As it always has, Finke Desert Race 2024 kicks off on the King's Birthday weekend, June 7th - 10th. Those who know about the Finke Desert Race know it presents some of the most challenging conditions known to any dirt bike rider and is renowned for being one of the most difficult races in the world due to its extremely remote location, both the rider and their machinery are pushed to their limits.  The two-day race sees riders tackle 226km from Alice Springs to the small town of Aputula (Finke) and back again, the terrain is diverse with deep sand, red dirt, rocks, spinifex, and plenty of dust.  This year, like any other, it is expected that the Finke Desert Race will attract thousands of desert racing die-hards from around Australia and the world for what is the toughest event in the country.  Any experienced desert rider will tell you that no matter how prepared you are, when you're charging through the desert you can't expect everything to go to plan, but preparation is key so we've pulled together some products that will help you and your dirt bike survive Finke!

 

Finke Bike Prep With Matthew Treadwell:

Mousse Tubes: You should consider a set of Mousse Tubes rather than the traditional inflatable tube we all know and puncture. A mousse tube is essentially a condensed ring of foam inside the tyre in place of the inflatable tube, the Mousse is firm enough to feel like 14psi but does not contain air so it can't be punctured. Mousse tubes have a lifespan and will need to be replaced after a while, but it beats getting a flat 10 kms into a 200 kilometre ride!  For Finke, it is common to run a mousse in the front and an ultra heavy duty tube in the rear, this will minimise punctures but is also more likely to maintain its' integrity all the way to Finke!  You've probably heard that a mousse in the rear will not hold up for the whole race, this may be true, but for the average rider with the right size and type of mousse tube, it could be a bullet-proof option.

Desert Tyres: Finke is a high speed race with sand but there are also hard packed sections and plenty of rocks, so the wrong tyres tend to get ripped to shreds, you need something that is going to last the distance, a soft compound tyre will not cut it. For typical desert riding you will want a well wearing tyre with chunky knobs which are close together. Some popular options include Michelin Tracker, Michelin Desert, and Dunlop D606.

Steg Pegz: You'll struggle to find a rider at Finke without a set of Steg Pegz on their bike.  You might underestimate the door-stopper looking things bolted to the side of the bike, but Steg Pegz are a game changer when it comes to getting to Finke and back.  Adding a pair of Steg Pegz helps with bike control and makes it easier for the rider to grip the bike with their legs, this reduces the demands on the upper body and minimises arm pump. You will go further and faster with a set of these!

Steering Damper: A Steering Damper provides stability to endure the high speeds and rough terrain you'll encounter during the race, it'll minimise headshake therefore reducing rider fatigue.  Though we would say a steering damper is almost a must for Finke, there are some bike modifications you can make that will replicate similar but less drastic front-end control.

Bike set-up and geometry play a huge role in the handling of your dirt bike, so focus on your suspension settings and make sure to set your sag correctly.  If you don't have a steering damper but want to reduce headshake, you can test the positioning of your fork tubes, setting them lower in the triple clamp and tightening the steering head nut should help reduce tank slapping and give the bike a more stable feel for straight line riding.

Fuel: After all the preparation that goes into making it to Finke and back, the last thing you want is to run out of fuel somewhere along the way, the first step in preventing this is to put a larger capacity fuel tank on your bike.  Then, depending on how you choose to refuel, there are a few things you'll need to keep in mind for your preparation. If you're riding a two-stroke and using the club refuel option you'll need 3x 20 litre fuel cans to cover each refuelling stop, for 4-strokes you'll only need to consider fuelling up before day 1 and day 2 as fuel is supplied at each stop. If you choose to self-manage refuelling you'll need to ensure you've got the fuel, supplies, and personnel to cover all the fuel stops you'll need.

Engine Protection and Performance:  It goes without saying, give your bike a complete check over front to back, inspect your brakes, bearings, wheels and spokes, bolts, drive train components, forks, seals, and suspension settings, and give it a service with a fresh filter and oil.

You do not want to leave Finke with a dusted engine, so taking the proper precautions to prevent this while still allowing for top performance is a must! A good filter and air filter oil is the starting point, a FunnelWeb or Uni Filter ProComp2 would be our recommendation, pair that with a sticky, tacky oil and you should be sweet. With the amount of dust around during the race, you're going to need to pack a spare filter, and perhaps you'll want to add an extra layer of protection with a Chux cloth or filterskin, the PC Racing Filterskins are designed to catch up to 90% of dirt, they’re easy to install and available in several sizes.

Mix the constant full-throttle riding with the conditions of a desert race and your engine will be pushed to its' limits, to prevent overheating take extra engine coolant and keep an eye on the temperature gauge! We recommend the Liquid Intelligence Anti-Boil Coolant as it’s specifically formulated for ultimate engine protection under extreme conditions. It’s 40% more thermally efficient than traditional water/glycol based coolants which means enhanced cooling when operating at constant high throttle or high ambient temperatures.

For some, gearing is incredibly confusing, so let's simplify it...

• More bottom end (shorter gearing): front sprocket teeth down, rear sprocket teeth up
• More top end (taller gearing): front sprocket teeth up, rear sprocket teeth down

Gearing for desert riding is generally drastically different to the stock bike set-up, taller gearing is necessary for the high top speeds, this can be achieved through a combination of changes to the front and rear sprockets.  As an example, your bike came stock with 14/50, you might change to 15/46 for your desert race bike as this will greatly increase your top speed.

Hydration: You're guaranteed to be spending hours on the bike, so having a means of keeping hydrated is essential, the easiest way to do this is by carrying a hydration pack. A minimum of 2 litres would be recommended and it would be ideal to carry some energy gels and supplements as you'll need something extra to keep you going.

Protection: Riding at such high speeds, some decent protective gear should be your top priority.  You would've heard it all before, you only have one head so wear a good helmet, lower limb injuries are some of the most common on a dirt bike, so some knee braces and quality boots will go a long way.  New to the market for off-road racing, an Alpinestars Tech-Air Off-Road armour could save your life if you have a big get-off, hence why it's compulsory for Dakar Rally racers.