Getting even more comfortable on the Xtrainer

[@ratherberiding5964]

Really nice trails you guys have carved out back there. You’re riding great. Seems like you’re really comfortable on that bike. 👍

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks man!

[@davet3947]

I love it fantastic skills btw Proving you can have a challenging day at under 20mph. I don’t think enough people realize what it takes to do that and how much seat time to be comfortable!!! Well done!!!!

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks Dave!

[@dankruger2890]

very impressed with the 2 strokes ability to tractor around.

[@Garage2Trail]

Yeah man, I hadn’t given any of them a thought until I rode one of these. They have them tuned perfectly for chugging around the woods. I ride it like a 4 stroke (2nd gear crawling and rarely slipping the clutch) but it just torques its way through the low end and wakes up with healthy mid range and top end power when needed. I call it a 2 stroke XR that’s lightweight and flickable with good suspension lol

[@williambarnes3492]

I have really enjoyed these videos! Im homesick trying to get back!!!

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks man! Glad you like them.

[@williambarnes3492]

I lived and rode behind lojacks all thru those woods some great single! The only thing your missing is some sketchy rr track riding and crossing lol

[@Garage2Trail]

Was that out near Saxonburg by any chance? I’ve been on some rail road track riding out there where I heard Lojack’s kid got tazed off his bike by a game warden. Near the motocross track made of coal if that rings any bells? I was on that stuff just by chance when I was out exploring. Lucky I didn’t run into that psycho game warden that day lol

[@williambarnes3492]

@@Garage2Trail My buddy Todd and I were as well, we saw all those kids and decided we needed to move on fast. A couple of the boys saw me washing my bike in my driveway and stopped to tell me what happened

[@ryanbraun2000]

Dude, you are sick with it. Doing a beta demo in couple weeks and looking forward to trying the Xtrainer. Maybe too tall for it, but will give a shot anyway. Hell I've been on a Tdub and loving it.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks man! I got real comfortable with it real quick. I rode my friends just the other day with a tubliss rear setup and I absolutely need to do that next. Makes it even more capable which I didn’t think was possible. I’m able to hit hills and other vertical climbs with zero run that only trials bikes are doing on his Xtrainer. Being taller, you might like the ability to flick it around even more than I can. Try the 300RR out though too…that might be better if you are really tall.

[@kevinbrewer9421]

I've been looking into a xtrainer as well! If you do the beta suspension program you can get it 1 or 2 inches taller or shorter your pick it's more money but to get a bike set up right you I think it's worth the extra money and research!

[@raizt1596]

I'm here for the Xtrainer vids! Great ride. Don't cut out the talking between you and your buddy. I wanted to hear what you had to say. You really are improving on that bike. I have one myself and I'm a little below your skill level, but improving bit by bit.

[@Garage2Trail]

Thanks! I think that was the tail end of the conversation…he remarked how fast I was ripping though the tight gnarly stuff and I remarked how easy it was to float over all that. He’s on a trials bike and had a hard time keeping up!

[@raizt1596]

@@Garage2Trail sounds like you picked the perfect bike. I'm starting to make trails in my woods. 2 days in and I've made about 1/4 mile of trail. Our woods is really dense. I'm jealous you don't have autumn olive growing everywhere.

[@robm3357]

I was telling you before that I found the XT harsh over small bumps and soft over bigger bumps. I also found the front loose and very twitchy. I sped up the front rebound and softened the rear shock. There is a lot of rocks around here. I found having the front rebound slow left the tire off the ground and that made the front feel loose and very nervous. Especially when running rough trails fast. Just running fast down dirt roads I found the front washing out. I was starting to think I made a mistake buying the XT. But todays run on the same dirt road in 6th gear and pushing hard through the turns the front stuck. Then running up hill over large rocks there was no deflection of the front. It was an amazing difference. With everyone saying the front is to soft on the XT, the last thing I thought would make it better was softening both ends even more.

[@Garage2Trail]

Good info and thank you for sharing! I think I have mine dialed in pretty good for my style and conditions as well. It’s a good feeling when your bike just “works” and makes the ride that much more enjoyable. I just found out today I need to switch to a tubliss setup with the IRC MB5 tire. My friend with the same bike as me with that rear tire setup made nasty loamy climbs with zero run super easy. I was amazed. Rode his back to back with mine and I’m still running the stock tire. Major improvement when you can air down to 3-4psi with the massive knobs of that IRC.

[@hickokaviation2249]

Looks fun!

[@Garage2Trail]

The bike is a blast!

[@hickokaviation2249]

@@Garage2Trail I’m doing the beta demo day tomorrow!! I’ve been riding a crf250f.

[@flashdrz]

Thanks!

