Dirt Rider 2009 Torture Test

2009 Dirt Rider Off Road Torture Test Pro Circuit Honda Crf250x

Quinn Cody was on a mission...

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Judging on performance alone, as we do here, this bike slides in as the lightest-feeling bike aside from the KLX140. It has power to run with the fastest bikes. Its handling is precise (twitchy for some) and the suspension is highly tunable but suits a wide array of riders. Same goes for the chassis setup; we flaunt this feature all the time. It is quiet out of the exhaust and is a perfect platform to make the best do-all motorcycle that we have today.

That, my friends, is the Pro-Action KTM 300 XC.

Strangely, this 300 started out as a 250 and had the 300 cylinder added to take advantage of the 250's ignition curve and different power valve governor. With some additional cylinder matching to the power valve, the bike takes on a magical blend of 300cc torque and power levels with the 250-like throttle response and pickup. Good. Then it continues to make 300-level power all the time and revs like a 250 all the way up top. It is hyper where it needs to be and mellow where it has to be, and this could quite possibly be the best two-stroke 300 we've ever ridden. The motor is impressive. And with the Rekluse clutch it is a treasure on the tricky and technical off-road, though the bike did pay for that clutch a little on the track and when power shifting, as some riders didn't like it. Here is where a modification helped and hindered, drawing attention where there should be (or could be) none. All of the motor's goodness was lost on a few testers because of the clutch, and we did have to make it engage earlier because it felt vague as delivered. This one simple change was the difference between the bike winning and being loaded up after the first day.

On to the suspension-exactly what Pro-Action is known for. Here that added a lot of trickery, especially to the fork, and we imagine that if it were set up for a specific rider, it would be stellar for him. Otherwise, for our varied group it worked just a bit better than stock. It has a more planted "four-stroke" feel than the light-feeling stock XC. It also bottoms better and feels like it gets better traction too, at least for the heavier riders. Keeping the fork subtanks bled goes a long way in aiding the plushness this bike has. The rest of the machine is just well set up, more of a personalization really that didn't detract from the purpose of the machine. So what Pro-Action did was to take an already great machine, modify it without messing it up, and in doing so topped the Dirt Rider Torture Test.

Do you want the best do-it-all bike in your garage? Do you wish your bike could be the master of everything? So did we. That's why we challenged the industry to deliver the best of the best. They gave us 21 choices, some bikes that ordinarily wouldn't even show up on that radar and the Pro-Action 300 won, but the story doesn't end there. Check out in-depth reviews of all the Torture Test bikes at www.dirtrider.com/reviews/02/dirt_bike for the rest of the best, because there are a lot of choices out there and you can learn tons by checking out all these bikes.

2009 Dirt Rider Off Road Torture Test Pro Circuit Honda Crf250x Team

The little bike that did....

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Pro Circuit 2009 Honda CRF250X
Parts And Modifications:
American Honda Motor Company: powersports.honda.com
2009 CRF250X MSRP: $6699

Pro Circuit racing: www.procircuit.comwww.procircuit.com; 951.738.8050
High-compression piston $264.94
Pro Circuit camshaft: $411.95
Valve spring kit: $164.95
T-4 slip-on muffler: $424.95
Rejet carburetor: $99.95
Fork revalve and setup: $179.95 + parts
Shock revalve and setup: $149.95 + parts

Baja Designs: www.bajadesigns.com; 760.560.2252
55-watt stator rewind: $150
Baja Designs headlight: $94.95
55-watt bulb: $21.95

Scotts Performance: scottsonline.com; 818.248.6747
Scotts steering stabilizer: $479.95

Acerbis: www.acerbis.com; 800.659.1440
Multiconcept Enduro hand guards: $82.95
Swivel mount: $39.95

2009 Dirt Rider Off Road Torture Test Ktm 450 Xcf Rider Justin Soule

Justin Soul attacks the Terrain...

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2009 KTM 450 XC-F
Parts And Modifications:
KTM North America, Inc.: KTMUSA.com
Map switch: $44.99
Hourmeter: $48.99
Bar pad: $19.99
2009 450 XC-F MSRP: $8698

Pro-Action Suspension & Motors: www.pro-action.com; 724.846.9055
Fork revalve with Pro-Action valve body: $225
Pro-Action subtank assemblies: $275
Fork springs: $110
Shock revalve: $225
Pro-Action bladder kit: $140
Shock spring: $110
Cylinder and head modifications: $300
Vortex carb mod: $90

KTM Hard Equipment: www.tjsktm.com; 800.570.4079
Radiator guards: $99.99
Hourmeter: $45.99
Works gas cap: $54.99
Soft seat: $99.99

Dunlop Tires: www.dunlopmotorcycle.com
80/100-21 front 756: $105.99
110/100-18 rear 756: $110.99

FMF Racing: www.fmfracing.com; 310.631.4363
Fatty pipe: $229.99
Turbine Core silencer: $149.99

Cycra: www.cycraracing.com; 800.770.2259
Powerflow plastic kit: $139.99
Stealth hand guards: $35.99

MSR Hard Parts: www.msracing.com
Ironman front sprocket (14T): $33.99
Ironman rear sprocket (50T): $108.99
Axle pull, front: $19.99
Axle pull, rear: $19.99
Brake Snake: $4.99