02/05/03

Excellent column! Thank you! our whole household enjoys your stories.

Eric M. Romanoff and Family

02/10/03

Kim, I wanted to say that your piece on the Utah Life Flight hit home for me. I
am a Dirt Biker, and a ATVer. I am also a certified aircraft mechanic and a
avid model helicopter builder/flyer. I have many friends that are Medivac
crew members across the country and I always get a cold chill when one goes
down, hoping that I don't get a call saying that one of my friends is gone.
Your sister is a hero, every day. You should be most proud of her (as I am
sure you are)! I really don't think that most people realize how many lives
are saved by rescue helicopters and their crews, hopefully your article will
open some of their eyes.

Nice Work.

Dave Bottita
Las Vegas, Nv

02/12/03

We all get a kick out of these great articles...... This lady is a realllllly talented writer.

Her sense of humor is outstanding and she seems to be a really cool person.....keep up the good work

Joe Martin

02/03/02

I would like to learn more about the K-turn and the kick-stand pivot turns mentioned (but not described) in this article by Ron Sobchik.

Thanks,
Lance Heaton

Lance - Thanks for bring this up! I learned something today which will save me a lot of pain! I will insert a sidebar into the article

- Editor

The kick stand pivot is pretty simple really. Assuming that you have a sturdy side kick stand, and you are on a surface that is solid (or can find a rock or other support to put under the kick stand so it wont sink into the ground), you merely pivot the bike up onto the side stand so that it is the only part touching the ground and then walk the bike around the pivot. You will find that this really beats trying to muscle the bike around on a tight trail against the drag of the tire. The bike is somewhat precariously balanced on the single point so you have to use some judgment about where to do such a turn, and if someone is there to steady the bike while you do the pivot, that is certainly a safer way to go.

As far as the K-turn (I don't know why it's called a K turn), that addresses the difficulty that most riders have when they stall the bike climbing a hill, and need to get turned around and headed back down. The major difficulty is the rider is forced to dismount in order to turn the motorcycle, and suddenly has no control of the rear brake. The front too lightly loaded to offer a lot of traction and the rider winds up using a lot of muscle and struggling with his own footing to overcome this. In the K turn, you basically leave the bike in gear ( usually this is a lower gear) when it stalls, and use the engine compression modulated by the clutch to control the rear tire of the motorcycle. Suddenly you have a front and a rear brake, both controlled from the handlebars, when you can reach them while you are struggling on the side of the hill. This little trick makes the tasking of turn the bike around and aiming it back down the hill much more doable than if you are trying to control it with only the front brake.

Ron

02/12/03

Mike, My dealer just let me know that my 2003 WR 450 was ready for pick up. Parting with my 2002 isn't easy, it has an FMF Qseries/Powerbomb with YZ timing which gives it alot of bottom end. At least my brother in law is buying it, so it'll be in the family.

I would be interested in seeing the following dyno comparison:

RPM | 2002 WR Stock | 2003 WR 450 Stock | 2003 WR 450/Big Gun Exhaust

Best Regards,

Bill Loveys

We'll see what we can do - but don't hold your breath for all of it.

- Editor

02/12/03

Just out of curiosity are you aware of the large number of woodruff key failures new WR owners are experiencing. My bike is #1321 and the key failed almost immediately. There are two other WR's here in Memphis, TN which bit the dust today. Besides this problem the bike seems to have great potential. The suspension is awesome right out of the box(6'2" 215lbs) but the jetting is extremely lean to start with even with the restrictor plug in the exhaust. Removing the plug which most WR owners are doing myself included results in an overly loud bike. A friends YZF with stock exhaust is even quieter. I would like to see some test of quieter performance exhaust.

For the record I have the following mods on my bike:

• GPR upper triple clamp, bar mounts and dampner
• Pro Taper woods bend
• Moose bark busters mounted to Amp tripple clamp mount
• DSP carbon fiber lower and upper fork guards
• E-line carbon skid plate
• Zip-Ty fuel screw, shark fin,chain guide and magnetic drain plug
• Guts tall seat foam & gripper cover
• Devol radiator guards
• Jetting- #160 main, #48 pilot, #72 starter jet,fuel screw 1 &1/2 turns with stock needle in stock clip position
• Pirelli tires mt44 front & mt16 rear

I look forward to future reports on the bike.

