2012

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…
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Q: ARE THE 2012 HUSQVARNA CR125 AND CR144 THE SAME BIKE? A: They are the same bike, but both start life as a CR125! When you buy a CR125 in the USA, Husqvarna automatically includes the 144cc kit with the necessary cylinder, head, piston…
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2012 KTM 250SX: There was a time when the Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke could compete on equal terms with the KTM 250SX, but in the last two years the six-year-old YZ has been surpassed by KTM's superior engineering. Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE…
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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…
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WHAT IS IT? It's an exhaust system with two muffler cores. It was only available for Hondas and Suzukis in its 2011 debut year, so the KX250F system is brand new. WHAT'S IT COST? $1095.00 (carbon), $1045.00 (titanium). CONTACT?…
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Q: WHAT'S THE STORY WITH THE TC250? A: After flying under the U.S. radar for a few years, Husqvarna debuted the current-generation TC250 as a 2010 model. The big buzz was about its all-new ?X Lite? engine, which was touted as the smallest,…
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There will be 400 of these bikes made (in two batches of 200). This is not the 2013 KTM 450SXF, but it must have stay in a Holiday Inn Express. There is an inherent ?Hope Gene? in every person that believes that things will get better, that…
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What is it about a project bike that makes the MXA wrecking crew drool like kids in a candy store? Maybe it's the endless possibilities. Perhaps it's the list of trick components that litter the bike. Maybe it's the allure of testing one…
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You don't see TM's tooling around most local tracks. It is rare, exotic, jewel-like and as close to a works bike as any production bike can get. Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT IS A TM? A: TM is an Italian boutique brand that was started…
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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…
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KTM is excited to announce the release of its first-ever digital brochure highlighting the new 2012 450 S-F Factory Edition motorcycle. The new model which has been showcased by Red Bull/KTM Factory rider, Ryan Dungey, is now on…
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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),…
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WHAT IS IT? The Yoshimura RS-4D uses the same basic design and dimensions as their standard RS-4 system, but with the addition of a unique dual-core muffler design. WHAT'S IT COST? $1045 (titanium with carbon end cap), $1095 (titanium with…
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The MXA wrecking crew started out testing he stock 2012 KTM 300XC. That test is out in the February issue of MXA. It is an alll-encompassing look of the stock bike (but it will cover the basic mods needed to turn the 300XC into an 300SX).…
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Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 KTM 125SX BETTER THAN THE 2011 125SX? A: We don?t know, because KTM stopped importing the 125SX to the USA four years ago. Still, we know that KTM has made quantum leaps forward since 2008. Q: WHY IS THE…
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Q: IS THE KTM 150SX STILL THE ONLY KTM TIDDLER SOLD IN THE USA? A: No, the KTM 125SX motocross bike is back for 2012. Three years ago, KTM made the 125SX obsolete by introducing an identical motocross bike with more power?the 144SX. After a…
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Q: WHERE HAS TM BEEN? A: TM's niche in motocross is as an exotic, expensive, boutique brand mixed in among the mega manufacturers. They are like the exotic Italian sports cars of the motocross world. When Americansstarted cinching…
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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…
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As the niche marketing specialist of dirt bike manufacturers, KTM has a wider variety of models than Baskin-Robbins has flavors. However, the model you won?t see at your KTM dealership is a motocross-specific Open class two-stroke. The KTM…
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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…
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You?ve probably heard so much about the 2011-12 KTM 350SXF that your mind is on overload. By some pundits, the KTM 350SXF has been heralded as the second coming, and the ballyhoo was accompanied by a successful race debut in the hands of…
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Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 HONDA CRF250 BETTER THAN THE 2011 CRF250? A: Yes! Is the 2012 Honda CRF250 significantly better than the 2011 model? No. Truth be told, Honda followed their typical strategy of making several minor updates…
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Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 RM-Z250 BETTER THAN THE 2011 RM-Z250? A: That depends on who you ask. Our aesthetically focused test riders were enamored by the feng shui of the red stripe on the seat cover in relation to the red accents…
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WHAT IS IT? It's the latest version of FMF's premium race exhaust system for the new 2012 electric-start KTM 250SXF?a bike that needs horsepower help. WHAT'S IT COST? $899.99 (full system with MegaBomb). CONTACT? www.fmfracing.com or (310)…
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Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 KAWASAKI KX250F BETTER THAN THE 2011 KX250F? A: Yes, resoundingly so! Every MXA test rider, regardless of skill level, immediately fell in love with the 2012 Kawasaki KX250F. All it took was one ride to…
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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…
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Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 KTM 350SXF BETTER THAN THE 2011 350SXF? A: Yes. Most MXA test riders took a quick glance at the 2012 spec sheet and thought that it was the same-old, same-old. Not true. After their first race, every test…
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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…
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Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 SUZUKI RM-Z450 BETTER THAN THE 2011 RM-Z450? A: Not unless the red stripe down the seat cover has some technical edge that we are unaware of. Q: WHAT DID SUZUKI CHANGE ON THE 2012 RM-Z450? A: When we tell…
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