The simplicity of the hydration-bladder sleeve makes you wonder why there aren't more jackets incorporating the design. It is simply a reinforced and heavily stitched compartment utilizing the inner lining of the jacket, perfect for a 70-ounce bladder to slip in. Another great feature of the No Fear jacket is the abundance of cargo pockets. In addition to the rear fanny pouch, there are several pockets on the front of the jacket, allowing more room for the essentials. The rear fanny pouch is great for storing a pair of gloves or goggles. Although this jacket can't turn into a fanny pack when the sun comes out, it served its primary purpose of keeping me dry. The jacket is light enough and compactible enough to be stuffed into a larger fanny pack or backpack. For $99.95, the No Fear Cargo jacket is a great tool for any off-road weekend warrior or racer.
| Gear | 92.0 |
| Style | 19/20 |
| Comfort | 9/10 |
| Function | 47/50 |
| Wash/Care | 8/10 |
| Price | 9/10 |
www.nofearmx.com
866.787.3691 |
Tokyo Mods 2006 CRF250R Carb Mod
Many owners of 2006 CRF250Rs will be considering upgrading to an '07 or '08 model. Many will be motivated by the crisper throttle response and lack of bog in the new bike. But if a new bike would break the bank, there is another option.
For $229.95 and the cost of shipping, Tokyo Mods can tune your carb, via jetting and modifications to the internal circuits, to perform better than its stock design allows. Tokyo Mods also sets all the adjustments to the proper settings. It's sort of a mail-order factory ride.
Upon just starting the bike with the modded carb it was clear something was changed, and for the better. The bike growled with a deeper tone. More impressive, the throttle response was instantaneous.
On the track, the mods worked great. The bike did not seem to gain power; the power just felt easier to call up. The best way to describe the sensation is this: It felt as if my previous throttle cable had a spring in the middle of it, and the Tokyo Mods treatment took out that spring and connected the cable directly. Another way to describe it is even more alluring: It gave the '06 the throttle response of the '07.
Tokyo Mods does not claim this is the end-all cure for the '06 CRF's bog, but it minimizes it as much as possible. I did feel the bike stumble just a bit on a very hot (high 90s) day, but otherwise, the engine has felt crisp.
Many people will say that nearly $250 seems a high price to have your carburetor "rejetted." I've also heard of people simulating the mod with their own adjustments to the jets and accelerator pump. If you have the inclination, time and resources to experiment, you will save some money and might get similar results. But take a four-stroke carb off once, and you'll see the value in only going through that process the one time. Hey, you could revalve your own suspension to save some money, but how many of us really do that? -Pete Peterson
| Service | 92.0 |
| Customer | |
| service | 19/20 |
| Function | 48/50 |
| Turnaround | 17/20 |
| Price | 8/10 |
www.tokyomods.com
888.457.9403 |
Shift
Recon Gear
Frankly, I wasn't looking at prices when I scoured the Shift catalog for gear that wouldn't look weird in a diner yet would save me from cold and wet weather. I was headed for a street and dirt ride in Ohio, and the weather was sure to be chilly, rainy and muddy. I found comfort and reasonable prices with the Recon over-the-boot pant and matching jersey in a subdued dark blue.