It took no time to get up to speed on the Samsung Honda. I was comfortable immediately. The motor has a linear feel with good, usable bottom-end and great throttle response without a single hiccup. Midrange power carries over to a strong top-end with tons of overrev. I love Summey's suspension settings. As with all the other works suspensions I have ridden, this equipment soaks up anything in its path. The Tag handlebar and all Summey's controls are set just where I'd put them. The surprising thing is the bike isn't violently fast nor is the suspension overly stiff as a lot of racebikes' are, so it worked well everywhere on the track. -Corey Neuer
I'd hire the guy who built this motor to build mine if I were serious about making a racing comeback in the 250cc four-stroke class-though I should have done it before there was such a thing as a 250cc four-stroke. Its engine package is simply the most impressive thing I twisted the throttle on all day long. Why? Because it has that seamless, smooth, long-pulling power I like in a thumper with a one-to-one throttle-to-wrist connectivity. It pulls from basement rpm and remains smooth and crisp all the way through, to a top so strong I never hit the rev-limiter. There is no hit whatsoever if you roll on the throttle normally, but if you get aggressive or, better yet, tap the clutch, it responds with as much motor as any 250cc four-stroke I've ridden. Deceiving, really, but easy to ride and definitely fast.
Just as on the other 250cc bikes, I'm way heavy for the suspension setup and had trouble getting the bike to start a turn, but bottoming resistance and overall valving control of the suspension are things that were found on works bikes only a few years ago. The handlebar and lever setup is traditional, with nothing funny to adapt to. Truthfully, though, most of my attention was hogged by the motor. -Jimmy Lewis
The first thing I noticed about the Lucky Nichols-developed Samsung racebike was that the motor is strong right from the bottom all the way through the powerband. It's jetted perfectly, with no hesitation anywhere, which made me immediately confident. In spite of the fact that I weigh a little less than Summey, the suspension feels balanced in all conditions and soaks up small stuff very well. Summey has extremely neutral control settings, and I really like his choice of a Tag bar and grips. This bike works so well I think most riders would be able to appreciate all the modifications. -Sean Finley
This bike is a tractor. Super strong off the bottom, it runs a little flat midway but doesn't quit up top. This motor, as with all these bikes' engines, shows why us pickup-truck privateers have such a hard time at the Nationals. For my riding style, the bike sits a little high in the rear and is super rigid on smaller bumps. But once I got it in the corner, it railed. -Ryan Orr
Team Sponsors and Bike Modifications
Samsung Wireless
Sprint
Honda
PowerBar
Dep Sport
Volere Watches
Ultrapolish.com
Champion Tool Storage
Von Dutch
FMF
Acerbis
Carbon Fiber Works
Twin Air
Plano Honda
Motor modified in-house by Lucky Nichols, Billy Bell and Jeremy Nichols
Transmission shot-peened and coated
Custom-ground Web cam
CV4 Engine Components valve springs, valves, valve seats and guides
Wiseco pistons
Hinson clutch (complete)
Pro Circuit clutch springs
Mixture of steel and aluminum clutch plates (depending on track and conditions)
Pro Honda Racing oil with Blue Marble
Rev-er up additive
Engine Ice coolant with 1.6 radiator cap
Tag XT1 Factory-bend bar, medium-soft grips with all waffles cut off,front 13T and rear 51T sprockets
Works Connection clutch perch and lever with hot-start
Pro Circuit Showa works 49mm fork and 18mm shock
Pro Circuit 22mm-offset clamps and bar mounts with bar set more forward
PC titanium wide flow-through footpegsDunlop tires
Ferodo front and rear brake pads
VP Pro 4 race fuel
One Industries seat cover
Hammerhead shifter