getting a bike race ready

[suz125]

Picked up a dt400, what should I do to get tit ready to race?

[jimg1au]

for what type of racing
vinduro
dirt track
motocross
all depends on what you want

[suz125]

sorry, should have said vmx and maybe a bit of dirt track

[Nathan S]

Essential:
Road gear off (inc side-stand).
Plugged handlebar ends.
Balls on the end of your levers.
Race numbers.
No sloppy bearings in the wheels, swingarm or steering.
Brakes that work (!).
No loose/missing spokes.
Throttle that returns by itself.


From there, you'll get a lot of 'advice' about a million things that you "must" do. A lot of it will be good stuff that will help you get around the track faster, but none of it is essential.
You're far better off just getting out there and having a go on a average bike, than you are spending the next ten years making it immaculate and pristine and not actually racing...

[vandy010]

as a scrutineer i see bikes in all sorts of condition.
as the boys have said before me and work within your budget.
it's not about having the most bling it's about the size of the smile on your dial.
do the best you can with your bike, get it to the track and you'll soon find out whats right or wrong.
the DT400 is agood thing depending on the track you put it on.
a safe bike is a happy bike.

[suz125]

whats the difference in the dt400's? monoshock is pre 78 and twin shock pre 75?

[Nathan S]

The twin shock isn't strictly a pre-75 bike, but you could reasonably expect a blind eye to be turned at a club day.

The mono should be a pre-78 bike, regardless of age - I think they're all mechanically identical and all count as follow-on models.

[suz125]

so to be def pre 75 it'd need to be a 360?

[jimg1au]

DT360 is pre 75 along with dt250a mx250a mx360a

[suz125]

all cleared up 

[Nathan S]

so to be def pre 75 it'd need to be a 360?

Yes - or a 250.