Source: Cycle World
We built a Suzuki V-Strom 800DE to take on the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. (Jeff Allen/)Our V-Strom 800DE DR Big after racing the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. (Jeff Allen/)How would our V-Strom 800DE fare against lighter dirt bikes? We’d soon find out. (Jeff Allen/)This scroll of paper called a roadbook is the only information you have to find your way each day during the rally. (Jeff Allen/)Two tripmeter computers tell you the mileage (left) and compass heading and speed (right). With the info from the roadbook, you must find your way to the finish. (Jeff Allen/)A short shakedown ride confirms that the choices we made on our DR Big racer are correct. (Jeff Allen/)And we’re off and racing! The first order of business is to get out of Ensenada and into the desert. (Jeff Allen/)The V-Strom 800DE is faster than my ability to navigate on Day 1. (Jeff Allen/)Speed kills—tires. (Jeff Allen/)On gas right out the gate on Day 2. (Jeff Allen/)In the fast sand wash sections the V-Strom 800DE is stable and easy to ride. (Jeff Allen/)Feeling the Baja flow and pushing the DR Big harder as the day wears on. (Jeff Allen/)Jose even has the right color welding helmet. (Jeff Allen/)Finding the way through the soft sand dunes outside of Guerrero Negro proves to be difficult thanks to tricky navigation. (Jeff Allen/)Helping the competition is common in the Mexican 1000 Rally. And I am thankful to help and be helped. (Jeff Allen/)I rolled into San Ignacio eighth for the day, moving me up to eighth place overall. (Jeff Allen/)Day 4 of the Mexican 1000 Rally is the shortest of the rally. (Jeff Allen/)Day 4 felt like it finished before it even started. The course riding is fast and fun. (Jeff Allen/)One of these things is not like the other… Bike tucked in for the night at impound. (Jeff Allen/)I am looking forward to getting on the beach and letting the V-Strom 800DE stretch its legs. (Jeff Allen/)Not much farther down the beach my race day is done. (Jeff Allen/)I blow it, and with it any chance of a solid finish for the DR Big. (Jeff Allen/)Replacement of clutch plates, springs, and pressure plate is all that is needed to get the DR Big up and running again. (Jeff Allen/)Day 6 is my last chance to show just how good this V-Strom 800DE is. (Jeff Allen/)Despite losing damping in the rear shock, the V-Strom is still fast thanks to its stability at speed. (Jeff Allen/)What an experience! Making it to the finish line, even after the days of failure before, has me hooked on rally racing and the DR Big. (Jeff Allen/)Rally Racing isn’t an individual sport. Thanks to the crew for getting me across the line! (Jeff Allen/)Back home with the dirt and dust from the last day of the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. What’s next? (Jeff Allen/)Proof of battles won and lost. Our DR Big is dirty and well used, but it will see a refresh. I promise. (Jeff Allen/)A black space on the official time keeping sticker tells the tale of Day 5. (Jeff Allen/)Can you figure out the significance of “323″? (Jeff Allen/)The last roadbook note of the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. (Jeff Allen/)End of day rest for the riders and bikes in San Ignacio. (Jeff Allen/)Start of Day 2 in San Felipe. (Jeff Allen/)Just because the racing ended doesn’t mean the work is finished. (Jeff Allen/)When can we do it again? (Jeff Allen/)
Full Text:
We built a Suzuki V-Strom 800DE to take on the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. (Jeff Allen/)
Our V-Strom 800DE DR Big after racing the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. (Jeff Allen/)
How would our V-Strom 800DE fare against lighter dirt bikes? We’d soon find out. (Jeff Allen/)
This scroll of paper called a roadbook is the only information you have to find your way each day during the rally. (Jeff Allen/)
Two tripmeter computers tell you the mileage (left) and compass heading and speed (right). With the info from the roadbook, you must find your way to the finish. (Jeff Allen/)
A short shakedown ride confirms that the choices we made on our DR Big racer are correct. (Jeff Allen/)
And we’re off and racing! The first order of business is to get out of Ensenada and into the desert. (Jeff Allen/)
The V-Strom 800DE is faster than my ability to navigate on Day 1. (Jeff Allen/)
Speed kills—tires. (Jeff Allen/)
On gas right out the gate on Day 2. (Jeff Allen/)
In the fast sand wash sections the V-Strom 800DE is stable and easy to ride. (Jeff Allen/)
Feeling the Baja flow and pushing the DR Big harder as the day wears on. (Jeff Allen/)
Jose even has the right color welding helmet. (Jeff Allen/)
Finding the way through the soft sand dunes outside of Guerrero Negro proves to be difficult thanks to tricky navigation. (Jeff Allen/)
Helping the competition is common in the Mexican 1000 Rally. And I am thankful to help and be helped. (Jeff Allen/)
I rolled into San Ignacio eighth for the day, moving me up to eighth place overall. (Jeff Allen/)
Day 4 of the Mexican 1000 Rally is the shortest of the rally. (Jeff Allen/)
Day 4 felt like it finished before it even started. The course riding is fast and fun. (Jeff Allen/)
One of these things is not like the other… Bike tucked in for the night at impound. (Jeff Allen/)
I am looking forward to getting on the beach and letting the V-Strom 800DE stretch its legs. (Jeff Allen/)
Not much farther down the beach my race day is done. (Jeff Allen/)
I blow it, and with it any chance of a solid finish for the DR Big. (Jeff Allen/)
Replacement of clutch plates, springs, and pressure plate is all that is needed to get the DR Big up and running again. (Jeff Allen/)
Day 6 is my last chance to show just how good this V-Strom 800DE is. (Jeff Allen/)
Despite losing damping in the rear shock, the V-Strom is still fast thanks to its stability at speed. (Jeff Allen/)
What an experience! Making it to the finish line, even after the days of failure before, has me hooked on rally racing and the DR Big. (Jeff Allen/)
Rally Racing isn’t an individual sport. Thanks to the crew for getting me across the line! (Jeff Allen/)
Back home with the dirt and dust from the last day of the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. What’s next? (Jeff Allen/)
Proof of battles won and lost. Our DR Big is dirty and well used, but it will see a refresh. I promise. (Jeff Allen/)
A black space on the official time keeping sticker tells the tale of Day 5. (Jeff Allen/)
Can you figure out the significance of “323″? (Jeff Allen/)
The last roadbook note of the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally. (Jeff Allen/)
End of day rest for the riders and bikes in San Ignacio. (Jeff Allen/)
Start of Day 2 in San Felipe. (Jeff Allen/)
Just because the racing ended doesn’t mean the work is finished. (Jeff Allen/)
When can we do it again? (Jeff Allen/)