[@prezzzrock]

I enjoyed your video showing off the XT. I just got a 2021 XT and was wondering if you have experimented with the power valve yet for trail riding? Mine was at the flush setting and it seems a little too much bottom end all at once. If you changed it, what setting do you have for trails? Thanks and I just subbed to follow your adventures!

[@Garage2Trail]

I appreciate that and thank you for the sub! I haven’t touched mine yet so it’s still all stock. I would think you’d want that in the middle somewhere and ride to see the difference. I honestly couldn’t give an opinion on different settings just yet though.

[@prezzzrock]

I contacted Beta and they said 1 turn in from flush is the stock setting. Thinking I'll try 2 turns. Thanks much for the quick reply and happy trails!! @@Garage2Trail

[@Garage2Trail]

@@prezzzrock ahh that’s good to know! Thank you for sharing. Let us know how it feels after you give it a try please.

[@justaghost3285]

I’ve got the same bike, coming from a race 300 cc gas gas and I love it! Maybe i find the gearing is a little long, easy fix. Do you usually use first or second for log jumping?

[@Garage2Trail]

I’m mainly in first gear but I’ve been in 2nd a couple times too. Depends on the situation.

[@Adventure6ix]

I enjoy your videos. I remember you saying you’re around western pa. Where do you ride? I live in blairsville and belong to a club in Latrobe with 350 acres to ride. I bought the 300rr, but watching your videos, I kinda wish I got the xtrainer

[@Garage2Trail]

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback! I’m in Ross Township area (considered the North Hills area). About 15-20mins north of Pittsburgh. The trails I ride are all segregated areas due to all the development in the area, so there are nice chunks of riding still but you need a plated bike to get around. 350 acres sounds AMAZING. All the stuff I ride isn’t exactly “legal” and only a handful of people know of them but they have been around for close to 50 years from what I hear and people don’t seem to mind since we just kinda pass through those areas. The XT fits me just right being a short guy at 5’8” and 180lbs. To be able to get my feet down in the gnarly stuff gives me a lot more confidence.

[@Adventure6ix]

@@Garage2Trail I’m only 5’7” so I know what you mean. I’ve struggled touching my hole life. My club is called westco highlands 4x4 club. Someday you’ll have to try it out. Ride safe!

[@Garage2Trail]

@@Adventure6ix excellent, I definitely will look into it. Lots of nice single track?

[@flashdrz]

Is it really easy to get the front end up on that bike?

[@Garage2Trail]

Yeah with it’s shorter wheelbase it doesn’t take much to loft the front end over obstacles at will.

[@jamesc6137]

How’s it compare on those trails to your xr400? Thx

[@Garage2Trail]

When I’m on normal ridden in single track that’s cruising, the 400 is still great. At least for me because I’m so accustomed to it and how it behaves…however, when you get into the really tight deer trails and you are off camber on the side of a hill with trees to cross, the much lighter Beta has the advantage for sure. With its surprising amount of torque it makes that stuff effortless. I can do that stuff on my 400 too but it wears me out a lot faster. The Beta has the ability to float over stuff a lot better than the 400 too which seems to like to get sucked into ruts and stuff probably due to it’s extra weight.

[@jamesc6137]

@@Garage2Trail thx for the breakdown. I’ve been riding a 400xr aggressively several times a year in really tight nasty eastern single track. These rides are fast tempo and I’m amazed how well this stock 04 xr400 does in this stuff. Been doing rides like this on this bike for 4 years and I’m always amazed at keeping up and sometimes passing newer bikes. Also at the end of these 40+ mile rides I feel like the thick seat and ultra plush suspension has made the difference. Yes it can be a heavy bike in some cases but the comfort I appreciate. I’ve been eyeing these betas and have ridden almost all of them in demo scenarios. Just kinda concerned about the paper thin seats and the suspension not being as plush as the XR. The lighter weight however when it’s on its side downwards a hill wood be welcome lol

[@Garage2Trail]

@@jamesc6137 I hear ya. I rode a long 35 mile loop on some nasty technical deer trail like single track with a bunch of guys on lightweight modern 2 strokes and was able to do it on the 400 but I could barely lift my arms after lol. A lot of energy spent wrestling it in some precarious situations…off camber loamy hillsides, big log crossings and quick vertical inclines to leap up. They were amazed the old XR did it but I knew it could…it just wore me out so bad. If you can add the beta to the stable and still keep the XR, I’d recommend it. I still won’t be selling any of my XRs anytime soon because of the comfort level on those longer less intensive rides. The seat on the Beta doesn’t compare in the comfort factor, but the bike is so nimble it promotes more of a stand up ride and I don’t even notice it. I was concerned about that as well! If you can find a Beta demo day near you that would be the ideal situation.

[@Garage2Trail]

@@jamesc6137 edit: I just saw you mentioned you did demo ride them!