-->
|
|
|
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...
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 ...
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 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 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 WRENCH TECH: HOW TO REPROGRAM YOUR 2010 THRU 2013 YAMAHA YZ450F EFI MAPS: MXA has provided four maps (in the tables included in this article) that we liked during our testing (and we still make changes on a daily basis for different test riders). These maps don’t come with the GYTR Power Tuner. As it comes out of the box, all the fields in the GYTR Power Tuner are set at 0, 0, 0, 0, 0; which are the stock ignition and fuel settings. When you move the cursor to a specific field within the fuel injection grid, you can change the value to whole numbers between negative seven and...
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...
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...
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...
INSIDE MXA’S WORKSHOP: BUILDING THE ULTIMATE 2012 YAMAHA YZ450F - THIS IS THE MOST RELIABLE MOTOCROSS BIKE MADE By Dennis Stapleton I spend most of my time switching bikes. When I'm testing I get to ride every new bike and when I'm racing, normally in some foreign country, I ride the bike the promoter provides me. I don't spend a lot of time on one specific brand of bike. When I was newbie MXA test rider I always marveled at how the old-school MXA test riders could get off one bike and on another one, without as much as moving the bars or changing the levers. I, on the other hand, couldn't ride if everything wasn...
2012 250 DYNO SHOOTOUT! HOW MUCH HORSEPOWER DO THE 2012 250s REALLY MAKE: WE REVEAL THE INNER SECRETS OF THE 2012 POWERBANDS The MXA wrecking crew spends the majority of its test time racing and riding brand-new production motorcycles, but early on in each test session every bike gets its day on the dyno. It really isn’t all that revealing because by the time its strapped down it has already been ridden to break in the engine, seat the muffler packing and get a feel for where it rates. Test riders form their opinions in the saddle and rely on the dyno numbers to reinforce what they already know. When the dyno numbers are spit...
MXA’S 2012 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: OUR BRUTAL & HONEST OPINIONS OF THIS YEAR’S 250 CLASS Let’s face it, not everyone is in the market for a 2012 250 four-stroke. That’s okay with us. There are many choices when it comes to purchasing a motorcycle—two-stroke, four-stroke, 125, 250 and 450. Depending on your wants and needs, a 250F might not be your cup of tea. But whatever you decide to spend your hard earned cash on, don’t overlook the positive attributes of a 250 four-stroke. The MXA wrecking crew can attest to the utter delight of holding a motorcycle wide open and blas...
MXA'S 2012 YAMAHA YZ250 MOTOCROSS TEST: NOT EVERYONE IS CUT OUT TO RACE A TWO-STROKE... IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 YAMAHA YZ250 BETTER THAN THE 2011 YZ250? A: No. Last year, the 2012 YZ250 was changed slightly so that the same motocross bike sold in France could be sold in Texas. Prior to 2011, there were Euro-spec models and American-spec models. Most of the changes were in jetting, compression ratio, spring rates and mufflers. Q: WHAT DID YAMAHA CHANGE FOR 2012? A: Nothing, save for the yearly BNG (Bold New Graphics). Q: WHAT HAS YAMAHA CHANGED ON THE YZ250 IN THE LAST EIGHT YEAR...
MXA'S 2012 YAMAHA YZ125 MOTOCROSS TEST: A BIKE THAT MAKES DIRT BIKING LESS EXPENSIVE, MORE FUN & MORE INCLUSIVE Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 YZ125 BETTER THAN THE 2011 YZ125? A: No. The 2012 YZ125 might as well have been sub-contracted out to Xerox because it is a carbon copy of the 2011 model, which was the same as the 2010 model. The 2012 YZ125’s original design concept goes back to the 2006 model, and although it has undergone numerous modifications over the past seven years, its genes remain the same. Q: IS THE 2012 YZ125 FASTER THAN THE 2011 YZ125? A: If it is, call the Paranormal Activities Bureau and...
