Author Archives : "jesse ziegler"

Buck 25 Challenge – More Than Spare Change – Dirt Rider Magazine

Millennium Falcon: 2000 Yamaha YZ125 By Jesse Ziegler I’d like to start my Buck 25 story by bragging that I won. My bike ruled the ride day and was named the overall champion. Now, my coworkers will undoubtedly start the mudslinging with accusations of cheater parts and insider trading. But they’re just jealous because I [...]
+ more

Wise Up With Shane Watts’ Riding Academy – Dirt Rider Magazine

When it comes to motorcycle skills I’m almost 100 percent sure I’m more than adept. I like to think of myself as a learned soul in the culture of twisting throttles and the giggling that follows, mostly because I’ve done it so much.I’m not very awesome at wheelies and I haven’t won a race in [...]
+ more

Training: Taking Your Training Off Road With Sandra Egger – Dirt Rider Magazine

We all know that having good cardio fitness makes riding your dirt bike easier, and running is one of the most efficient forms of cardio exercise. When you mention running to most riders an instant grimace crosses their face, but running off-road can be enjoyable without the boredom of pounding the pavement.The variability of trail [...]
+ more

Basket Case Carb 101 – Dirt Rider Magazine

We’ve all been there: In the garage late at night wondering why the heck our girlfriend’s dad’s KTM won’t start worth a darn, idle smoothly or have the common decency to resist backfiring on decel. OK, maybe that’s just me. But what many of you can likely relate to is a carburetor that just won’t [...]
+ more

CV Products Factory Tour – Dirt Rider Magazine

When you see the CV4 logo on the shrouds of your favorite motocross and off-road race teams’ bikes you might just think those teams are using the more visible CV4 products. Things like the company’s ultra-trick silicone radiator hose kits grab the eye, and more observant moto fanatics can spot its CoolFuel under-tank insulation. But [...]
+ more

2009 Honda CRF250R, First Test – Dirt Rider Magazine

When Honda released the dual exhaust CRF250R in 2006, its revolutionary stance in the MX world was easily noticed. The bike and its pipes have been a head-turner ever since. But now, with the CRF450R getting all the attention, what’s so special about this little red rocket and why should you care?Both Hondas, big and [...]
+ more

2009 KTM 250 SX-F, First Test – Dirt Rider Magazine

We’ve always said KTMs run a hard line. Having “Ready to Race” as a company slogan tends to make that happen. And the SX series could be described (at least prior to 2009) as very aggressive and edgy. This different horse in a stable of cloned ponies has always polarized buyers and test riders alike. [...]
+ more

2008 Suzuki RM-Z450 – Dirt Rider Magazine

The 2008 RM-Z450 proudly stood in the corner of a community center conference room. From a few yards in front of it, as Suzuki’s press representatives, Japanese engineers and PR gurus encircled me with greetings and salutations, I could almost hear it apologize.I think the big yellow guy was truly regretful for being late to [...]
+ more

2009 Yamaha YZ250F, First Test – Dirt Rider Magazine

By comparison, the modifications and updates done to the 2009 Yamaha YZ250F may seem mild. Other brands are releasing much more made-over versions of their Lites-class weapons, and 450s are quite revolutionary this year. So why would you go to the blue crew in ’09 if you’re riding a 250F? Because it seems everything they’ve [...]
+ more

2009 KTM 450 SX-F, First Test – Dirt Rider Magazine

Second in line for first new bike of 2009 is the KTM 450 SX-F. Once a fiercely hard-edged motocrosser, the new and improved KTM is showing a more refined compliance that should gain it some new track-addicted fans in 2009.Right away you know this KTM is different than last year’s bike. One look into its [...]
+ more

2008 Suzuki RM-Z250 – RM-Z250′s Smooth And Torquey Motor – Dirt Rider Magazine

Last year, the all-new Suzuki RM-Z250 walked away as our clear-cut shootout winner (April ’07). Its first-year performance delivered a blow to the other contenders in the class with its aluminum-framed jump into the scene. Suzuki revved up the development team again for 2008 and made some big changes to the yellow screamer.With an impromptu [...]
+ more

24-Hour Test: Aftermarket Enhanced! – 24-hr. Modified Comparison – Dirt Rider Magazine

Stock bike tests are fine and dandy. After all, each and every one-off race machine starts life as a simple stocker before the tweaks begin and personalization and modification take over. In reality, we all could keep our bikes completely stock and roost around as happy as hippos. But we’re not hippos, and we’re not [...]
+ more

2009 450 MX Shootout – Dirt Rider Magazine

The 2009 Dirt Rider 450 motocross bike shootout will go down as the most anticipated, most competitive and-for test riders and journalists-the most frustrating shootout in the history of shootouts. With two revolutionary, all-new models, two smartly revised performers and one unchanged 2008 1/2 race machine, we were chomping at the bit to get this [...]
+ more

Easy Enduro – Dirt Rider Magazine

Bike armor first came in the form of highly effective EE radiator braces. These are the external cage-type that truly resist radiator twisting and crushing. For many, guards like these are a necessary mod for moto anyway. Next up was an EE rear disc guard and carrier assembly to help this YZ-F slide through the [...]
+ more

2010 Suzuki RM-Z250 – Dirt Rider Magazine

The throttle body has killed the carburetor. Clutch life has been decent as well. In our quick couple weeks hammering this bike, the clutch plates look used, for sure (and have the brown color showing they’ve been heated up), but the steels are straight and the clutch isn’t grabby or fading excessively. A racer would [...]
+ more