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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays everyone! Whether you celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Christmas, remember to slow down and enjoy the time with friends and family. Because things are about to get hectic when the last bottle of champagne is popped on New Year's Eve and you realize the 2010 season is right around the corner!

If you're still looking for a last-minute gift for your YFZ450R rider, check out HMFracing.com and scope a set of their headlight block-off plates for the YFZR.

The YFZ450R Headlight Block-off Plates from HMF protect your quad's wiring and other electrical components.

 

We installed a set on the TPR project YFZ450R just before our ride review with ATVonDemand.com at Crow Canyon Ride Park in Uhrichsville, Ohio. The plates are made from T-6061 aluminum and are designed to protect your quad's brains - the wiring and other electrical components behind the headlights.

The HMF headlight block-offs were just another trick component that made the TPR project YFZR look even better while performing a critical function.

At just $39.95, these are an affordable gift that your YFZR owner would love. Not to mention they'd be joining the ranks of GNCC pros Bill Ballance and Johnny Gallagher, who run these on some of the toughest tracks in the world.





Check out http://www.hmfracing.com/ to see all the other performance parts they have for the new Yamaha.

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

TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bars

The wait is over! We put the finishing touches on the TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bar and heelguard combination this week at the Tarantula Performance Racing shop in Hinckley, Ohio, and installed them on the TPR project YFZ450R.

At last, installation.

Seeing the Race Safer Pro nerf bars on the TPR project YFZ450R for the first time was practically an emotional event after spending the entire 2009 season building this project quad. It's clear these bars are going to revolutionize nerf bar design.

The TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bar and heelguard combo feature a specially designed outer bar bend to create a pocket that protects riders from the wheels of other quads. The Race Safer Pro nerfs provide a more secure, confidence inspiring platform.

Rider safety was the top priority at TPR in creating the Race Safer Pro nerf bars.

A specially designed outer bar angle breaks away from the industry standard "flat" nerf bar design. The angled outer bar creates a pocket to secure the rider's feet and protect them from the wheels of a competitor.

A ton of features make these new nerf bars completely different from any other pro peg style nerf bar on the market. The aluminum bars are simple and light weight yet extremely durable. The kick-up style pegs are about 1 inch lower than the stock peg position and about 3 inches longer. The teeth on the pegs are angled in towards the quad by 5 degrees to ensure the rider's feet stay firmly planted in the saddle.

The nerf bars are constructed from T6 6061 aluminum tubing with stitched nylon webbing. The retail price is yet to be announced.

The lowered foot peg position and its increased bite, coupled with the pocket created by the outer bar bend, provide one of the safest and most comfortable riding positions I've ever experienced.

The TPR Race Safer Pro nerf bars were the final bolt-on parts for the TPR project YFZ450R. We also added TPR's MX-Series front bumper with removable insert. Capital Powdercoating (see previous blog article here:http://tpr-atvs.blogspot.com/2009/09/powder-coat-chameleonization.html ) handled the powder coat duties for the nerfs, bumper and stock rear grab bar. Capital also created the trick fade on the ATV Four Play MGC A-Arms.

The TPR MX-Series front bumper (top) and powder coated stock rear grab bar (bottom) finished off our list of bolt-ons for the TPR project YFZ450R.

Look for the TPR project YFZ450R to start popping up on the Web at http://www.atv.com/, http://www.atvscene.com/ as a Scene Girl quad and on other online ATV Web sites. We're conducting the studio photo shoot in the next couple of days.

As for the TPR Race Safer Pro nerfs, stay tuned for a release date. In the mean time, you can check out the other parts available from Tarantula Performance Racing at www.tprusa.com/

Soft bars by ATV Four Play

We're using a lot of brand-new products on the TPR project YFZ450R motocross build, including a set of Soft Bars from ATV Four Play.

A set of ATV Four Play's Generation II Soft Bars adorns the TPR project YFZ450R.

ATV Four Play has helped win countless championships with their a-arms. They clearly know how ATV suspension should work. So it made perfect sense to complement the MGC MX long-travel a-arms we're using with a set of their new Soft Bars. The bars were introduced last year to help cushion the hard impacts motocross riding can deal to a racer's upper body.