MXA'S 2012 YAMAHA YZ250F MOTOCROSS TEST: THE LAST 250 FOUR-STROKE WITH A SPRITZEN-PUFFER Q: FORGET ALL OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS. IS THE 2012 YZ250F BETTER THAN THE 2011 YZ250F? A: Survey says...yes! Yamaha’s engineers must have taken MXA ’s 2011 YZ250F test to heart (along with the complaints of thousands of YZ250F owners), because they addressed nearly all of our concerns. Thanks to stiffer forks, updated gearing, a larger carburetor bore and a more rigid frame, the 2012 YZ250F excels in all the areas where it faltered in the past. For 2012, Yamaha was just a pop fly shy of hitting for the c...
TWO-STROKE TEST: MXA BUILDS A YAMAHA YZ144 BIG-BORE MOTOCROSS BIKE The plight of the Yamaha YZ125 brings a tear to the eye of every MXA test rider. For 14 out of the last 17 years, the YZ125 has been the best 125cc motocross bike made. Unfortunately, with the advent of the 250cc four-stroke, the YZ125 has been pushed to the brink of extinction. Six years ago, we asked Yamaha to consider building a 150cc version of the YZ125. Yamaha refused on the grounds that the distributors in other countries would not sign off on the YZ150 project. KTM, which just happens to be in o...
WE RIDE A. J. CANTAZARO'S TEAM OHLINS’ YAMAHA YZ450F There are only three reasons why anyone would want to start an expensive and time-consuming AMA National race team. (1) Winning. The thrill of victory. There’s no greater feeling than winning. Garnering victories and championships is addictive (just ask Mitch Payton). (2) Exposure. Professional motocross is the breeding ground of media exposure. It has a very large fan base, and fielding a race team puts your name smack dab in the public eye. (3) Testing. Products improve when they are...
MXA 250 MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT: 2011 KTM 250SX VS. 2011 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE 2011 KTM 250SX. No offense to Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda, but they aren’t included in this 2011 shootout because they don’t make 250cc two-stroke motocross bikes ( although Suzuki does sell its 2008 RM250 overseas...and has it listed on their American website for 2012 at $6099 ). Husqvarna, Gas Gas, TM and Maico do, but in the battle for showroom dominance, the Yamaha YZ250 and KTM 250SX are the main players. So, it was only natural that the MXA wrecking crew would take these high-profile 250cc two-stro...
MXA'S 2012 YAMAHA YZ450F MOTOCROSS TEST: THE MUFFLER CORKS IT UP AND THE MAPPING FREES IT UP Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 YZ450F BETTER THAN THE 2011 YZ450F? A: That depends on how you define “better.” It is quieter and the rims are black, but apart from that, the modifications are of the garden-variety type—new mapping, new valving, new muffler and new tires. The 2011 model was a warmed-over 2010 YZ450F, but the 2012 gets more power thanks to an odd combination of slowing it down and speeding it up. Q: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT YAMAHA MADE TO THE 2012 YZ450F? A: There aren’t any ma...
