SKID E-Z - single-bolt chassis skid

The Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha YFZ450R motocross quad features many of the ATV industry's most trick and top of-the-line products, including some brand-spanking new parts being designed specifically for this build.

One of the slickest products we're running on the TPR project YFZ450R comes from B-Tek Performance based in Syracuse, N.Y.

B-Tek is sponsoring the project with their new SKID E-Z full chassis aluminum skid plate. This chassis skid plate is like no other on the market. The trick part about this skid plate is its single-bolt mounting system.

See anything strange about this skid plate? Only one bolt holds the B-Tek SKID E-Z chassis skid plate in place. In six years of testing, the company has experienced no failures.

Bill Barth, the co-founder of B-Tek Performance, explained the single-bolt mounting system to TPR and how it works on the YFZ450R.

Aluminum brackets at the back of the skid plate near the rear frame rail slide into the frame itself, and a single bolt located near the front of the frame keeps everything tight. Barth said he's been testing the SKID E-Z for the past six years with A-level motocross riders in New York and the SKID E-Z has not experienced one failure. The welds have held up and the test models have never come loose.

The SKID E-Z is superior to other chassis skid plates that require six to eight bolts or more, plus cumbersome brackets, to keep the skid plate in place. Those systems require a lot of wrenching to remove and install and often loosen up.

Barth said his SKID E-Z installs and removes in seconds without the hassle of standing the quad on its grab bar.

"It’s been just an amazing discovery I’ve come across, because I’ve used traditional style skid plates where you’ve got to fight either with the nuts and bolts or the aluminum clasps," Barth said. "The last thing you want is to have to fight with a skid plate."

B-Tek's SKID E-Z is available for most popular sport quad brands, including KTM, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki.

Check out B-Tek Performance online at http://www.webspawner.com/users/btekperf/

Under Construction - project update

We're getting closer to unveiling the Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha YFZ450R.

Right now, some of the performance parts from TPR are under construction. Fox Shox are also in the midst of building and setting up the suspension for the TPR project YFZR to match the ATV Four Play a-arms.

For those of you who don't know, Tarantula Performance Racing has been putting together its project Yamaha motocross quad for the past three months by assembling products and sponsors. We've been recording the progress of the build here. Click through the blog archives and sponsor links at the right to see the evolution of the TPR project YFZ450R and its sponsors.

We've been keeping the actual quad under wraps, but look for detailed photos and write-ups of the build and the ride review in the next few weeks.

Check out the post below for a quick summary of the build and comparison to QUAD magazine's GYT-R prepped YFZR.

Aftermarket versus the Factory

In their August issue, QUAD magazine tested a full GYT-R prepped YFZ450R loaded with performance parts bearing the factory brand. The QUAD YFZ450R provides an interesting comparison to the completely aftermarket prepped Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R.

In 2009, an interesting debate has surfaced. Thanks to Yamaha, you can now buy a YFZ450R, which is one of the most track-ready ATVs available, and purchase a host of GYT-R products from your local dealer to make your quad a truly competitive motocross racer. But will these 'factory' performance parts stand up to the tried-and-true performance all but guaranteed from the aftermarket companies, which kept the sport alive during the factories' absence in the 1990s?

Let's compare and see how a 'factory' quad really stacks up to its 'aftermarket' competition!

Engine

ATP Racing Engines machined our head and installed our engine performance parts.

Let's start with the engine. Florida-based ATP Racing Engines took the stock Yamaha YFZ450R, which cranked out 44 horspower to start, and obtained a 20 percent power increase with a combination full Motoworks SR4 exhaust, Motoworks FMI, Twin-Air Power Flow filter and intake, JE piston and aftermarket cams plus port work.

ATP installed our Motoworks SR4 full exhaust and Twin-Air Powerflow air filter system.

ATP then dialed it all in on their dyno. Now, the TPR project YFZ450R makes 52 horsepower on an engine that was built for reliability and not to push the envelope. All this came with a price tag of about $1,500.

ATP used Motoworks' FMI tuner, which sells for less than the GYT-R ECU, to dial all the engine work in on their dyno at an affordable price.

