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MXA'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2010 HONDA CRF250 This is the 2010 Honda CRF250 the way the MXA test crew raced it. As a rule, we don’t go for exotic or expensive mods, but if push comes to shove, we will seek competent help (no matter how much it costs). Use MXA ’s mods as a guide. Clutch: We burned through the CRF250 clutch in six hours. Honda lengthened the 2010 clutch springs and added more coils. These changes provide a better clutch feel but don’t create enough grip. We ran $59.95 Hinson Hi-Temp clutch springs. For more information, call (909) 94...
MXA'S 2013 KTM 450SXF-FE "RYAN DUNGEY REPLICA" MOTOCROSS TEST: SOME COMPANIES BARELY MAKE ANY BIKES, LET ALONE WORKS REPLICAS There is an inherent “hope gene” in every person that believes things will get better, that tomorrow is a better day, that good things come to those who wait, and that this year’s new model is better than last year’s new model. And so it goes with motocross bikes. Even when we have positive proof that a bike hasn’t gotten better, people still run out and buy the new bike because it must be better—it just must be. Take the 2009 Honda CRF450 as an example. It was not as good as the 2008 CRF450—or the 2007...
MID-SIZED SHOOTOUT: HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A 125 TWO-STROKE, 250 FOUR-STROKE OR 250 TWO-STROKE Not every rider is alike. There are riders who like the snap of a 250cc two-stroke, those who prefer to wring the guts out of a wide-open 125cc tiddler, and a third group that craves the abundant vibes of a 250cc four-stroke. The MXA wrecking crew decided to round up all three of these bikes and compare them head to head. Now, you might be wondering why we didn’t include a 450cc four-stroke in the comparison. The answer is simple: very few riders are trying to decided between a 450cc bike and a s...
WE RIDE SERVICE HONDA’S CR250AF TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS BIKE When four-strokes motocross bikes took over the motocross world—the second time, not the first time—only Yamaha and the European brands stayed in the two-stroke business. And that was a shame. Imagine what would have happened if Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki continued to offer and develop two-strokes for motocross. Even if they couldn’t justify all-new designs, they could have easily put the old two-stroke engines in their modern four-stroke running gear. It is not a stretch to see that Kawasaki could hav...
FRIDAY'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2009 YAMAHA YZ450F: 1. Shock. This is the best production shock on the market. We don’t touch it. The spring rate is spec’ed for a 175-pound Intermediate, which makes it good for virtually everyone (save featherweights). Spring rate: 5.5 kg/mm Race sag: 100mm Hi-compression: 1-1/2 turns out Lo-compression: 11 clicks out Rebound: 10 clicks out (12 clicks stock) 2. Forks. If you are very fast or very fat, you might want to go up to...
FIRST LOOK: ALL THE 2014 KTM MOTOCROSS MODELS – 85SX,125SX, 150SX, 250SXF, 350SXF, 450SXF Here is some of the Euro spec news—which could be slightly different in America (remember that the European KTM 450SXF has a four-speed gearbox in Europe and a five-speed in America). Plus, Euro bikes run Pirelli tires and American bikes get Dunlops. 2014 450SXF The KTM 450 SX-F has new engine case to reduce weight. The piston has been mod i fied for more durability, the DDS clutch get a 280 Nm clutch spring and a new three-layer cylinder head gasket to increase durability. The 450 SXF also featur...
HOW TO BUILD THE ULTIMATE KTM 250SX TWO-STROKE: YES, IT DOES HAVE WORKS SHOWA SUSPENSION ON IT By Billy Musgrave I must admit that I inherited MXA ’s KTM 250SX project bike by default. I was third in line, but eventually the end user. Jody had started the project originally, but he had other assignments and handed it over to my father, Willy Musgrave. I took over the project when my dad crashed at Glen Helen and broke his collarbone. It might seem mercenary, but it was a lucky break for me. I have been racing MXA ’s 125 and 150 two-strokes for many years. Occasionally, I would get assigned to a 2...