MXA PERFORMANCE GUIDE TO THE 2011 YAMAHA YZ450F The MXA wrecking isn’t totally bummed out when a manufacturer doesn’t make any changes to his new model release. As much as we like totally new bikes, we aren’t big fans of totally new problems. A bike that stays the same is a known quantity. The factory may not have made any changes, but the MXA wrecking crew can easily fall back on its play book from the year before and bring the bike up to snuff. Even better, we are a year smarter. And so it is with the 2011 Yamaha YZ450F. For the uninformed, t...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2012 450 SHOOTOUT: WE TELL YOU THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE ELSE PUSSYFOOTS AROUND The Honda CRF450, KTM 450SXF, Yamaha YZ450F, KTM 350SXF, Kawasaki KX450F and Suzuki RM-Z450 are all major players in what consumers might well think of as a $8500 crap shoot. It is the MXA wrecking crew’s goal to take the gamble out of buying a 2012 450cc motocross bike. We are going to tell you what we think is the best bike in the 450 lottery, but not even the MXA test riders believe that there is one perfect bike for every person. Even among MXA ’s test crew you will find riders ch...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2011 450 SHOOTOUT: WE DON'T CARE WHAT BIKE YOU BUY, BUT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE AN UNINFORMED DECISION Pity the poor fool who enters headstrong and dimwitted into the 2011 motocross fray. For the uninitiated, the motocross world is a confusing maelstrom of conflicting information—made all the worse by the rapid expansion of avenues of personal expression (and most of what is expressed is wrong). If every product is the best, which one really is the best? If every bike is the fastest, which one is really the fastest? If every suspension is the plushest, which one is really the plushest? Pity the buyer who...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2010 MXA 450 SHOOTOUT: REAL TESTS THAT GO STRAIGHT TO THE CHASE Let’s cut to the chase, which in Hollywood parlance means let’s skip ahead to the action-packed part of this horse opera. You don’t need to be the Amazing Kreskin to realize that motocross racers read shootouts for three reasons: (1) Guide: To find out what the best bike is before they plunk down the filthy lucre they earned in the corporate sweat shop. (2) Confirm: To confirm that the bike they already own is as good as they th...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S BITE-SIZE 2010 450 MOTOCROSS BIKE SHOOTOUT: NUMBER ONE: 2010 KTM 450SXF There is only one bike in 2010 that can claim to have the most peak horsepower, most top-end rev, best handling, strongest clutch, most powerful brakes, a no-tool airbox and an electric starter—and that is the KTM 450SXF. Even with all of that, it is lighter than the YZ-F, KX-F and RM-Z. The KTM powerband has the hard-to-find combination of an easy-to-use low-end and a top-end that just keeps pulling. It’s mellow in the ruts and then turns into a monster as...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2009 450 SHOOTOUT: ALL THE FACTS WITHOUT THE WHITEWASH! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW Historically, choosing shootout winners is easy for the MXA wrecking crew. We race the bikes every weekend for six months, switch back and forth (sometimes between motos), try every possible gearing and suspension combination, and then, by universal acclaim, anoint the bike that was the standout performer. It’s easy! Never has it been so hard as in 2009. When asked to pick the 450cc four-stroke of the year, most MXA test riders just stared back with a blank look of...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S BITE-SIZE 2009 450 SHOOTOUT: RIDE 'EM. RACE 'EM. WRECK 'EM. REVIEW 'EM: NUMBER ONE: 2009 KAWASAKI KX450F Unlike the other fuel-injected bikes, which stumble at 8000 rpm, the 2009 Kawasaki KX450F keeps pulling to 9400 rpm. The ‘09 KX450F has the second most horsepower in the class and decent suspension. Its handling is mediocre. It needs to go on a serious diet, because at 238 pounds it weighs 12 pounds more than a CRF450. PLUSES: The only fuel-injected bike that can compete in the mid-and-up range. MINUSES: Gappy gearbox, missed shifts...
MXA PERFORMANCE GUIDE TO THE 2011 YAMAHA YZ250F Yamaha took the lead in the modern four-stroke revolution nearly 15 years ago. The YZ250F is the veteran of the class, and it shows in some positive and negative ways. On several counts, Yamaha’s components are second-to-none. We love the overall durability of the bike and engine, the high-quality footpegs, and the Bridgestone M403/404 tire combo. Even though carburetors may seem outdated, we don’t see the Keihin FCR as a weakness. On the other hand, chief among areas that need improvement are the all-b...
2011 YAMAHA YZ450F MOTOCROSS TEST: THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY MOTOCROSS BIKE ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2011 YZ450F BETTER THAN THE 2010 YZ450F? A: Nope. Oh, don’t get us wrong, we love that the new clutch actuation arm has a slightly heavier pull with less free play whether hot or cold. But in the grand scheme of things, it isn’t much to get excited about. Q: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT YAMAHA MADE TO THE 2011 YZ450F? A: The clutch actuation arm and the white plastic. That’s the complete list. Q: IS THE 2011 YZ450F FASTER THAN THE 2010 YZ450F? A: The fuel-injected...
