Table of contents for Dec/Jan 2020-21 in Dirt Action

Every so often, a video comes out that you just have to see. Tyler Bereman is no stranger to epic content. You may remember the shoot he did on the streets of LA with Maddo, which we featured over several pages because it was just insane. This time Tyler hooked up with cutting-edge drone pilot Johnny ‘FPV’ Schaer for a new film, One Shot, that sees the American navigate an intricate course on ranch property in East County, San Diego. Captured in one take by Schaer, the five-minute film spotlights Bereman on his KTM 450 SX-F as he takes on a snaking, challenging course, with the complex riding line taking six weeks to build. After a day of practice, it took the duo several attempts to nail the choreography as…

Without getting overly deep into the secret sauce that is Clive’s suspension wizardry, the simple-ish overview of what has been done here is that Clive fitted a five-millimetre spacer to the fork springs to get the correct static and rider sag. From there he added two shims to the high-speed compression shim stack and the oil height was raised to 75 millimetres. The shock on the Ténéré is the source of much of the bike’s overly soft feel and the way it behaves often upsets the front as a result. Clive completely re-valved the shock for increased compression and rebound damping and fitted a 9.0kg/mm spring. A massive focus here is on balance. As soft as the stock forks are, the shock is softer again and this throws the bike’s…

Sitting glistening in the morning light, idling gently, is a Husqvarna FC250. But this is not just any Husqvarna FC250. This is an insider build. A Husqvarna employee with access to every single part in the Husqvarna technical accessories catalogue, time with world-class mechanics, and unobtanium information lying in the minds of Husqvarna staff has set out to build the ultimate in-house machine. A bike that could line up at any race around the world and be competitive. A bike that didn’t need to access any parts outside of the Husqvarna catalogue, or aligned brands. The price tag? An eye-watering $30,000. FROM THE OUTSIDE Around the world, Husqvarnas have a clean and standard look about them. There is not an obvious dripping of aftermarket accessories in hundreds of colours. So…

On March 15, 1920, the Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Company was founded by Michio Suzuki, who surely had no idea his dream to sell cloth weaving machines would eventually lead to a sponsorship deal with the greatest motocross rider of all time. There’s just no way Michio-san could have known his little company would build a bike that would land the first double back-flip or that his name would be on the bike that Seth Enslow launched into a crowd of people and bikes in Crusty 2. And yet here we are now, 100 years on, and there is a lot of history to look back on. Admittedly, there were no RM125s 100 years ago; the motoring division started life in 1937 but was needed for the pre-war and war-time efforts.…

This bike is the last of the factory two-strokes. Hard to believe it has been 12 years since it was ridden in competition. RC rode it to seven wins in the 2005 season and wrapped up the championship with one round to go. Sitting here on the stand, it really doesn’t look that dated. Although RC’s setup is not as extreme as his Honda days, his RM 250 still has the trademark cut-down seat and lowered look to it which comes from a cut-down subframe and shortened rear shock. The power from this machine is exciting. It is strong and meaty — not in a current four-stroke way, but for a two stroke 250 it is. It’s hard to imagine how good it would have been for its time and…

As you will have seen a few pages back, we caught up with Beau Ralston to talk about his KX450 race bike. But I also asked him to bring along his dad’s CR500 and YZ490. These aren’t what you’d call showroom-condition bikes — far from it, in fact. They aren’t even subject to a regular maintenance schedule. But they get raced fairly regularly and loved for what they are, which is 30-odd-year-old bikes that are still running in 2020, an era when it’s impossible to imagine keeping a race bike for five years, let alone still having it in 30. Beau rode them for the first time not long before we did this shoot and while he was wary of their limitations, he loved them all the same. The bikes…

