Dirt Actionの Nov/Dec 2019 の目次

Beta has treated enduro riders to a host of upgrades for its 2020 models — the Beta beasts are all-new! Most noteworthy is the new chassis design. The redesigned geometry and rigidity are aimed at increasing agility and stability while reducing weight and improving reliability. The new head bolts reduce vibration and the frame is narrower for improved handling. The swingarm is now longer for the four-stroke range and the 200cc two-stroke model. Four-strokes are treated to a completely new engine aimed at reducing the weight of moving parts and moving the centre of gravity closer to the swingarm pivot. Two-strokes are treated to a new counter balancer for a reduction in vibration.…

The Bell Moto-9 is back in 2020 with some epic new colour combos, like this rad Prophecy Green/Infared paint job. Now featuring MIPS technology, the Moto-9 boasts a huge range of features including a Tri-Matrix shell, Velocity Flow Ventilation, X-Static liner, Flying Bridge Visor, magnetic cheek pads/strap keeper and an industry-leading five-year warranty. We recently had an insight into the Bell company and they have some very exciting things in the works, so it was epic to get a true understanding of their company and vision. Next time you’re trying on helmets in a dealership, slide your head into a Bell Moto-9 and experience a great fit and comfort at an affordable price point. Stay tuned for a review on the Bell Moto-9 helmet in an upcoming issue of DA.…

We love seeing new models from manufacturers that fill a hole in the market — “We see what you need. Here, try this…” Honda has done exactly that with the all-new Honda CRF250F. This is a new model in the lineup, filling the position of the 250cc trailbike in Honda’s extensive range of trail and fun bikes. Is it the XR250R of the future? Well, not really. But it does have merit as a trail bike and, even more so, a bike to introduce new members into the world of off-road motorcycle riding. WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? Having a geeze over the 2019 Honda CRF250F, you’re treated to a neat-looking CRF-style trailbike featuring fuel injection, 41mm forks, a tubular steel frame and hydraulic disc brakes. The SOHC engine is designed…

Allan Tomkins has been around motorcycles all his long life. He bought his first bike when he was 15 and has owned one or many simultaneously ever since. During the ‘90s, he was best known among the racing fraternity as the man in the chequered pants who made Phil Christensen’s Supercross Masters run smoothly, as if it were a large space inside the hardly cavernous Sydney Entertainment Centre. But there’s a lot more to Al than funny pants and two-strokes. As a country boy from Mudgee, he was dunked early into the country and western life and his love for the life and the music has never left him. He crafts hand-made guitars for fellow musicians and friends such as Keith Urban and Tommy Emmanuel, and in his spare time,…

Growing up riding and racing motorcycles as a child, I cast my mind back to a memory of my adolescent self, face pressed hard against the mesh fence spanning the perimeter of the Coolum Pines motocross track. It was the King brothers that day who battled it out for a championship on a track that I myself raced on just weeks earlier. Some 15 odd years ago now, it’s moments like these that are etched into my mind as I remember what the pinnacle of our sport here in Australia looked and felt like. At this time, thoughts and dreams of lining up to race one of these events were merely that, dreams… Nearly 20 years later, this dream was set to become a reality as I scrolled the pages…

Three more rounds of the DIRT ACTION Amcross series, a trip to Queensland and two months have passed since our last update on the 2019 Suzuki RM-Z250. With a multitude of test bikes, a 125 project and the magazine’s busy advertising schedule, I really only had time to ride our little yellow project bike when I was racing it. Already taking a big chunk out of my plans for the build in stage one, this second stage was more focused on refining the package we had and making a few cosmetic changes, helping make the bike stand out from the crowd. Up to this point I had really only been working on the suspension myself. Surprisingly, the spring rates were in the ballpark for my weight, and the minor changes…

In an absolutely dominant performance, Australia has stamped its authority on the Minneapolis X-Games in the USA. Corey Creed claimed victory in the Moto X QuarterPipe, launching more than 32 feet into orbit. It was an Aussie sweep in the Moto X Freestyle, with Rob Adelberg claiming his eighth medal in nine competitions, this his first gold. His run included three different front-flip variations. Josh Sheehan and Jackson Strong would make it an all-Aussie podium lockout. Jackson Strong and Josh Sheehan claimed silver and bronze in Moto X Best Trick behind the innovative Daniel Rinaldo. Rinaldo landed an incredible world-first backflip body varial, a trick that looks like it should be reserved for the MX vs ATV video game, and became the first European to win gold in the event.…

The Geico Hondas are some of the trickestlooking machines in the AMA Motocross and Supercross series. The most obvious and eye-catching feature on these bikes is the D’Cor graphics and seat cover combo; it’s such a factory way to make these team bikes stand out. Factory HRC triple clamps sit up top, gripping a set of KYB factory forks tuned in-house. Hunter opts for Pro Taper handlebars and a set of ARC levers is also fitted. The engine package is developed in-house at Factory Connection. From a visual perspective, the engine features some anodised and Cerakoted parts for both aesthetic appeal and ease of maintenance. Oversized radiators are sourced by the team and the factory titanium fuel tank allows for extra fuel capacity — the team runs Renegade race fuel.…