2011 YAMAHA YZ250 MOTOCROSS TEST: THE BIKE WE'D ALL BE RIDING IF THE AMA DIDN'T FAVOR FOUR-STROKES Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2011 YAMAHA YZ250 BETTER THAN THE 2010 YZ250? A: No. Although the 2011 YZ250 did get a few changes over the previous year, most of those changes were made to make it possible for Yamaha to sell the same bike in France that they do in Virginia. In the past, there have been Euro-spec and American-spec models that differ in jetting, compression and sometimes spring rates. Q: WHAT DID YAMAHA CHANGE FOR 2011? A: There were three changes from the 2010 Yamaha YZ250: (1) Silencer. ...
2011 YAMAHA YZ125 MOTOCROSS TEST: THE $6000 BIKE THAT THE SPORT NEEDS MORE TODAY THAN IT EVER DID Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2011 YAMAHA YZ125 BETTER THAN THE 2010 YZ125? A: No. Q: HOW OLD IS THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE 2011 YZ125, AND IS IT OUTDATED? A: It’s old, but the amazing technology is far from outdated. Yamaha was the first manufacturer to achieve success with their power valve system. The YPVS (Yamaha Power Valve System) transformed pipey, top-end-only two-strokes into manageable bikes. Fast forward to 2005—which was the last all-new YZ125, which the 2011 is still based on. For 2005, the bike...
2011 YAMAHA YZ250F MOTOCROSS TEST: THE LAST 250 FOUR-STROKE MOTOCROSS BIKE WITH A SPRITZEN-PUFFER Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2011 YZ250F BETTER FOR MOTOCROSS THAN THE 2010 YZ250F? A: No. Q: HOW MANY CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE 2011 YAMAHA YZ250F? A: The 2011 Yamaha YZ250F gets a goose egg in terms of the number of quality updates made to the old war horse. To be fair, Yamaha did change the color of the lower radiator shroud (from black to white) and slapped on bold new graphics. Yamaha can be given a pass on the 2011 model for two reasons: (1) You gotta sell bikes to finance the R&D on ne...
WE RIDE RICKY DIETRICH’S VALLI MOTORSPORTS YAMAHA YZ450F Here’s a hypothetical situation. Pretend you’re an offroad racing champion (perhaps you’re the WORCS champion, Endurocross title holder and have won ISDE medals). You’ve been so successful that you are paid a handsome salary, are feted in the press and have a full-boat ride. Now, imagine that your real passion is motocross. The conundrum is that no one wants to pay you to race motocross, but they will pay you to keep racing offroad races. When you ask your factory sponsors if you could switch to motocro...
WE RIDE KYLE CUNNINGHAM’S DNA SHRED STIX/STAR RACING/YAMAHA YZ250F The last National moto of the year officially marks the end of the season and the beginning of a game of musical chairs. This past off-season will forever be remembered for Roger DeCoster going to the RedBull/KTM team and Chad Reed building his own race program. Having said that, it would be a grave oversight if the new team manager at DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha, Allan Brown, weren’t mentioned. The MXA wrecking crew has a soft spot in our hearts for Allan Brown. Why? Let us count the ways. (1) He...
WE RIDE A WORKS GYTR YAMAHA YZ450F ENGINE KIT (AND THE REST OF THE BIKE ALSO) Yamaha used to have a race team to develop hop-up products for their race bikes. The only problem was that when Team Yamaha did the R&D, they kept the results secret. In fact, they hid the data like it was the formula for Coca-Cola. Now there is no Team Yamaha anymore. No trick parts. No secret technology. No in-house Gyro Gearloose tricks. Instead, when Yamaha dropped their factory motocross team, they handed the development of the YZ-F’s aftermarket components over to GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technolo...
WE RIDE THUMPER RACING’S BIG-BORE YAMAHA YZ310F The YZ310F wasn’t built for a chassis test. MXA left the suspension stock. The motor, on the other hand, was a three-grand endeavor, not including the Hinson clutch and titanium FMF exhaust. A quick look at the specifications of Thumper Racing ’s Yamaha YZ310F makes it obvious that this isn’t your standard big-bore engine kit. Oh, don’t get us wrong, it starts out like all big-bore engine kits—with a desire to close the power gap between a 250cc four-stroke and its 450cc big brother. The hope of every b...