Thanks

Tripp Volz
Memphis TN

Please see the following article for more information on the Woodruff Key failures: http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/projects/wr450f/tech/tips/

A test on a quieter exhaust system is coming.

- Editor

02/18/03

any idea what the timing change is going to cost (new yz 450 cam)????

do you think the exhaust changeout would be a good enuff power mod or is there substantial hp increase by doing the pipe and the timing. reason i ask is that this is starting to get a little pricey for both mods.

if you had to do one mod what would you choose.

thanx for your time and advice. excellent website by the way!!!!


chris jepsen
edmonton,alberta, canada

We will post what we know when we get more info.

-Editor

2/20/03

Good review. But in California, and everywhere else where riding areas are in danger, the single most important feature of a new off road bike is whether or not it has been "green stickered", or certified green sticker eligible. Who cares if it's easy to start or light if you cannot ride it. Duh. I suggest putting pressure on the manufacturers to certify their bikes - KTM can do it on a small budget - and thus avoid handing a ready made, unrebuttable argument to those groups opposed to off road motorized recreation. After all, the environmental concerns of these groups can be defeated with technology and effort, but that technology must come from the manufacturers who put in the effort to put their riders' best interests (and thereby their own) first. My friend has a WR426 with a loud exhaust, and it's just a ridiculous set up. Manufacturers and even the AMA should wise up and wake up. Nobody needs loud, pollution emitting machines on public property. Until these concerns are met, we can all watch the sun set on our riding areas as they are forced to close. While these manufacturers can opt to build tennis rackets, golf clubs or stereo equipment, we cannot as easily invent new areas on which to ride. While they can sell their machines overseas or in other countries, we can not let them abandon our loyal riders here in California and the US. That's why the most serious and dangerous flaw in Yamaha's R & D of the WR450 represents a dagger in the heart of off road riding. When a major manufacturer creates a marquee product that gives the bird to the reality of riding regulations, then we can all blame ourselves for not demanding better.

While I appreciate your enthusiasm for the sport and understand your anger concerning these important issues, you have some misapprehensions that need correcting. To the best of my knowledge:

1. The bike, as every other Motorcycle and Automobile sold in the United States, conforms to EPA regulations in both noise and emissions. While these regulations started to include emissions for off-road bikes in 2000, most manufacturers already adhered to the same practices for street bikes with their off-road four stroke motorcycles, excluding CV carburetion. Honda even spent a tremendous amount of R & D on making two strokes much cleaner burning.
2. California is the only state which currently requires a higher standard. By 2006, manuafacturers will have to meet new requirements only slightly less extreme than California's, see: http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/releases/2002/g02029.asp
   
3. The WR 426 '02 models were designed and manufactured prior to July 2001 - before the tougher 2002 CARB restrictions were in place.
   
4. From Yamaha; the bike has a "butt plug" - if you will pardon the expression - that severely restricts noise (and performance) - much lower than the required 96dBa. What the owner does after delivery is not the responsibility of Yamaha or any other manufacturer. See the "fine print" on the exhaust itself: http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/projects/wr450f/2003_02/ti-pipe.jpg.
   
5. Yamaha manufactures a replacement insert - the GYT-R (part number GYT-5TJ93-75-00) which brings the noise below 96dBa while providing full open exhaust performance. So while the bike does not come with the out-of-the-box exhaust we expect from KTM, it does provide a low cost option. Most other manufacturers provide a junk system that needs to be replaced entirely.
   
6. The AMA is indeed recommending less noise to manufacturers, and has taken a stance against excessive noise for many years - starting first with street bikes like cruisers and "crotch rockets" which have user installed aftermarket "open" or performance exhausts. See: http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/positions/noise.asp
   
7. From The BlueRibbon Coalition referring to the new California (CARB) restrictions: http://www.sharetrails.org/index.cfm?page=42&story=82
   "This new law was enacted with the support of the BlueRibbon Coalition, the American Motorcyclist Association, all of the California AMA Districts, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the California Motorcycle Dealers Association, and the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA)."
   