Mykonos is a Greek island of 85.5 square kilometres with a population of around 11,000 people. In Greek mythology, Mykonos was named after its first ruler, who was the son or grandson of the god Apollo. The island is also said to have been the location of a great battle between Zeus and Titans and also where Hercules killed the invincible giants having lured them from the protection of Mount Olympus. According to myth, the large rocks all over the island are said to be the petrified testicles of the giants. Now the island is a popular tourist destination with great food and nightlife on offer. But that’s not as interesting as having invincible beings with massive testicles wreaking havoc, so enter Robbie Maddison. Together with American road bike freestyler…

Todd Waters has fought off battles from Luke Clout and Hayden Mellross to take the Pirelli MX Nationals MX1 championship. With a tight fight coming into the final doubleheader rounds at Coolum, Queensland, Waters dominated, winning each moto and stamping his authority on the championship. DPH Motorsports completed the double with Wilson Todd claiming victory in the MX2 class, another category which came down to the wire. CRF Racing’s Kyle Webster had a tough ask on his hands to snatch victory from Wilson in the final rounds. Webster fell short of the monumental task despite being a sand specialist, but his second overall for the title is a career best. Third place went to the likeable and ever-consistent GYTR Yamalube Yamaha rider Jay Wilson. Raceline KTM’s Regan Duffy took the…

“THEY WILL ALL HAVE TO BE REGISTERED BY THE END OF 2024. IF THEY AREN’T, THEN WE ARE ALLOWED ONLY 10 PER CENT THAT CAN GO FURTHER THAN THAT” Husqvarna has been actively tackling the approaching deadline for Euro 5 emission standards with moves to EFI for the two-stroke models. But is it enough to secure their long-term survival? We sat down with Husqvarna’s Product Manager Justin Maxwell to get his thoughts on where things might go in the future. Can you explain what the point of Euro 5 is? It’s to regulate any type of emission, from CO2 to noise emissions as well as evaporation of fuel from the fuel tank. Included in these is also the need for on-board diagnostics systems. With our bikes we have our own…

The Yamaha fun-bike range is bursting at the seams; it simply has a model for everyone. From the 50cc legend, the PW50, to the more modernised TT-R50E and TT-R110E, and then through to the versatile TT-R125LWE, the two-wheel fun-bike range is loaded with options for groms to shred and grow their skills. Thinking four wheels? Yamaha has you covered there too, with a YFZ50 mini ATV and the Raptor 90 or YFM90 for bigger kids ready to get serious on four wheels. We lined up a group of little legends and pointed them at the Yamaha range. You think we could get them off these weapons? Well, we tried… BUY THE RIGHT GEAR When starting out in the world of motocross riding, it’s important to invest in the right gear.…

“ARAI’S LONG HISTORY OF STUDYING NUMEROUS REAL-WORLD INCIDENTS HAS ME FEELING AS THOUGH I AM PULLING ON ONE OF THE SAFEST HELMETS ON THE MARKET” I have been wearing Arai’s off-road offering, the VX-Pro4 , for the most part of this year and it has probably seen the most days on my head of all the helmets I own in this time. Although these helmets have changed very little visually from the early 2000s, the subtle safety updates and aero refinements prove the theory that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Immediately when looking at any Arai helmet, you notice that they appear to have a rounder shape than any of their competitors. With helmet technology and rider safety at the forefront of our industry currently, Arai is certainly…

WHAT YOU NEED » Rag » Isopropyl alcohol or similar cleaner » Knife » Squeegee » Water bottle for wet method » Heat gun » Clean environment » Patience CLEAN THE PLASTICS Preparation is key when applying graphics. Used plastics must be free from all glue, residue and dirt. We are lucky to be starting here with brand-new plastics, which makes life easier. Clean all plastics with isopropyl alcohol. Methylated spirits or contact cleaner will also be suitable. Brand-new plastics need to be cleaned as they have a coating on them to ensure they are nice and shiny on the shelf. CHOOSE YOUR METHOD Wet or dry. Talk to your graphics supplier as they may have a preferred, more successful method for their material. WET METHOD » Mix up a…

Bloody CRF110s… Adam was getting a little wild in his safety Vans shoes on his 110 and did some damage to his foot. With the WR in the shed, I took the opportunity to spend a day on it to get to know the 2019 450 Enduro Shootout winner. WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING I like a motocross-feeling bike when riding in the bush and that’s exactly what I felt when jumping on the Yamaha WR450F. Adam runs a pretty similar setup to me; other than his levers being angled down a little further than I would usually run, I felt at home on the Spencey-spec WR. From standard, the only real change on the WR is the re-valved front forks from Factory Spec Suspension in Windsor. At around 10kg heavier…