FRIDAY'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2010 YAMAHA YZ450F: This is the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F 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. Front brake: The front brake is workmanlike, but the MXA test riders felt that it wasn’t as powerful as it should be. We traded the stock 240mm front rotor for a 270mm Galfer Wave brake rotor kit. The oversized rotor provided progressive stopping power. The complete kit (w...
RESTORE THAT OLD DOG! WE BRING A 2006 YZ250F BACK FROM THE DUMPSTER Home sweet home. The MXA wrecking crew dug it out of the trash heap, lavished it with beaucoup bucks and ended up with a new 2006 YZ250F. This is a bike test unlike any other test that we have done in recent memory. The MXA gang is not test riding an uber-expensive factory machine, a big-bore fire breather or even a new 2012 bike. Nope. We have focused our attention on an old roach of a bike on the brink of death—a bike that was doomed to spend eternity collecting dust. And so goes the typical story of ...
MXA TEAM TESTED: LIGHTSPEED ONE-PIECE YZ450F GLIDE PLATE: WHAT IS IT? A complete carbon fiber skid plate and case guard system in one piece. It is the exact same glide plate that James Stewart runs on his 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. For some reason, the stock skid plate and case guards on the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F are minimal at best. In fact, there is no case guard for the ignition side, and the water pump guard is so small that the vulnerable metal water lines are exposed to everything from roost to footpegs. LightSpeed has become the premier carbon fiber parts supplie...
THE MOST EXOTIC YAMAHA EVER! WHY YOU NEVER GOT TO SEE IT RUN The suggested retail price of the Yamaha OX99 was going to be $800,000 (in 1991 dollars). That would be around $1 million today. Yamaha has a long history in auto manufacturing. In 1967 Yamaha built the engines for the Toyota 2000GT (the first Japanese Super Car). In 1984 Yamaha producing engines for the Ford Motor Company. And, most significantly, had an engine in the 1989 Formula One series for West Zakspeed team, but what you don’t know—is that Yamaha built a Super Car based on what they learned in F...
MXA TEAM TESTED: TWIN AIR YAMAHA YZ450F POWERFLOW KIT WHAT IS IT? A completely redesigned airbox and air filter for the 2010 and 2011 YZ450F. WHAT’S IT COST? $249.95. CONTACT? www.twinair.com or (800) 749-2890. WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Twin Air YZ450F airbox. (1) Concept. Twin Air has designed a totally new airbox and filter with the goal of getting more airflow into the throttle body. The Powerflow kit includes not only a green weenie-style air filter, but a completely new intake tract. (2) Installation. Compared to...
MXA TEAM TESTED: PRO CIRCUIT YAMAHA YZ450F SHOCK LINKAGE WHAT IS IT? An aftermarket shock linkage for the 2010-2011 Yamaha YZ450F that alters the rising rate, kicks out the head angle, lowers the seat height and helps balance the chassis. WHAT’S IT COST? $224.95. CONTACT? www.procircuit.com or (951) 738-8050. WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Pro Circuit YZ450F shock linkage. (1) Link theory. In its simplest form, a shock linkage compresses the shock from the bottom while it is being compressed from the top by the energy of the ...
MXA MOTOCROSS 125 SHOOTOUT: 2011 KTM 150SX VS. 2011 YAMAHA YZ125 TWO-STROKE 2011 KTM 1250SX. Both the KTM 150SX and Yamaha YZ125 originated from the classic two-stroke gene pool, but thanks to gene splicing, borrowed technology and constant revisions, both machines have evolved into the fulfillment of the two-stroke promise. And, unlike most bikes that are compared to each other, these two bikes have grown more apart over the last few years—they are not “clonemobiles,” and it is possible that they aren’t even justly compared. The $6299 KTM 150SX and $6250 YZ125 may owe their ge...
