Big Bear Run Torture Test Preview
Story by Trevor Hunter
Here at Dirt Bike Test, we aren’t afraid to go about things our way, sometimes unconvential and sometimes very questionable. This is one of those questionable decisions that could either lead to one of the longest days of our lives on a bike or one of the most fun — but likely nothing in between. Myself (Trevor Hunter) and Tyler Belknap, two mid-twenty year old Pro level off-road racers are going to tackle the famed 30th Annual Big Bear Trail Riders “Big Bear Run” and see if we can complete the 200+ mile “Hard Way” loop. Rather than going out and riding a standard dual sport bike like a KTM EXC, or building one up with every aftermarket piece of jewelry we can find, we’re making a challenge out of it. We have a CRF300L and a KLX300, two entry level dual sport bikes that most will (and have) recommend that we stay home rather than attempt this feat.
Comments like “On those bikes I’d suggest the intermediate route,” “Your going to need a bigger boat….,” and “yeah, don’t do it!” have been relayed to us courtesy of the SoCal Dual Sport Riders Facebook page. However, we did have a few positive commentors including “Well now that I see who posted this. You don’t need any advice. Easy top ten for you guys.” With that comment, we now have pressure to finish inside the Top 10 overall!
As we like to do, we’re going to complete this ride on VERY stock bikes. The mods are simple — a skid plate and knobby tires and mousses. Ricochet Off-Road supplied us with a plate for both the CRF and the KLX. Just from install, both pieces are made well, offering good protection and mount in a matter of a few minutes, bolting to the frame up front and utilizing two easy-to-handle frame mounts out back. Aside from those simple mods, both bikes are how they’d come straight off the showroom floor. This is by design as we want to see, and possibly prove, just how capable these style of bikes are in the right hands. We always say “the best modification you can make to your bike is a better rider” so we’re going to put that theory to the test and attempt to make it to the finish of this grueling event.
Neither of us have ridden this event, and we’ve both only ever ridden in Big Bear one time, riding the famed “Malcolm Smith Trail” and down to Devil’s Hole about 7-8 months ago on 300cc two-strokes. Thus, the only trail knowledge we have are all of the horror stories we’ve heard about from riders who have attempted, with some finishers, to make the finish under the time cut. The 200 mile ride consists of some paved roads, fire roads, two-track trail, singletrack, and several highly technical uphills and downhills littered with rocks, dust, silt, and bikes strewn across the trail. Many have made it their life’s mission to finish the “Hard Way” route by 7pm on a Saturday afternoon, but only a fraction have the plaque to prove it.