“YOU BUY IT, YOU GET ON IT, YOU RIDE IT.” — JOSH GREEN Josh Green from the Active8 Yamaha team had a heavy influence on the design of the new 2021 Yamaha WR450F. After riding it through the trails and having a few days on it now, I really noticed the power is super smooth but is really strong. It’s got really nice power, which is something we look for in a race bike. Also, the suspension — the bike is really balanced. It’s nice and level when coming in and stays level. Through rocks and tree roots it is really stable. The power is super usable. When you touch the throttle it works; its not super aggressive but it’s got enough power that when you want to use it,…

01 ON YA FEET The standing position is the best position to be in when crossing water. Be prepared for the motorcycle to move around underneath you as there is likely rocks and muck underneath the water level. Being on your feet allows you to keep strong, but the bike can also move underneath you without throwing your balance out. It can be a weird feeling to have a bike that is wiggling and bouncing beneath you as you ride through water but it’s critical to staying balanced if the bottom is rocky or bumping. 02 LOOK AHEAD Another benefit of standing is that your vision is lifted. As you enter the water, look to the exit. This not only allows you to look to where you are…

What Pol Tarrés is doing on a Ténéré 700 just shouldn’t be possible. The video, called The Seeker, is one of the more mind-blowing creations of the last few years. It shows Tarrés riding a mix of trials and hard enduro on the 205-kilogram Yamaha which, needless to say, wasn’t built for that kind of riding. It’s like entering a bathtub in the Sydney to Hobart. But Tarrés rips every scene and does things that represent a level of skill and bravery that most mortals can’t fathom. Do yourself a favour and check it out. THE SEEKER  Produced by: @thewhoproject Directed by: Echevarría Brothers Starring: @poltarres13 & @ahikarnet Still photography: @livelike_javi_thewho DOP/Filmed: @mitiyu…

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Josh’s bike is that it isn’t full of unobtainable parts. It’s not totally removed from the stock bike and you could build the same thing easily. In fact, you may even have a fancier bike in your garage. The Acerbis headlight clipped straight into the stock electrics and that’s the big giveaway that this motocross machine has another purpose. The stock 1.1kpf radiator was replaced with a 1.6kpf cap to prevent overheating and a Works Connection bashplate was tasked with keeping at bay the nasty volcanic rocks that litter Sardinia. The biggest changes to the performance of the RM-Z came from a DR.D NS-4 exhaust and suspension work by Jay Foreman using RG3 tech. I was astonished to learn that there was nothing done…

NICKNAME: Cozdog RESIDES: Gold Coast, Australia BIRTHDAY: 02/11/1990 SPONSORS: Rockstar Energy, Boost Mobile, UNIT CAREER HIGHLIGHT: 2x XGAMES Quarter Pipe Gold Medallist, Nitro World Games Gold Medallist, Moto Quarter Pipe World Record Holder, XGAMES World Record Holder. SECRET SKILL: Drifting in my car You don’t need to look far into the MX history books to find Corey Creed as a stuntman working at Movie World and ripping his dirtbike on weekends. Now the guy is a household name in the motocross scene. The Gold Coast local has two XGAMES Quarter Pipe gold medals, is a Nitro World Games Gold Medallist, Moto Quarter Pipe World Record Holder and XGAMES World Record Holder — quite the rap sheet. In 2020, Corey and the team at Hype Republic set out after a new…

The Yamaha WR450F has long been a presence at the pointy end of motorcycle sales in Australia. With a solid history of reliability, rideability and brand loyalty, Yamaha lovers have longed for a WR450F in their garage. In 2021, 400 Aussie Edition units will arrive, designed and developed by Australian enduro riders for Australian enduro riders. THE DESIGN GOAL FOR THE 2021 YAMAHA WR450F » Lighter balance with added manoeuvrability » Easier cornering in tight situations » Improved front end traction — initial turn-in and line maintenance mid-corner » Stronger, more progressive braking » Added stability both in bumps and in the air » Progressive, smooth suspension action with ability to absorb big impacts » Easier to control, progressive power » Strong and longer pulling power while maintaining traction WHAT’S…

