Note: At this point I asked Bob some questions that were inspired by the forum members here at www.dirtrider.com.

1st. EXC vs XC-W (450): Besides the obvious lighting, if I re-gear the EXC to match the XC-F will they ride the same? What else is different? KTM's website is vague.

Ride On Racing
MX Lift Stand
www.rideonracing.com
530.873.0390
This lift stand folds pretty flat, doesn't take up too much floor space, and doesn't seem over designed. If your back gets mad at you for lifting your bike onto the stand all day, time to get this $125 lift stand.

Lock and Load
As far as being a "highly talented freak of nature or just plain stupid," I think the latter is closer to the mark. I also believe you left out a third category "too darned short." I have never been able to push a bike into the back of a pickup, let alone reach the handle bar while doing so. I'm not complaining. I'm just saying, that for some people pushing a bike into the back up a pickup is a near impossibility. I can barley push my KTM 525 EXC a 1/4 of the way up a standard ramp. I can do it " if " I can get a good run at it and " if " I'm using a 3' wide ramp; but that's just too much work. So, at an early age I learned to ride up ramps and have never looked back. As of yet, I've not had any episodes or problems either. As for the article, I find it very interesting and would like to see more. Thanks for the great magazine and keep up the good work.

2010 Suzuki RM-Z450

Fasst Company
Brake Pedal Return Spring
www.fasstco.com
562.601.8119
We first spotted this item on some of the factory bikes at Anaheim 1 this year. It's designed to give better feel at the brake pedal, and also prevent a rock from jamming up in there. Best of all, it's just $19.99.

What up? This is Ricky Dietrich and this is my first story for a magazine written by myself. So, critics please go easy on me!

Actor who has appeared in many major films including A Perfect Storm, Quiz Show, Terminal Velocity, The Skulls, Thelma & Louise, Awake and many more. But you probably know him best as Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore. 53 Years Old

Dear Dirt Rider,
Riding the Erzberg Prologue was something new for me. I live in Germany so I ride only motocross tracks and a few trail areas by the airbase. Going flat out on mining roads filled with huge rocks and gravel was something Id never done before. My dad and I had been to Erzberg last year and seeing how awesome it was we new we had to try the prologue this year. My dad put a 16 tooth countersprocket on my YZ80 and I was ready to ride the prologue. When we got there on Thursday night we unloaded the van and went to sleep. In the morning there was a Red Bull tent next to our camping spot and we woke up to bikes blasting next to us. We were camped right next to the prologue start. Taddy Blazusiak and Geoff Aaron and Kyle Redmond were all right next to us! I got all there autographs. It was pretty cool to see these guys up close. My first go at the prologue on Friday was amazing (for me) I was nervous at first but once I settled in it was a blast. I forgot to warm my bike up when I was in the chute so that slowed me down at the start. I finished 1108 out of 1500. The mountain was great and I wish my YZ had a 7th gear! My second run was good to but I crashed in the twistys after the start. It was slick and I lost time getting my bike started. I finished 1158 overall. I felt bummed about crashing but there were plenty of 450's behind me so not too bummed. Erzberg was a truly cool experience. Next year I'm going back but on 125! See yeah next year!
Josh Moyer

Gimme my 15 minutes back!
Regarding the "Adventure Bike Buildup" in July's issue. I was excited to see that the WR250R was included as I am considering trading in my DRZ400s and my RMZ250 to hopefully combine both into the new WR. Unfortunately, the whole article was a waste of time. First mod for the WR: LOUD Dr. D. slip-on? Disconnect the exup? How does this effect the fuel injected bike's durability/ warranty? And why bother? What a waste of time and money! The fact that you can go out and buy a DR.D LOUD slip-on for a dual-sport shows that Dr. D himself just doesn't get it. Why sell a pipe that is too loud for trail and street, for a trail and street bike? Asinine! Almost as asinine as putting it on your bike. And the rest of the "mods" amount to squat. A fender eliminator and luggage rack. You call that a "build-up"? The stock tires on a dualsport are no good in the dirt? No kidding, really? Any reader/rider with a pulse knows this. Do you think your readers are brain-dead? If you need filler pages, put in a girly poster or something. Otherwise, I look forward to the next issue.
Rod Moran
Moran Motorsports Marketing

CRF Stuff
Factory Replica 280mm Oversize Brake Kit
www.crfstuff.com
503.830.6433
Stop! No, I mean like stop right now. This kit comes at two price bundlings. It's $228.00 for rotor, hangar and pads, or $288.00 to add brake line and fluid. Stop! Now go get this brake kit!

