Kawasaki Brute Force 750 ATV

Kawasaki Brute Force 750 ATV is always impressive as the cruiser motor model 4x4i ($ 8,849), which extreme suitable form in all-terrain road. from the previous review in January 2010 version so I can not mention the details too much, but this unit is one of the favorite features is equipped with power plants ATV - Kawasaki liquid-cooled, 90-degree, fuel injected, 749cc V-Twin. Other highlights include dual A-arm front suspension, the suspension is fully independent dual A-arm rear, and 1,250 pounds of towing capacity impressive. For 2011 Brute Force 750 4x4i are available in a wide selection of attractive colors: Royal Dark Red, Green woodsman, and painted Ruby Red Metallic.

Video - Dustin Wimmer

ATVMXer300 shot this quick one-position video of Dustin Wimmer during a ride school he held earlier this year at Atco MX Park.

Joe Byrd returns to Honda

Honda backs Joe Byrd Racing for 2011

Honda is returning to the track in 2011 by once again supporting two-time national ATV MX champion Joe Byrd.

The level of support is unclear, but after a year without factory backing the professor has got to be happy. Here's what Honda said in a press release:

Joe Byrd Racing returns for its sixth season as the official support team for Honda in the 2011 AMA Pro ATV Motocross National Championship. Representing Honda in the Pro, Pro Am and Production A classes, the team has won multiple titles over the years and will continue racing Honda’s TRX450R in the ATV competition. “I’ve really enjoyed working with Honda over the years because we share the same professionalism and work ethic toward winning on and off the track,” said Joe Byrd, champion Honda racer and Joe Byrd Racing Team Owner. “Honda has treated me like family since day one, and I couldn’t see myself riding anything else. I look forward to 2011 and another exciting year of racing.”

Contingency Support
In 2011, Honda will continue its industry-leading contingency program. The Red Rider Rewards program will support racing all across the United States by offering contingency payouts to a wide range of Honda-mounted professional and amateur racers during the 2011 race season.

About Honda
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is the sole distributor of Honda motorcycles, scooters, ATVs and personal watercraft in the U.S. American Honda’s Motorcycle Division conducts the sales, marketing and operational activities for these products through authorized Honda dealers. For more information on Honda products, go to powersports.honda.com .

Video - Joel Hetrick helmet cam

I ran across this cool helmet cam video of Joel Hetrick practicing on his KFX450R at a supercross-style track on YouTube. It's a little old, but hey, it's the off season. Enjoy!

Video - MX Bumper install

For our 200th post, we've got video showing you how easy it is to mount up a TPR MX front bumper. Next time, we'll show you how easy the TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bars mount up thanks to our tight tolerances and dedication to precision. Be sure to become a subscriber of our YouTube channel where we'll post more videos like these at TPRquads.

   

TPR's new YouTube channel

Tarantula Performance Racing has gone mainstream with the launch of its new YouTube channel, TPRquads, this week.

TPR's first video, an overview of the Race Safer Pro Nerf Bars, is posted below. But be sure to follow the link and subscribe to TPRquads for updates on how-to features, product reviews and quad riding and racing action.

Nelson wins Quadcross; Yamaha dominates top 5

Yamaha's Dustin Nelson wins 
Quadcross title on his YFZR 


Yamaha riders dominate top 5

Dustin Nelson won the 2010 Yamaha ITP QuadCross Pro Production championship at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif. on Sunday, Nov. 14. Despite riding in pain with an injured tailbone, the Yamaha Factory Racing star swept both motos aboard his YFZ450R in a thrilling duel with series runner-up Beau Baron to take his fourth ITP QuadCross title in five years. Better still, Yamaha-mounted Justin Noss, Jason Dunkelberger and Jason Fife finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the championship. Dunkelberger added even more laurels for Yamaha on Sunday by winning the Open Pro championship with a perfect two-moto sweep aboard his own YFZ450R.

Nelson had a big enough points cushion going into the final round that technically, all he had to do was start the first Pro Production moto to claim the series title. But this was anything but assured after getting injured just two weeks prior to the Glen Helen finale. Fortunately, after open practice on Saturday, Nelson found he could tolerate the pain well enough to race. And race he did. Though rival Baron beat Nelson to the first turn in Sunday’s first moto, he soon dropped one wheel over a berm, giving Nelson the opportunity to grab the lead. Nelson then led the rest of the moto, but not by much – at the flag he had only a two-second advantage over Baron. More importantly though, Nelson had clinched the title.

With the championship assured, Nelson powered his Yamaha to the holeshot and led every lap of the second moto, once again over rival Baron. This time the battle was even closer, with Baron trying to steal the last race of the season and Nelson refusing to give in. When the checkers waved Nelson took the win by just half a bike length over Baron. Making matters even sweeter, Nelson’s 1-1 moto sweep and fourth ITP QuadCross championship came on his 33rd birthday. “My YFZ450R had strong, durable power all year long and the handling was epic at every track,” he said later. “That combination of great power and handling is rare in ATV racing, and it totally made the difference for us this year.” Yamaha off-road racing coordinator Donnie Luce added, “It’s very impressive that after sustaining a painful injury and being unable to practice or train, Dustin was able to come out and do what he had to do to win the title.”

