Bettencourt's Oil Cooler

With modern four-strokes producing so much horsepower you better believe they get hot quick, and unlike the four-strokes of yesteryear they do not carry a whole lot of oil, the lifeblood for monsters of dirt.

Not only does the Bettencourt's system enhance the life span of the oil by cooling it, but its extra reservoir adds 150cc of oil capacity and a half-quart of coolant-a win-win situation in my book. Plus, it holds all the extra liquid low so handling isn't compromised.

We bolted this up to the Dirt Rider Long Haul Christini 250X to give it the real test. The unit does its job well and looks super clean with its stainless braided lines and CNC aluminum fittings.

The one concern I had was in the fact that the oil cooler tank hangs down quite a bit farther than a stock radiator. I was sure it was going to get murdered by a rock of some sort at the 24 Hours of Glen Helen, but my assumption was wrong. In fact, there are now over 50 hours of torture (and I mean that in the fullest sense of the word) on the unit and not so much as a scratch on it.

Installation takes 30 minutes to an hour and requires both oil and coolant changes, which probably need to be done anyway. The hose fittings are top-notch, and the system enables you to change oil filters as easily as stock.

In my eyes this product is a perfect fit for anyone who pushes their four-stroke to its boiling point or wants to maximize the life of their machine. It has a valid application everywhere from the motocross track to the desert and trails and wherever else you may take your bike. Now, do you need one? That's a good question and the answer for most people would be no. At $899, it's not a necessity. But for a select community of riders it would be money well spent and could save you from some costly engine damage and/or trips to the dealership.