Table of contents for Issue 243 in Dirt Action

Equipped with the pro-level protection, safety, and technology Bell is known for, the Moto-9S Flex is at the top of the helmet design pile. The Moto-9S Flex features race-ready protection with the proprietary Flex Technology. Using a three-layer impact liner with multiple densities of material, Flex strategically disperses impact energy and works to reduce rotational energy transfer. The flexible, segmented liner achieves an adaptive, more personalised fit for a wider variety of head shapes and allows us to deliver superior ventilation throughout the helmet. On the outside, the Bell Moto-9S features a fibreglass composite shell, an EPS-lined chin bar, and exclusive safety features such as our Magnefusion magnetic cheek pads. CONSTRUCTION » Lightweight fibreglass » Composite shell VENTILATION » Velocity Flow Ventilation™ » Fully adjustable Flying Bridge Visor™ with air…

The KX250F has enjoyed some long periods of success, especially at the hands of Mitch Payton’s Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team, but those days of domination have been few and far between of late. That’s down to a number of things — a combination no doubt of team, riders and injuries and maybe the fact that the competition has caught up. The KX250F was still a strong bike in 2016 but was starting to feel the need for an update: the ergos felt a little tired and the once class-leading engine had been caught and even passed by some of the pack. Well, for 2017 Kawasaki has answered with something wholly new. There isn’t much here carried over from 2016; a new engine, frame and plastics make for a…

There is no denying the future is electric. Whilst the sound of a motocross bike echoing through the paddock is far from dead, battery-powered moto is going to be the future. When? That’s a question for someone a lot smarter than me. One of the issues facing motocross as a sport from existing in populated areas is noise pollution. People don’t like living near dirtbike tracks and thanks to urban sprawl, more tracks are being shut down. That alone is enough of a reason to be excited about the success of the Stark Future VARG — it’s the bike that may change everything. ABOUT THE VARG A fullsize electric dirt bike isn’t a new thing, however The Stark VARG has been developed with a unique target in mind. It hasn’t…

In 1972 Ian Bailey was a foundation member of Lower Mountains Off Road Club. What started out to be a collection of trail bike riders who wanted to get away from their nagging parents for the weekend, quickly turned into a full blown race club. Trail bikes were abandoned for the new Japanese motocrossers. Ian was very much at the forefront of open racing in those days and was a party to the emergence of the Japanese dominance of dirt racing. He purchased the first Honda Motocrosser, the Elsinore in 1972. With that machine, he was the first club member to enter open competition in motocross, enduros and short circuit racing. Soon others followed and the mould was set to abandon forever the original concept of a non-competitive club. Not…

01 CHOOSE YOUR GRIPS Either wire your grips on, using a thin-gauge stainless-steel wire. Three separate strands of wire per grip will do the trick — each end and one in the middle. Go around the grip twice each time, then twist the wire to get it tight. Be sure to tuck the cut-off section back into the grip so you don’t stab your hand with it. Or you can use ODI lock-on grips like I have here; the clutch side literally slides on the handlebar then is held in place by tightening a clamp bolt. The throttle grip comes mounted on a throttle tube so you just replace the whole throttle tube. An added bonus is you end up with a spare throttle tube in your parts box. I…

SLIP & SLIDE The first thing you need to come to grips with is that the bike is going to move around. There are all sorts of loose rocks along with slick, muddy sections that will cause your bike to perform movements you aren’t ready for. The key is being comfortable with those movements so you stay fluid with the bike and remain balanced. If you freak out and tense up, your balance goes out the window and you’ll have both feet down in the drink in no time. STAY STANDING Approach the creek in the standing position and aim to remain there as long as possible. Staying in the standing position will offer many advantages, starting with your field of vision. When you stand up on the bike you’ll…

Seeing the KTM factory editions is always a treat! Looking into the future of the range, what you see here are essentially 2023 KTM models with some fruit, and we like what we see. » New bodywork with specifically tailored ergonomics for easier rider movement » New hydro-formed chromium molybdenum frame significantly improving anti-squat behaviour » New topology optimised diecast aluminium swingarm providing optimal rigidity and low weight » New 250cc DOHC engine providing class-leading torque and peak power » New 450cc SOHC engine providing classleading performance and low weight » New Quickshift feature providing seamless up-shifting without the clutch » New aluminium-polyamide hybrid subframe construction providing specifically calculated rigidity and advanced durability » New WP XACT 48mm front forks with AER technology offer more progressive end-of-stroke damping » New…

Welcome to Camp and Ride. We love getting out in the great outdoors, ripping dirt bikes, cooking a killer feed and shooting a few yarns over a couple of beers. So, let’s dedicate these pages to all things camping and good times! MUST-VISIT: KRUSIC’S RIDE PARK Krusic’s Ride Park is an incredible facility based in Dutson Downs, Victora. The sandy surface here makes for some awesome fun. The facility features Our Ride Park, which caters for every rider and all skill levels, and there are six tracks available, ranging from pro to beginner. Camping is available at Golden Beach and Paradise Beach, which is around 10km east of Ride Park. Various campsites are available along the beach. Loch Sport is around 35km north-east of Krusic’s Ride Park. Loch Sport Caravan…

ON THE TRAILS Which bikes did we ride? This time round for the 2022 Husky Enduro test we were lucky enough to throw a leg over the FE350, FE450 and the FE501. It was great to have this lineup to test back to back in the trails and see how each bike performed against each other. What were the conditions like? Conditions were tough for this test. We were up in the hills of Kenilworth Queensland and the trails made sure you were well on your toes. One minute you were flowing through some sweet fire trails letting the beasts move the earth and the next minute you end up in some extreme enduro sections. It was a lot of fun but not for the faint hearted. How are the…