Chad's new site

Team Motoworks/Can-Am's Chad Wienen recently freshened up his website, ChadWienen44.com. Check it out.

It's a vast improvement over his last website with videos, photos, news and events links. The only downside is his new website doesn't have the chat feature the last site did, which allowed visitors to have conversations with Chad and his fans.

Product Review - TPR Kill Switch Mount

TPR Tether Kill Switch Mount 


MSRP: $17.95

WHAT IS IT? Tarantula Performance Racing's Tether Kill Switch Mount bolts on to the stock Yamaha clutch perch in place of the factory parking brake lever. The tether mount fits most aftermarket tether kill switches, including Pro Design and Yamaha's own GYT-R tether kill switch. The mount is made of T-6061 aircraft grade aluminum and features a ribbed bend for added strength and bend resistance in the event of a get-off.

HITS: The TPR kill switch mount gives you a place to mount your kill switch on bars where space is a premium, such as narrow handlebars, fat bars and the new pivoting bars that don't offer much space. By the time you add handguards and new grips to most bars, space is at a premium and you're often left with nowhere to mount your tether kill switch, which is a requirement in almost all forms of ATV off-road racing. The mount includes high-grade stainless mounting hardware. Features a durable powdercoat finish.

MISSES: Currently only available for Yamaha-style stock clutch perch.

THE VERDICT: If you're struggling to find space for your kill switch on your Yamaha, then this mod will solve your problems.

RATING: 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10

Contact: www.tprusa.com  330-273-3456

Video - Charley McManigal and Team Trigger Racing

BShipmanFilms spotlights 24-year-old Charley McManigal and Team Trigger Racing in this YouTube video...

Video - Nathan Whipple

Keepin' 'em coming.... 201Films highlights no. 271 Nathan Whipple...

Video - Joe Byrd compound

After a few weeks of technical bugs, we're back up with a video from QuadSouthFilms highlighting some ATV motocross action from the Joe Byrd compound in August.

Follow Yamaha on your cell phone

Yamaha Goes Mobile

Get photos, specs, sales updates and other info about Yamaha off-road products from your smart phone online now!

Check out the new feature on their website at http://m.yamaha-motor.com/ 

New Off-Road Racing Series for 2011

The following is a statement from the promoters who organized the Official Extreme Dirt series here in the U.S.:

Dear Racers, Fans and Sponsors
First off we wanted to take a minute and congratulate each and every one of you racers on a victorious year of racing. Congratulations and we wish you all the best of luck in your many more years of racing to come!!

Next we would like to welcome you all to the newest national series. Super National Cross Country Championship. This series is going to spread through PA, WV, down to KY. Our plans are to go to hit the greatest and newest race places on I 79. You probably know us from the past we used to own The Official Extreme Dirt Series. We believe that we grew the series to get as big as it could for being a local series, however we wanted the local racers to continue supporting and carrying on the local series for many years to come. So we decided to pass what we built on a local series level to a former friend that assured us that he would continue the series as is and fulfill the remaining 2010 season, other wise we would have completed the 2010 season as promised just as I stated at my last race in Cutler OH. In the mean time we have decided to start the SNCCC and spread from state to state with it. We believe that it has opened up many more doors for the racing industry and we have met many more great smiling faces that love races in the process.

We are looking forward to a great and successful race season in 2011. We hope to see you all there, on fresh new dirt! You can check out the web site at http://www.supernationalracing.com/

We hope you enjoy your off season and holidays with your families. Halloween is approaching fast. Spooky monsters, scary ghost, screaming witches, and crazy goblins. All sound like fun to us! Happy Halloween and God Bless!

Our 2011 race dates have been released; however the location will be released shortly! We will be racing All Quads and UTV's on Saturday and All Motorcycles on Sunday every weekend.

How-To Tip: Battery Life

SAVE YOUR BATTERY
FROM WINTER'S
ICY DEATH GRIP


Here in Ohio, winter temperatures can drop well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and that's optimal battery killing temperature for most sport and utility ATVs. By late October, the temperatures are getting cold enough frequently enough to start draining the sealed acid batteries common in today's quads. If you don't already own one, now is the time of year to go buy a battery tender or low-voltage battery charger for your ATV.

At TPR, we're pretty anal about our quad maintenance. Sport quads with highly modified internal engine parts - even just a high-compression piston - like the TPR project YFZ450R put an added strain on the starter every time you crank over the engine to fire up the quad. That added strain is shifted to the battery by drawing a little extra juice than a stock quad with no modifications, and that means your battery will start to lose its charge quicker. So we hook up our project Yamaha to the battery tender about every other ride, or during long periods in between rides, to make sure our battery has an optimal charge.

You don't have to get extremely technical and monitor your battery's exact charge with a volt meter. Most low-voltage battery tenders, like the Optimate 3 we use and purchased at a local Yamaha dealer, will charge the low-voltage battery of an ATV to the optimal 12 to 14 volt range without over charging it and damaging a wet battery's internal cells. Such chargers plug into a standard wall socket, have positive and negative clamps for your battery terminals and are available at Wal-Mart or a local dealer for about $50.