FRIDAY'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2010 KTM 450SXF: This is the 2010 KTM 450SXF the way the MXA test crew raced it. As a rule, we don’t go for exotic or expensive mods, but if push comes to shove, we will seek competent help (no matter how much it costs). Use MXA ’s mods as a guide. Tires: We don’t know where KTM found a stockpile of old-school Bridgestone M59/M70 tires, but we find them acceptable. The M59 front is much better than the Dunlop 742 that comes on many other bikes. If we were the product manager at KTM, we’d be looking at spec’ing the bike ...
FOLLOW-UP HOP-UP! MXA REVISITS THE CYLINDER WORKS HONDA CRF270 TOP GET MORE OUT OF IT Perhaps you recall our test of the Cylinder Works big-bore Honda CRF270 we tested in the May issue. To summarize, the bike was a blast. The big-bore kit catered to a wide range of riders, but we felt that it could be improved. Following the compl etion of our test cycle we discussed our thoughts of the CRF270 with Cylinder Works rep Jay Clark. Jay said, "If you liked that setup, you'll love what I have in store for you next." A few weeks later we met at Glen Helen to re-test the bike. Already quite sati...
MXA TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT! THE 2013 KTM 125SX VERSUS THE 2013 KTM 150SX Q: WHAT’S BETTER A 125SX OR A 150SX? A: The MXA wrecking crew can promise one thing with this shootout—KTM is going to win. But, we aren’t sure that there is an outright winner because each bike is designed and built for a different reason, consumer and purpose. Who you are makes a bigger difference than the performance of either bike. 2013 KTM 125SX: At 34.66 horsepower, the KTM 125S X is a classic shriek machine. Q: WHY DOES KTM MAKE BOTH A 125 ...
HOW TO BUILD THE ULTIMATE YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE – IF YOU WANT MORE OUT OF MOTOCROSS... RIDE A TWO-STROKE Mitch Payton offered to build an exact replica of Chad Reed’s works YZ250 engine, but Jody preferred the pump-gas version. My YZ250 experience goes back to before there was a YZ—to the DT-1 250. I have raced through the Yamaha twin-shock, monoshock, dog-bone and speedo-and-tach eras. I’ve ridden white, silver, yellow, magenta and blue Yamaha YZ250s. And although I didn’t like every YZ250, I did love some of them. To me, and maybe just to me, the greatest motocross bike ever made is the 2006–2013 ...
2013 CRF450 PIPE SHOOTOUT: DYNO CHARTS, SOUND TESTS, TEST RIDER COMMENTS & RATINGS BY PROS, INTERMEDIATES AND NOVICES The MXA wrecking crew took its time during this test. We did test sessions with different skill level riders with each exhaust system, and we discovered that different skill levels required different types of powerbands. The favorite pipe of the Pro test riders wasn’t always the first choice of the Novices, while the Intermediates always seemed to seek the middle ground. Thus, you have to have an inner dialogue with yourself about what you really want out of an aftermarket exhaust. We raced with each ex...
WE RIDE RIDE ENGINEERING’S SUZUKI RM-Z450 The most important thing you should have learned after reading last month’s “MXA 450 Four-Stroke Shootout” is that there is no such thing as the “every-man bike.” Though the Kawasaki KX450F took top honors, all the bikes in the field have their bright spots—and their peccadilloes. Take the 2013 Suzuki RM-Z450. An incredible-handling bike, it lacked in the key areas of suspension, braking and power output. Is it a loser? Absolutely not. However, it would take a generous amount of money to maximize the RM...
WE RIDE DR.D’S 2013 HONDA CRF450: MR. YAMAHA BUILDS AN EXOTIC HONDA CRF450 Former factory Yamaga motocrosss race Doug Dubach is known around the industry as “Mr. Yamaha.” A longtime test rider for the manufacturer, Dubach has been influential in many significant Yamaha motocro ss innovations. Doug’s finger is on Yamaha’s pulse because he gets to test future concepts and bikes that the public won’t see for several years. Because of this, Doug is at the forefront of technology, testing new ideas and designs, some of which might never see production. “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN STRONG AT S...
MXA’S 2013 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: WE AREN'T TELLING YOU WHAT TO BUY – JUST WHAT WE WOULD BUY (PLUS VIDEO) It has been a long and winding road, fraught with peril and surprises around every corner. But, the MXA wrecking crew managed to get through testing the 2013 250 four-strokes with nary a scratch. As for our six bikes, they took the brunt of our countless hours on tracks around the United States. It was all in the name of finding out the good, the bad and the ugly of each bike. What’s so unique about our 2013 shootout? You might have noticed that Husqvarna has joined the party. We welcome the Italians an...