The TPR project YFZ450R already has the GYT-R version beat in the price department. The GYT-R head alone costs $2,246. If you include the factory equivalent of all the engine performance parts we installed, the price tag on the 'factory' motor tops out above $3,500 in parts alone.

QUAD magazine didn't include dyno numbers on its project, but we're willing to bet both their model and the TPR project YFZ450R are even in the power department despite ATP holding back and not pushing the engine's limits in order to keep our quad reliable.

Suspension and Chassis

There's no doubt the TPR project YFZ450R has its 'factory' competition beat in the suspension department. Granted, the stock suspension on the new YFZR is some of the best available straight from the factory. The quad comes at 49 inches wide and features 11 inches of rear travel and 9.8 inches up front with hi- and low-speed compression, rebound and pre-load adjustments.

RPM signed on to sponsor the TPR YFZ450R with a Dominator II Axle, which is adjustable and allows us to widen the quad to 50 inches.

Now the TPR project YFZ450R measures in at an even 50 inches wide thanks to our ATV Four Play MGC long-travel a-arms and RPM Dominator II axle. We also upgraded the front suspension with Fox Float X Evol shocks, which will give us 10.5 inches of travel up front. A Fox Podium X rear shock is bolted on to the TPR project YFZ450R stock swingarm and linkage.

Fox Shox Float X Evol fronts (above) and Podium X rear (below) are far superior to the stock YFZR shocks. The Floats also weigh about half as much as the stock shocks and increase the travel considerably with the addition of ATV Four Play a-arms.

In the suspension department, the TPR project YFZ450R will be able to tackle whoops, corners and big hits smoother and faster than the 'factory' version thanks to our aftermarket sponsors. And the money saved by choosing ATP over the 'factory' engine will allow you to upgrade the suspension on your new Yamaha.

Tires and Wheels

DWT's Champion in a Box kit helped Dustin Wimmer win the title last year.

The Tarantula Performance Racing project YFZ450R features Douglas Wheel Technologies' Champion in a Box wheel kit, which includes two rear Ultimate G2 beadlock wheels, two Rok'N Lock front beadlock wheels, four mud caps and a DWT hat. The Champion in a Box kit retails for about $600, which is a great price for four of the industry's best beadlock wheels. We wrapped those wheels with Maxxis Razr MX soft-compound front and rear tires, which carry a combined price tag of about $250.

Pictured are Maxxis' medium-compound Razr MX rears and Razr Cross fronts. We're also running Maxxis' soft-compound Razrs front and rear on the TPR project YFZ450R.

For less than $900, the TPR project YFZ450R features a set of wheels and tires that helped Dustin Wimmer win the AMA ATV National Motocross Championship last year.

On the flip side, the QUAD magazine GYT-R Yamaha tire and wheel set up costs more than $1,000 (depending upon which tires you choose) and only includes a standard rim up front. Adding to that, the 'factory' tires have yet to prove themselves and help win a motocross championship.

Nerfs and Bumpers

Pictured is the youth version of the Race Safe TPR nerf bars. A version of these will run on the TPR project YFZ450R for adult quads.

The 'factory' quad doesn't stand a chance here. Tarantula Performance Racing offers customization options for its front bumpers, so racers can add their name, number and sponsor logos to their interchangeable center plate. Point aftermarket. TPR offers endless color choices for its nerfs and bumpers. Point aftermarket. The TPR front bumper and nerf bars retail for less than the 'factory' options. Point aftermarket.

The TPR Race Safe front bumper, pictured on a youth DRR ATV, features a removable and completely customizable center plate.

TPR also offers a much safer nerf bar option for the YFZ450R. The TPR line of Race Safe nerf bars feature a pocket for the rider's feet to keep a competitor's wheels out and the rider safely planted in the saddle.

Accessories and Controls

The 'factory' accessory options are limited for the YFZ450R to a few anodized plugs, plastic glide plates and bland graphic kits.