During the cold winter months, our charger is almost never disconnected from the YFZR battery. We also typically remove the battery from the quad during the winter just as an added precaution, so if there is an immense charge or overload to our shop system that the breaker doesn't catch we won't fry our expensive Dynojet PCV or other electronic components on the new Yamaha.

On a precautionary note, don't expect to use your dad's rolling charger/starter to maintain your quad battery. Those big rolling chargers are designed for truck and car batteries, not the small unit on your ATV. Using one of those chargers could seriously damage your battery by melting the lead terminals, and that would put you out some big bucks. Today's ATV batteries can cost more than $80 to replace, so spending $50 on a trickle charger or battery tender can keep your battery breathing life into your quad for years.

For more How-To tips, check out the link at the top of the page. Next, we'll be showing you how to change the oil in Yamaha's new YFZR models, a tip that applies to the YFZX and most other sport quads. Stay tuned for a product review of Motoworks SR4 full exhaust system.

Video - Final WORCS of 2010

Team Motoworks/Can-Am's Josh Frederick reclaimed his WORCS crown this year by beating out MCR Honda's Beau Baron in the pro ATV class. Frederick and Baron battled closely all year, and the season ended no differently with Frederick edging out Baron by just two points!
Rounding out the top five in the 2010 pro WORCS ATV class is  MCR's Josh Row, Yamaha's Dustin Nelson and rookie pro Dillon Zimmerman on the Motoworks DS450.
Check out video from the final round of the series at Mesquite, Nev., where Frederick capped the season with the win.

Technical Difficulties

Things have slowed down here at the TPR Quad Promotions blog due to technical difficulties, but we should be back up and posting again with some salient frequency in the coming weeks. Until then, you can peruse the past year's worth of posts to follow story lines including how the TPR Project YFZ450R came together, get up close looks at ATV products from Tarantula Performance Racing, check out product reviews and more.

the Crew at TPR

Video - WORCS Round 8

Here's the video of the WORCS pro ATV races at Glen Helen. MCR's Beau Baron came away with the win and the points lead over Can-Am/Motoworks' Josh Frederick.

Joe Byrd's Race Quads up for Sale

Buy It Now: Two-time National MX Champion's Motocross Quads

Long-time Honda motocross racer Joe Byrd is selling "some" of his race-ready and practice motocross ATVs in his massive stable. You can see pictures of the quads for sale with listed prices at JoeByrd.com.

This announcement from the two-time national champ can be interpreted several ways. The first, and hopefully most likely, reason Byrd would be selling all his Honda race quads is because he's going to be riding for KTM or some other manufacturer in 2011. However, the likelihood of this being the reason seems doubtful given the current state of the economy and rumors the king of ATV motocross - Suzuki - is dropping its support for 2011 in an almost unanticipated move.

Will Joe Byrd be racing on a different brand next year? Or perhaps an updated, fuel-injected Honda?

Another possible reason for the clearance sale could be related to personal financial troubles with the Byrds or the Joe Byrd Quad Riding School. This year, Joe rode with injuries and sat out several rounds, which means he missed a lot of podiums and the likely contingency bonuses that go along with it.

A third possible reason is that Byrd is simply retiring and getting out of the ATV motocross racing business. With Doug Gust's retirement leading into the 2010 season, Byrd is now the elder statesmen of the sport. Byrd is remarkably fit, but he's no spring chicken, and injury recovery is that much more painful and time consuming.

This is all pure speculation of course.

Video - Brandy Cottage Spotlight

Our string of video posts continues with RipItUpFilms latest rider spotlight shining on youth motocross racer Brandy Cottage.

Video - Atco MX Park

herrmann450r takes us to Atco MX park in New Jersey via a few laps on his helmet cam. Enjoy!

Video - Angie Maher Tribute

NEATV-MX Women's racer Angie Maher was seriously injured earlier this month during a practice session and later succombed to her injuries. 201Films brings us this tribute video.

Video - Thomas Brown

I stumbled across this video of Yamaha's Thomas Brown. It's got some decent footage, especially of Keith Little's private track. Check it out, courtesy ATVRiders.

Video - ITP Quadcross

Here's a video from Round 6 of the ITP Quadcross series at Glen Helen Raceway Aug. 15. Yamaha's Dustin Nelson led the pro classes to take the overall win. Thanks to tahitianskateboarder for the great video.

NEW Mini Motocross Mod Quad

ATV Four Play Introduces the Newest Mini Motocross Mod

ATV Four Play, known for its championship-winning suspension components and their shock absorbing Soft Bars handlebars, is taking a different line with their latest youth quad release: the Pitster Pro Mod Package.

Parents whose children race ATVs in the youth classes now can customize a national-level rolling chassis from ATV Four Play for their young racer that is capable of receiving five different engine packages to compete in three separate youth classes in the AMA ATV national series.

ATV Four Play builds upon the popular Pitster Pro quad as the base for the Pitster Mod. The long-travel ATV Four Play a-arms on the Pitster Mod are 2.235 inches wider on each side and are the first mini quad to accept Fox’s new Generation II Float X Evol front shocks. ATV Four Play adds their signature chromoly long-travel swing arm, which is two inches longer than the stock Pitster swing arm and allows for 10.5 inches of rear wheel travel with either a dual-rate Fox Podium X or Elka shock.

