MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Broc Hepler 2009

Rider: Broc Hepler
Year: 2009
Bike: Factory Yamaha YZ450F

SHANE MCELRATH SIGNS WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN KTMTEAM FOR 2022

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT | 2008 YAMAHA YZ250 PROJECT BIKE

2008 Yamaha YZ250

“Hi my name is Kyle, @Fmxkyle, owner of @yzingerz Instagram. This is my project YZ250 I tore down to the frame, even split the cases and replaced and refurbished everything. This is my dream bike. I got a YZ250 when I was 17 years old in 2007 and had to sell it shortly after due to a family crisis. After ten years, schooling, getting married and settling down, I decided to build my dream bike. I picked up a used 2008 YZ250 for $2700 and rode it for a year while I collected parts. In the meantime I met Scott Reynold of Moto Village performance and we both jumped on the project together. I couldn’t have done it without him.  Six months into the project  we had the bike  back together.”

 

BELOW IS THE PARTS LIST.

BDP Racing:
– Custom Yzingerz brake reservoir cap.

Bolt Motorcycle Hardware
– Anodized seat button bolt
– Engine Fastener Kit
– Exhaust O-Rings and Springs
– Plastics Fastener Kit

Boyesen:
-Rad Valve with spacer
– Water pump supercooler

Cerakote:
– Armored Black
Cylinder Head
Fork feet
Foot Peg Brackets
Front and rear Brake line guide
Front and rear Brake Calipers
Front and rear Master Cylinders
Kickstart lever
Linkage
Power valve covers
Rear axle
Shock Body
Swingarm Plugs
Sniper Grey
Fork Tubes
Titanium Blue engine Case

2008 Yamaha YZ250

Core Moto:
– Steel braided translucent green break lines

FLO Motorsports:
– Pro series foot pegs

Fly Racing
– Billet kill switch

GPI Racing:
– Radiators and Hoses

GYTR:
– Clutch Cover

Hinson:
– High performance clutch

KYB:
– 44 kg/mm front springs
– 5.3 kg/mm rear Spring with thrust washer

Leo Vince
– Carbon fiber rear disc gaurd
– Carbon fiber rear break caliper guard

Luxon:
– Ignition Cover

Maxima:
-Pro Air Filter

MotoStuff:
– Blue Banjo Bolts

OEM Replaced parts:
– Carburetor rebuild kit
– Fork Seal Rebuild kit
– Front and rear Master Cylinder rebuild kit
– Many miscellaneous bolts

Pivot works:
– Linkage bearings
– Transmission bearings
– Shock bearings
– Wheel bearings

Powder Coat:
– Stealth charcoal frame, swingarm and subframe
– Candy Blue hubs

Pro Circuit:
– Axle Blocks
– R304 Carbon Kevlar Shorty
– Triple clamps
– Works pipe buffed and clear Cerakote.

R-Tech:
– YZ Revolution tank and plastics
– R-15 Worx stand

Ride Designs Australia:
– Graphics

Tag Metals:
– Chain
– Slim Grips
– Sprockets
– T2 Handlebars

Thrill Seekers:
– Seat Cover

Throttle Assembly
– CNC Blue anodized throttle tube and housing

Torc1 Racing:
– Front Brake Lever
– Rear Brake Lever and Clevis
– Shift Lever

Tusk:
– Blue Rear Axle Nut
– Blue Air filter Screw
– Air and Fuel carburetor screws

2008 Yamaha YZ250

Wiseco:
-Crankshaft assembly

Works Connection:
– Clutch and brake bar clamps
– Elite 123 EZ Clutch and perch
– Fuel vent
– Steering Stem Nut
– Titanium axle bolt adjusters

Zeta:
– Aluminum fork Pistons
– Blue fork guard bolts
– Fork Feet protectors
– Fork Top Caps
– Front Brake line clamp
– Oil fill Plug
– Rear master cylinder cap
– Steering stem cap
– Wheel Spacers
– Wheel lock nuts and valve caps

Editor’s note: Please keep those submissions coming. If you would like your bike to be featured in the “Two-Stroke Spotlight,” please email me at [email protected]. All I ask is that you give a breakdown of your bike and a detailed description of the build. Please also send a few photos of your steed. By submitting your bike for the “Two-Stroke Spotlight,” you agree to release all ownership rights to the images and copy to MXA. Please don’t email me spam or try selling me Taylor Swift concert tickets or email me spam. I already celebrate T-Swizzle’s entire collective, and there will be “bad blood” if you send me junk mail. See what I did there? Happy submitting your smoker.

2022 SUPERCROSS SCHEDULE: YOU KNOW IT’S REAL BECAUSE THERE ARE 3 ANAHEIMS

MXA TESTED | 2021 KTM 450SXF 

LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN | 1994 HONDA CR125

1994 Honda CR125

ASK THE MXPERTS: “WILL THE BIG FOUR SWITCH TO STEEL FRAMES?”