10 years after his father claimed victory, Manuel Lettenbichler has stood on the top step after a treacherous Red Bull Romaniacs. After a tight battle with Alfredo Gomez in the wet and slick conditions, Lettenbichler would stand victorious. “I’m over the moon right now, I really can’t believe it,” he said. “This race is really something special and to win here feels amazing. The event is so long and so hard and anything can happen, so I’m so pumped to take the win. It’s been an incredible five days and so gnarly, especially with all the rain we’ve had. Some of the uphills that would have been tricky anyway have become near impossible today. It’s 10 years since my dad won Red Bull Romaniacs so it’s great to be able…

After a decade of professional racing in the AMA Supercross Championship and AMA Motocross Championship, Cole Seely has announced his retirement from the sport. After battling through injury over the last two years, Seely has made the difficult decision to hang up his boots. “These past two years have been very difficult,” Seely said. “Last year’s injury was severe and very tough on me both mentally and physically. I fought hard to return this season but it was much more challenging than I anticipated. Now with this recent shoulder injury, it’s just another setback. This decision definitely wasn’t easy but I think it’s the right choice. I’m grateful for having been given the opportunity to do something I’ve loved since I was a kid and to make it into my…

It’s not a stretch to say Beta isn’t the most recognisable name in off-road bikes. In trials the name looms large, but for trailriders the name is a weak signal lost in the noise of the big five. We spent a day in the wilderness with Trailrider magazine’s Tuffy, Ben Grabham and his brother Broc (yes, he’s fast), and our awesome guide Luke de Graaf. We put the 350RR through its paces and found very little to complain about. THE MAKEUP The RR350 feels thin and not totally unlike a KTM. The bar position is a little different and the pegs feel further forward, giving the RR a slightly cramped feel. In that respect the Beta is a little like a TM. So to draw the most accurate analogy, the…

MATADOR 6-BURNER HOODED BOSS BBQ KITCHEN The Matador 6-Burner Hooded Boss BBQ Kitchen is great for entertaining with family and friends. With a granite benchtop and a zinc seal steel with grey powder coating, this BBQ kitchen boasts a sleek simple design. The enamel cast iron burners, satin enamel cooking surfaces and an enamel-coated warming rack make this BBQ great for entertaining. Zoned cooking functionality together with a temperature gauge and viewing windows make it even easier to cook your meal. Soft-close drawers and double skin doors, together with a self-cleaning hood, make this BBQ kitchen smooth and easy to use. The undermount stainless-steel sink features WELS 4 Star 7.5L/min rating with hot and cold mixer tap. » Wok burner » Rear radiant burner » Rotisserie » Internal cylinder storage…

Husqvarna has at times seemed like an orphan that’s been thrown from foster parent to foster parent, rarely finding a long-term home to grow and thrive in. It’s been Swedish, Italian and then German, and now it’s Austrian and arguably the most stable it’s been for decades. It finally seems it’s found a happy home after all. The company began way back in the late 1600s as a munitions manufacturer (hence the gun sight logo) and started making motorcycles in 1903. Since 2013 it’s been part of the KTM juggernaut, with the white bikes rolling out of the same Mattighofen factory as its orange brethren. This isn’t the first time KTM has crossed paths with Husqvarna, though. When Cagiva bought Husky in ‘87, a heap of the engineers said “hell…

A recent invite to the DSMRA ride from Wisemans Ferry to Denman, overnight at the pub and return, was the perfect excuse to take a weekend off and go riding. Tim “El Presidenti” Clarke sent all the details and after a quick visit to the DSMRA website I was booked in. For the best set of wheels to ride, I gave the Geezer at Yamaha Motor Australia a cheeky call and requested he send me a new Ténéré to ride in the event, fully expecting to be told there were none available and all he could offer was a WRF. Instead, I get a very positive response: “Yeah, all good, mate. I have the prefect one here ready for you. I’ll get the paperwork emailed and have it delivered in…

Yamaha has been busy developing a long list of changes for its premier-class MX weapon, the YZ450F. While it’s not claimed to be an all-new bike, the changes are much more than bold new graphics, that’s for sure. We had the chance to spend a day on the bike at Cheyne Boyd’s Park4MX track, just outside Melbourne. The crew from Yamaha Motor Australia laid it on for us; we had technical staff from in-house along with the full CDR team on hand to help us with bike setup, mapping and everything else in between. WHAT’S NEW? First things first, what is new on this bike? Well, it’s more a case of what isn’t. It’s had a complete overhaul; there isn’t much that has been left alone. At a glance, it…

YAMAHA YFM90R Let’s get racey! The YFM90R, or Raptor 90 as it’s also known, is a more race-ready Yamaha quad. It’s got A-arm independent front suspension and an adjustable rear shock, plus a lively 90cc engine tuned for low-mid end power. The CVT transmission allows riders to concentrate on learning the art of ATV riding without the hassle of gears or a clutch. As a rider develops their skill level, a simple CDI plug-in allows for engine adjustment to provide a more exciting or tamed-down ride. WHY WE LOVE IT » Electric start » Lively but tuneable engine » Race DNA » Independent front suspsension » Preload-adjustable rear shock YAMAHA YFZ50 Not ready for two wheels, or not interested in learning the craft? Check out the YFZ50. Built for children…