The stock Pitster chromoly frame is retained, but ATV Four Play adds up to 24 gussets to strengthen weak points while still maintaining the right amount of flex. The frame is adapted to fit the large radiator off Yamaha’s YFZ450 sport quad.

Having five engines to choose from is what makes this youth race quad an affordable, long-lasting performance option for motocross families. ATV Four Play’s Pitster Mod’s has the capabilities of interchangeable engine mounts to accept engines from: Kawasaki’s two-stroke, 65cc KX65; KTM’s two-stroke, 65cc 65SX; Suzuki’s two-stroke, 85cc RM85; Honda’s two-stroke, 85cc CR85; and Honda’s new four-stroke, 150cc CRF150R.

The Pitster Mod features Tarantula Performance Racing's new front bumper design.

Tom Skladzien, owner of ATV Four Play, said having the option to choose an engine lets parents keep the same long-travel chassis for several years and simply swap the engine out when its time for their racer to step up a class.

“The CVT class is great,” Skladzien said. “But the chassis is very expensive to make competitive and it is a frustrating class for most parents. There are so many variables with these machines. The clutching, building the engine, pipes, rollers, belts etc. Most of the time, as ‘mini quad parents’ we find ourselves not having as much fun as we should because these CVT’s demand a lot more maintenance and finesse than your typical Japanese shifter engines require. You buy these CVT quads for $1,700-$1,800 dollars and you find yourself putting $6,000 more into them. And at the end of the day, you’re still a CVT.”

The rear end of the new ATV Four Play Pitster Mod offers 10.5 inches of wheel travel.

Except for the CRF150R, Honda’s new high-tech mini dirt bike engine, all of the power plants available for the Pitster Mod have been winning races in dirt bikes for decades. The two-stroke engines are lighter, more competitive and have a broader availability of parts and modifications. The 65cc engines are competition legal for the AMA 70 mod class, the 85cc engines are legal for the AMA 90 mod class, and the 150cc four-stroke can compete in the AMA Super Mini class.

Pictured above is the KX65 engine package.

Customers have several options for ordering a Pitster Mod from ATV Four Play. You can buy a complete quad that is fully suspended with motor mounts of your choice but without the engine. Or customers can go “Ala Carte” and order a chassis with ATV Four Play suspension parts and then customize it with your choice of shocks, wheels and tires.

The Mod Racer Starter Kit includes the following options for $4,999: Pitster Pro chromoly chassis; spindles, hubs, braking systems, rotors, plastics, gas tank, stock axle and rear wheel hubs, rear sprocket with chain guard, ATV Four Play long-travel a-arms, swing arm and anti-vibe steering stem, 24 frame gussets, powder coated frame, motor mounts for customer engine choice and mounts for all electronics.

Currently, ATV Four Play is working with Hetrick Racing to develop a race-ready package for the KX65 engine and their exhaust. The Hetrick Racing packages may be available for the 2011 season. Fox and Elka are the current shock options for the Pitster Mods, but ATV Four Play may be able to accommodate another shock brand at a customer’s request.

The standard chassis and body components on the production Pitster Mod from ATV Four Play include: Tarantula Performance Racing’s new front bumper and Race Safer Pro nerf bars; ATV Four Play’s Generation II Soft Bars; ATV Four Play’s chain guide and chain slide; Streamline stainless steel brake lines; stock Pitster axle, axle carrier and brake plate.

For additional information about ATV Four Play’s new Pitster Mod, log on to www.atvfourplay.com or call 330-289-1423.

Product Review: TPR nerf bars

TPR Race Safer PRO Nerf Bars

MSRP: $369.95

WHAT IS IT? Tarantula Performance Racing's Race Safer Pro nerf bars break the mold when it comes to conventional ATV nerf bars. These bars offer an increased level of protection to the rider via the "Pocket Bar Bend," which turns up at an angle from the front of the quad towards the rear integrated heel guard. This outer bar, unlike conventional flat nerf bars, does a better job of keeping a competitor's wheels from reaching your legs. And it helps keep your boots planted on the foot pegs if you get squirrelly at an inopportune time out on the track, trail or dunes.

HITS: These nerf bars mount up in a matter of minutes. No bending or ratchet straps needed. They practically fall onto the quad because the mounts are designed with such tight tolerances. The pegs are wide and extremely grippy, and the heel guard netting reduces weight without sacrificing security.

MISSES: We haven't encountered a single problem or failure in more than a year of testing with these nerf bars. They are more suited for motocross due to their width, so some XC riders might be less comfortable dodging trees with them.

THE VERDICT: These nerf bars, unlike some that claim to revolutionize nerf bar design, actually did break away from the traditional flat bar design. The aluminum nerfs are light weight yet strong, and the steel pegs offer a great deal of support. If you're a motocross racer who wants the latest and greatest, this should be your next set of nerf bars.

RATING: 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10

Contact: www.tprusa.com  330-273-3456

Product Review: Soft Bars

ATV Four Play's Generation II Soft Bars
MSRP: $325

WHAT IS IT? The best way to describe ATV Four Play's Soft Bars is to say they're suspension for your wrists, arms and upper body. The Soft Bars work by pivoting in a downward motion on a urethane bushing.  The overall bar length is 31.5 inches with 10.5 inches of usable handlebar space in a 7/8-inch diameter bar. The Soft Bars weigh in at a mere 4.5 pounds and are available in the popular 12-degree bend, which is similar to the original Honda CR high bend.

