Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2019 i Dirt Action

Automotive Holdings Group has sold the remaining 74 per cent of its motorcycle importing business to KTM. After purchasing 26 per cent of the business in 2017, KTM now takes full ownership of both KTM Group Australia and KTM Group New Zealand. “What a journey it has been since our first AHG Dealer Conference in 1994 and there have been so many significant milestones along the way,” said Jeff Leisk, General Manager, KTM Group Australia and New Zealand. “I am extremely proud to have seen the KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycle brands go from strength to strength in both the Australian and New Zealand markets. We have built strong relationships with our dealers and our customers and this has been the key to our success. Becoming a factory-owned subsidiary will increase…

Airoh helmets are worn by some of the biggest names in world motocross and enduro. The super-light Aviator 2.2 helmet features an extensive list of features including Airoh’s Emergency Fast Remove cheek pads, high ventilation and,importantly, a mutli-axial stratified composite carbon shell. If you haven’t picked up an Airoh helmet, head to your local dealer and physically pick up one of the lids to see how incredibly light and high quality these helmets are. FEATURES Made entirely in Italy Multi-axial stratified composite carbon Kevlar helmet Ultra-light weight from 950g Three shell sizes, + wide vision goggle port Removable nose guard and dust filter Adjustable peak with extender, + front and rear spoilers AEFR — AIROH Emergency Fast Remove cheek pads Hi Flow Ventilation System and top vent covers Removable washable…

The SWM immediately felt cramped for me. I’m about 180 centimetres tall and the ‘bars were too close to my knees, which felt too high. It had me enough out of whack that it made me keep the pace down until I could acclimatise to the feel. I noticed the shorter guys weren’t bothered at all and I could put both my feet flat on the ground, which would hint at a later conclusion that I shall get to… later. We soon hit the dirt and didn’t leave it again all day. If the engine looks familiar, that’s because it’s from the old, pre-BMW Husky TE 630. In this guise it puts out around 58 horsepower but it’s geared incredibly high, so it meanders off low revs. That said, on…

I was recently asked to put together a summary of my trip to the USA. Not knowing where to start, I tried to imagine you guys, the readers, and what you might like to see and read. So, whether you’re sitting on the throne or flicking through the pages before heading to school or work, I hope you enjoy the pictorial of my adventures in the USA. DAD Chief mechanic MUM Laundry lady and kitchen hand JASON Race mechanic and bus driver GILLY Logistics coordinator, team physio and head chef TODD Team manager / owner and rider NIKKI (LIL SIS) Support / promo girl CODY COOPER NZ Honda rider LEE MCLEAN Cody’s NZ mechanic…

Long gone are the days of open class two-strokes that rattle your teeth out, handle like shopping trolleys, throw you off the back when you crack the throttle, and fracture your leg every time you kick-start the things. A few geriatric, vintage-loving enthusiasts out there might tell you they were great, but I’m here to tell you otherwise. Most would agree that two-stroke engine development may have slowed down over the last 10-15 years, but most of us would also agree that power wasn’t always the problem with the old-school chook chasers of the past. Thanks to modern materials and manufacturing, data acquisition and partly the four-stroke revolution, two-stroke enduro machines of today have a smooth and easy-to-ride power curve, a very lightweight feel, precise and stable handling, and fire…

Technology moves fast — you just need to look at your phone to understand that. The first mobile phones of the early 1990s were the size of a bike stand and had the battery life that barely lasted out a phone call. When Apple introduced the iPhone 3 in 2008, it was a top-of-the-line smartphone. Now, both of those products have joined the video player, the CD and the iPod as blips on the technology radar, as the iPhone X can do everything from make a movie to do your tax. Like a lot of industries, motorcycles continue to develop year on year and apart from the GFC of 2009 to 2011, each year every manufacturer has continued to refine their products with the aim to make them better, lighter…

We’re a relatively small team here at Suzuki Australia. Our total organisation is just shy of 100 employees, split between five departments: automobile, service, spare parts, finance and administration, and motorcycles. The motorcycle department consists of twelve head office staff, located 30 minutes west of Melbourne, and six regional sales staff across the country. In the motorcycle department, we’re driven by our passion for two wheels. We simply love motorbikes, a fact not uncommon in our industry and one that I believe sets us apart from many others, at least from a job satisfaction point of view — it’s much easier going to work each day when you enjoy what you do! This passion is also shared by our dealer network. It’s the foundation their businesses have been built upon,…