The biggest news from the Kawasaki camp is the absence of fuel injection on the 250F. The rumors we'd heard claimed that every model 250F would have fuel injection, and that they were much more improved with the loss of the carburetor than 450s. In fact, budget was the reason given for carburetors being standard in 2009. Apparently, the current economy led to rethinking fitting the 250F with price-raising fuel injection.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: you just can't have too much protection for your knees. You may see the local goon at your track doing wheelies in the pits with no knee pads (heck, you may BE that goon!), and we can't even begin to tell you how bad this is. Your knees are not only one of the main support systems of your body but also a major connector to the bike, and if you don't take care of them your riding career will undoubtedly suffer. Ask any pro or smart rider who has ridden for over ten years, and they'll all tell you the same thing: knee protection is key.

Custom Cover
I was reading the June 2009 Dirt Rider article, The Dirty Part, Pro Secrets, Suspension Pre-Ride Check with Jim "Bones" Bacon, and came across a question for you guys I was hoping you could help me out with. I have a 2009 Kawasaki Monster KX250F, and couldn't help but drool over the picture of the seat on the Pro Circuit Ryan Morais #116 Kawasaki bike. Here comes the fun part: I was wondering if you could help me find out where I could buy this seat? I searched all over the Internet trying to found out where I could get one. It looks like a Factory Effex Seat Cover, but I can't find it on their site, or Monster's site, Internet searches, etc. I know you guys have better stuff to do, but please help me out if you can. I look forward to hearing from you guys, and thanks for your time.
Anthony Rhoades
Aptos, CA

Scott Motosports
Jail Break and White Noise Limited Edition Goggles
www.scottusa.com
800.292.5874
Scott goggles are cool in any color, but they get super-cool in these limited edition colorways. Making a statement and still having great vision is just $79.95 away.

Big Boy Tire Swap
I know you guys don't do much with enduro info, but I am looking for some information on how and where to store a spare tire tube on my bike for enduros. I have a tool bag on my rear fender, but there isn't enough room in there. What do the big boys do?
James

Champion Tool Storage
Factory Box
www.factorybox.net
866-391-4200
If you want to stay organized, have too many tools, or maybe just love the look of the factory set up, take a look at these $399.95 tool boxes.

Escargot
One of the tests in which a solid performance is a must is the Escargot, an endless circle controlled by Chris Denison. We know you learn a lot about bikes just in turning-from third gear pinned to first and crawling around the center-because our bikes live and die in a turning state. To help with the testing duties, Chris recruited Alexander Smith-spawn of the great Malcolm Smith-and together the two spent over 100 minutes just turning these bikes.

How To Load A Truck
Here are nine tips to keep you off of "America's Funniest Home Videos."

2009 Honda CRF450R
"Finally, I found the half-second that kept me and Dirt Rider's CRF450R out of the night show at supercross. It had a lot more to do with me than the bike, but considering this 40-hour machine with only stiffer revalved and resprung suspension, a Yoshimura exhaust system and some ridePG.com graphics got me into the show, I'm impressed." -Chris Barrett

You don't break all of the rules of convention, show up largely unannounced and proceed to kick everyone's butt without much more than a hiccup. There's usually some backlash. Some creepy, often untold dark secret that will eventually be revealed and the whole dream turns bad. Husaberg quickly and quietly developed an all-new bike with front-line technology that steps away from the norm in quite a few ways-the inclined motor to better place the center of gravity in the center of the motorcycle, a radical improvement to the frame of the PDS linkageless shock system, a flawless closed-loop FI system with a programmable and switchable ignition, a plastic subframe and the gas tank where the airbox usually is. And the airbox, well, it's where it always was on a Husaberg (some things don't change).

Get Your Head Checked
I own a 2007 CRF250. I stay on top of valve clearance checks every 6 to 8 hours. The bike has 25 hours total. The initial clearance from the start on one of the intake valves from factory was .0045" (shim 1.95). It has never moved. My last check was 7 hours ago. I rode very little over winter (Ohio). Bike would not start and found 0.000 clearance on the intake. I had to go to a 1.70 shim to provide .007" clearnace. Question: should I pull the head? How often should one keep shimming versus doing headwork? I do not ride the bike like crazy and hit the rev limiter like most people at the track. I just don't want a melt down; this has me very concerned. Can you please provide some guidance?

Motion Pro
Ti ProLite Titanium wrenches
www.motionpro.com
650.594.9600
These wrenches might be just the ticket for lightening your pack without heading off without all the tools you might need - and you just know you'll definitely need them if you don't take them. The wrenches come in 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, and 14mm, priced from $16.99 to $39.99. Or you can get a set of four (13mm not included in the set) for $99.99.

PJ Larsen is one of the newest members of the Canidae Motosport Kawasaki team. As a rookie...