MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT

On Aug 9, 2022 Last updated Aug 10, 2022

FIRST LOOK VIDEO OF THE 2023 YAMAHA YZ450F

#WHIPITWEDNESDAY PHOTO BLAST

CAN-AM GETTING BACK INTO THE MOTORCYCLE BUSINESS (ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES THAT IS)

Can-Am motorcycles were a big player in American motocross back in the 1970s. They even managed to win the AMA 250 National Motocross Championship with Gray Jones at the controls (as part of a one-two-three sweep of the Nationals with Jones, Tripes and Ellis). Then a year later, Jimmy Ellis won the 1975 AMA Supercross Championship. They never reached the pinnacle of success ever again— even though they sponsored Buck Murphy, Gary Semics, Rich Eierstedt, Tony DiStefano, Jeff Smith, Jimmy Weinert, Mike Runyard and many others. Eventually, the Bombardier corporation shut down its motorcycle production line in 1987 to focus on ATVs, side-by-sides, watercraft and snowmobiles.

Four-time National Champion Gary Jones won the 1974 AMA 250 National Championship for Can-Am.

The sneak peek video above shows that they are returning to motorcycles with two new electric bikes—a dual-sport/adventure bike and a street bike. Most surprising is that they are sourcing their electric motors from Rotax, which supplied their two-stroke and four-stroke engines decades ago.

WIN CODY WEBB’S 2023 SHERCO 2-STROKE // click the photo for a chance to win

Click here for a chance to win.

INTERNATIONAL MOTOCROSS MUSEUM FUNDRAISER SEPTEMBER 21ST

Rare is it when history has the opportunity to repeat itself. But that’s exactly what’s going to happen for die-hard motocross fans when the International Motocross Museum hosts a second fundraising event. Last year’s premier event was a sellout and was thought by many to be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but the IMM will be making history anew by hosting “An Evening with the Champions II.”

If you missed the first event, now is your chance to spend a day and an evening with legends like Rick “Too Hip” Johnson, Bob “Hurricane” Hannah, Tony DiStefano,Gerrit Wolsink, Heikki Mikkola, Jeff Smith, Torsten Hallman, Harry Everts, Stefan Everts, Liam Everts, Steve Wise, Warren Reid, Gunnar Lindstrom and their fabulous factory bikes. They are right now negotiating with several of the other top US riders from that era.

The Evening with the Champions II fundraiser is actually more like a day with the Champions and will be held at the fabulous Pinstripes restaurant in the north Chicago area. The date is Wednesday September 21, just days before the historic Motocross of Nations on Sept 24^th and 25^th.at the world-famous Red Bud motocross park – just a short drive from the IMM venue.

Individual Deluxe tickets are $500 per seat, but this year they also have table discounts of 20%; buy a table of 12 and each ticket is only $400 per person. This is for the whole day and a deluxe sit-down evening dinner, a great way for your business or group to be part of this wonderful event. You can also bid to sit at the table of your favorite rider! All details are available on the website.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event and/or museum, check the website contact link, they will get back with you promptly.

Thanks to Terry Good, we have the best collection of motocross works bikes and memorabilia in the world. The Museum will display the personal collections of Les Archer, Ake Jonsson and other champion riders, over 125 works and other legendary motocross bikes, historic memorabilia and incredible stories of the riders, engineers and mechanics of these bikes.

The IMM is a registered 501 (c) 3 charity. All funds raised will go to support the Museum and its future 100,000 square foot home. If you cannot make the event, please consider a generous tax-deductible donation to support the Museum or visit the gift shop for some really incredible gift ideas – one more easy way to support your Museum!

FACTORY 250cc SMOKERS THROUGOUT THE YEARS

THOR 2023 FALL LINE

MXPERTS // HELP! MY THROTTLE STICKS

Dear MXA,
Since the day I rolled my bike out of the showroom, the throttle has been draggy on closing. It works fine when the bars are straight ahead or when they are turned to the left, but when I turn them full-lock to the right the throttle stays on. This has not been a problem when I ride, but it bothers me. How do I fix it?

We would use a three-pronged approach to not just cure the problem but to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Additionally, we advise you not to ride your bike until you fix the issue.

First, since the problem occurs when the bars are turned, that suggests an interference with the throttle cable routing under the gas tank. Remove your fuel tank and realign the two throttle cables so they are not pinched or too tight.

Second, modern four-strokes have push/pull throttle cables, at the advice of the manufacturers’ lawyers. One cable pulls the butterfly open and one cable pulls the butterfly closed. You need to pull the rubber cover off of the throttle housing and check the throttle cable adjusters to make sure that both cables are adjusted properly. There should be an equal amount of tension on both cables, not one cable adjusted all the way in and one all the way out. Readjust your cables until you have a smidgen of freeplay.

Third, pull your throttle assembly apart and clean inside the assembly, inside the throttle tube and the surface of the handlebar. Apply a very light coat of lubricant inside the throttle tube. When you reassemble the throttle, make sure not to slide it on so far that the end of the grip hits against the end of the handlebar.

THE SEPTEMBER 2022 ISSUE OF MXA IS OUT! SUBSCRIBE AND YOU WON’T MISS ANYTHING

Did you know that you can subscribe to MXA at virtually no cost to you—because when you subscribe you receive a Rocky Mountain ATV/MC credit for $25 towards anything is their massive inventory. Plus, you will get all the content in 12 monthly issues of Motocross Action magazine—from four-stroke tests, two-stroke tests, retro tests, race coverage, new tech to product tests….most of which never appear on the internet. And, don’t forget, you can will also get a $25 credit from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC that will more than cover the cost of your subscription. To subscribe call (800) 767-0345 or Click Here

MXA YOUTUBE CHANNEL | HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON

The MXA wrecking crew is everything moto related. Check out our MXA YouTube channel for bike reviews, Supercross coverage, rider interviews and much more. And don’t forget to hit that subscribe button.

JETT LAWRENCE ON A CR250 SMOKER? RED BULL STRAIGHT RYTHEM

MXA QUOTE OF THE WEEK // TALON HAWKINS TALKS ABOUT TRAINING WITH ALDON BAKER

Aldon Baker has really taken me under his wing, and I am so stoked that the Rockstar Husqvarna Team set that up. It is an insane opportunity that not many people get to experience, so I am trying to take hold of it, make the most of it, and try my hardest every single day I am there. Every day that I show up, I don’t cut corners. There is no cutting corners in this sport. If you don’t do that one bicycle training ride, it reflects on yourself. You don’t feel confident. Say that you go and do bad at a race, you are going to blame it on that one bike ride you did not do. It is about putting in the work to get the results later.

Check out the full interview with Talon here

2023 HONDA CRF450 50TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO

mid-week min-week