MXA'S 2013 KTM 250SX TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS TEST: BEST IN CLASS...YOU BET! Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 KTM 250SX BETTER THAN THE 2012 KTM 250SX? A: Yes, wholeheartedly yes. It is hard to keep track of all of the changes that KTM keeps making to the 250SX two-stroke. But, the changes they made for 2013 are all on the good side of the ledger. To understand the changes to the 2013 model, you need to trace the last four years of the 250SX’s development. Q: WHAT WAS NEW ON THE 2010 KTM 250SX TWO-STROKE? A: Equipped with no-link, single-sided rear suspension, the 2010 wasn’t ...
WE RIDE CYLINDER WORKS’ KTM 365SXF BIG BORE It’s no secret that we were disappointed with the 2011 KTM 350SXF. It wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t what we expected. We knew we could embrace the 350cc design philosophy if it were executed properly, because the Austrian company’s basic idea is sound: produce a mid-size, Open-class engine and tuck it into a lightweight 250cc chassis. The ideal 350cc motocross bike should produce around 50 horsepower and weigh 222 pounds. The resulting power-to-weight ratio would make it the ultimate motocross weapon. It s...
MXA'S TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT! TM 250MX VERSUS TM 300MX — ITALIAN EXOTICA IN TWO DISTINCT FLAVORS Q: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 250MX AND A 300MX? A: Since the TM 250MX and 300MX did not have any identifying marks telling which bike was which, it was impossible to tell them apart. Often we would send a test rider out to try a new fork settings on the 250MX only to watch they climb on the 300MX and take off. The advantage of testing two bikes from the same manufacturer is that they share the same suspension, frame geometry, shock linkages, brakes, wheels, engine cases, carb and overall design. S...
WE RIDE YOSHIMURA’S FULL-RACE 2013 HONDA CRF450 TWIN-PIPER Yoshimura’s 2013 Honda CRF450 bike test is significant for several reasons. Let us count the ways. (1) The 450 four-stroke with the most updates for 2013, the Honda CRF450 has received considerable attention from consumers and, in turn, aftermarket companies. A redesigned chassis, revised combustion chamber, Kayaba PSF air forks, six-spring clutch, twin mufflers and new bodywork have made ripples in the motocross industry. It’s no surprise that Yoshimura would focus on research and development for the 2...
WE RIDE CYLINDER WORKS’ BIG-BORE HONDA CRF501 When it comes to building or rebuilding a Honda CRF450 , the MXA wrecking crew has several options. First, we could go with OEM-spec engine parts for a freshly rebuilt 450cc engine. This is the most common rebuild, and it breathes new life into a tired warhorse. Second, we could take the opportunity during the rebuild phase to add a little extra oomph to our CRF450 by going to a fairly straight-forward big-bore 470cc kit with a new cylinder, rings and piston. We could have done either of these things, b...
WE BUILD THE ULTIMATE VET WEAPON: 2013 KAWASAKI KX450F Would you be surprised if we told you that aside from the top-tier racers on the professional circuit, the most tricked-out bikes on the planet can be found on the starting line of the Over-40 and Over-50 Intermediate classes? It shouldn’t. These are the men who have the money to finance their dreams. Their kids have grown. Their jobs are stable. And their wives don’t care what they do anymore. Thus, it is the old guys who have the trick bikes, ’32 roadster hot rods and custom boats. As the saying goes,...
WE RIDE RICKY CARMICHAEL’S LORETTA LYNN WINNING SUZUKI RM-Z450: THE ONE HE AUCTIONED OFF FOR CHARITY The MXA wrecking crew has a unique relationship with Ricky Carmichael. We have tested more of Carmichael’s race bikes than anyone, except for Ricky himself. It was 17 years ago that we began riding Ricky’s race bikes, starting with his Kawasaki KX85 minicycle (before he had ever raced an AMA Pro race). We followed that up with all three of the KX125s that he won his 125 National Championships on, his Supercross-winning Honda CR250, his perfect-season 2004 Honda CRF450 (which we tested the day before it ...
