The XC-F works best when the terrain is hard or rocky. Both bikes have fine-running engines that make good power. At least they did after some jetting for the XC-F. In stock trim, it takes a long time to warm up and run clean, and even then it has a bad lean hesitation. The KTM [...]
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Many riders are too short to feel comfortable on technical trails on a full-size bike. Traditionally, those riders were forced to choose between rudimentary playbikes and high-strung mini motocrossers. For technical trail work, it is a lot easier to outgrow the suspension capabilities of a playbike than it is to get tired of the tractable, [...]
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The key to watching the made-for-media Red Bull Last Man Standing extreme off-road race is finding your way to a series of “elements.” These are short but intense obstacles nearly impossible (or at least visually intimidating) to ride but easily reached by spectators and media. For the 2006 race, by the time the leaders got [...]
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Current dirt bike engines are truly mechanical marvels that offer extremely high-end performance to every dirt rider. These engines push the limits of performance and weight with complex castings and assemblies that require careful adherence to all factory torque values. Nowhere is this truer than with the four-stroke top end and valvetrain. Actually, the necessity [...]
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Thread Repair We have all been there if you have worked on dirt bikes long enough-you’re tightening a bolt and that sick feeling rushes in when you suddenly feel that pop, snap or little or no resistance. If you’re lucky, the bolt broke and you can get it out-simply install another. If luck abandoned you, [...]
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Matrix Concepts has burst onto the scene with a variety of stylish, colorful products. Many caught our eye, but after the company dropped off a variety of products the $49.95 M3 Utility Can was the item that saw the most use. Legally, the M3 can and other square or round utility jugs are not allowed [...]
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A Year With 2010 KTM 450 XC-W ISDE The DirtRider.com message boards are filled with posts about how delicate and expensive four-strokes are to own. That must be true, because after a hard year at Dirt Rider, and mostly with me in the saddle, the grips on the KTM 450 XC-W ISDE are really worn [...]
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Jesse Ziegler When we began this story, the plan was to start with a 250F, and our experience with the JCR Honda CRF250Xs in the past led us to select the X. In hindsight, the Honda may not have been the best choice. Honda spends the most time, energy and resources transforming a motocross engine [...]
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I’ve had a little bearing driver set for years, and while it doesn’t get used daily or even weekly, it gets used a great deal, and when I need it, nothing else will do. Recently I had a need for a driver that had larger sizes. Harbor Freight had a 10-piece set that looked like [...]
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While Jett America is not creating entirely new products, it is working diligently trying to improve existing products. The company may not have been the first to offer a neck brace, however it does have one of the first dedicated accompanying chest protectors. The high-end model with a carbon fiber back insert is called the [...]
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Since neck braces have become the product to have, companies have been scrambling to come up with variations on the successful theme. The science behind these braces is not irrefutable, and I’m the only editor on staff who routinely wears a brace at the track. In testing a brace I am testing the comfort, ease [...]
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There really wasn’t much mystery about the engine here, and it figures the ergonomics would move forward, but the suspension is the unknown. The fork is basically the same WP product it has been with its internal nitrogen-charged bladder and WP’s sealed cartridge system. The shock, while visually similar to last year’s shock, does not [...]
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KTM’s 350 SX-F is hot property, and the pipe companies are swarming it. Akrapovic, FMF and Pro Circuit were among the first systems we tested. Akrapovic has plenty of experience with the machine working with the KTM factory team in Europe, FMF takes care of Mike Alessi’s bike in the U.S., and PC just jumped [...]
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Just two quick stories (among many) that motivated this project: At an open track day we saw a Honda CRF450R pilot with the rear shock travel shortened four inches. Why? So he could reach the kickstarter! Second, on a Baja ride with Malcolm Smith two guys on off-road-converted CRF450Rs missed all of the good single-track [...]
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HILLSDALE, Mich., (Feb. 28, 2013) – Cobra
HILLSDALE, Mich., (Feb. 28, 2013) – Cobra
A video recap of the Pro Taper
Recap video for the 2012 Mini O's
