Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Transworld Motocross

“THE SCIENCE OF TODAY IS THE TECHNOLOGY OF TOMORROW.”- EDWARD TELLER What a time to be a dirt biker! The first few 2019 test bikes have already begun to make their way into our eager clutches. As jaded as I’ve become about new bikes over the past 25 years, I find myself genuinely excited about what the new model year has to offer. Electronic fuel injection, hydraulic clutches, electric start, ignition launch mode, traction control, variable mapping, and smartphone comparability? This is the same stuff that was straight out of The X-Files when I first started riding. Oh, and let’s not even get into the Alta Motors electric motorcycle. At the risk of dating myself, the first motocross bike I bought with my own money was a 1987 Honda CR250R.…

HAMMERHEAD DESIGNS PARAGON TITANIUM FOOT PEGS What It Is Hammerhead Designs is best known for its aluminum accessories that allow you to customize the fit of your dirt bike. In recent years they also began to dabble in the high-end foot peg market, and the all-new Paragon Titanium Foot Pegs are some of the coolest we’ve ever seen. Hits The hand-welded titanium construction is gorgeous, and the welds are flawless. The titanium teeth are absolutely wicked, and the super-aggressive pegs yield maximum traction for your boots. The extra-wide (60mm) platform is much appreciated in G-outs and hard landings, as they offer much more support than stock. Depending on your bike, these babies weigh up to 60 percent less than standard steel foot pegs. Titanium return springs are included, and they…

Motocross riding gear has come a long way since the early days of real leather pants and football shoulder pads in the late 1960s. Heck, moto gear has come a long way in the past five years! In 2012, the now-defunct apparel brand One Industries debuted its line of Vapor Racewear, which was unlike anything motocross had ever seen. Extremely lightweight and built almost entirely of four-way stretch materials, the pant, jersey, and gloves were marketed as high-performance riding apparel for racing applications only. Though the concept was greeted with some skepticism at first, the idea of minimalist, lightweight, and super-stretchy riding apparel has been embraced by almost every major apparel manufacturer today. Furthermore, the cut of riding gear has become much more tailored and form fitting, with a much…

There are certain motorcycle events that make you shake your head in disbelief and wonder how they even came to be—races that don’t make sense to most mere mortals, yet still have countless willing competitors chomping at the bit to partake in the madness. Enter the Red Bull Erzberg Rodeo, which started in 1995 and runs all over and around an enormous active iron ore mine in Eisenerz, Austria, that shuts down only once per year for the legendary race. Each year Erzberg plays host to around 2,000 riders that range from weekend warriors to the most skilled bike handlers in the world. Respect is earned, not given. If you’re willing to enter and ride this stuff, you’re already gnarlier than most, and only a select few even finish the…

No matter your age, ability, or experience on a dirt bike, if you’ve ever been in any sort of points battle amidst a series of races, then you’ll likely understand the importance of staying focused over the course of the entire series. Whether it be five rounds at your local racetrack in the Novice class or the extensive 12-round Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, maintaining focus is the difference maker in winning races and racking up points. However, it can prove to be extremely challenging at times with so many distractions and variables thrown into the mix. Staying focused and maintaining consistency is essentially the name of the game in motocross racing. If you need living proof of this, look no further than four-time Supercross champ Ryan Dungey. Since he…

It’s well known that the popular cycle for Japanese motocross bike manufacturers consists of three production years. The first year, an all-new machine is released. This is usually followed up by two years of subtle refinements before another major change can be expected. On this schedule, the 2019 Yamaha YZ450F is in its first year of refinement, having been debuted as a completely revamped machine in 2018. In last year’s TransWorld Motocross 450 Shootout, the ’18 YZ450F was praised for many things, including its amazing powerplant, class-best suspension package, smartphone connectivity, and improved cornering characteristics. In fact, more than one tester liked the big blue machine best. There were some testers, however, that still felt that the YZ’s front-end was a bit vague, especially when exiting corners under power, and…