THE BEST MOTOCROSS BIKES OF THE PAST 33 YEARS: DID YOU OWN ONE OF THESE? No one on the planet has tested as many motorcycles as the MXA wrecking crew. Motocross Action is a motorcycle magazine—plain and simple. We aren't a fan magazine or aimed at the teenybopper crowd. We are about machinery and how to make them better. We have ridden every machine made, and some that shouldn’t have been made. Nothing engenders as much interest and controversy as the “ MXA Bike of the Year ” awards. We have been handing them out for 33 years ( MXA has actually been testing bikes for 40 year...
WE RIDE JUSTIN BARCIA’S GEICO HONDA CRF250: AFTERALL, HE DOESN'T USE IT ANYMORE The last 250 Nationals of 2012 marked the end of a chapter in motocross lore. Justin Barcia, the wild child known for his long blonde locks and aggressive riding style, moved up to the 450 class full-time following the outdoor series concluding moto. “Bam Bam” fittingly won the last moto of his 250 career at Lake Elsinore. Moving to the Muscle Milk factory Honda team for 2013 and beyond, Justin had to leave the Geico Honda squadron behind. And, fortunately for us, he also left his Honda CRF250 race stee...
MXA'S 2013 HONDA CRF450 MOTOCROSS TEST: YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ALL ABOUT IT, BUT NOT UNTIL YOU READ THIS TEST Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 CRF450 BETTER THAN THE 2012 CRF450 ? A: Yes. As an overall package the 2013 Honda CRF450 is significantly better than the 2012 CRF450 (and by proxy the 2009, 2010 and 2011 CRF450). Q: WHAT DID HONDA CHANGE ON THE 2013 CRF450 ENGINE? A: To the casual viewer the 2013 engine looks identical to the 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 engines. And, for the most part it is, but the 2013 mill did get five...
MXA'S 2013 KTM 450SXF MOTOCROSS TEST: IF YOU ARE LOYAL TO YOUR BRAND, IT IS TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT A SHIFT IN ALLEGIANCES Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 KTM 450SXF BETTER THAN THE 2012 450SXF? A: Wholeheartedly yes. Q: WHAT DID KTM CHANGE ON THE 2013 ENGINE FROM THE 2012 MODEL? A: It is much simpler to explain what hasn’t changed between 2012 and 2013. The fork externals, brakes and hubs pretty much encompass the leftover parts from the Keihin carb-equipped 2012 450SXF. Q: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 2012-1/2 RYAN DUNGEY REPLICA AND THE 2013 KTM 450SXF? A: There are ten differences between the mid-season 2012-1/2...
MXA'S 2013 YAMAHA YZ450F MOTOCROSS TEST: THERE IS ALWAYS A PENALTY FOR TAKING THE LEAD, AND YAMAHA IS PAYING IT Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 YZ450F BETTER THAN THE 2012 YZ450F? A: No. The only changes for 2013 are a white rear fender and black handlebars. The bike was changed a little between 2011 and 2012, with revised mapping, new valving, a beefed-up shift-fork pin, a longer muffler and new MX51 tires. It should be noted that the 2011 model was a warmed-over 2010 YZ450F (with the only 2011 mechanical mod being a new clutch actuation arm). Q: WHAT IS "THE P ENALTY OF TAKING T HE LEAD ?" A: W hen an invent...
MXA'S 2013 SUZUKI RM-Z450 MOTOCROSS TEST: IS IT A ONE TRICK PONY? FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 SUZUKI RM-Z450 BETTER THAN THE 2012 RM-Z450? A: Yes and no. First of all, it would be hard not to be, given that the 2012 Suzuki RM-Z450 was really the 2011 RM-Z450 with a red stripe on the seat cover. So, what we are re ally asking is...is the 2 013 Suzuki RM-Z450 better than the 2011 RM-Z450. That shouldn't be a hard target to beat, but Suzuki had some hits and s ome misses with the 2013 RM-Z. Q: WHAT DID SUZUKI CHANGE ON THE 2013 RM-Z450? A: The list of changes focused...