8. The BlueRibbon Coalition has been working with aftermarket performance exhaust companies like Big Gun to make lower noise systems.

At this time the pressure is already on, and manufacturers are responding, some very proactively. It makes no business sense for a manufacturer to ignore these signs, as the American market is extremely important to their business.

By the way - I love KTMs too, but I ride a Suzuki RM250 myself.

- Editor

"KTM can do it on a small budget - and thus avoid handing a ready made, unrebuttable argument to those groups opposed to off road motorized recreation."

Hold on, this might be a can of worms. According to folks in the industry I
talked with - KTM's might not meet the "real" requirements. The government
doesn't check to see if green sticker bikes actually meet requirements.

"Nobody needs loud, pollution emitting machines on public property."

Spodeboy has let you know about this...

That's why the most serious and dangerous flaw in Yamaha's R & D of the WR450 represents a dagger in the heart of off road riding. When a major manufacturer creates a marquee product that gives the bird to the reality of riding regulations, then we can all blame ourselves for not demanding better.

Dude, my sources tell me the only reason the WR450 does not get a green
sticker is due to the fact that some lawyers couldn't get the paper work
done in time. FWIW- you emit more pollution getting your bike to the riding
area then your 4-stokes does in 3 rides.

Mike Hobbs

02/13/03

Hello, My name is Dale Lineaweaver. I have been contracted to modify an 03 CRF 450R to be campaigned in the FUSA Pro-Singles national Dirttrack Series. I read with great interest your intention of using an Amp-Link system on your project 450. Did you indeed complete said project and if so what information may you share with me regarding the Amp-Link?

Thank you in advance for your anticipated reply.

Kind regards,
Dale Lineaweaver
Lineaweaver Research and Development
Phone / Fax: 510 223-9052

Kevin Gorny looked into this.

-Editor

Yeah I did, it just never got off the ground. The creator (a friend of mine) isn't really too interested in making those for public use. He had the intention, but is getting too busy with the auto industry that his company is more involved in (Amp-Research).

Kevin Gorzny

02/21/03

I'm considering either the CRF 230 or the XR 250First Pros/cons? I haven't ridden for many years and am looking for mild recreation in the CA desert. Thoughts?

David King
Del Mar, CA

David,

Don't get me wrong, I think the CRF230F is a great bike, but it is intended for a completely different type of riding than the XR250R. The fact that Honda has bestowed it's CRF designation on this bike is a bit of a red herring. It is more similar to the XR200R than the XR250R, and certainly not comparable to the CRF450R in any way.

The XR250R is aimed at a more serious crowd, with fully adjustable front and rear compression and rebound, longer suspension travel (10.6" front and rear compared to 9'' rear, 9.5" front,) sturdier frame and suspension (41mm compared to 37mm front forks), front and rear disk brakes, four valve heads, and a lighting coil with head and tail lights. Both bikes have six speed transmissions, but the engine design is like night and day - the XR250R motor is built tougher and boasts higher compression than the 230.

While I have known people to race the XR200Rs in the local enduros, they are intended as a playbikes - which may be more along the lines you are looking for. The CRF230F is a step up from the 200 with the addition of electric start (the only off-road Honda currently in production to have it, aside from the XR650L DualSport,) front disk brakes (over drums on both for the XR200R), larger rear wheel - 18" compared to 17" (XR250R also has 18'.)

I guess the question is how hard are you going to ride it? Both are extremely reliable - no problem there - but the XR250R has less limitations.

- Editor

02/17/03

William, I was wanting to know if I could ask you for some direction or help on a trip that my son John and I would like to come to Colorado to do. We have been traveling all over the West and Northwest and everywhere we go, we always say the same thing, I wish I had our dirtbikes. Well this year we want to do it. We would like to find somewhere that we can camp with our motorhome and ride up into the high country and explore mining towns. I am having such a hard time looking this winter for info. Can you help us?

If not Ouray, where would you suggest?

