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I met Jorge Bendeck Carrillo and Juan Pedro Arce on a dirt-bike ride in Iceland with RideWithLocals. Jorge really enjoyed the group and was super enthusiastic to have us all down to Tijuana and to show off Baja California. He and Juan Pedro made it happen! They kept a WhatsApp channel going and invited everyone.
Immediately after Iceland, Max Grant bought a new KTM 500 EXC-F and spent a fortune sending it to TacoMoto for every upgrade he or they could think about. Grant's bike build Close to this. KTM 500 build
I was also shopping for a KTM. In my case, I was thinking about a stock 350 EXC-F, but the prices and availability were too high for my taste. In November, I found a nearly-new 2019 Honda CRF450L and started skeeming about putting it on the back of my RV and driving to Mexico. I fitted my bike with Tubliss and a new set of tires.
Meanwhile Jorge and Juan Pedro were riding, scouting, and planning while sending enticing pictures of their Greece and Baja adventures.
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| Courtesy ChatGPT — you can decide who is the girl |
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| Try as I might, I could not get ChatGPT to generate a reasonable image of Armando and Travis riding 2-up |
I did some research. Looks like the CRF450X is the Baja winner. MSRP is about $11k and you can get one built out to race specs for about $17k. Youtube Video
The CRF450L seems to have the same engine and transmission and the same stock suspension. Other than the lights, I'm not sure what else differs between the X and L. Weight is about 38 lbs heavier than the KTM 450 EXC-F. I was surprised to see the KTM 450 and 350 weigh the same.
450L 450X 450R $10,400 $9,800 $9,300 MSRP 12.0 12.0 13.5 compression 6sp 6sp 5sp transmission gears ' 10.0/8.8mm valve sizes ' 13/49 final drive tooth counts 1 2 1 number of pistons in rear brake GP21 AT81 MX3S OEM front tire GP22 120/80 AT81 110/100 MX3S 120/80 OEM rear tire 28°20' 28°06' 27°22' rake 58.9" 58.8" 58.4" wheel base 37.1" 37.4" 37.8" seat height 289 (+6lbs vs X) 275 (+28lbs vs R) 247 lbs curb weight (XR650L 346 lbs) 2.01 2.01 1.66 gallons fuel capacity
In addition, there are other important things that differ, especially between R and L
Trip dates 3/23--3/29 starting from SAN, Jorge will bring bikes into Mexico. Border crossing : san ysidro We will ride the famous baja 1000 trails and roads Most are baja 100 , baja 500 routes From easy to dificult There are dry river / creeks , water crossings , desert, pine forests, rocks , powder . The range on the bikes is 120 km We are working on gas / range / logistics 23af7b0a-b473-4ede-b230-7289b64647f8.jpeg 124 miles, Valle de Trinidad up and down mountains 2c452a35-7f7b-4858-b641-1f72dd10ab4f.jpeg 56 miles, Laguna Hanson - Santa Verónica 97f39019-d466-4d81-9ddc-7caecc543f1c.jpeg 67 miles, Santa Verónica - Laguna Hanson bc311258-fe2d-41da-b92a-f9f1b34a1a95.jpeg 74 miles, Santa Verónica - Valled de Las Palmas c4b1b1ba-d8d4-4284-a013-83073fb25f21.jpeg 18 miles, Mikes - Observatorio de San Pedro Martir 15c8307f-1c6f-4727-884d-b98ca95eb75b.jpeg 40 miles, Observatorio de San Pedro Martir - Melin Ranch Check out this trail from @Wikiloc! https://www.wikiloc.com/trail-bike-trails/loop-pinturas-rupestres-hanson-casas-verdes-118868228?utm_medium=app&utm_campaign=share&utm_source=8044053 (Loop Pinturas Rupestres - Hanson - Casas Verdes)
Max says "Nov 2026. 3 slots left. I’m signed up."
I'm waitlisted
Elise, Jorge, and Chris are "in", maybe Anibel and Steve
Steve really wants to do the 1000, but after this intro to Baja, I know my skills are barely up to (maybe) doing one 100 mile leg of the 500.
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