MXA'S 2013 KAWASAKI KX450F MOTOCROSS TEST: THE SWEETEST POWERBAND POSSIBLE FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 KX450F BETTER THAN THE 2012 KX450F? A: Yes, but only incrementally. Apart from the Kayaba air forks, the 2013 KX450F is a kissin’ cousin to the 2011 and 2012 KX450Fs. Q: WHAT DID KAWASAKI CHANGE ON THE 2013 ENGINE? A: The intake cam is new for 2013—not really. In truth, in 2012, Kawasaki installed an intake cam with 0.4mm more lift. Surprise, the 2013 KX450F cam has 0.4mm less lift. You don’t need Dr. Watson to tell you what happened here: Kawasaki put the 2011 cam in the...
WE RIDE BLAKE BAGGETT’S AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP KAWASAKI KX250F There were times in the 2011 AMA Motocross National Championship series when fans had to scratch their heads and wonder if Pro Circuit team manager Mitch Payton possessed some kind of motocross clairvoyance. His riders swept every step of the podium an amazing number of times—despite fierce competition. Just when we started to consider wearing tinfoil hats around Mitch so he couldn’t read our thoughts, his luck changed. For the 2012 season, his 250 championship effort would rest squarely on the shoulder...
MXA'S 2013 KTM 350SXF MOTOCROSS TEST: THE LITTLE BIKE THAT COULDN'T, BUT NOW IT CAN FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 KTM 350SXF BETTER THAN THE 2011 AND 2012 350SXF? A: Awesomely so! Q: HOW DOES THE 2013 KTM 350SXF COMPARE TO THE PREVIOUS TWO KTM 350SXF EDITIONS? A: We have always been of the opinion that KTM had been sandbagging on the first generation of the 350SXF. The first edition in 2011 was overly rich and not especially fast. Making matters worse was a top-end-only powerband that pumped out a meager 46.94 horsepower at a skyscraper 12,200 rpm. Consumers expected a mid-size 450, ...
MXA'S 2013 SUZUKI RM-Z250 MOTOCROSS TEST: A GOOD SOLID 2013 RACE BIKE–LOOKING OR THE RIGHT KIND OF RIDER FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 RM-Z250 BETTER THAN THE 2012 RM-Z250? A: To be precise, a better question would be “Is the 2013 RM-Z250 better than the 2011 RM-Z250.” Why? Suzuki didn’t make any major changes to the RM-Z250 in 2012. Aside from a fuel-pump assembly material update, shorter breather hose, new graphics and a red stripe extending the length of the seat cover, the bike was untouched. Perhaps you’ll recall that the 2012 Suzuki RM-Z250 finished second place in MXA’s 250 four-stroke shootout. T...
MXA'S 2013 HONDA CRF250 MOTOCROSS TEST: A VASTLY IMPROVED BIKE THAT IS ONE CLICK SHORT OF PERFECTION FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 HONDA CRF250 BETTER THAN THE 2012 CRF250? A: Yes. There is, however, a caveat. It is by no means the best CRF250 ever built (we still have fond memories of the carbureted 2009 model), but it’s the most refined CRF250 of the latest generation. An improvement in the handling department has yielded a bike that isn’t as quirky as in the past. So yes, the 2013 Honda CRF250 is better than the 2012 model. Q: HOW MANY CHANGES CAN BE FOUND ON THE 2013 CRF250? A: You didn’t ...
MXA'S 2013 HUSQVARNA TC250 MOTOCROSS TEST: THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THOSE RED HEADS Q: IS THE BETTER THAN THE 2012 MODEL? A: Yes, but we’re splitting hairs here. It’s nearly identical to last year’s bike. If our feet were held to the fire and we were forced to say yea or nay, then Husqvarna did enough miniscule improvements to sway us. The 2013 TC250 is better than the 2012 model. Q: WHAT’S NEW ON THE 2013 HUSQVARNA TC250? A: We can count the number of 2013 TC250 updates on one hand. Here they are: (1) Strengthened radiators. The new radiators are from a different vendor and feature ad...
MXA'S 2013 YAMAHA YZ250F MOTOCROSS TEST: THE MOST MODERNIZED VINTAGE BIKE ON THE MARKET TODAY IS THE 2013 YZ250F BETTER THAN THE 2012 YZ250F? A: No! Is it worse? No. The 2013 Yamaha YZ250F is the same bike as last year, aside from the graphics, black handlebars and a white rear fender. It is, much like Dolly the sheep, a clone of the 2012 model. Q: HOW MANY CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE 2013 YAMAHA YZ250F? A: Didn’t you read the answer to the previous question? We weren’t joking. The 2013 Yamaha YZ250F has BNG (Bold New Graphics), black handlebars and a white rear fender instead of blue. Cosmetic upd...
