A Real Race Bike
I decided to ride the unclassified race to learn the course and get some quality time on the YZ250. After cruising a lap, I picked up the pace to get feel of what the Zip-Ty Racing YZ250 had to offer. The motor has a very linear power curve for a two-stroke. It has great bottom-end response that remains extremely mellow and easy to ride through tight rocky sections. Midrange power is smooth and very usable, and it's where I liked to ride the bike the most due to the slippery conditions. The roll-on power carried right into the midrange, so I didn't need to use the clutch as much as I usually do on a two-stroke. Top-end power hit a bit harder than a stock bike but was still a smooth transfer. Basically stock internally, Davis's YZ uses a V-Force reed valve to help out with the bottom-end and smooth out the power delivery. The Zip-Ty pipe and silencer also play a huge role in tempering the power. The Zip-Ty exhaust features a long silencer with a larger core. The bike had a great sound to it: quiet yet still mean. The jetting was spot-on and the engine never hesitated; nothing but usable, crisp, clean power. Leaving the motor somewhat stock works best for this style of racing; building a fire-breathing top-fuel motor will make the bike difficult in low-traction or technical sections and a handful in a two-hour race.
The YZ's Kayaba suspension features Race Tech Gold Valves with Davis's personal valving specs. The fork uses the stock 0.44kg/mm spring with the valving altered to accommodate off-road conditions. Having confidence in your equipment really allows you to give it your all, and during the unclassified race I felt 100 percent in tune with the bike. The fork soaked up all the big braking bumps and swallowed bare roots that were beginning to surface on the trails. I really liked how it was soft in the beginning part of the stroke, then became increasingly progressive but not harsh. The fork used the whole stroke but I never seriously bottomed out.
As with the fork, the shock also uses Race Tech internals with a stock spring. During practice on Friday, I went in a few clicks on the shock's compression to stiffen it up a bit after I felt it bottom a few times on some of the fast drop-offs on the motocross track. During the unclassified race the suspension felt well-balanced with the rear ride height at 107mm. Davis also runs a custom linkage that allows the rear of the bike to settle, and it was most noticeable in tight, rutted corners, enabling the bike to sit a tad lower for better handling.
By the end of the unclassified race I was in love with the Zip-Ty Racing YZ250! The motor was perfect for the conditions, and the suspension made me feel faster than I am. I'm used to racing off-road on full-blown motocross bikes, so I appreciated the suspension more than any of the other modifications. I also loved the 18-inch rear wheel. I could hit anything and not have to worry about getting a flat. The only feature I didn't like was the 20-inch front wheel. It has been an age since I have ridden with one, and I have never been a fan. Davis has used one for years, but I didn't like the way it wanted to climb out of the deep Washington ruts. It took some time to develop a feel for it, and the front end just felt heavier at times.
The Big Race: 250 A
I competed in a few WORCS races a couple of years ago and really enjoyed them. No waiting around for a three-lap, four-minute moto in the blinding sun as it rapidly descends behind the mountains. WORCS races are motocross and off-road all in one. They are long and you can ride several different classes if you're up for the punishment.