those? They look pretty sick. As long as you don't go over any major rocks at high speeds or asphalt you'll be fine. I've taken my paddles through some pretty rough stuff and they are still 100%.

[RCWells]

Duro Sandblasters. They were decent money, and ITP .190 T9 Grand Prix wheels.

Again, thanks for the hookup on savings bro!!

[bkelley]

No problem. Let me know how they hook up. I might be looking for some new paddles here soon.

[RCWells]

Will do. I'll post up impressions tommorrow night, and maybe some pics too.

[bens250ex]

you will be ok at sand hit. the terrain there is fine to run paddles everywhere. i was there last week end

[atv fan 28]

Originally posted by bens250ex
you will be ok at sand hit. the terrain there is fine to run paddles everywhere. i was there last week end i was there too. i was on a 450 and my buddies were on a trx250r,atc250r, and a yamaha tri z 3 wheeler.

[Honda4life05]

i have a set of front itp sandstars that only have one ride on them if your interested! thanks

[bens250ex]

i saw ya'll you passed me and my g/f when we were just chillin, i made a thread askin if any one was going too bad we could have rode some. i was on a black ltr 450 and my g/f was on a yellow 400ex

[RNL]

Let us know how it went.

[RCWells]

Had a blast riding yesterday with the guys from LA and Danny. Posted up some vids on youtube of some of the more wicked climbs.

The tires were a bit low on pressure when I first went out and I wasn't impressed at all. I put some more air in them at lunch and they seemed to do better, but I feel like I still need more power. I don't know if it's b/c the wheels and tires are heavier than the stock wheels with knobbies or if it's just the sand, but I felt sluggish yesterday to say the least. Could just be the Duros. I don't know for sure, but I was really limited as to what I felt comfortable trying to climb. It was frustrating not being able to hit some of the bigger walls and hills with the guys yesterday.

So, maybe a cam is next?? I'm wondering if I don't just need to dump the 400ex for something more powerful, YFZ or Kawi 450?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85ThO6AIWjc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAjvt5V-aoY

More vids loading, takes a while so I'll leave these for now.

[bkelley]

That's kinda how I feel with my Geckos. I'm interested to see how it does after removing the airbox and adding the 450r carb. Really would like to get some Haulers, though.

[atv fan 28]

Haulers man! you saw what Danny,Todd, and Marty were running.

[RCWells]

Here's a few more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkpgjIrynj8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofX0vOMFrc4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNTw4D1DVwk

They make it look so easy....

[chris ashley]

hey where is this at exactly, i live in south louisiana

[RCWells]

Sand Hill ATV park in Wiggins, MS. There are a lot of people that come up from LA and the guys I rode with Sat. were from Baton Rouge. They come up a LOT.

http://sandhillatv.com/

[chris ashley]

do they have camping or something there, cuz that would be about a 5 hr drive from where i go to school

[mineralgrey01gt]

always wanted to go ride there. Ill have to invest in some paddles and go check it out sometime

[RCWells]

Originally posted by chris ashley
do they have camping or something there, cuz that would be about a 5 hr drive from where i go to school

Check the link, yes they do. You can pitch a tent or they have cabins for rent. It's $20 per ATV to ride for the day, or $30 for two days. I've been threatening to camp one evening, but just haven't yet. It would be fun though with a group.

[mineralgrey01gt]

let me know when yall go back i might make the trip there to check it out. Ill find me some paddles lol

[RCWells]

The last two trips I made by myself and just rode with whoever I met up with. I had seen these guys riding before and rode with Danny the last time I rode so I just kinda sat in with them and wound up having a blast.

They go pretty much every weekend and I've been trying to make it down every other around my work schedule.

Always somebody to hook up with and ride down there.

But yeah, you're welcome to jump in next time we go.

[mineralgrey01gt]

awesome. Well I might be on a dirt bike lol. The 400ex might be leaving me but im building another quad. Picking up a hybrid frame more than likely. Gonna be a 400ex chassis with a yz426 in it. Should be a fun one

[RCWells]

Well, I'm debating even now selling mine for something more powerful, or starting the process of finding more power in what i've got.

[mineralgrey01gt]

thats my problem. I love my 400ex. Didnt realize how much power could be made with these little motors but it still cant comare with the 450's that run out there from what I hear. My friend used to have a 535 stroker motor from Duncan Racing on his trx450r and he would go ride out there all the time. Said it was a blast

[bens250ex]

Originally posted by RCWells
Well, I'm debating even now selling mine for something more powerful, or starting the process of finding more power in what i've got.

i built my g/f's 440ex about 3 years ago here are the mods that put it right next to my ltr with lid off, cherry bomb, and no spark arrestor....... 440 12:1, stage 2 hot cam, hd head studs, full exhaust, 450r carb and like i said its been in for about 3 years i just pulled the engine out yesterday to go through and make sure all is well, i needed to replace the head gaskets since they are showing signs of leaking. but all in all im happy with it. has a ton or torque i mean a ton.