FRIDAY'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2009 YAMAHA YZ250F: 1. Shock spring. Yamaha reverted to a steel shock spring in order to reduce the price tag on the 2009 Yamaha YZ250F. This was a good move for the consumer’s pocketbook, but it added 1-1/2 pounds to the bike. If you have a 2006 through 2008 YZ250F lying around, you can swap out the steel 2009 shock spring for a much lighter titanium spring (make sure to move the plastic spring clip along with the Ti spring to prevent coil binding). Spring rate: 5.3 kg/mm Race sag: 10...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2011 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: HOW THEY RANK AGAINST EACH OTHER & WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY We live in a world of constant judgment. Critical eyes and biased opinions are everywhere. Everyone has an opinion on everything—even stuff they know nothing about. Sadly, one man’s opinion is another man’s resource for a fact. Ignorance compounds ignorance until the overall IQ of the populace is reduced. The world wide web functions like the rats during the Bubonic Plague outbreak. It spreads misinformation with fleas of stupidity and it infects the minds of the masses with half-truths and outright lie...
YOU ASKED FOR IT! MOTOCROSS ACTION'S TWO-STROKE VERSUS FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: YAMAHA YZ250 VERSUS YAMAHA YZ250F The two-stroke versus four-stroke question comes up at regular intervals—so, we are rerunning our shootout to add clarity to the arguments. Let's cut through the effluvia! Rules changes made the four-stroke what it is today. It didn't get there by virtue of its power per cubic centimeter, power per pound or power per dollar. Nope! Without the AMA four-stroke exemption rule of 1998, the modern four-stroke would still be defined by the Honda XR600. Forget about EPA rules (they don’t aff...
WEIRD STUFF! YAMAHA'S BIGGEST SELLING MODEL: When Americans talk about Yamaha bikes, we think of motorcycles. Not so in many parts of the world. In fact, Yamaha electric bicycles are gaining in popularity. How popular? Yamaha sold more than 130,000 electric bicycles last year in Japan. The Yamaha PAS Lithium S, PAS City-S and the PAS City-F are electric bikes that are priced at $1200. The lithium-ion battery packs have an estimated range of 20 miles when riding in standard mode, 12 miles in power mode and 40 miles in auto-eco plus mode. In J...
2011 YAMAHA YZ125 TEST: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A MOTOCROSS BIKE THAT CAUSES YOU TO GIGGLE WHILE GOING WIDE OPEN? THIS IS IT Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE NEWEST YZ125 BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS YZ125? A: No. It is the product of Xerox engineering. Q: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT YAMAHA MADE TO THE LATEST YZ125? A: There are none. The graphics on the gas tank are different—if that counts as a major change. Q: IS THE NEW YZ125 FASTER THAN THE OLDER MODELS? A: This is MXA 's 2010 Yamaha YZ125 test, but the info in this test in applicable to the 2009 and 2011 models. Is the 2010 YZ125 faster than last year's YZ125 or next year'...
WE TEST PRO CIRCUIT'S YAMAHA YZ450F MOTOCROSS BIKE: You are forgiven if you are a Honda CRF450, Kawasaki KX450F or KTM 450SXF owner and you don’t give a twit about hopped-up Yamaha YZ450Fs. You may be thinking, “Yamaha? I don’t own a Yamaha and don’t want to read about them.” But, you know deep down inside your insecure heart that you do want to know everything there is to know about the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. Why? Because that is your competition. The YZ450F was all-new in 2010, and every racer, on every brand, has to wonder if the YZ450F’s backwards cylin...
WE TEST HOT CAMS' YAMAHA YZ450F MOTOCROSS BIKE: You are forgiven if you are a Honda CRF450, Kawasaki KX450F or KTM 450SXF owner and you don’t give a twit about hopped-up Yamaha YZ450Fs. You may be thinking, “Yamaha? I don’t own a Yamaha and don’t want to read about them.” But, you know deep down inside your insecure heart that you do want to know everything there is to know about the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. Why? Because that is your competition. The YZ450F was all-new in 2010, and every racer, on every brand, has to wonder if the YZ450F’s backwards cylin...
