Trail Riding an MX bike at popular spots a bad idea?

Dawizman

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Hey guys. The trails at home are pretty beat up from quads, SXS & trucks, and not the greatest for riding the bikes. I'm looking to take my wife down south to hit some decent single track trails and try to get her to enjoy the sport as much as I do. I've already got her to enjoy the mountains on sleds, may as well do the same on bikes. We're looking at Mclean, Ghost, and Revvy areas.

My biggest concern is how strictly are the rules enforced in these areas, and would a 2 stroke MX bike be frowned upon? I know in Alberta you are supposed to have head & tail lights for any OHV operating on public land. Around home the RCMP never hassle us at all. I have come across numerous officers while riding ditches, or on the road from the house to the trails, and they have never so much as tried to stop me. Most have waved as they go past. We've ridden Bruderheim, and we chatted with the CO's that were there, and they didn't hassle us over the lack of lights.

My other concern is the MX spec exhaust. My bike can't even be quiet if I try. It's an RM250 with FMF Fatty pipe and FMF silencer.

Am I better off picking up a more suitable bike for these areas (I'm already looking at other options), or will I get by as is, or maybe with a set of battery lights? My wife is on a TT-R230. I'm sure a set of lights would get her by just fine. I'm looking at a WR450F, or 500 EXC for myself anyway, but I don't want to rush a purchase if I can get by on the RM for now..

We are insured, registered, and plated. My main concerns are lights and exhaust.
 

Pistonbroke

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Hey guys. The trails at home are pretty beat up from quads, SXS & trucks, and not the greatest for riding the bikes. I'm looking to take my wife down south to hit some decent single track trails and try to get her to enjoy the sport as much as I do. I've already got her to enjoy the mountains on sleds, may as well do the same on bikes. We're looking at Mclean, Ghost, and Revvy areas.

My biggest concern is how strictly are the rules enforced in these areas, and would a 2 stroke MX bike be frowned upon? I know in Alberta you are supposed to have head & tail lights for any OHV operating on public land. Around home the RCMP never hassle us at all. I have come across numerous officers while riding ditches, or on the road from the house to the trails, and they have never so much as tried to stop me. Most have waved as they go past. We've ridden Bruderheim, and we chatted with the CO's that were there, and they didn't hassle us over the lack of lights.

My other concern is the MX spec exhaust. My bike can't even be quiet if I try. It's an RM250 with FMF Fatty pipe and FMF silencer.

Am I better off picking up a more suitable bike for these areas (I'm already looking at other options), or will I get by as is, or maybe with a set of battery lights? My wife is on a TT-R230. I'm sure a set of lights would get her by just fine. I'm looking at a WR450F, or 500 EXC for myself anyway, but I don't want to rush a purchase if I can get by on the RM for now..

We are insured, registered, and plated. My main concerns are lights and exhaust.


Maclean: you WILL get checked for plates, reg, insurance, spark arrestor, head light and tail light.
Revy is the same specs but less frequently enforced in my experience.
 

Tchetek

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Hey guys. The trails at home are pretty beat up from quads, SXS & trucks, and not the greatest for riding the bikes. I'm looking to take my wife down south to hit some decent single track trails and try to get her to enjoy the sport as much as I do. I've already got her to enjoy the mountains on sleds, may as well do the same on bikes. We're looking at Mclean, Ghost, and Revvy areas.

My biggest concern is how strictly are the rules enforced in these areas, and would a 2 stroke MX bike be frowned upon? I know in Alberta you are supposed to have head & tail lights for any OHV operating on public land. Around home the RCMP never hassle us at all. I have come across numerous officers while riding ditches, or on the road from the house to the trails, and they have never so much as tried to stop me. Most have waved as they go past. We've ridden Bruderheim, and we chatted with the CO's that were there, and they didn't hassle us over the lack of lights.

My other concern is the MX spec exhaust. My bike can't even be quiet if I try. It's an RM250 with FMF Fatty pipe and FMF silencer.

Am I better off picking up a more suitable bike for these areas (I'm already looking at other options), or will I get by as is, or maybe with a set of battery lights? My wife is on a TT-R230. I'm sure a set of lights would get her by just fine. I'm looking at a WR450F, or 500 EXC for myself anyway, but I don't want to rush a purchase if I can get by on the RM for now..

We are insured, registered, and plated. My main concerns are lights and exhaust.

Don’t quit the 2 stroke!

Mod up a couple battery power lights if you are worried.
 

Bnorth

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I generally just see guys running mtn bike battery powered lights for compliance reasons. Bigger issue on the RM will be a spark arrestor silencer and most of those will put you under the DB limit as well.
 

Dawizman

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Don’t quit the 2 stroke!

Mod up a couple battery power lights if you are worried.
Definitely want to keep the 2 smoker. If lights are all I need, I'll rig something up. Pretty sure my silencer is a spark arrestor as well.
 

the_real_wild1

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Yep as mentioned the spark arrestor is the biggest thing. License plate and registration is the second. A light for the front and back is third. I think you can get decent led light kits for the 2 stroke now that don't have them. While it is rare you need them it is wise to have them.
 
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