When the MXA wrecking crew was snooping around the KTM factory in Austria, we spotted this prototype aluminum KTM frame in the corner of the R&D department. They tested it and didn’t like it.

ALUMINUM VERSUS STEEL

Dear MXA,
I thought the major reason most manufacturers switched to aluminum frames was to reduce weight, and yet the 2021 KTM 450SXF is 9 to 18 pounds lighter than its competitors, some of which don’t even have an electric start. Is it time for the Japanese manufacturers to rethink steel?

First, all of the KTM’s weight savings over the Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki are not just a result of the weight difference between aluminum and steel. KTM spent a lot of years, time and money casting smaller and more compact engines to save weight. As any racer who tried to knock weight off his race bike knows, no single component is going to get the job done. It requires an overall approach that worries not just about pounds and ounces on the frame, suspension and engine, but grams on virtually every component. As far as the difference between KTM’s chromoly steel frame and the aluminum frames of the “Big Four” Japanese brands, there are lots of market forces at work. Here is a quick list.

The 2022 Kawasaki frame shows all of the different methods of extruding, casting and forging aluminum pieces to build a strong frame.

(1) Brooklyn Bridge. Originally, aluminum frames were lighter than the steel frames they replaced, but over time, they began to gain weight. As aluminum tubes were replaced with castings and, eventually, castings with forgings, the aluminum frames became stronger, more rigid and offered increased durability. But, they got heavier. Engineers knew this as far back as the 1990s. In fact, in the 1990s, ATK designer Horst Leitner got tired of beefing up the aluminum swingarms that came on ATK 604s and welded up a chromoly swingarm of the same dimensions. Shockingly, he discovered that the old-fashioned steel swingarm was several pounds lighter. The days of the simple aluminum swingarm had been replaced by Brooklyn Bridge-style structures that were no longer lighter than a steel swingarm. KTM stuck with a chromoly frame because its test riders preferred the feel, but if you look above, you will see a prototype KTM aluminum frame that they built to test the feasibility of going to aluminum. They decided not to.

(2) Cost factor. Making a chromoly frame is a time-consuming and expensive venture. The chromoly tubes have to be bent, mitered, gussetted, welded, heat treated and cold set. There are many more steps required to make a classic steel frame than an aluminum frame. But, chromoly leaves lots of R&D leeway to make quick and simple test frames. Aluminum frames are much cheaper to build (once you amortize the casting costs). The aluminum pieces simply plug into each other and then can be welded together on a jig. They don’t need immediate heat treating because they achieve their strength as they travel across the oceans. With as few as 10 aluminum pieces, no bending and no mitering or gusseting, mass-producing aluminum frames is a money- and time-saver.

(3) Steel future. If we were betting men, we’d bet the house that there will be no steel-framed Japanese motocross bikes in the future.

LAWRENCE BROTHERS RIDE THE ALL NEW 2022 HONDA CRF250R!

“AN EVENING WITH THE CHAMPIONS” |THE INTERNATIONAL MOTOCROSS MUSEUM 

Press Release: The International Motocross Museum is proud to announce our first event, “An Evening with the Champions”, a fundraiser banquet on October 2, 2021. The event will feature motocross champions from the US and Europe and a large selection from the Museum collection of one of kind Factory Works Bikes and Memorabilia. Join us for dinner, listen to stories from the Champions, and view our sample collection of bikes. A once in lifetime opportunity to meet and mingle with some of the legends of the sport. The goal of the International Motocross Museum is to create a permanent space for this collection of one of kind bikes and preserve the history and heritage of the sport of Motocross.

Legendary riders such as Hakan Andersson, Lars Larsson, Harry Everts, Torsten Hallman, Bob Hannah, Jeff Stanton, Steve Wise, Heikki Mikkola and more will be at the event.

To add to the event, seven-time AMA Champion Ricky Johnson will Emcee “An Evening with the Champions.” We are very excited to have Ricky Emcee our fundraiser says the IMM’s Terry Good. Ricky Johnson, one of the top all time motocross riders himself says, “I’m honored to host an event with so many riders that were my hero’s that paved the way for me.” “With all the stars and bikes there, it is going to be an evening for the books and supporting a great cause.” The world’s first museum solely dedicated to the history of motocross and containing the largest and ultimate collection of ultimate bikes. Get your tickets before it sells out as seating is limited.

• Deluxe Tickets $500/each – come meet many of legends of the sport and industry, explore the museum collection of bikes, enjoy dinner and presentations by the champions. There will also be an autograph session and a group picture. To purchase send an email to: [email protected] Please provide your name/email address/address/phone number and the number of tickets you would like. We will email you back with an invoice and payment instructions.
You can also head to https://www.internationalmotocrossmuseum.org to order your tickets online.
• VIP Table Bidding – The 10 highest bidders (per rider) will have the opportunity to sit at the table of your favorite legend at the event. In addition, there will be a VIP Only Meet and Greet Luncheon earlier in the day. A unique opportunity to meet all of the Champions and special guests in much more intimate setting. A once in a lifetime opportunity to hang out with your hero’s.
To Bid: Bidding is PER Rider/Table. Send an email to one of the rider emails below with your top bid (also include your name, address and phone number). All bidders will be contacted to let them know the status of the bid and given the opportunity to purchase a Deluxe ticket if not in the top 10. Bidding these seats will end on August 15th at 12:00 central time. NOTE: If new riders are added, will post updated information here.