WE TEST AP RACING'S YAMAHA YZ450F MOTOCROSS BIKE: You are forgiven if you are a Honda CRF450, Kawasaki KX450F or KTM 450SXF owner and you don’t give a twit about hopped-up Yamaha YZ450Fs. You may be thinking, “Yamaha? I don’t own a Yamaha and don’t want to read about them.” But, you know deep down inside your insecure heart that you do want to know everything there is to know about the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. Why? Because that is your competition. The YZ450F was all-new in 2010, and every racer, on every brand, has to wonder if the YZ450F’s backwards cylin...
WE TEST LARRY WARD'S YOSHIMURA YAMAHA YZ450F MOTOCROSS BIKE: You are forgiven if you are a Honda CRF450, Kawasaki KX450F or KTM 450SXF owner and you don’t give a twit about hopped-up Yamaha YZ450Fs. You may be thinking, “Yamaha? I don’t own a Yamaha and don’t want to read about them.” But, you know deep down inside your insecure heart that you do want to know everything there is to know about the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. Why? Because that is your competition. The YZ450F was all-new in 2010, and every racer, on every brand, has to wonder if the YZ450F’s backwards cylin...
MOTOCROSS ACTION PRODUCT TEST: PRO TAPER 4.3 YZ450F TRIPLE CLAMPS WHAT IS IT? A brand-new generation of Pro Taper triple clamps for the 2010 Yamaha YZ450F. WHAT’S IT COST? $439.95 (top and bottom clamps with stem), $99.95 (bar mounts). CONTACT? www.protaper.com or (951) 736-5369. WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with Pro Taper’s 4.3 triple clamps. (1) Structure. For the design of their new 4.3 triple clamps, Pro Taper took a close look at Suzuki’s works clamps. They CNC-machined the clamps from 6061-billet aluminum. The design is stronger close ...
MOTOCROSS ACTION PRODUCT TEST: MX1 SUSPENSION YAMAHA YZ450F FORK/SHOCK REVALVE WHAT IS IT? A first-class fix for the front and rear Kayaba SSS suspension components on 2010 YZ450Fs. WHAT’S IT COST? Forks $195.00 (plus oil), shock $245.00 (plus oil), $109.00 (fork springs), $145.00 (adjustable compression adjusters). CONTACT? www.mx1suspension.com or (916) 741-8767. WHAT’S IT DO? MXA ’s first step when testing suspension is to carefully set the ride height. We then put the clickers in the recommended positions and start riding. We work with the forks first, and once we are happy wi...
REAL TESTS! 2010 MXA RACE TEST OF THE 2010 YAMAHA YZ250 Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2010 YAMAHA YZ250 BETTER THAN THE 2009 YZ250? A: No. It is identical to last year's model. Well, not identical, because there were two changes from 2009 to 2010: (1) The right-side gas tank graphics are new. (2) The left-side gas tank graphics are new. Q: HOW CAN YAMAHA GET AWAY WITH NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES TO THE 2010 YZ250? A: They can “get away” with not changing the 2010 YZ250 because it is as close to perfect as a showroom stock motorcycle can get. Q:...
WE RIDE GYTR'S 2010 YAMAHA YZ250F PROJECT BIKE Most people take for granted the ability to go down to their local Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki or Yamaha dealer and buy a motocross bike. It wasn’t always this way. In the good old days, if you wanted to race flat track, scrambles, Hare and Hounds, desert races or motocross on a Japanese-built bike, you had to buy a dual-purpose bike and modify it for your discipline. As offroad riding became increasingly popular, manufacturers went looking for ways to satisfy the growing dirt bike racing market. The most f...
REAL TESTS! 2010 MXA RACE TEST OF THE YAMAHA YZ450F: Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2010 YZ450F BETTER THAN THE 2009 YZ450F? A: Yes. Let’s be honest, even if the 2010 YZ450F’s performance was identical to that of the 2009, the 2010 YZ450F gets a lot of brownie points for kicking out the technological jams of motocross development. Q: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT YAMAHA MADE TO THE 2010 YZ450F? A: Let’s not reiterate the complete list for the hundredth time. This is not a bike that has been released into a vacuum—there has been more pre-release publicity...