MXA'S 2013 KAWASAKI KX250F MOTOCROSS TEST: THE ONE WITH DUAL-FUEL FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 KX250F BETTER THAN THE 2012 KAWASAKI KX250F? A: Yes! Last year the KX250F romped the competition in the MXA 250 four-stroke shootout. To say that the 2013 model is superior doesn’t bode well for other manufacturers. Q: WHAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE 2013 KAWASAKI KX250F? A: Before we answer that question, we’re compelled to discuss the major updates that Kawasaki’s engineers implemented on the KX250F in the past several years. 2011 model: (1) The KX250F ...
MXA'S 2013 KTM 250SXF MOTOCROSS TEST: THE MOST POWERFUL PRODUCTION 250 FOUR-STROKE EVER Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 KTM 250SXF BETTER THAN THE 2012 KTM 250SXF? A: It would be hard-pressed not to be, because the 2012 KTM 250SXF was the slowest and heaviest 250 four-stroke made in 2012. Q: WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN THE 2012 AND 2013 MODELS? A: The MXA wrecking crew admires KTM’s technical staff for holding their tongues during the berating they took over the doggy 2012 KTM 250SXF. At the time, we thought that they were suffering in silence, but now that we’ve seen the changes they ...
LIVING WITH... THE 2012 HONDA CRF450 We forgive Honda for not liking MXA very much. We understand their frustration with us over our 2009–2012 CRF450 bike tests. They weren’t exactly rave reviews. Honda takes no comfort in knowing that MXA has had issues with every production motocross bike ever made. The fact is, expressing our honest opinion can and does lead to hard feelings, which is why most other bike-test sources never say anything negative. It is no secret that, in the past, the MXA wrecking crew has been banned by Honda, Yamaha, C...
FIRST LOOK! 2013 HONDA CRF250; PLUS THE STREET-LEGAL CRF250L & THE MID-SIZED MINI-110 The 2013 model-year season is in full bloom. Everyone has been talking about the 2013 Honda CRF450, but the 2013 CRF250 has been low-key (even though it is joined by the street-legal CRF250L and the electric-start, automatic-clutch CRF110F (that replaces the CRF70F). In addition, Honda offers a wide ranging line of offroad bikes that includes the CRF230F, CRF150F, CRF100F, CRF80F and CRF50F. Here is Honda press info on the new bikes. 2013 HONDA CRF250: NEW MAPPING & SUSPENSION Even with winning both...
MXDN IRON! WE RIDE RYAN DUNGEY’S FACTORY RED BULL KTM 450SXF When wanted to ride Ryan Dungey's KTM 450SXF works bike we had a plan. It was a simple plan. We called KTM team manager Roger DeCoster and asked if he would give us Dungey's bike. Roger asked, “When would you like it? What track do you want to ride it at? Who will ride it? Do you want his Supercross suspension or his outdoor suspension? Do you need me, or will Carlos Rivera and Tom Moen do?” To which we replied, “Thursday. Glen Helen. Jody, Dennis, John and John. Outdoor. Carlos and Tom are fine.” That ...
WE RIDE THE ALL-NEW YAMAHA WR450F: A YZ250F WITH A YZ450F ENGINE By John Basher With age comes wisdom, and clarity is not far behind. Not to sound dour, but the race of life will be over for all of us sooner rather than later—which is why, at the ripe old age of 30, I wanted to expand my horizons in exciting but prudent ways. For some people, that means getting a tattoo. I don’t like needles. For others, it is skydiving. I’m not Travis Pastrana. Perhaps I could take up a career as a hot-dog-eating contestant. No, Joey Chestnut I am not. As you can see, there are many...
