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.

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

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

Pics - Graphic kit on project YFZR

I've been asked to post up more pics of the Danger UK Graphics kit on the TPR project YFZ450R, so scroll down to check out the pics.

It's hard to believe that the picture at the right is where we began with this project about one year ago with ATP Racing Engines. The absolute last piece of the puzzle came together this month with the installation of the graphic kit, which you can read about by clicking on the link or scrolling down the home page.

The TPR project YFZR was a long journey that proved well worth it in the end, as you'll see in the photos. And we've still got one more story to go with ATV.com

Click on the images for a larger picture.

Outta Control Customs

Outta Control Customs has launched a new Web site to showcase all their crazy custom quads.

Quinn Michael, the driving force of Outta Control Customs, has been the man behind the curtain on these insane quads for 10 years. You might recognize his most recent build, the Spyder Quad, which he built in partnership with TPR. The quad debuted at the 2008 Indy Dealer Expo and appeared in the March 2009 issue of Dirtwheels.

Check out Outta Control Customs new Web site. Who knows, it just might give you some ideas for your next quad project.

New from TPR - Tether kill switch mount

End the struggle to find handlebar space...

Every racer knows you need a tether kill switch to compete on an ATV, whether your chosen race discipline is motocross, cross country, hill climbing or flat track. Most every race-sanctioning body requires a functioning kill switch on your quad before you can line up at the gate. But this requirement comes with two difficulties: Wiring the kill switch into your quad's wiring harness and finding space on your handlebars to mount it.

Thanks to Tarantula Performance Racing, quad riders have a new tether kill switch mounting bracket for easy installation on your ATV's handlebars. The bracket eliminates the need to awkwardly arrange or squeeze together your handguard mounts and levers just to find space for the tether.

TPR's new Tether Kill Switch Mount bolts directly into place where the stock parking brake lever mounts on top of the stock clutch lever. Currently, the bracket is available for most Yamaha sport models and fits the YFZ450R, YFZ450, Raptor 700 and Raptor 250. The bracket fits most tether-style ATV kill switches and is shown with the GYT-R plug-and-play lanyard for the Yamaha YFZ450R.

This new tether kill switch mount is constructed of stainless steel and is ribbed at the bend for extra strength. The bracket is laser cut to ensure a precise fit and features a powder coated finish for excellent durability. MSRP for the bracket is $17.95. Contact TPR at 330-273-3456 to order yours today.

Stay tuned for our next YFZR Build Tip, as this week we'll take you through a step-by-step installation of a GYT-R plug-and-play lanyard with the Tarantula Performance Racing tether mount on the TPR project YFZ450R.

TPR sponsorships still available

Looking for a Sponsor? Look no further!

ATV racers looking for a sponsor for 2010 can still apply with Tarantula Performance Racing. TPR sponsors a number of national and local riders competing in all quad racing disciplines.

TPR is offering limited sponsorship contracts for racers in all disciplines of ATV competition on the local, regional and national levels. Those disciplines include motocross, cross country, desert, flat track,   endurocross and other forms of quad racing.

Products and services available from TPR include frame gusset kits and installation, MX-Series front bumpers and the new Race Safer Pro nerf bar line.

Contact Tarantula Performance Racing via e-mail to obtain a sponsorship application at tpr_inc@yahoo.com. The 2010 season is closing in fast, so get your applications in today!

Tarantula Performance Racing is a family owned company specializing in custom ATV parts and accessories. All of TPR’s products are manufactured in the U.S.A. at their Hinckley, Ohio headquarters. To see more of their products, including the new Race Safer Pro nerf bar and heel guard combination, log on to http://www.tprusa.com/

Gusset installation discount

Discount on ATV frame gusset kits

There's still time to get a deal on a gusset kit and installation for your quad before the spring riding season kicks into high gear.

TPR's current discount drops the price of sandblasting, repairing, gusset installation and powder coating your ATV frame from $460.00 to $399.95 until the end of March.

Contact TPR today at 330-273-3456 and get your frame in before the month's end!

ATV.com Story 2

Ride Review: TPR project Yamaha YFZ450R

The second of three stories on the Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha YFZ450R is up at ATV.com. This story reviews the quad's performance and handling with input from an Ohio-based amateur racer and NEATV-MX pro Aaron Meyer. Click here to see what the test riders thought of the quad's performance.