[clemsonteg]

I must be a big ole puss because I would never try the hill in the first few videos, mostly cause it looks like its straight up for the last 10 feet or so.

[RCWells]

But how much total invested to make "almost" or similar power to a 450? AND, from what I've seen the quads that make most of their power in the upper rpms, do way better in the sand.

[86 Quad R]

Originally posted by mineralgrey01gt
let me know when yall go back i might make the trip there to check it out. Ill find me some paddles lol

you'll love it cody. i kicked around the idea of going for a while. ole atv fan 28 hit me up for a trip and twisted my arm(not really) en i loved it. when the weather gets a bit warmer ole danny and em fellers put on a show skimming. :D

[bens250ex]

Originally posted by RCWells
But how much total invested to make "almost" or similar power to a 450? AND, from what I've seen the quads that make most of their power in the upper rpms, do way better in the sand.

big bore kits can cost anywhere from $220 and up. i spent around $250 on the kit and then another $200 or so to have the sleeve and HD head studs put in. cam i bought used can't remember price prob around $60. carb i paid $75 bucks for 1 good one and 1 parts carb, exhaust i pieced together spent around $250 for full system. also have the normal no airbox lid and uni filter. all in all it wasn't bad on the wallet and that was over time, but for what i paid to have the engine done to a 440 it was well worth it. honestly the bike could prob out run the ltr if i did a little more fine tunning. but i love my ltr and wouldn't trade back to a 400ex. so if you got the money and want a 450 i guess that would be your best bet if you don't want to tear into the engine

[togup]

I would like to make a trip to sand hill and meet a couple of people from the forum post the next time a week in advance and ill meet yall there

[86 Quad R]

Originally posted by togup
I would like to make a trip to sand hill and meet a couple of people from the forum post the next time a week in advance and ill meet yall there

yea hell you arent very far from there are you?

[mineralgrey01gt]

Originally posted by 86 Quad R
you'll love it cody. i kicked around the idea of going for a while. ole atv fan 28 hit me up for a trip and twisted my arm(not really) en i loved it. when the weather gets a bit warmer ole danny and em fellers put on a show skimming. :D

awesome Randy. Ill have to get my bro to go also. Im going to hunt some paddles now and im getting ready for my hybrid build :D

[rcatvrider]

Those kind of hills scare the **** outta me. It's mostly confidence that you can rev second gear all the way up to clear the last bit. Not the easiest thing to do with a 400ex so I understand your dilemma.

[RCWells]

Well, what I *think* I have determined thus far is that bikes that make HP in the higher RPMs and REV higher, tend to do much better in the sand. On hard pack, my 400 hooks up and runs great, and I do believe that on trails in the woods, I could hold fast to any of those guys on their 450s. However, in the sand, I just don't have the power up high and it just doesn't seem to be that useful down low.

That said, building up say a 416 or 426 would just make more power and torque on the lower end, no? I mean, I'll never be able to make the power up high like the 450s, right??

Which then brings me to another issue, suspension. A Kawi 450 for example not only makes a bunch more power but also already has a worthy suspension, so that's even more money that I would need to throw at the 400 to be competitive. Just sayin.

Someone correct me here if I'm wrong please.

***IF I am able to make the trip again Saturday after this one coming, I will post up and let you guys know. The more peeps riding makes it fun. Of course as I said before, there are always plenty of people out there now. The weather is better and man were they busy Saturday!!*****

[atv fan 28]

all of us on here should set up a date to go to Sand Hill. it would be alot of fun to ride with other forum members.

[RCWells]

Originally posted by atv fan 28
all of us on here should set up a date to go to Sand Hill. it would be alot of fun to ride with other forum members.

Well, if everything lines up, I would be down for the Sat. following this one.

[atv fan 28]

i should be able to make it. i got a new Rossier exhuast for my 450 that im wanting to try out.

[togup]

ill have to catch yall another time im waiting for gaskets any day now for my rebuild

[atv fan 28]

Originally posted by togup
ill have to catch yall another time im waiting for gaskets any day now for my rebuild we are planning to go next weekend, not this one. hopefully you can make it.

[86 Quad R]

thats easter saturday ehhhh. cant make that. maybe catch yall next trip. :cool:

[atv fan 28]

Originally posted by 86 Quad R
thats easter saturday ehhhh. cant make that. maybe catch yall next trip. :cool: i totally forgot it was Easter weekend! i dont think im going to be able to make it either.