1 - DON’T LEAVE A MESS Take garbage bags and leave with what you brought. Some camp areas may have bins; if so, use them, but don’t leave a mess. 2 - GET CLEANED If there’s no shower facilities, there are some options to keep the stink down. The basic one is, baby wipes, they’re much more useful than a shower in a can. Otherwise, a unit such as the Joolca Hot Water system is worth its weight in gold. Just add a bucket of water and you have a hot shower. 3 - KEEP CHARGED If you don’t have a vehicle with dual batteries, a battery box with a car battery is a cost-effective way to keep your fridge running and any other equipment charged. 4 - DON’T DRINK…

Dirtbike riders are spoilt for choice when it comes to a suitable vehicle. Loads of utes and vans litter the market, but few are as head turning as the Jeep Gladiator. Despite the badarse look, the Rubicon isn’t as regularly seen on the roads or at the races as other dual-cab utes on the market. So, I was super keen to find out why. From the distinctive Jeep front end to the hefty Fox shocks and the sizeable wheelbase, the Rubicon has a very strong and firm stance. It’s a tough looking machine. The tub liner is super grippy and the cover is dust and waterproof. The cover folds up easily to the front of the tub with built-in Velcro straps. Unfortunately, despite the size of the Gladiator, a full-size…

When the trail heads upwards at any decent angle, many riders begin to leave their comfort zone, especially when they’re on an adventure bike. Rider and bike combined usually weigh in at several hundred kilograms and when that starts getting away from you it will get the heart racing; it’s a large mass to keep moving up a hill. The key here is staying under total control at all times by using the correct body position and control use to maintain forward momentum. MOMENTUM This is what going uphill is all about, especially on a bigger bike. To have forward momentum you need to maintain a decent level of traction; the correct body position and control use will help you make that happen. Always try to carry good momentum into…

Let’s talk about mixing the best of both worlds, dirt and sea. If this sounds appetising then the beautiful Northern NSW coastal town of Nelsons Bay may just be the place for you. With beautiful beaches, boat tours mixed with Luke George’s training facility and The Island ride park a short trip away, what more could you want? Time to pack up the crew and rip into a killer weekend, full of good fun, great feeds, dust, sand and all the good vibes. LOCATION: NELSON BAY, NSW WHERE TO STAY Spoilt with choice in this stunning location, there are loads of places to stay in Nelson Bay and surrounds. All a hop or skip to the water. Halifax or Shoal Bay Holiday Park are great for the bike trailer, offering…

A RIDER THAT EMBEDDED HIMSELF IN TRAINING AND WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE LATEST INFORMATION ON HOW TO BEST PREPARE AS AN ATHLETE During his career as a pro racer, team manager and now full-time rider coach, Michael Byrne has seemed to always fly under the radar, yet his accomplishments are up there with Australia’s most successful motocross and supercross racers. A racing career in the USA that saw him employed by Factory Kawasaki, Factory Suzuki, JGR and Two Two Motorsports just to name a few along with multiple podiums in both AMA motocross and supercross in the 450 class, he is as experienced as they come. A rider that embedded himself in training and was always interested in learning the latest information on how to best prepare as…

Jay Wilson recently undertook a whirlwind trip to Japan as part of a Yamaha arrangement in their motocross program. It was 38 days in total, 28 of them spent in some form of quarantine, but during those 10 days he was free, he managed to fit in so much, from testing new parts to racing at Sugo and just being a tourist in one of the most intriguing countries in the world. WE WILL LET JAY TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED I love Japan. It’s always been a dream of mine to race there, and even with 14 days quarantine on both sides of my trip, being away from my family for almost two months, the countless Bento boxes and hotel rooms, it was a memorable and life-changing adventure that I…

You may be incredibly skilled in your field, you may have years of experience, you may have listened to your coach and put in the hard yards physically — but if it all falls apart on game day, was it really worth it? It’s no secret that application is where it counts. Can you pull it all together when you need to? Start by acknowledging your own roadblocks. » Where are they in the day? » Are they mentally or physically driven? » What’s the catalyst? » What can you implement before to avoid it? » What can you implement after to save it? Roadblocks can be big or small. They could be a simple, quick fix or require a greater attention to detail. Let’s start by breaking down a…

Taking on a trail ride overseas can present one of the greatest adventures of your life — an experience filled with unforgettable memories and lifechanging experiences. It can be rewarding beyond measure but, just as easily it can turn sour and you can find yourself far from home and in a bad way. Here are some things you should make sure are in place before you jet off so that, even if things do go bad, you can at least get home safe. The correct travel insurance is essential, not simply to replace lost or stolen items etc but to help book flights should you need to make an unscheduled exit. Changing or rebooking flights can be expensive, so too are hospital costs should you come to grief, so be…

GEARNE SG-10 BOOTS It’s been years since I slid my foot into a Gearne boot. Even longer since I have worn the SG-10. The team at Cassons sent across a bangin’ red set and within the first ride, I was reminded of the quality of these boots. When I first popped them on, I was a tad worried I should have gone a size down, but some adjusting with the lightweight buckles allowed me to get a comfortable fit with the gel padded interior. I am a big fan of the SG-10 boots when it comes to trailriding. A lot of the new age boots are going softer, more comfort base and allowing for feel over protection, but do you know what feels shithouse? Bashing your foot on a rock…