I have been shedding some excess weight recently with the help of the awesome trainers at DadBods in Richmond, NSW. Yes, DadBods — the best name for a gym! I’ve always been someone who has enjoyed data — reading lap times, heart rate, tracking rides to give a bit of an insight into the riding and now the training I am doing. I reached out to the team at Garmin to discuss my idea of comparing the stress the body is under when training in the gym to racing and riding. The Garmin Instinct is a rugged GPS watch designed to withstand harsh conditions. I have only used the watch for a week in the gym and at the Bega round of Amcross. So far, it’s pretty epic. I paired…

2020 YAMAHA YZ125 Joining the Yamaha fleet is the 2020 Yamaha YZ125X. The little brother to the enduro race-ready YZ250X, the 125X is aimed at the small-bore enduro racer. » All-new model for 2020 » Yamaha Power Valve (YPVS) » 125cc liquid-cooled two-stroke » Six-speed transmission » Enduro-optimised CDI ignition settings » New cylinder head » New combustion chamber shape » O-ring chain » Sidestand as standard » Enduro-specific Dunlop AT81 tyres » 18-inch rear wheel » Reserve fuel position » Australian models come fitted with an off-road kit including lights, ready for recreational registration 2020 YAMAHA YZ250FX Yamaha’s enduro 250F receives an all-new look and is updated to the latest YZ performance level. » Based on the championship-winning 2019 Yamaha YZ250F » Added sixth gear and wide ratio transmission…

Red Bull KTM has announced the contract extension of Marvin Musquin, who will stay with the team until 2021. “I am pleased with the extension of my contract with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team for the next two years. KTM and Red Bull have supported me immensely and I believe the product, team and the overall program will contribute to my future success,” Musquin said. Musquin first signed with KTM in 2009 after capturing back-to-back World MX2 Motocross Championships.…

Having a motorcycle product-importing business running a race team allows for a seriously trick machine. The Serco Yamaha team has long been a leading 250 race team, steering many big-name riders to championships. In 2019, the team fields Aaron Tanti and Nathan Crawford in the MX2 class. FEATURED BIKE: YAMAHA YZ250F — #6 JAY WILSON MOTOR Head: Serco Motorsport Piston: Wossner Cams: Hotcams ECU: Vortex Exhaust: Yoshimura Fuel: VP Roo 100 Spark plug: NGK Engine covers: GYTR CHASSIS Fork: KYB Shock: KYB Linkage: OEM Handlebars: Pro Taper Grips: Pro Taper Levers: Pro Taper Tyres: Dunlop Chain: Pro Taper Seat Cover: Factory Effex Wheels: DID / EZI / Ash spoked wheels Rotors: Galfer Graphics: Serco custom MX decals…

KTM gave us all brand-new bikes just three years ago. That model line-up still stands up well against the competition, which, let’s face it, on a bike-to-bike ratio is basically just Husqvarna, Sherco and a couple of Yamahas. Beta will get in there too if it keeps on the development path its travelling now, but three of the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers aren’t in the enduro picture, which is devoid of red, green and yellow. It’s certainly not unusual for a manufacturer to make big changes after three years of a model run, but I have to admit I was surprised to the amount of changes for the 2020 Katos. The engines are around 60 per cent different from the brand-new displacement-specific engines we got in 2017, which is a…

“AFTER MAKING THE DECISION TO BATTLE THROUGH THE EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL GFC WHICH VERY NEARLY SANK THE COMPANY, SHERCO HAS POSTED NINE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF GROWTH” The 2020 Sherco launch felt more like a gathering than a traditional launch. The bikes aren’t entirely new models, so the company could be excused for rolling out the model line with explanations of the improvements made instead of inviting journalists from around the globe to an Italian castle. That being the case, it felt like Sherco wanted to keep in contact with the industry at large, to show that it’s open and happy to discuss its direction and celebrate what has been achieved to date through both its model line and its vast racing efforts. The Sherco team are at all times…

March 9, 2007, has an interesting importance for me. Aside from it being my 15th birthday, it was the day that I parked my 125 two-stroke in the shed for good and my dad surprised me with a brand-new KTM 250 SXF. The previous two years had been spent learning the craft of racing on what at the time I had largely considered to be a disadvantage against a field of the first-generation 250 four-stroke machines. Looking back at this, my current self wishes that I had embraced the 125 a little more than I did. When I received a call from our deputy editor, Matt, about riding and reviewing a 2019 YZ125, I hadn’t even hung up the phone before I was in the van and headed for Yamaha’s…

A small team in California designed this awesome little product to help breathing in goggle sports. I didn’t duck quick enough when I was younger and copped one right in the nose, so breathing has always been a bit of a problem in goggles. The AC Performance System features small adhesive magnets that sit on each side of your nostril. Once the magnets are stuck, the plastic clip attaches to the magnets and opens up the nasal passage to allow fresh oxygen to flow. It’s very simple and super effective. » $45.95 » www.mcleodaccesories.com.au…

