Gday guys,
I have only just moved from Alice springs and have competed in 4 Finkes, best result 46th on a DRZ400.
Back in 2005 i emailed the Finke committee and offered to ride my 79 RM400N for the 30th Anniverary but they weren't interested so instead i raced my RMZ450.
If you want to try Finke on a vintage bike or an older model bike you will need the following:
No1.....$$$$$$$$$$$$ Min $3000......i blew a big end on RMZ450 coming back from Finke, finished 75th and cost me $5500 for the Railway spike they give if you finish.. (l lived in Alice so no accomodation cost)
No2... Long range tank or if your bike can reach 80km, thats where the club fuel stops are, SES people take your fuel to these camps and when you arrive they pass you the gas,,you do it all yourself. I raced with a group of mates and we fuel stopped twice, this is now the norm.
No3.. Suspension ..As soft as possible, having preload / compression adjusters will help soak up all the deep ruts, 1m to 2m soft sand whoops and high speed bumps. Good suspension means you will go faster and safer.
No4..Gearing / Jetting.. Finke is all about speed, my RMZ was geared around 15/43 and I raced twice on a RM125 geared 15/46.
Needle setting around middle, Main jet as big as possible, i would spend hours speed running my 2 stroke to go as fast as possible and be jetted rich but not too rich, also be prepared to change jetting, the weather can change.
No4..Tyres.. Heavy duty tubes and tyres, OZmoto were pretty good and Mich desert.
No5.. Pre running...take 2 weeks off before the race, its really crazy and the dustiest out there for the first 100km, unless your one fast dude you start with 10 other riders including quad bikes, and get stuck behind a quad and you will not see a thing and cough dust for a month.
No6..Prolouge as fast as you can, one year i jumped the prolouge and they started me 455th place by the time i got to Finke i had choked on nearly 300 guys dust that i passed, if you race with guys your own speed you will soon spread out and get some clean air.
N07..Take plenty of spares parts you will need em, if i take my RM400N back to Finke i would have a spare training bike to pre-run and only test the 400 in the whoops and high speed sections only, the sand, dust and the track will destroy a vintage ride in no time.
No8. Holeshot your vintage ride of the start line and the crowd will go crazy... hahahahhahahaha
Hope this helps
Tim