This build started in April 2009, and the quad spent the bulk of the year bouncing around performance shops on the east coast. For a few of the sponsors, including TPR, this was only the first or second YFZ450R to come into their shop. And it's one of the first pro-level builds of the new Yamaha to be completely documented. Including purchase price, the tally for this build tops $18,000.

The first story at ATV.com shows how the project came together. You can watch the YFZR evolve from stock into a pro-am level race quad by clicking through the archives of this blog at the right of the page.

The video review with Aaron and ATVonDemand.com should be up next week. We'll post the video here when it's done.

Race Safer Pro nerfs - redux

New for 2010: TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bars

This off season, Tarantula Performance Racing finished designs for the new Race Safer Pro nerf bar and heel guard combination for release at the start of the 2010 season.

TPR set out to create a more secure platform for ATV racers. For 20 years, nearly every ATV nerf bar manufacturer has accepted the industry standard flat nerf bar design. TPR's new Race Safer Pro nerfs drastically improve rider safety with some simple and effective changes to the standard nerf bar design.

THE BAR

The Race Safer Pro nerf bars feature five specially designed outer bar bends. The front of the nerf bars mount between the a-arms and engine mounts, where the bar extends outward on each side away from the quad before two slight bends direct the bar towards the rear of the ATV. The bends near the front mount tuck the nerf bar close to the front wheel – minimizing the chance of another ATV’s wheel becoming stuck and causing a crash – without impacting turning radius or suspension travel.

The third, and most important, bend changes the angle at which the outer bar runs parallel to the lower frame rail. The Pocket Bar bend change in degree pitches the outer bar up towards the rider. The Pocket Bar bend protects the rider from the wheels of a competitor by reducing the possibility of another ATV wheel reaching the rider’s lower extremities. The Pocket Bar bend drastically improves upon the industry standard flat nerf bar design.

The fourth and fifth bends shape the heel guard. These bends simplify the design to help save weight, but they also allow for a strong, durable mounting system. The aluminum nerf bar tubing slides into the foot pegs, which are constructed of T-6061 aluminum. The nerfs then mount to the stock rear fender bracket or frame depending upon the model.

THE PEG

Foot peg teeth on the TPR Race Safer Pro nerfs are angled five degrees in toward the quad. The angled teeth work in conjunction with a rider’s natural standing position to prevent the rider’s boot from sliding unintentionally towards the edge of the extended peg. The pitch of the pegs increases as they extend away from the frame to offer the rider a solid, secure platform. For Yamaha’s new YFZ450R and YFZ450X, the Race Safer Pro foot pegs are one inch lower than stock.

All mounting points on the TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bars align precisely and eliminate the often frustrating extra steps required when installing other nerf bars. The nerfs utilize factory hardware for installation, but the additional hardware required for some ATV models is included.

THE NET

Nylon netting on the Race Safer Pro nerfs is stitched and riveted for added strength. The front netting wraps around the lower frame rail, and the heel guard netting threads through a mount included with the nerfs. TPR’s netting fixtures also differ from most other designs and were developed so the netting tightens at each mounting point when pressure is applied.

Color-matching foot pegs are available in three color options. The pegs and nerfs are available in textured black, blue and red and also are available in a standard polished aluminum finish.

To order a set of Race Safer Pro nerf bars, contact Tarantula Performance Racing at 330-273-1123.

YFZR build tip #2

Beadlocks

Tires wear. Changing out your meats is common practice for any ATV racer. Unfortunately, some times a brand new tire can be punctured, as was the case during our test with ATVonDemand.com of the TPR project YFZ450R.

The quad features Maxxis soft-compound Razr MX tires. The tires are two-ply to increase their flexibility and decrease weight for racing applications. Unfortunately, the two-play rating makes them susceptible to punctures. During the test session, test rider Aaron Meyer caught a rock on the MX track at Crow Canyon and sliced a rear sidewall.

So we were left with the task of removing the tire from our DWT beadlock and re-installing a new Maxxis Razr MX 18-inch rear. Here's a hint, don't go the redneck route and use a truck and a 2-by-4 to break the inside bead. If you don't have a beadbreaker, ask a tire shop to do it for you. Odds are good they'll do it for free. 

This tip is about installing the beadlock ring and its mounting bolts. With the tire removed, clean the rim and the ring itself with a good degreaser. Use brake cleaner to clean the bolts themselves, but not the ring or rim! Brake cleaner is highly corrosive and will eat through paint.