01 PREPARATION IS KEY Rolling into an event with things still to do to your bike is stressful. Remembering to put in the fresh air filter, change a wheel or prepare your goggles adds to the stress early in the day of a race. Spend the days and weeks before ensuring that your bike is ready, your gear is packed and your vehicle organised. It will leave you with a clear mind come race day. 02 EAT WELL Your body needs fuel, so ensure that you eat brekky. Despite the nerves, it’s important to have some food in your system. Try an Up & Go or a protein shake if you don’t think you could stomach a bacon and egg roll at the local track. 03 PRE-HYDRATE Try to drink…

I REALLY LIKE THE COMBINATION OF LIGHTWEIGHT FEEL AND QUICK RPM-STYLE POWER. IT ALMOST GIVES THE CRF AGILE, RM-Z-LIKE HANDLING What does it run like? Honda has always had a great 450 engine. It hasn’t been the most powerful, or the most aggressive, but it’s had a good spread of responsive, well-placed power across the entire rev range. For 2009, the EFI engine is more responsive, as it picks up swiftly and cleanly at any throttle setting. Power is ample, and maybe a tad tougher than this year — more in line with 2007 — but that is a pure seat-of-the-pants feel. I think there are 450s out there with more power, but few with the same combination of power, spread, torque and ease of use. The engine feels almost…

GARMIN INSTINCT Rugged GPS watch built to withstand the toughest environments Constructed for thermal, shock and water resistance (rated to 100 metres) Built-in three-axis compass and barometric altimeter plus multiple global navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) support helps track in more challenging environments than GPS alone Monitor your heart rate, activity and stress; train with preloaded activity profiles Stay connected with smart notifications and automatic data uploads to the Garmin Connect online fitness community Use the TracBack feature to navigate the same route back to your starting point; use the Garmin Explore website and app to plan your trips in advance Battery life: up to 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, up to 40 hours in UltraTrac battery saver mode TREK FULL…

So many riders started their love for the sport on a Honda mini-bike. The Zs, the QRs, the XRs and now the CRFs. Many have a story about their first “fun” bike, with the emphasis on fun. Riding dirtbikes is about fun, first and foremost. Sure, winning races is great, but the whole reason we spend time on two wheels is to slap a smile on our dials. The Honda CRF110F and CRF125F are the just that — fun motorbikes. Not only are they great machines, they look bloody cool too thanks to the complete overhaul in 2019, which treated these bikes to a restyle, a new frame and electronic fuel injection. Kids these days, bloody spoiled! 2019 HONDA CRF110F You’ve grown out of a CRF50 but you’re not interested…

It was February of 2013. 6D Helmets founder Bob Weber sat watching the Arlington Supercross on a big screen surrounded by industry representatives. His helmet brand, 6D, had just launched. This was the first on-track outing for Geico Honda Team rider Zach Bell, and for good or bad the night would put the helmet on the map forever. With the eyes of the world upon him, Bell clipped a foot on the up-ramp of the triple. He was flung violently from his bike and crashed from the height of a three-storey building, lying motionless on landing. As the coverage flicked to a commercial break, the future of 6D hung in the balance. Was Bell just seriously injured on live television during his debut wearing the product? In an impact such…

The inaugural Husqvarna 701 Enduro Trek was to have been run in February but a series of bushfires through the Victorian alpine region made the established route impossible. Determined to make it happen, Husky Australia gave Nick Selleck from Maschine time to replot the route. And so the ride was back on, and over 40 701s arrived to take on what is one of only two rides dedicated to a single model in Australia (the Yamaha WR250R Rally being the other), and perhaps the only dedicated 701 ride in the world. THE MERRIJIG LOOP — 205KM The first day couldn’t have been met with better weather. The sun was shining, the morning was brisk but not too cold, and the 701s all fired up in anticipation of what was to…

01 LOOKS Let’s be honest, looks do matter and Yamaha clearly kept that in mind during the creation of the 2019 WR450F. Using the proven YZ450F design and styling as a base for the new-generation machine, Yamaha’s latest enduro star was off to a great start right away. Being based off its motocross sibling, the bike looks fast standing still and the now signature Yamaha blue alloy rims really set the bike off and allow it to stand out from the crowd. The redesigned headlight and minimalistic brake light also suit the bike’s updated styling perfectly, creating an absolute crowd pleaser every time you roll it out of the shed. Looking to impress your mates and anyone else you pass out on the trails? The 2019 Yamaha WR450F will definitely…