HITS: Unlike their competition, the Soft Bars are fully adjustable without having to unbolt the handlebar mechanism to swap out parts.The resistance level delivered by the cone-shaped bushing is fully adjustable by turning a screw, so each rider can dial in how soft or stiff they want the bars. And the system is progressive, so the resistance increases as the bar moves through its travel. These bars are available for a wide variety of ATV models and stock and aftermarket steering stems. The bars are completely rebuildable.

MISSES: None! These bars are extremely comfortable from an ergonomics standpoint. They help reduce vibration and arm pump all while cushioning the harsh blows motocross can deal to your shoulder and arm joints. The only down side is the price.

THE VERDICT: ATV Four Play is often leading the way in innovation for the ATV industry. These bars are one of the best investments you can make to your quad. We've been riding on them for a year and they just keep getting better.

RATING: 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9.5..10

Contact: http://www.atvfourplay.com/

YouTube Star

If you don't follow MarkFreeman408 on YouTube, you should. Mark set a goal of posting one video for every day of the year a while back. Though I don't think he's met it yet, he has more than 200 videos, most of which are based on quad riding and racing. And a lot of the shooting is done at his private track in Canada.

Though I've never met him, Mark strikes me as a pretty solid guy. And he's a good rider. Well, Mark just re-shaped what was an already sick practice compound into an even better track with a huge double and some gnarly whoops. Check out his latest video about what goes through his head before hitting a new track, "Just Breathe."

Rewind- Midas Touch

With both the quad and dirt bike AMA Motocross champs riding yellow in 2010, I thought it was appropriate to re-post an editorial I wrote earlier this year. Suzuki once again showed its prowess this year with Ryan Dungey achieving a truly super-human (or super-pumped!) feat: winning both the Supercross and Motocross titles in his rookie year.

On the ATV side, Rockstar Makita Yoshimura riders Josh Creamer and Dustin Wimmer went 1-2 on the season to give Suzuki the top two spots.

One wonders what 2011 will hold with word that long-time team manager on the dirt bike side, Roger DeCoster, is leaving for KTM. And rumors abound about Dungey jumping ship as well, while the latest rumor is that the ATV riders won't have a factory semi to pit out of next year.

With that, let's remember Suzuki's prowess and Rewind The Midas Touch.

AMA Quad, Bike Banquets Merge

MX, ATV MOTOCROSS RIDERS TO CELEBRATE CHAMPIONS TOGETHER

Morgantown, WV (9/8/2010) - Just days after the official announcement that MX Sports Pro Racing will once again celebrate the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship season by hosting its second annual awards banquet following the Pala Motocross National, the sanctioning body of American motocross has also announced that the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship will be a part of the season-ending celebration on September 12.

"By including the AMA ATV Motocross Championship alongside the AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the annual awards banquet will serve as a true celebration of American motocross," said MX Sports Pro Racing's Harv Whipple. "The U.S. is the home of the world's finest motocross competitors on both two and four wheels and we want to give them the acknowledgement they rightfully deserve."

On August 15, the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship wrapped up its 2010 season from Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. While Motoworks Can-Am's Chad Wienen took the win, it was Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's Josh Creamer who walked away with the series title. Thanks to six overall wins and 10 podiums this season, Creamer was able to give back-to-back titles to the Rockstar/Makita Suzuki team, edging out teammate and reigning series champion Dustin Wimmer for the number one plate. Coincidentally enough, the duo's two-wheeled teammate Ryan Dungey is looking to accomplish the same feat for the most successful American motocross program in recent years in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

The 2010 MX Sports Pro Racing Awards Banquet commences on Sunday, September 12 from Pala Resort and Casino in Pala, Calif.

For tickets and fan and racing information on the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log on to AlliSports.com.

Editorial - Banquet Merger Celebrates Community

Word that the dirt bike and ATV crowds will be, for the first time ever, crowning the 2010 AMA Motocross Champions side by side is big news in the industry.

For years the dirt bike and ATV crowds have been separated by an unseen dividing line. Practice tracks often attach the dreaded "bikes only" phrase to their signs and websites. The lines each forms on a track are completely different and often unusable by one another. The separate national series only hit one or two of the same tracks. Dirt bike and quad riders used to rag on each other in the pits; now they do it more harshly in online forums behind the cloak of anonymity.

But combining the year-end award banquets for both the ATV and dirt bike champions is a symbolic gesture of community handed down by the AMA. As Harv Whipple said, America is home to the world's fastest motocross racers on two and four wheels, and we should celebrate them all together. Amen!

There is a lesson, or maybe just a reminder, both crowds can walk away with after the combined banquet. The dirt bike riders should recognize the ATV racers are just as fast as, if not faster, than their two-wheeled cousins, and as such the quad riders deserve recognition and equal rights. And ATV riders would do well to remember the dirt bike side is what started it all and raised the awareness level of our sport. They're also the reason motocross continues to receive so much outside-of-the-sport attention.