Aftermarket accessory options are virtually limitless. For the TPR project YFZ450R, we stuck to the basics. Our quad will feature a graphic kit from Racing Armor, a B-Tek performance aluminum skid plate, Cycra hand guards, Spider grips, CV4 hoses, a Hinson billet clutch cover, Galfer stainless brake lines and a Quadtech seat cover.

A Hinson clutch pack will be protected by their billet clutch cover.

The accessory options on the TPR project YFZ450R come at a minimal price but add huge performance gains. The Quadtech seat cover features additional padding compared to the stock cover and has better grip and style.

The CV4 hoses are manufactured from pure silicone and will help keep our engine cooler than the stock hoses and hold up to higher temperatures longer.


The Galfer stainless brake lines will hold their shape longer than the stock rubber lines and will improve performance.

Our Spider grips are much more comfortable than stock, and the Cycra Stealth handguards will keep our digits safer than racing without guards. And the aluminum B-Tek skid plate installs with only one bolt and will protect our frame and engine cases better than the GYT-R plastic guard.



Conclusion

Yamaha continues to advance the racing market for sport ATVs with this year's release of the new YFZ450R. And the GYT-R line of performance products and accessories help take the sport to new heights by giving a rider the option to literally go straight from the dealer to the starting line.

But the factory still has a long way to go.

The aftermarket engine work on the TPR project YFZ450R is much more affordable than the same level 'factory' mods available. And the money saved can help pay for the suspension components needed to keep up with the increased horsepower.

With today's economy, the aftermarket offers the more affordable option to improve the performance of your YFZ450R.

Bread 'N Butter - full service shop

Who doesn't like to play with fire? Especially when that fire wields the power to mold metal...

At Tarantula Performance Racing, we provide a host of services designed specifically for the casual ATV rider and the full-on racer. In several posts, I'll be explaining in detail some of the products and services TPR offers to ATV owners as a full-service ATV aftermarket parts manufacturer.

For this post, we'll start with frame repair and gusset installation.

Want to learn how to make your quad's frame look like this? Read on to find out how.

'What's a gusset?' ... you might ask. A gusset, when properly installed, can significantly prolong the intervals between when you are forced to repair cracks in your frame or replace the frame and subframe altogether.

Here are just a few pieces in one of Tarantula Performance Racing's many gusset kits offered for sport ATVs.

TPR gussets are manufactured pieces of steel 1/8-inch thick that are designed to fit precisely into nooks and crannies of your ATV frame. At TPR, each gusset is precision cut on a laser bed for the same exact fit every time.

The top picture shows the TPR gussets installed for the lower frame shock mount on a Yamaha Banshee. Below is a picture of the same gusset after the frame has been powdercoated.

A certified welder installs each gusset at TPR by welding the part into the frame rail. The end result is a much stronger-than-stock frame joint. And that means your quad's frame will hold up to more abuse longer without showing signs of stress.

Here, a TPR gusset was installed where the lower frame rail meets the front of the frame by the lower a-arm mount.

Multiple gussets are included in each gusset kit and vary in number depending upon the quad model. On average, gusset kits for sport ATVs range between 15 and 20-plus pieces. TPR offers gusset kits for a variety of performance ATVs, including the Yamaha Raptor 660R, Blaster, Warrior and Banshee, the legendary Honda 250R and TRX450R and Suzuki's LTR450 and Z400 among other models.

Pictured is the TPR gusset kit for the legendary Honda TRX250R.

The first step to installing a gusset kit is to completely strip the paint off the frame by sandblasting or media blasting the metal. As a full-service shop, TPR can take your frame, sandblast it and install the kit. After the kit is installed, the next step is to have the frame powdercoated to protect the welds and frame rails from corrosion. TPR also offers a nearly unlimited number of options for powdercoat colors and styles, including metal flake and texture finishes.

Some gusset kit makers cut their gussets on a band saw, or worse, with a plasma cutter. Those methods can result in an imperfect gusset, which leads to an incorrect installation and can result in a frame failure. At TPR, each gusset is precision laser cut and installed by certified welders before your frame receives a powdercoat treatment that will make your quad the envy of all your riding pals.