While nearly every major off-road motorcycle manufacturer has dropped a 125cc two-stroke from their line-ups, it’s surprising to see Beta enter the not-so-competitive class with a completely new machine, the 125 RR. Like many Italian automotive companies, Beta likes to do things their own way, and their take on the small-bore smoker features a number of innovative designs on the chassis and engine, along with components from renowned suppliers and aftermarket brands. With the launch of the new model, it would have been understandable if Beta went wild with “modern” features like an electric starter or direct injection of the fuel and oil, but in order to keep cost and maintenance to a minimum, they stuck with the standard mechanical kickstarter and a Keihin PWK 36mm carburetor. With that said,…

It’s been exciting to watch TWMX Race Series regular Matt Hubert climb through the ranks. Only a couple seasons ago he was winning championships in the Novice class, and this year he made his Lucas Oil 450 MX National debut at Hangtown! Hubert actually quit racing for a few years back when he was on minis, as the pressure of training, practicing, and racing took its toll. “I wanted to do the same stuff that other kids my age were doing, and I was burned out,” Hubert said. In high school, the Riverside, California, native played on his high school football team, and the sport actually opened up some doors for him in the form of college scholarship offers. That all changed, though, when his high school formed a motocross…

Illinois isn’t exactly the hotbed of mountain biking, so it wasn’t until he relocated closer to the GEICO Honda race shop that second-year pro Chase Sexton began to cross-train in the hills of Southern California. “I started off training on a road bike because I’m from Illinois,” Sexton said. “So I’ve been pretty into road biking for some time now: interval days, recovery rides—all of it. But when I came out to California to train with the GEICO Honda team, that’s when I started to ride a mountain bike and it’s more fun, for sure! Plus, road biking in California is definitely sketchy with all the cars and the drivers on their phones.” Recently, Sexton was selected to be an ambassador for Intense Cycles, a Temecula, California-based brand that’s best…

For the most part, Japanese manufacturers stick to a three-year plan with each generation motocross bike. Year one for an all-new or significantly changed model is normally followed up by two years of refinements and small improvements. Based on that pattern, we expected the 2019 Kawasaki KX450 to be an all-new model, as the previous generation 450 was debuted in 2016. Back in April, we took a trip to Kumamoto, Japan, to check out the action and machinery at the All Japan National MX Championship series opener. And just as we had expected, the factory Kawasaki team had two all-new machines under the factory tent, piloted by Yoshitaka Arai and Makoto Ogata. Equipped with all-new chassis and bodywork, the SR450Fs that we saw in Japan also boasted electric start, hydraulic…

Ever since KTM launched its Factory Edition line, it’s been a great indicator of what technological and developmental advances will show up in the following year’s standard SX-F lineup. Though the Factory Edition 250 SX-F was dropped from the lineup for 2018 in order to accommodate the Rockstar Edition FC 450 launch by sister brand Husqvarna, the KTM Factory Edition 450 SX-F showed us exactly what to expect for the new 2019 250 SX-F. WHAT’S NEW Power is everything in the small-bore division, and raw horsepower is something that the little orange bike has always enjoyed plenty of. For 2019, the 250 SX-F engine has updates to the valve timing, exhaust system, airbox, airbox velocity stack, and 44mm Keihin throttle body. Thanks to KTM’s new MotoGP endeavors, advancements in ECU…

Growing up in the beautiful state of Colorado, it’s no surprise that Alta Motors’ Blake Nicholas took a liking to being outside. In the summer months he spent all the time he could at the motocross tracks and trails while the weather permitted. Making it to the B Class level racing local motocross, his love of wrenching and tinkering on his bikes grew at the same rate as his love for riding did. A unique and organic path is eventually what led him right into the very industry he admired, and his current role at Alta Motors is what he describes as a “dream gig” that he landed directly after receiving a bachelor’s degree in college. His path began with enrollment to Golden, Colorado’s School of Mines for mechanical engineering…