[BCGIrish]

Since I think I'm one of the few running Desert I'll post an in depth report here on the LTR for Nevada/Mexico riding. I've only rode it in Nevada but I've been to Mexico enough to know how it will fare.

Suspension
PERFECT! It's soft and squishy and soaks up large whoops very easy. You can double the big 3 foot whoops that the trucks leave and it's wide enough to strattle the ruts. The back end hops around a bit in smaller ruts at a high speed but I'm still adjusting the shocks.

Power
Honestly it needs more top end. The engine RIPS but it feels like it could use a 6th gear out there on the long straight aways. I am going to throw some F23's and R22's on it and leave the stock gearing. I want to see how much top end I gain compared to the loss on the bottom. I think maybe going down to 13t in the front or keeping it 14t and going up 1t in the rear may be perfect though. The torque is great though. You can just blurp the throttle and clear big rocks with the front end or wheelie through a wash out.

Changes
First thing to change is buy a swing arm skid plate. Don't touch the desert with out one. Second get a full frame and some bigger tires. The 18's suck out there. They hook up great but you top out to soon and lose alot of clearance. Other than those things this beast is ready for SCORE, BITD, or VORRA.

Nevada
Rocks are your biggest issue here. Get the tires and armor and you will be able to fly through this place great. Silt is spread out here so don't worry as much about it, but when you do find it, aim at the center and pin it. Don't stop for ANYTHING!

Mexico
Less rocks here but I would still get armor. The major terrain difference here is that you get alot more soft sand and longer distance between check points. I would get a 4 Gallon gas tank and some good desert tires. Pits are few and far between. You will find more silt out here for longer stretches as well as better high speed sections. I would recomend bead locks because odd's are you will have to drive on a flat for a long time if you get one. I think Mexico is more forgiving then Nevada but the course is just longer.

 

[ammohog01]

Have you raced the 1000? If so what was it like for the first time? That is my goal in life. Hopefully, I will make it.

 

[rob-u/21]

That sound like a good set up. I raced this years Baja 500 on an LTR. We had our stock suspension revalved by TCS which worked great. Stock was a little to stiff for baja. We changed from a 14-36 to a 15-36 gearing for more top speed, added a chasis and swing arm PRM skid plates, V2 Product Steering Stem, Tag Metal Bars, 23" front kenda and 21" kenda rears, and we borrowed a Yoshi slip on cause we couldnt get our LRD full exhuast in time. The bike worked awsome. I did feel it needs more top end. I think the 450r we have been racing in the desert was faster on the long straights. We were able to get good mileage from the stock tank around 58-62 miles. We are already preparing for the 1000 on the same bike.

 

[dezsled]

Still looking for the best set up for the lt-r. Weight is a big draw back, as is forward peg placement/low seat foam height/skidplates/top speed/fuel tank size. Alot of these can be overcome.