So here's to the joint celebration of America's fastest motocross racers, on two or four wheels!

Product Review: Tail Light Block-Off

HMF Tail Light Eliminator for YFZ450R

MSRP: $59.95

WHAT IS IT? HMF's Tail Light Eliminator for the YFZ450R allows you to remove your stock rear tail light and still protect the vital electronic components tucked behind it. When removed, the stock tail light leaves a gaping hole in the stock rear plastic guard designed to protect the battery and wiring harness. HMF's Tail Light Eliminator replaces the stock black plastic guard and completely surrounds the electronics to protect them from roost and rocks.

HITS: The Tail Light Eliminator is made of T6061 aluminum, so its extremely durable. The opening where the wiring harness exits the eliminator is lined with rubber to protect the harness from rubbing or being cut by the aluminum. It features full coverage to help keep mud and water out of the electronics in addition to rocks and dirt. The eliminator mounts quickly and easily, and HMF provides the mounting hardware.

MISSES: The only issue we can think of is the fact this guard is made of aluminum, so it does add a minimal amount of weight to the rear end and out at the end of a poorly supported sub frame on the YFZR. There are some carbon-fiber models out on the market, but they don't look as good as the HMF block-off in our opinion.

THE VERDICT: Every woods racer should have one of these to protect their vital electronic components from the nasty debris on cross-country tracks. The eliminator is a bonus for motocross racers to protect from your own roost and rocks and looks much better than the stock plastic guard. All it takes is just one rock or deep mud hole to ruin your day. Regardless of where you ride, if you're planning to remove your stock YFZR tail light, then you should buy this eliminator.

RATING: 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10

Contact: www.hmfracing.com

Shop Talk: HMF Racing

HMF tunes the 

TPR project

YFZ450R

All EFI programmers are not created equal. We learned that lesson the hard way. 

As part of the TPR project YFZ450R build, our exhaust sponsor, Motoworks, hooked us up with their Motoworks FMI tuner so we could adjust the fuel map for our national-level engine mods courtesy ATP Racing Engines.

The Motoworks FMI is a mode-based tuner. About the size of a credit card, mode-based tuners offer a minimal fuel level adjustment range at three general throttle openings: cruise, acceleration and wide open. ATP was able to make the tuner work by running the heavily modified project quad's engine on their dyno in Florida. They spent two weeks last summer on the quad and dialed it in perfectly. 

But this summer we hit a snag when the ground wire on the Motoworks tuner broke during a test session. The loss of power to the unit resulted in the complete erasure of our custom ATP fuel map. Our project quad was dead at the gate.

That's when Cleveland-based HMF stepped up to the plate. As a newcomer to the build, we couldn't work with the exhaust manufacturer to run their new HMF Competition Series exhaust system with TriMax Core Technology. We did, however, run their protective headlight and tail light block-off panels, which have kept our critical electronic components safe from roost and rocks for more than a year now.

First we acquired a DynoJet Power Commander V. The PCV is a much more sophisticated fuel programmer and allows you to fully adjust the fuel levels at every percentage of throttle opening. The PCV essentially gives you complete control of the fuel map. Then, we took the quad to HMF and put it on their DynoJet dyno.

The dyno room at HMF may be small, but it produces big horsepower numbers. Their dyno is equipped with an O2 sniffer, so they know exactly where in the RPM range your quad is lacking fuel or getting too much.

The quad started with DynoJet's downloadable GYT-R stage three fuel map, which is set up for an engine with a full exhaust, intake mods, cams, port and polish and a high-compression piston. Still, initial dyno runs showed the GYT-R Stage III fuel map didn't give the TPR YFZR enough fuel where it needed it.

HMF's dyno technicians made the appropriate adjustments to the fuel table. Their techs were able to smooth out and increase the power curve considerably compared to the stage three map. They also increased over-rev to keep the quad from falling on its face on the top end. The horsepower numbers were about the same as ATP's original 52 horsepower reading when they wrapped up the engine mods last year.

We showed up at HMF with an ailing quad. Their knowledgeable, professional and courteous staff sent our quad home with a clean bill of health, a new, throaty bark and ready to throw roost again. If you're in the Ohio area and are struggling to tune your EFI quad, give HMF a call. You'll be glad you did. HMF also has a full line of services for engine and suspension building, and their retail store is packed with exhaust systems, suspension and chassis components.

CONTACT: Website: http://www.hmfracing.com/      Phone: 216-631-6980

Video - Rider Spotlight

RipItUpFilms shines its latest rider spotlight on young Brent Sellers. The Honda-mounted No. 29 took home the 2010 championship in the School Boy Junior class at the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Nationals. Keep an eye on Sellers as he rises through the ranks.

MX vs ATV

MX

vs.

ATV

 The Great Debate

It's the age-old question that every quad and dirt bike rider has asked themselves. Who's faster?

The debate came roaring back after the Red Bud ATV MX National in August, when Team Motoworks Can-Am rider Chad Wienen set the fastest lap time of the weekend on his Can-Am DS450 race quad. Wienen's fastest lap time was 2:15.043.