Want to get creative? The sky's the limit at TPR, as shown by the gussets installed on the 'Spyder Quad' frame.

Need to strengthen your new frame? Want a trick-looking finish? The next time you experience a frame failure, make it your last and contact TPR at http://www.tprusa.com/

Factory Yamaha YFZ450R

The Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha 2009 YFZ450R may not be a Factory Yamaha quad, but this project will certainly rival the quads of the motocross racers pitting out of the Yamaha trailer at the AMA ATV nationals.

Between Yamaha's two riders, the TPR quad will share many parts in common with Yamaha's factory motocross race quads. With that in mind, I thought I'd share some of my photos of the Factory Yamaha motocross racers, Pat Brown and Thomas Brown, in action on this year's national circuit. Enjoy!

Pat Brown airs out a table at Unadilla.

Thomas Brown charges out of a corner at Unadilla.

We have to try and convince Thomas Brown to start running TPR nerf bars and bumpers. The TPR project YFZ450R will premiere TPR's line of Race Safe nerf bars and front bumpers for adult sport ATVs and are a much safer alternative for the rider than any other quad body components. Brown retains most of his sponsors from his championship season last year in the Pro-am class, including Fox Shox and Maxxis.

Pat Brown primarily runs Genuine Yamaha Techonology Racing (GYT-R) components on his motocross-prepped YFZ450R, including engine, exhaust and body components.

In the pits, Paul Turner spins the wrenches for Pat Brown. Here he's in the middle of an axle change.

Pat Brown runs an Ohlins/JB Racing front end. The TPR project YFZ450R will be more like Thomas Brown's set up with Fox Float X Evol's up front and a Podium X rear shock. The TPR YFZ450R will run ATV Four Play a-arms and, like the factory racers, a stock swingarm with an RPM axle.

This picture shows two of the sponsors the TPR project YFZ450R has in common with Pat Brown's quad - CV4 hoses and Maxxis tires. Like the factory racers, we're also running a Quadtech seat cover.

Check out the Sponsor Links on the right side of the blog for a full parts list on the TPR project YFZ450R.

TPR Young Guns on Top

Three Tarantula Performance Racing sponsored youth racers are currently sitting in the top three in points in their respective classes in the national motocross and dirt track ATV series.

Six-year-old Trevor Thatcher of Swanton, Ohio, is currently leading the points race in the 70cc production class in the 2009 Duro Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals. Thatcher is leading after taking the overall class win at the first two rounds.

Thatcher powers through a corner on his flat-track prepped TPR/Fierce Powersports DRX ATV.

Thatcher also is leading a local series on his Fierce Powersports/TPR DRR DRX 50 and 70cc quads. In the OMI Outlaw series, Thatcher is in first place in the 50cc stock, 70cc stock, 70cc production and 51-90cc modified classes.

At the motocross nationals, two young TPR riders are in contention for class championships as the series begins to wind down.

Seven-year-old Hunter Skladzien, of Wadsworth, Ohio, is currently third in points in the 70cc CVT class in the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Nationals. Skladzien took the overall at the start of the amateur season at the Mill Creek Spring Nationals in Pell City, Ala., in March on his ATV Four Play/TPR DRR DRX 70.

Skladzien hammers it past the starting gate at Unadilla.

Hunter has battled an arm injury for several rounds, but he remains just nine points behind second place and 16 points back from first with three rounds left to go in the series.

Anderson, Ind., youth racer Caston McConnell sits in third in the 90cc CVT class in the AMA ATV Motocross Nationals. McConnell took the overall at the fourth round race at Sunset Ridge in Walnut, Ill., and finished second overall at the second round race at Balance Moto X in Bowling Green, Ky., on his ATV Four Play/TPR DRR DRX 90.

McConnell blasts a berm at Unadilla.

All three riders are running TPR’s Race Safe front bumper and grab bar, which are designed to reduce the risk of serious injury to a rider during a crash. Both McConnell and Thatcher also run TPR’s Race Safe nerf bars, which help protect a rider’s lower body from competitors’ wheels while improving their grip on the quad.