DT400 in the trails 1

Riding my DT400 on some two tracks.

[@criticalpoint7672]

I have a DT400 also but I'm still struggling to learn how to ride it. For instance how do you make it run below 20 km/h without stalling the engine ? Also in what gear do you climb abrupt hills ?

[@triumphrider1]

+Critical Point: If your gearing is factory, 1st gear (or 2nd gear, depending on terrain) should have no problem pulling itself along at that speed or lower.The gear I run in for a climb really depends on the hill. I tend to run a higher gear than is probably necessary and let the engine pull. However, the speed you approach the hill at will also affect how easy it is to go over the hill. For the hills around me, I vary between 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gears. The higher the gear, the more speed I am carrying onto the hill.

[@criticalpoint7672]

triumphrider1 Well, my problem is that I want to go uphill at the lowest possible speed without killing the engine. It is a very bad, dangerous road and I can't afford to go too fast.

[@triumphrider1]

+Critical Point I guess for that, I would probably be between working the throttle and feathering the clutch.

[@criticalpoint7672]

+triumphrider1 Yes, today I made another attempt and this time it went a little bit better. I managed to run the bike below 15 mph in first gear but with the engine almost at idle in terms of rpm, but this only on straight portions of the road, but still an improvement. Next, when the upper sections of the road will defrost I will attempt some hill climbing as slowly as this bike can go. It appears that going slowly uphill without killing the engine is a real art to be mastered with this bike.

[@criticalpoint7672]

+triumphrider1 How do you deal with engine heat at low speeds ? I mean, I can ride it in first gear at 15 mph or lower, but I am concerned about the engine overheating. How hot can the engine get before damage occurs ? I have to make a 10 miles journey up hill and I can't go faster than 15 mph due to bad road conditions. What should i do ? Stop the bike from time to time to cooled down ? Or am I being paranoid ?