Just weeks earlier, the Lucas Oil AMA National at Red Bud saw the best lap time set by Ben Townley, who recorded a fastest lap of 2:16.882 on his Troy Lee Designs Honda CR450F. The difference? Less than two seconds at a mere 1.839 seconds.

Initially, one might think the stop watch is the ultimate judge and the debate is settled, especially when you consider the track was extended about 10 feet near the finish for the ATV national. But there are all sorts of variables that come into play.

Let's try and break it down logically by track section.

Naturally, track conditions play a big role in how fast any machine can traverse the terrain. Dirt bikes tend to create ruts, and lots of them. But a good rider can drop into and catapult out of a rut on their dirt bike faster than they could power through a flat, smooth corner. Quads, on the other hand, can power slide through a corner faster than if they were faced with a rough, rutted corner. And of course, a track wears in differently depending upon if ATVs or dirt bikes are creating the lines.

The same goes for jump faces as for corners. Quads need smooth jump faces because of their four wheels. Rutted jump faces, like the one pictured above, can launch a quad sideways, making it difficult to recover in the air before landing all swapped up. In corners, however, quads have the upper hand. Quads squat low in the corners. Combine that with their added width and they cruise much faster through an off-camber corner, ruts or no ruts, like the one pictured below.

Dirt bikes have the better ability to scrub over jumps, thus staying lower and getting that rear wheel back in contact with the ground faster. Quads can scrub, but not as effectively. And dirt bikes have a much more affective whip in mid-air, which allows them to carrow speed over a jump and slow down in mid-air.

So corners favor quads and jumps favor dirt bikes when it comes to carrying speed around a motocross track. What about starts? Well, quads have two smaller diameter rear tires, which rotate faster and create quicker accleration compared to a dirt bike's large, narrow single rear tire. I've seen countless head to head drags on concrete starting pads, dirt and even in the sand where quads beat dirt bikes out of the whole 90 percent of the time.

On downhills, I believe dirt bikes have the advantage. The lighter weight of a dirt bike allows the rider to carry more speed on rough downhills, which are usually littered with braking bumps. Quads, on the other hand, have more weight compressing the suspension. And in braking bumps, a quad's suspension can buck more under the weight than dirt bike suspension, which typically weighs about half a quad.

Speaking of weight, the power to weight ratio undoubtedly favors dirt bikes. But pro quad racers should be given credit in this department for posting similar lap times as dirt bikes while wrestling almost double the weight around the track.

Uphills are tough. I've personally passed a lot of dirt bikes at local practice tracks on uphill sections, but I've also been passed there. That's really a tough call. On personal experience, I'd have to say it's even.

Whoop sections weigh heavily on this debate. Supercross style whoops can swallow quads whole. Here's where the light weight of dirt bikes allows them to skip over the top of a whoop section where quads have to double in and out. In motocross, roller-style whoops tend to be longer and even deeper, and on some tracks you'll see both dirt bikes and quads rolling through with the front end up instead of jumping or skimming them. Chad Wienen is arguably the fastest quad racer in the whoop section. I'd like to see him pitted head-to-head against Chad Reed for a comparison here.

So let's break it down. Corners: advantage quads. Jumps: advantage dirt bikes. Downhills: advantage dirt bikes. Starts: advantage quads. Uphills: tie. Whoops: tie. Looks pretty even to me. Having ridden both all my life, in the trails and on motocross tracks, I can say I was faster on different sections of the track depending upon which machine I was on.

Is there a real solution to this question? Comparing lap times at the Steel City Open ATV Invitationals, which were held on the same track on the same day as the pro dirt bike riders in 2007 and 2008, should give you your answer.

Still not satisfied? I don't think anyone will be until we actually see Josh Creamer and Ryan Dungey mano a mano out on the same track racing against only each other. Until then, I think we'll have to settle for MX vs ATV Reflex and learn to share the track. There's plenty of lines for all of us.

Product Review: Chassis Skid Plate

B-Tek SKIDEZ Chassis Skid Plate

MSRP: $169.95

WHAT IS IT? B-Tek's aluminum, single-bolt ATV chassis skid plate system mounts with brackets that slide into the lower frame rails and hook the skid plate in place. Tested on the YFZ450R, a rubber spacer and a single bolt mount in the access port in the lower frame rail for the bottom steering stem nut. Included is an allen wrench for the mounting bolt.

HITS: The single-bolt system works flawlessly in that our test model has never come loose in a year of testing on rough motocross tracks. It's a much faster mounting system than other chassis skid plates, which typically use the 4 to 6 mounting bolts used for the stock plastic skid plate. The skid is cushioned where it meets the frame rails with half-inch adhesive neoprene padding. And the single-bolt system fits so well that you never have to worry about losing a corner mounting bolt and having a floppy skid plate.

MISSES: Occasionally the single-bolt rubber mounting system can be difficult to line up and can take a few minutes to actually secure the skid plate. It's easiest to mount the skid with the quad standing on its rear grab bar. You do have to remove the skid plate for oil changes on the YFZR.

THE VERDICT: The single-bolt SKIDEZ (Skid-ease) is an extremely well designed, solid part. It's held up well to bottoming on rocky, rutted motocross tracks, and the single-bolt system has never come loose on us. This is the future of ATV skid plates. It's available for the YFZ, YFZR, TRX, LTR and KTM 450 sport models.