HOW TO BUILD CHAMPAGNE HONDA CRF250 ....ON A BEER BUDGET Testing dirt bikes can be a dirty business–both in the figurative and literal sense of the word. It is because of MXA ’s commitment to testing motorcycles and products without prejudice that we sometimes end up in hot water. Case in point, Honda hasn’t been very pleased with the MXA wrecking crew for the past four years. Communication with Honda, although civil, has been strained by the fact that we have written accurate, but less than glowing tests about the CRF450 and CRF250. It’s not uncommon for two...
WE RIDE LANCE VINCENT’S MUNN RACING KTM 250SXF... SADLY BECAUSE LANCE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO RACE MUCH THIS YEAR It is often said that the only difference between funding a race team and throwing money in a bonfire is that you’ll actually stay warm if you burn the money. That comparison isn’t far off. Fielding a professional motocross race team is a money pit. There’s a gross misunderstanding about the expenses needed to even get to a single race. Motorcycles cost money, as do team personnel, parts, travel, transportation, fuel, food, and rider salaries. It doesn’t take a genius accountant to realize that funding ...
VIDEO: WHERE TO SPEND YOUR HOP-UP MONEY... PIPE? CAM? OR PISTON? WE DYNO EACH ONE The big three of the hop-up world are pipes, cams and pistons—this trinity of parts compromises a major portion of every serious race program. The question is, what does does each piece of the hop-up puzzle bring to the overall picture? The motocross world is full of anecdotal stories of 65 horsepower CRF450s with nothing more done to them than one tooth skipped on the camshaft sprocket and a muffler modified with a butter knife. But, the ravings of backyard mechanics aside, the MXA wrecking crew wanted...
FIRST LOOK! 2013 HUSABERG MODEL LINE-UP WITH A 250 FOUR, 350 FOUR, 450 FOUR, 501 FOUR, 125 TWO, 250 TWO & 300 TWO From the new frame and the second generation of the polyamide subframe to the new bodywork and new WP closed-cartridge fork with patented four-chamber technology, no stone remains unturned when it comes to the chassis. The new double-cradle central tube frame made from lightweight chrome-molybdenum steel profiles impresses with high torsional stiffness for precise cornering characteristics and high tracking stability and, at the same time, supports the rear suspension by absorbing energy created by rear...
MX EDUCATION: WHAT HANDLES BETTER? A TWO-STROKE OR A FOUR-STROKE? There was a time when the only people who rode four-strokes were grizzled old prospectors tooling around the Southwestern desert (and some guy named Scott Summers). No more! The four-stroke has replaced the two-stroke. The two-stroke had been the bread and butter machine of the last 40 years. The vast majority of riders racing today learned how to ride on a 50cc, 85cc or 125cc two-stroke. Then, when they decided to make the step up to the big time, they switched to a valve-and-cam machine because it was...
2013 KTM 125SX & 150SX PHOTO SHOOT: A GREAT DAY HAD BY ALL Daryl Ecklund (left) and Kurt Caselli go front end high in tandem fashion. By John Basher When it comes to working at MXA there are good days, and then there are great days. Yesterday fell into the latter category. Why? It’s about impossible to be bummed out when you’re going out to a secret desert track and shooting your buddies slaying berms and slapping hands on brand-spankin’-new KTM two-strokes. Add in the fact that these riders have more style than all of Milan and you know it’s...
MOTOCROSS ACTION IMPRESSION: WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RIDE THE 2013 HONDA CRF450 The 2013 Honda CRF450. FLYING INTO THE UNKNOWN By John Basher In my tenure at Motocross Action magazine, I’ve never been a part of such a secret operation as what Honda planned last week. I felt like I was told the secret to eternal life and then had to keep it to myself. Disseminating the information probably would have led to a stoning by Honda’s staff. For six very long days I had to hold my tongue. But the day has come for me to reveal the biggest secret I’ve every kept–what it’s...
IN SEARCH OF MORE POWER WE BUILD A 280cc KTM 250SXF MOTOCROSS BIKE This story is much more about an engine than about the bike itself. More specifically, it is about the trend that this engine represents. KTM’s 2012 250SXF engine is an advanced, 248.6cc, water-cooled and fuel-injected mechanical marvel. It was developed to incorporate Keihin fuel injection, digital mapping, electric starting and a hydraulic clutch. It is a trendsetter—in more ways than one. Can you tell that it is a big-bore? We can, but to the casual observer there is no clue. However, the guy in the ...
