I live 2+ hours from Silver lake and was thinking some of taking my TB 250 out on the dunes but don't want to look any dumber than I already do. Should I run paddles?, and if so what works best?, should I swap sprockets down? Should I even bother going, or is it too crazy? Thanks in advance.

 

Sand robs tons of power and thats one thing the trailblazer does not have in stock form. You will do ok but might not make it to the top of some steep hills. You definately need paddles if you want to even move. Put on a pipe and clutch kit that makes good mid to top end and you will do much better. I do alot of coal climbing and did not do very well stock but now I have tons of mods I can climb with the best and even better than alot of others.

 

Ive ridden mine on sand, it wasnt like dunes or anything....It(the sand) got to a couple feet deep at some places...I dint change anything on mine...just took it out like it was. Just a few things to remember though..... Dont give it full throttle at the begging...it will peel out and you dig yourself a hole....when your in deep sand, dont let off yourself come to a stop. If you do, you may get stuck..but if you do have to stop...remember to let yourself accelrate slowly....

 

You will be fine in the sand. Definitely run paddles if you can. It needs them. Anything in a 20" will be fine, but like all parts the lighter the better. Don't expect to win any races. Realize you won't make it up everything, but you will make it up stuff you did not think posible. And have fun.

 

My first trip to Silver Lake was on a 2001 TRAILBLAZER 250 (stock). I purchased some (20-11-10) GBC paddle tires and like the others said, sand does nothing but rob power, I could bearly get around. My buddy had a set of skat trac haulers 8 paddle (22-11-10), We swaped and it made a HUGE difference.
My next trip I geared the bike down, I think I used a 42 tooth rear sprocket (you need a longer chain) along with a new set of 7 paddle Haulers and the bike got around real good. I had realitively no problems. I would highly recomend a set of skat trak hauler on a set of .125 aluminum wheels before you go. I am 260lbs, so if you are close to that I would also recomend gearing it down as I did.

 

We have been out tp the dunes several times with our 96 trailboos and it gets around just fine, but can't make the big hills. The first time we ever went we didn't have paddels ,we droped the tire presure it still did very well. My wife is on the heavy side as well. Only had a DG pipe and k&n.

Now have it ported, milled head,Hpd pipe and clutch spring plus a 34mm carb. Can't wait to get out and try it now.