Thanks for any info you could provide us.

John, There are a tremendous amount of opportunities out here, and just about everyone has something different to suggest. Ouray has some amazing trails - geared mostly for the 4x4s - but you do see bikers on them! I highly recommend getting the The Motorcycle Trails of Colorado" from L&M Productions for planning your vacation:

Colorado Off Highway Vehicle Coalition
http://www.cohvco.org/
http://cohvco.org/trailguide/index.htm Trails

Also: Rules etc... State park rules etc apply to federal lands - You need an
OHV permit or street legal plate - also a spark arrestor
http://www.parks.state.co.us/OHV/

The Motorcycle Trails of Colorado
http://www.lmproductions.com/L&M2.htm Guides
http://www.lmproductions.com/L&M5.htm Maps

Trails Illustrated: Excellent Topo Maps - have trails by use
http://www.trailsillustrated.com/acb/Category.cfm?&DID=15&CATID=10

- Editor

02/16/03

Once again a great article from Rick! This article represents a clear case for "experience does matter".

02/18/03

I own a 2002 YZ426 and love it. I had a 1999 WR400 fully uncorked and loved it but my '02 YZ426 is much better everywhere. My brother in law has a 2001 and 2002 YZ250F and I have ridden both and think they are great. I have friends with 2002 and 2003 WR250F's and I just bought a 2003 YZ250F so I have some experience with YZ's and WR's. I have extensively ridden all these bikes in the California Desert on sand washes, rocky technical goat trails, big hill climbs and dirt roads.

For climbing steep long hill climbs with loose sand, the YZ426 or CRF450 are best and easiest to climb with.

For going as fast as you can on a single track trails of dirt, sand or rocks in the California Desert the YZ250F is the best and easiest bike I have ever ridden either going up hill or down. It is so flickable and easy to control that everything, other then climbing huge sand hill climbs, is easy, fun and fast. You feel like a much better rider on the 250F. Since I spend so little time climbing big hills, I am thinking of selling my 426 and getting another 250F because it is soooooooo much fun to ride.

After spending several days on my new YZ250F, I had a chance to ride a fully uncorked 2002 WR250 and a 2003 WR250 with some mods done. I found the YZ250F to be a much much better bike with regards to handling, power, control, balance, basically everything. After riding the YZ250F, the WR250's felt sluggish, low on power, I couldn't find the right gear and the steering felt slow. Basically the suspension was better than an 2002 XR250, which is a bike I just sold to buy the YZ250F, but everything else was a disappointment compared to the YZ250F. I had tried to talk my daughter into letting me buy her a 2003 WR250F but she absolutely did not want an electric start bike. She is only 5'4" and is 13 years old. She loves her new YZ and can start it without a problem. She can also start my 426 easily. What a girl!

After riding an '03 WR250F and being able to compare it side by side with my 2003 YZ250F, I am so so glad my daughter wanted the YZ. My son and I both ride a 2002 YZ426 and we both prefer the YZ250F.

By the way, I also have an XR650L which is great for going fast on dirt roads but that is about all it does well.

For 95% of where I ride off-road, the YZ250F is the best bike I have ever ridden in the past 10 years. It won't go 110 MPH down a dirt road, but then again, I never do that.

You say the WR250 is fast but I say it is slow and disappointing compared to the YZ250F. Maybe that is not a fair comparison but I had exclusively ridden enduro bikes for 9 years before getting my '02 YZ426. I am 51 years old and have been riding motorcycles since I was 15. After getting used to the YZ, it made me wish I had spent the last 10 years riding YZ's or CR's instead of XR's.

I have some other friends who ride KTM 525's and they have also found a close ratio transmission is much more fun than wide ratio for 95% of where we ride. KTM's MXC is a great combination bike between an enduro and a motocross bike. I used to be one of the slower riders on my WR or XR. But now with my YZ250F, no one in the group I ride with can out run me.

The YZ's and WR's are from two completely different worlds and I am not sure many people know this. If your speed is slow to medium buy a WR or XR. But if you want to get faster and enjoy the thrill of speed and control, get a YZ.

Jim Dueck