Use a little WD-40 or dry lube and press the rim, beadlock side first, through the new tire. Line up the tire bead evenly around the ring bolt mounting holes, and then place the ring with the mounting holes lining up with the nut-plate mounts on the rim.

The next step is to take your clean mounting bolts and give them each a light coating of Loctite. Using Loctite will ensure none of the bolts works their way loose. A loose bolt on the ring can create vibration and cause the rest to work their way free, and losing your beadlock ring during a race is a catastrophic failure you don't want to experience. I typically coat each bolt one at-a-time so I can start to thread each coated bolt into the rim. Be careful here not to cross thread the bolts as you start them.

Once the bolts are all started by hand, it's time to start tightening the ring down onto the rim. It's important to pay attention to the tire here. The goal is to sandwich the tire between the rim and beadlock ring evenly.

At the track, a lot of people will use a cordless ratchet drill or other high-speed, high-impact tool to install their rings. You too may need to resort to this if you're rushing to get back to the gate. But I wasn't in a rush, so I took my time and used a small ratchet to install my ring.

I used a small ratchet so I could feel how much pressure was being applied and because it gives me a more delicate sense of when each bolt is tight. Overtightening a beadlock bolt can strip the backing nut, and that can in some cases ruin a very expensive rim. In actuality, it didn't take much more than 5 to 10 minutes to install the ring by hand. During the initial TPR project YFZ450R build, I also installed the tires by hand, and all four took less than an hour. Again, it's not a bad task if you're not in a rush during race weekend, and as long as you've got some good tunes playing in the garage the payoff outweights the tedium!

 Once you've reached this point, the last thing to do is seat the inner bead. A ratchet strap wrapped around the circumference of the tire, a little lube and a good air compressor should do the trick.

Gusset work discount

Fortify your ATV Frame

This is how your quad frame should start the season. The crew at Tarantula Peformance Racing sandblasted, repaired, gussetted and then powdercoated this Yamaha Banshee frame for a recent customer.

The off-season is arguably the least-favorite time of the year for every quad rider. Tracks are closed. Winter weather prohibits practice in most of the U.S. And it's time to fix all those things you broke tearing up the terra firma during the season.

Winter is commonly the time when most riders tackle a complete tear down and rebuild of their ATV. That means stripping it to the frame to replace bushings, bearings and to break a sweat on those time-consuming jobs that don't make sense during the season.

And it all starts with making sure your quad's frame is strong, straight and sealed to prevent rust and corrosion. Not everyone can weld, and repairing a frame incorrectly can lead to failures. So let Tarantula Performance Racing handle the dirty work. TPR is running a special on frame repair, gussetting and powdercoating until the end of March 2010.

The Gusset Kit

TPR starts with one of their precision laser-cut gusset kits, like this design for a Yamaha Banshee. TPR's gusset kits are available for most of today's top sport quads, including the new Yamaha Raptor 250. Most kits retail for about $90. TPR's certified welders will install the gusset kits for an additional, affordable cost. All of TPR's gusset kits are designed specifically for each ATV model to create the appropriate amount of flex without making the frame so rigid it can snap or crack.

The Frame

TPR starts with a bare frame and sandblasts it to remove any existing coating or paint. Expert welders then inspect each frame for cracks or bends and then conduct the necessary repairs.

The Weld

After a frame is repaired, TPR's welders install the appropriate precision-cut gusset kit. The welders at TPR have a combined 40-plus years experience riding and wrenching on ATVs. They know how and where a frame should experience the appropriate amount of flex, and TPR's gusset kits are designed to strengthen a frame without making it too rigid.

This picture shows a repaired and gussetted Banshee frame. Smooth, consistent and straight weld lines characterize the welding finesse and concentration exhibited at TPR.

The Finished Product

After your frame gets a day of beauty treatment at TPR's powder coat shop of choice, Capital Powder Coating in Suffield, Ohio, the crew at TPR packages your frame up and ships it out looking and performing better than it did when it rolled off the factory floor.

Don't set your quad up to fail before the season even starts. Contact TPR and give your quad's frame new life. Their current discount drops the price of all these services - sandblasting, repairing, gusset installation and powder coating - from $460.00 to $399.95 until the end of March.

Start your season with confidence. Start the season with a strong frame. Contact TPR today at 330-273-1123, or visit their site at www.tprusa.com/

Summit Indoor - round one

Kandel wins Money Quad

Trent Kandel powers out of a corner at Summit Indoor round one sporting a TPR MX-Series front bumper.