MXA MOTO | TRIVIA 

Mike Bell 1983 YZ250-067Name the rider and year of the photo. Answer at the bottom of the page.

MXA TEAM TESTED: DECAL WORKS GRAPHIC GUARDS

WHAT IS IT? DeCal Works rose to fame producing custom-made graphics kits that were previously unavailable to the average motorcycle racer. They made their customers’ bikes look good. Imagine how they felt when they saw how ragged their graphics got after they got worn out, rolled up and peeled away by the riders’ boots. DeCal Works clear plastic graphic guards protect your side number plate graphics from ugly wear and tear.

WHAT’S IT COST? $24.95 (For Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, KTM and Husqvarna models)

CONTACT? www.decalmx.com or (815) 784-4000.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the DeCal Works graphic guards.

(1) Invention. Although you may have seen graphics guards advertised by both DeCal Works and Polisport Plastic, don’t be confused. They aren’t fighting over who came up with the idea first. Why not? Because DeCal Works’ Ron Joynt thought up the product and got a U.S. patent on it back in 2012. DeCal Works and Polisport came up with a partnership agreement in which Polisport would manufacture the graphic guards for DeCal Works if they could sell them on a royalty basis also. The Polisport and DeCal Works products are identical.

(2) The problem. On most modern motocross bikes, the rear number plates extend to where the subframe attaches to the frame. The side panel is then covered with a vinyl number-plate background. The problem lies where the rider’s boot meets the front edge of the side number plates. Even though the side number plates are often as high as 10 inches above the footpeg, the constant movement of the rider’s feet frays the vinyl graphics. Not only do the number-plate graphics get torn, the sticky glue interacts with the rubber sole of the boot and leaves big black marks.

(3) Cheap solution. When faced with rolled-up graphics on the front edge of their number plate, most motocross racers cut the rolled-up portion off with a razor blade. And, as it continues to roll up, they cut more and more of the vinyl decal away.

What happens when you don’t use the DeCal Works graphic guard made by Polisport. 

(4) The DeCal Works solution. DeCal Works graphic guards are like sneeze guards at a salad bar. They are small, clear, molded pieces of plastic that encapsulate the area where your boot hits the vinyl number plate. The plastic layer never lets your boot touch the vinyl, thus the vinyl never tears, rips or rolls up. And since the graphics guard is clear, it allows the color of the graphics to show through.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? On KTM models, the left-side graphic guard made it difficult to get the airbox cover open. Our first solution was to leave the left-side graphic guard off, because most of the wear and tear is on the right-side panel; however, when we decided to run the left-side graphics guard, we found it necessary to trim off the offending piece of plastic with a Dremel. Problem solved.

MXA RATING: MXA test riders like their bikes to look put-together, not frayed and ragged. If you are like us, you will like DeCal Works’ graphic guards.


THE SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSUE OF MXA IS OUT NOW! SUBSCRIBE! IT IS THE BEST DEAL IN THE SPORT!

The September 2021 issue of MXA is awesome. Not only did we build a GasGas MC 450F Factory Edition—with the sole goal of not using a boatload of Power Parts accessories, we also built a 44-horsepower KTM 150SX. Well, actually, we had Mitch Payton build the engine for us, but we took it to the World Two-Stroke Championship and holeshot both 125 Pro motos (yes, 150s are legal in the 125 class at the World Two-Stroke Championship). Then, we tested a 2022 TM 112MX SuperMini, while revealing photos of the 2022 Kawasaki KX112 SuperMini a few pages earlier. We interviewed Jammin’ Jimmy Weinert, had Mitch Payton explain the hoops that Pro Circuit had to jump through to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic and, as the ultimate kicker, we had Josh Mosiman join the U.S. Air Force so we could get our hand on an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a test ride—see the photo below of Josh and his two wingmen guarding our nation at 10,00 feet.

MXA’s Josh Mosiman on dawn patrol.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO MXA SO THAT YOU NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE, PLUS GET A $25 ROCKY MOUNTAIN GIFT CREDIT TO COVER YOUR COSTS

If you subscribe to MXA you can get the mag on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play or in a digital version. Even better you can subscribe to Motocross Action and get the awesome print edition delivered to your house by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government. Did we mention the $25 gift card for any part you want from Rocky Mountain ATV/MX? You can call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here (or on the box at the bottom of this page) to subscribe.

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

Ricky Carmichael Tortelli 2000 MXDNRicky Carmichael and Sebastien Tortelli racing at the Motocross Des National in Saint-Jean-d’Angély back in the year 2000. USA won that year after a three-year losing streak.


Moto Trivia answer: Mike Bell on a factory Yamaha YZ250 back in 1983

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