01 Anyone can win. All bets are off when the rain comes down. Guys that haven’t had a sniff of the podium are all of a sudden leading the pack and taking a trophy home. 02 It’s not us. Yeah, there’s some satisfaction in watching other people suffer while you down a third beer and sausage sandwich in air-conditioned comfort. 03 It’s a testament to how good modern bikes are that they can hold them so hard for so long. There was a time when busted bikes littered any drenched track and while the conditions still take their toll, it’s less and less as the years go by. 04 It’s brutal. It takes the gladiatorial spectacle and ups it by several levels. 05 It helps goggle and clutch manufacturers stay…

The Sony A7III has been a staple in the DIRT ACTION camera bag of late. After years of using Canon equipment, both Damo and Matt have taken the jump to Sony and are yet to look back. 01 The focusing speed. Despite being a mirrorless camera, the focus speed on the Sony A7III is incredible and perfect for shooting motocross. 02 Lightweight. When compared to many traditional DSLR cameras, the Sony A7III is super lightweight and compact. It took a little while to get used to the smaller feel in the hands but it’s super comfortable now. 03 Image quality. The photography and video quality of the Sony is of the highest of standards. We have shot everything from magazine covers to our movies on the Sony and struggle to…

Trail riding in summer can be a bloody punish but good fun nonetheless. Here are a few quick and simple tips that can make it more fun and much safer. 01 START EARLY Get on the bike before the mercury climbs. If the location allows, be on the bike early in the morning. The temp will be at its lowest at the earliest time in the morning, which will make for a much more enjoyable experience. Starting early means finishing early. If you can be off the bike before the middle of the day, you will avoid that crazy-hot mid-part of the day. 02 PRE-HYDRATE Hit the fluids at least the day before but limit the booze. Try and drink a good few litres of water, electrolytes or…

WASH THE BLOODY THING This might seem simple, but a quick glance across Facebook Marketplace will prove it’s not common knowledge. Wash. Your. Bike. Wash it well. Remove plastics, use a pressure washer, scrub it. Get a scourer and scrub your frame well and give the engine a clean with it too. Once it’s washed, get some silicone spray and shine the bike up. Lube the chain, WD any moving parts — prep the bike to race despite the fact that it’s going to be sold. INVEST BEFORE YOU SELL If your bike is tired, consider spending a little bit of money to replace the worn parts. For example, a trick graphics kit and plastics might set you back $500, but it will raise the value considerably compared to a…

ELECTRIC YZ SET FOR ACTION Yamaha Motor Europe, KNMV, Dohms Projects and Spike have joined forces to build an all-new electric motocross bike that is claimed to compete with the current generation of 250cc dirtbikes. The new motocross machine features a battery-powered motor engineered into an existing Yamaha YZ250F chassis. The battery that will power the motorcycle is developed by Spike, while Dohms is responsible for the drive and weight distribution. As the battery is easily swappable, the bike can be ridden in back-to-back motos without delay. Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. is enthusiastic about the initiative. “We are happy to support this project as we feel it is important to boost developments in electric technology. We are very much looking forward to test and evaluate the prototype to understand how…

Wattsy was driving a ute he’d borrowed from his brother and towing a rusty three-channel bike trailer that had obviously seen its fair share of duty. There were two bikes on the trailer: the ISDE-winning machine and, to my surprise, the prototype 125 EXC on which Shane won the ’97 125cc World Enduro Championship. My day had just got a whole lot better. Grabbo looked as though he had ants in his pants and seeing him so excited only made me even crazier. Wattsy was actually letting us loose on his bikes. And what made it even weirder was the fact that this was the first time these bikes had been ridden since Wattsy finished racing them. OLD VERSUS NEW To gauge how Wattsy’s 125s perform, we rolled out a…

Beau Ralston will ride or race any style, anywhere. Motocross, supercross, enduro or desert, Beau has done it all and has been fast across all the disciplines. It’s a bit too easy to overlook just how versatile Beau has been over many years and how rare it is to find a guy that’s competed at the highest level across so many styles of racing. We caught up with Beau in a period of almost no racing thanks to COVID and you could tell he was itching to run laps. We were curious about his setup in 2020, which saw him move from a Husqvarna to a Kawasaki but maintain his plan to race both enduro and motocross. We can’t remember anyone having a good crack at the AORC on a…