Trent Kandel piloted his 751 HMF/ATV Four Play/TPR Suzuki LTR450 to the top of the podium during the money quad moto at Summit Indoor Motocross Saturday night.

Kandel ripped the holeshot on the night's fastest quad moto and led the entire race in front of Summit's biggest crowd in recent history. Northeast Ohio race fans were packed four deep around the track fence and overflowed from the bleachers to witness Kandel school the field.

Get used to seeing Kandel out front. He'll be running his HMF/ATV Four Play/TPR Suzuki LTR450 in the pro-am classes at the ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship series beginning in March with round one at Alabama.

Trent will be running ATV Four Play long-travel front a-arms and Soft Bars, HMF engine work and TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bars with a TPR MX-Series front bumper this season.

CRA announcer 'California' Ben interviewed the money quad moto winner at the end of the race in front of the huge crowd. Racers and fans came from all over the northeast to Summit Indoor, which has become a popular venue for amateurs and pros alike during the frigid winter months. A few years ago, Baldwin Motorsports pro rider and Ohio native Josh Upperman made an appearance and dominated in similar fashion to Kandel's run this weekend.

One race dad who stopped by the Tarantula Performance Racing/DRR booth said he came all the way from New York so his son could get some time in on his DRR race quad. In case you missed it, you can check out the TPR project YFZ450R at Summit Indoor Round Two, which gets underway Friday, Feb. 26.

The TPR booth at Summit Indoor round one will return for round two in February.

ATV.com Story 1

ATV.com posted the first story documenting the build of the TPR project YFZ450R.

http://www.atv.com/features/tpr-project-yamaha-yfz450r-1522.html

Look for the second story reviewing the quad's performance soon.

Scene Girl sneak peek

Quad racers and riders have been hard-up for news since ATVScene.com went under wraps for some serious cosmetic surgery. John Pellan, the site's publisher, has been hard at work in the garage tweaking and tuning his re-designed site for a few months now.

When the new site launches - at the same address - the TPR project YFZ450R will be featured in one of 2010's first ATV Scene Girl photo shoots. We conducted the shoot this month with expert, Akron-based photographer Steph Krell, and the pics are smoking hot, so I thought I would give you a sneak peek.

We worked with 19-year-old Kent State University business major Holly Winchester, who modeled for the shoot. Many of you may know Holly's brother, Marc, who was hailed as one of the top pro-am riders until he crashed out with a broken femur at the first round this season. Holly was a trooper during our photo shoot and toughed it out in shorts, tanks and bikinis despite a frigid shooting location.





Stay tuned, you won't want to miss this shoot with the TPR project YFZ450R.

The TPR project YFZ450R is shown sans Holly at the Scene Girl photo shoot location, TPR's CNC facility in Mentor, Ohio.

TPR unveils project YFZ450R

Tarantula Performance Racing has completed its project Yamaha YFZ450R motocross build. Many of the industry’s top aftermarket performance products manufacturers worked to transform this quad into a national-caliber race ATV capable of winning on any motocross track at most any level.

Look for a complete video ride review of the TPR project YFZ450R online at ATVonDemand. Also, look for a three-part series of articles at ATV.com on the build, the initial ride test and a long-term evaluation. And ATVScene features the quad in its January 2010 ATV Scene Girl with Holly Winchester. For a complete history of the project and to see the build as it progressed, navigate through the blog archives section at the right of this page.

TPR would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors of the Tarantula Performance Racing project Yamaha YFZ450R: ATP Racing Engines, Motoworks, ATV Four Play, Twin Air, Douglas Wheel Technologies, Maxxis, Fox Racing Shocks, Spider Grips, Cycra, Quadtech, RPM, Galfer, Hinson Racing, CV4, Capital Powdercoating, BTek Performance, HMF Racing and Outta Control Racing Ministries. Our gratitude goes out to ATVOnDemand.com, ATV.com, ATVScene.com and all the rest of the sport’s media outlets for sharing this build with the ATV world.

Sincerely,

The crew at TPR

Update - TPR project YFZ450R

Here's a quick update: We conducted the studio photo shoot for the TPR project YFZ450R Saturday and then hit the track for a quick photo session for some action shots.

We're in the process of lining up our model for the ATV Scene Girl photo shoot, and we're getting ready to conduct the video ride review with ATVOnDemand.com.

Look for a final announcement on the TPR project YFZ450R quad build by Tarantula Performance Racing in the next couple of weeks.