MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

On Mar 15, 2022 Last updated Mar 15, 2022

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Eli Tomac
Event: 2022 Detroit Supercross
Bike: 2022 Yamaha YZ450F
Photographer: Brian Converse

TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT: 1995 HONDA CR125

Before.

“I’m way too big for this 1995 Honda CR125. I am 6 foot 2 inches 200 pounds and 62 years old, but these sure are fun to race in the vintage MX races. Below is a list of what I did to restore it.”

After the restoration.

Frame: The frame was powder-coated by San Diego powder coating,
Suspension: Suspension 101 in Alpine Ca.
Plastic: Maier for the gas tank, UFO for the plastic in the correct nuclear red.
Graphics: Fastlane MX and DeCal MX.
Seat cover: EBAY, installed, Jims upholstery in San Diego.
Engine: Piston, Namura, Reed block, Vforce. Barnett clutch plates and springs.
Bearings and gaskets: All Balls and Athena.
Cylinder re-plated: Millenium Technologies.
Pipe: FMF Fatty w PC 304 shorty silencer.
Drivetrain: Vortex chain and sprockets.
Braided steel brake lines: Clairemont cycle.
Hardware: Specbolt or replated
Wheels: Stock wheels and hubs with new bearings.
Misc: Pro taper bars, MSR controls, Honda cables and Tusk pegs.
Oils: Maxima

Thanks, Mike.

EDITORS 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.

FILL OUT MXA’S SURVEY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS SSR BIKE

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MARVIN MUSQUIN ON THE AGGRESSIVE RACING IN THE 450 CLASS

“People are obviously saying bad things about riders that take out others, but the competition is so high that if you want to pass someone without being aggressive, it is almost impossible. You must watch for a chance for every single pass. If you don’t do that, you are going to be sitting behind the guy ahead of you, and just wait for him to make a mistake. Everybody wants to win, and everybody wants to get on the podium. When you see everybody is aggressive, that is one way to get it done. But we have seen it for decades. Now with social media and everything, everybody sees everything, and everybody comments on everything. Right now, we must expect stuff like this.? CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW

MOTO | TRIVIA

Who is this rider? Answer at the bottom of the page.

2022 YZ250 VERSUS THE 2021 YZ250

2022 YZ125 VERSUS THE LAST 15 YEARS OF THE YZ125

INSTA CARNAGE // DETRIOT SX

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DOES COLD GAS PRODUCE MORE PONY POWER?

Dear MXA,
I’ve always heard that cold gasoline makes more power than hot gasoline. Should I be putting my gas can in an ice chest?

You could, but motocross is not Formula 1. The gain in horsepower, which is very small in any case, is caused by the cold gas being denser; however, on a warm 85-degree day, by the time you put 50-degree cold gas in your tank, ride to the starting line and sit there for 10 minutes waiting for your race to start, the 35-degree difference in fuel temperature will be greatly reduced, especially since the fuel tank sits directly over the Bunson Burner heat of a very hot four-stroke engine and exhaust pipe. MXA ran a dyno test comparing 85-degree fuel and 50-degree fuel and found that peak horsepower was identical with both hot and cold gasoline. We did find a very small improvement at high rpm (after peak) with the colder fuel, but it was a very small percentage gain, in a very narrow rpm range, and disappeared in mere minutes as the fuel heated up.

FORGOTTEN BIKES: BROC GLOVER’S 1989 KTM 250

WE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DETROIT SX THAT YOU MISSED

Click here for everything you missed from the Detroit Supercross.

MINI TEST // LUXON MX ANTI-TWIST KX250/450 BAR MOUNTS

Kawasaki has weak bar mounts. They twist in the smallest crash. We blame the spongy rubber cones. To strengthen the KX mounts and reduce handlebar twisting, Luxon MX utilizes a solid, one-piece, lower bar mount (with the stock KX rubber cones).

VERDICT: If you don’t want to spend precious time in the pits straightening your KX bar mounts, Luxon anti-twist mounts will increase your handlebar’s strength; however, we expected the Luxon MX bar mounts to come with higher-durometer rubber cones instead of the mushy stock ones.

DIGITS: $144.95 (KX450/KX250), $109.95 to $179.95 (for other brands)—www.luxon.mx.com or (858) 586-1100.