The bars work much like your typical quad shock. An allen-head bolt can be tightened or loosened to stiffen or soften the bar travel on each side. The bushings used are a cone-shaped polyurethane. The Progressive Dampening System ensures the resistance increases the more you tighten the allen head and as the bar moves through its travel - just like an ATV shock.

The Soft Bars are designed to mount directly to an aftermarket steering stem. In addition, ATV Four Play offers two more bar sets with differing mount positions in order to fit the stock Yamaha YFZ450R stem and the stock KTM stem.

The view from overhead shows the 12-degree bar sweep, which feels very comfortable and is similar to the CR high bend bar.

The Soft Bars are made of T-3 2024 aluminum tubing and billet T-6 6061 aluminum. The pivot areas are sealed, but one great aspect of the bars is they feature grease zircs to maintain the life of the pivot bushing. The bars retail for $295.

ATV Four Play's Generation II Soft Bars - quad engineering at its best!

We haven't ridden the TPR project YFZ450R on a motocross track yet to provide a review of the bars, but we'll be getting ready to conduct our test video with ATVOnDemand.com hopefully in the next few weeks. And ATV.com will be running a series of stories on the project quad, including a complete ride review, this fall.

Our next post will feature the Tarantula Performance Racing MX-Series front bumper and a set of TPR's new Race Safer nerf bar and heel guard combo. Stay tuned...

Rolling chassis - TPR project YFZ450R

After four long months, the TPR project YFZ450R has finally become a rolling chassis. Here are some quick pics of the quad now that we've got the Fox/ATV Four Play/RPM suspension and the Maxxis/DWT wheel combo installed.



You've probably noticed the steering stem and handlebars are missing. The stem is at ATV Four Play, where they are designing a set of their new Soft Bars to fit the stock YFZ450R stem.



We're also waiting on the MX-Series front bumper from Tarantula Performance Racing and their Race Safe nerf bar and heel guard combo.

John Pellan, over at ATVScene.com, is going to use the TPR project YFZ450R for an upcoming ATV Scene Girl photo shoot. We'll be conducting the shoot next weekend.

We should be conductin our video ride test with ATVOnDemand.com this month. The build will continue next week when we install our ATV Four Play Soft Bars and the final components - the Tarantula Performance Racing Race Safe nerf bars and MX-Series front bumper. Stay tuned.

Stopping power - Galfer

I've said it before and I'll say it again ... Sometimes you have to slow down to go fast!

Galfer is handling the stopping duties on the TPR project YFZ450R by providing front and rear stainless steel brake lines for the quad. We'll start by explaining the rear line installation with a short how-to installation. We'll tackle the front lines when we get our shocks from Fox and bolt those on with our ATV Four Play a-arms.

Galfer sponsored the TPR project YFZ450R with a set of front and rear stainless brake lines.

The rear line installation started by disconnecting the parking brake cable from the caliper. The cable disconnects in the same manner as a throttle or clutch cable. Disengage the parking brake, take in the slack and pop the cable out of its actuator arm on the left side of the caliper. Do this before you loosen the arm itself.

Remove the parking brake cable from the caliper before you do anything else.

Next, simply loosen the two bolts and remove the parking brake lever from the clutch perch. Then carefully snake the cable through the frame and out the front. It helps to have all the plastic removed. Once the cable is out, you can remove all the small brackets on the engine and frame that held the parking brake cable in place.

Now, you can remove the actuator arm from the caliper. You'll need to have purchased a parking brake block off plate to install in place of the arm.

The next step is removing the stock brake line. First, remove the two brackets holding the stock line to the swingarm. Then remove the bolts attaching the line to the master cylinder and caliper. You're going to have some brake fluid spillage, so be sure to have a rag handy and work quickly to install the new line.

The Galfer rear line installed easily and pumped back up to full pressure quickly.

The Galfer brake lines come with the brake line bolts and washers to seal the hydraulic system. When installing the Galfer line, slide the bolt through the line fixture at each end, but be sure you have one of the supplied spacers located on the bolt on each side of the fixture. Thread the lines in and you're practically done!

The Galfer rear brake line adds to the sea of silver on the TPR project YFZ450R rear end. Galfer also labeled their line, so we knew which end attached to the master cylinder.

After installing the line, bleed the rear brake to adequate pressure and you're ready to ride.

As you can see, we've still got some work to do. So the TPR project YFZ450R will be in the garage for at least a few more days...

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.