RATING: 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10

Contact www.btekperformance.com/

Sneak Peak - Long-term Evaluation

Here's a sneak peek at an upcoming story on ATV.com that will examine the TPR project YFZ450R after riding the quad and testing it for a year. In case you missed our full-on 2009 Yamaha YFZ450R motocross build, click on the link above.We'll let you know when the story on ATV.com goes live. In the mean time, stay tuned here as we evaluate products tested on this quad.

Spy Photo - Secret Mini Project

Check out this spy photo. ATV Four Play and Tarantula Performance Racing are working on a project mini quad for motocross racing. Stay tuned here in the coming weeks for more information on this new production racer.

ATVision - Motosode 14 Loretta Lynn's

It's the last Motosode of the season, and ATVision covered the sole pro moto at Loretta Lynn's this month. Check it out below.

Get Sponsored! - Tires

Maxxis Accepting SPONSORSHIP APPLICATIONS Beginning Sept. 1

The wait will soon be over: Maxxis’ 2011 sponsorship application period begins September 1, 2010. From that day through November 1, riders, teams and event organizers in bicycle, motorcycle and ATV racing can apply for 2011 sponsorship.

Maxxis welcomes applications from participants at all levels, from amateur to pro. To apply, simply visit the “Get Sponsored” pages in the bicycle, motorcycle or ATV product sections of Maxxis.com. Download, print and complete the form, attach a race resume or event proposal and mail both documents to the specified address, postmarked no later than November 1. All applicants will be notified of sponsorship status via email by December 1, 2010.

Maxxis looks forward to another great year of competition, with racing’s best riders paired with the finest tires on the market. Be sure to visit Maxxis.com September 1 and submit your application ASAP. Good luck!

About Maxxis International
For over 43 years, Maxxis International has delivered high-quality tires to both original equipment and aftermarket customers. Maxxis offers products for automotive, light truck, motorcycle, ATV, bicycle, lawn & garden and industrial use. The company has operations in Asia, Europe and North America, and its products are distributed in approximately 170 countries. For more information, please visit maxxis.com.

Editorial - Modifying Your ATV

Suspension before Engine

Today's factory ATVs are fast and agile right off the dealer floor. Most sport quads, and even some utility models, have enough speed and power to satisfy the average rider for quite a few riding seasons. However, throttle response can lag on new units because of restrictive exhaust systems, so many riders still find themselves reaching for an aftermarket exhaust and making air filter mods to boost bottom end power.

For some, these mods aren't enough. Many more quad owners still find themselves itching to unbolt their cylinder head, open up those ports and drop in cams and a piston. This is the point where some riders need to step back and ask themselves if those internal engines mods are a necessity. Unless you're competing in the pro or pro-am ranks, they aren't necessary.

Many new quad owners look to open up their top end and drop in engine performance parts as one of their first modifications before adjusting or upgrading their suspension.

I fully support the idea of bolting on an exhaust system, removing the airbox lid and re-jetting or adjusting the fuel map to improve throttle response and give a quad's bottom end a boost. My first quad, a Suzuki LT185, got a Cobra DG full exhaust before anything else. Such mods don't reduce the dependability of today's stock four-stroke engines, unless you don't know what the phrase air filter maintenance means, and these mods in most situations don't create an engine with more power than the rider knows how to handle safely.

Opening up the top end is a different story. Even if an expert engine builder handles your internals, the work immediately reduces the engine's lifespan. Aftermarket cams and pistons are designed for performance, not lifespan. And that increased performance can put a greater strain on internal parts your less likely to upgrade, such as the cam chain, valves and valve springs, timing guides, cranks and gears. These parts can fail under the added torque, heat and strain of an improperly over-juiced engine. 

Often, new quad riders don't take the time to get comfortable with, and find the limits of, their stock suspension.

The factory shocks on today's modern sport quads are very high-tech compared to models from 1980s and 1990s. Rebound, pre-load, and high and low speed compression adjustments come stock on today's high-performance ATV models. Suspension tuning can be tricky at times, but trial and error and a good notebook are much more manageable than cracking open the top end numerous times after improper tuning leads to a failure. And learning the fine art of tuning shocks is an invaluable asset that can improve any quad's handling.

Suspension mods, like the Fox/ATV Four Play front end on the TPR project YFZ450R, will do more to change the feel and performance of your quad's ride than some internal engine work.

And, if you find your shocks bottom frequently and can't handle the obstacles you're throwing at it, then upgrade them! You may not be tapping into the full potential of your stock engine if the suspension is holding your quad back. A new set of quality, tuned shocks can lower lap times and lengthen a day on the trails.

The logic is simple: It's harder for the engines in today's sport quads to out-perform their suspension and create a dangerous situation. But a 480cc big-bore kit in a stock-suspended Yamaha YFZ450 can put a novice rider in a sketchy situation, whether the situation is shooting hills in the dunes, skying on a motocross track or climbing gnarly, tree-root lined hills in the woods.

Following this idium, suspension before engine, allows you to safely find the limits of your quad's chassis. Once you do that, then you can decide if the suspension you're running can handle the kind of speeds you're capable of riding at.