Husqvarna heard the cries. Husky heard the pleading from 701 Enduro owners who were forced to outfit the bikes with aftermarket tanks. Give us a greater fuel range, they begged. So Husky gave the people what they want. They gave them a lot of what they want, in fact, by nearly doubling the fuel capacity and giving the bike the moniker of LR, which stands for Long Range. The transition from something not quite enduro and not quite adventure to a bike definitely more suited to adventure is complete. The 701 has what it once found hard to define — a purpose. But is it shitty to ride a bike now that it has a 12-litre front tank where there once was no tank at all? Can a bike handle…

It wasn’t that long ago that when I asked if we’d see a Husqvarna adventure model, the answer from an engineer in a white jacket was a definite no. Alas, Husky unveiled an adventure prototype in 2019 and the world lost its shit. The company said it was just playing around with the idea and had no plans to build a production version, and the world lost its shit again. So Husqvarna eventually got the hint and the Norden 901 (Swedish and German for North) has since been confirmed as an upcoming production model with this press release below: “Following the extremely successful unveiling of the Norden 901 Concept model at EICMA, Husqvarna Motorcycles are pleased to announce that this exciting, new twin-cylinder machine will go into production, a move…

There was a time, before Yoshiharu Nakayama unleashed his YZ400F on an unsuspecting planet, when two-strokes ruled the earth. So dominant were they that the lowly four-stroke cousin was seen only as something suitable at best for carrying a bale of hay or providing a leisurely romp through the trees. The two-stroke’s time at the top of the food chain was long and it shone brightly during that time. Many of the greatest race bikes of all time were born in the pre-Nakayama era. The greatest sounds a motocross bike will ever make, and the most alluring exhaust smells, came from this period too. Bikes were cheaper to run and maintain and the mechanics less complicated. There were more classes and racing was more popular. These were the heady days,…

Thor has been absent from the top-of-the-range helmet scene in recent years. They have offered budget-conscious helmets, but nothing to compete with the high-end, big-dollar skull savers. That ends now with the all-new Thor Reflex helmet. Featuring Koroyd’s welded tubes which crump instantly on impact to absorb force in a controlled manner, advanced breathability and cooling, direct and angled impact production and MIPS, the all-new Thor Reflex Helmet offers a high level of protection. FEATURES » Pre-injected carbon-fibre material sheets increase strength and decrease weight » Dual density EPS with integrated Koroyd » Includes Koroyd technology » The MIPS Brain Protection System can reduce harmful forces transmitted to the brain from certain impacts » Contoured cheek pads with quick-release pull tabs » Removable, washable, moisture wicking, anti-microbial DRYFORM comfort liner…

When you arrive on race day and the weather hasn’t been kind, you need to prepare yourself, your gear and your bike for the day ahead. You need to look at the tough conditions and remember it’s the same for everyone. In many ways, you can remove all pressure and expectation from yourself and literally try to enjoy it. Most of all, stay positive — or you might as well load up, head home and save yourself a big clean-up. KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME So many riders throw in the towel when the skies open up — you can’t afford to do that if you want to get good results. Stay positive and focus on everything you can do to help make the day ahead easier. Forget all…

In their final outing, Dirt Action Green Team got to take the Kawasaki KLX steeds to the Singleton District Motorcycle Club track for their last hurrah. After having the bikes for over five months, they’re going to find it very hard to give them back. Singleton is a mining town on the banks of the Hunter River in NSW. It is just shy of 200km NNW of Sydney and is only 80km NW of Newcastle. Getting there from the eastern seaboard is easy with the new Hunter Expressway linking up nicely with the M1. It will take around about two-and-a-half hours to get there from the centre of Sydney. The gates to the Singleton District Motorcycle Club can be found on the Old New England Highway at Ravenswood, a short…