WE RIDE PRO CIRCUIT’S 2012 SUZUKI RM-Z450 MOTOCROSS BIKE We wouldn’t be telling tales out of school to say that Suzuki has pressed the pause button as of late when it comes to motocross development. Maybe it’s just us, but we can’t help but feel that Suzuki is coasting because of poor sales for the RM-Z450. Who can blame them? Their whole fuel-injected RM-Z450 program has been an unmitigated disaster from day one. It all started back in 2008 when Suzuki decided to get the jump on everyone by being the first manufacturer to come out with a fuel-injected 450cc ...
CLOSE-UP LOOK AT DAVE MILLER CONCEPTS (DMC) YAMAHA OW100 MOTOCROSS BIKE This is not a vintage bike...it is a vintage race bike. It is designed for racing, not admiring. The MXA wrecking crew ran into Dave Miller of DMC and Miller Mano fame at Glen Helen’s REM motocross races last weekend. Dave was out at REM to break-in and test run his latest project, which he calls a Yamaha OW100. The core bike was a 1983 YZ100-K Model. We asked Dave to tell us everything there is to know about this trick little project racer. Former 125 Pro Dave Miller brought his Yamaha YZ100 to a local...
WE RIDE BROC TICKLE’S PRO CIRCUIT KAWASAKI KX450F Unless you have been living in a bomb shelter awaiting nuclear destruction, you know that MXA doesn’t see eye to eye with the AMA. Perhaps that’s an understatement. In fact, MXA finds the AMA bureaucracy to be devoid of structure or standardization. Their rule book has more holes than Swiss cheese at a firing range. And, a good number of the AMA’s rules make little or no sense at all. For the sake of this bike test, let us point to what we refer to as the “Trey Canard rule.” Like all Pro Circuit r...
FIRST LOOK AT THE 2013 SUZUKI RM-Z250 AND RM-Z450 2013 SUZUKI RM-Z450 For 2013, the RM-Z450 is also redesigned to give riders an even greater edge. Its powerful, four-stroke liquid-cooled four-valve engine features updates including a new lighter piston, revised piston pin and connecting rod as well as a new intake cam – together, all of these updates help provide stronger mid-range torque and crisper throttle response. Complementing the engine improvements is a transmission update featuring revised gear shapes to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th gears, along ...
FIRST LOOK AT THE 2013 YAMAHA YZ85, YZ125, YZ250 YZ250F, YZ450F, WR250F, WR450F & XT250 2013 Yamaha YZ250F: If you were expecting an all-new fuel-injected 250cc four-stroke engine, join the club. One thing we do know, the 39mm Keihin-carbureted YZ250F runs better than several EFI 250's from the other brands. 2013 Yamaha YZ250F: Available in both white and blue models the 2013 Yamaha YZ250F features Kayaba SSS suspension, black Excel rims, remote oil tank and two-tone plastic. 2013 Yamaha YZ450F: The most noticeable cosmetic change on the 2013 YZ450F is the white rear fender...and if you lo...
2013 KTM MOTOCROSS BIKES: 50SX, 65SX, 85SX, 125/150SX, 250SX, 350SXF & 450SXF 2013 KTM 125/150SX Benefiting mostly from the plastic, chassis and running gear changes (shared among every model), the 125SX and 150SX do not get any engine mods for 2013. 2013 KTM 250SX The 2013 two-strokes get U.S. spec suspension settings, including the shorter shock lengths for the first time. Additionally, the 250SX get stiffer fork springs, DDS (Damped Diaphragm Steel) clutch, Moto Tassinari VForce4 reed block and all-orange plastic. The two-strokes do not get the stiffer head tube reinforcing or...
FIRST LOOK! 2013 KAWASAKI KX250F MOTOCROSS BIKE: LOTS OF CHANGES, IMPROVED DUAL-FUEL & MUCH MORE 2013 KX250F AT A GLANCE… Upgraded Showa Separate Function Fork (SFF) provides more progressive damping force and features larger-diameter 48mm inner fork tubes for improved rigidity and less stiction. Dual injector Digital Fuel Injection system. More robust high-rpm engine output extends deep into the overrev. Stronger engine components improve reliability. DIGITAL FUEL INJECTION (DFI) SYSTE...