Table of contents for Issue 247 in Dirt Action

The Motostar Weekender has been designed not only to be used for carrying motorbikes but for your kayaks, push bikes, surfboards and more, on that family holiday without having to load up your tow vehicle. Check out the extensive range of upgrade options. FEATURES » 520gsm polycotton waterproof canvas for durability and a dry night's sleep » 8cm 4WD self-inflatable mattress for quick setup » No-see-um mesh for insect protection » Lightweight alloy dome poles keeps it portable » Top spreader pole for stability » 850gsm PVC bucket floor for added protection » Side window for ventilation » Pocket for shoe storage » L210 x W80 x H70/40 » Zip up swag bag included for protection and storage…

Here at DIRT ACTION, we're fortunate enough to have access to experts with a wide range of industry knowledge. For this launch we had myself, the pro racer with a couple of years testing under my belt, and Matty Warren from MCD, suspension technician and average club day/local rider. So not only did we cover both ends of the field, but there is also a heavier focus on suspension in this feature. TEST RIDER: MAT MCENTEE — PRO LEVEL I have done more than a few laps at Appin over the years, so it's safe to say I know the track inside-out. So when I was called up to be a part of the Honda 2023 CRF450R launch day, I was beyond pumped. Having that knowledge of Appin's racetrack, specifically…

FEATURE WORLD TRAVEL Tom and Caroline share their experience and hard-won lessons below. Get inspired and find out what you would need to pack to survive your own global adventure, and how to find your way around the globe. For those who don't know what you did during your incredible two-year trip, can you give an overview of where you went, where you stayed and how the route evolved? In 2016, we set out on a round-the-world trip. We closed up our house in Belgium, jumped on our 701 Enduros and started riding. Getting out of Europe quickly was our first priority as the weather forecast was pretty horrible. So we crossed France, Spain and Portugal and properly started our adventure in Morocco. What an amazing country. Morocco is an…

FEATURE BATTLE IN THE BUSH The first annual Battle in the Bush was a great success! This unique event featured a bunch of guys and gals battling it out on their bikes of choice at arguably one of Australia's most iconic tracks, leading to a weekend that no-one will forget. This weekend-long event was all about making memories, with just as much off-the-bike action as there was on! The classes were sold out, families were smiling and bikes were being flogged. We even had moto legend Daniel McCoy, MotoGP star Jack Miller and world champion Australian surfer Julian Wilson attend and ride at this incredible weekend. SATURDAY The gates opened at 12pm, inviting riders and spectators in to set up camp and get ready for the afternoon full of activities.…

MOTO MANUAL PRODUCT REVIEWS I've been fortunate to get my hands on a fresh 6D ATR-2. There's no doubt the new colourway gets a lot of attention at the track and the new designs for 2023 are up there with the best on the market. 6D hit the market in 2013 with the ATR-1 helmet. That model featured an all-new ODS system, which is basically a shell-in-a-shell concept with nylon rubber/suspension strategically placed around the shell to slow down and reduce the impact in the event of a crash. The ATR-1 was known as one of the safest helmets on the market for years, and now the ATR-2 has taken that spot. It isn't the lightest or cheapest helmet on the market but it sure is the most comfortable helmet…

MOTOR MOUTH NEWS Aussie Jett Lawrence wrapped up his second consecutive 250 class National Championship in September. Jett took 11 moto wins and nine overall victories, stamping his authority with a 45-point advantage. Hunter Lawrence also stood on the overall podium in third place, with three moto wins and nine overall podiums. “It's awesome to get it done back-to-back. I'm definitely grateful,” Jett Lawrence said. “The team has been awesome this year. Honda brought out an awesome new CRF250R and I'm super pumped to be on it again in supercross next year. I'm also excited to ride the 450 in Pro Motocross next summer. I definitely have a little work to do before battling with the top guys like Eli Tomac and Chase Sexton. It's going to be fun, and…

FEATURE 2023 HUSQVARNA LAUNCH Back in May, Husqvarna released details of its 2023 range of motocross bikes to the public. Without doubt, the introduction of fuel-injected two-strokes stole the show and it's been a hot topic ever since. The four-strokes weren't without major changes either, with only seven parts carrying across from the previous generation. As interesting as all this change was, I wanted to do something different with this story and not just dive into the press kit to uncover a bunch of technical mumbo-jumbo. So we've decided to attack this one as a bit of a question-and-answer feature with a little help from all you readers. Shortly after the press intro was held in August, we threw it out there on our social channels and asked you for…

FEATURE LONG TERM KAWASAKI KX250X A few months into our time with the Kawasaki KX250X and it's been all guns blazing. The Kwaka has been put through its paces across a range of terrain conditions and riders. WHAT DO WE LOVE? Lots! The KX250X is an awesome machine and it's been super reliable. I live in a fairly brutal environment. It's a beautiful part of the world, but it can be bitterly cold and incredibly hot. The Kawasaki hasn't struggled to fire into life once. It's on the standard battery and it's performed flawlessly no matter how cold it has been or what sort of riding the bike has been put through. We have been keeping the Ipone oils and lubes up to the Kawasaki and it's been helping keep…

Driven by the idea of elevating athletic performance through progressive innovation, everything Fox develops is done with the rider in mind. No matter the terrain, condition or environment, Fox designs and engineers its gear with the goal of making every ride a great one. For 2023, Fox has raised the bar yet again with a massive range filled with exciting new technologies, colourways and designs. The team at MXstore are thrilled to be presenting you with the new 2023 Fox moto collection. Time-tested in quality and performance, the 180 Jersey delivers breathable mobility while riding. Welcome to the evolution of the most recognised gear in motocross. The foundation of the 180 Jersey is a moisture-wicking main body fabric that helps keep you cool, dry and comfortable. Vented mesh panels add…

OK, you've come up to a mammoth waterhole on your dirtbike and it looks deep. The entry and exit look steep and there's no way around it. So what do you do? There are multiple approaches to consider. Banzai your way in pinned to the stop and make a lot of noise and mess? Creep your way in and putt across like you're taking Nan for a ride through the botanic gardens? Neither of these methods is ideal; the best approach is somewhere in between. Rule number one: once you've committed to dropping in, do not throttle off at any point. Once you lose momentum, even just a tiny amount, things will get tough. Remember: what's underneath the water will look like what you're sitting on top of at entry,…

MOTOR MOUTH NEWS ALL-NEW 450CC FOUR-STROKE ENGINE Lighter, more compact and with increased power across the entire rev range, the all-new 450cc engine maintains the YZ450F's exceptional pulling power and renowned ease of use, all while boosting the rev limit by 500rpm for even more top-end power. Changes include new exhaust and intake port shapes; larger-diameter titanium intake valves; new piston, cylinder, crankshaft and balancer assembly; and a switch from wet sump to dry sump lubrication. ALL-NEW ALUMINIUM BILATERAL BEAM FRAME The redesigned aluminium frame results in a better-handling machine with lighter feel, more agility and increased traction, allowing the rider to enter corners with greater confidence and more line choices. NEW YAMAHA POWER TUNER APP Yamaha's Power Tuner app has been revised to be even more user-friendly. New features…

MOTOR MOUTH NEWS On board his CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team YZ450F, a nervous Tanti navigated his way through two gruelling 30-minute motos in the deep sand of Coolum to secure enough points to give him his maiden Australian Championship and one that he won't soon forget. “Today certainly wasn't my best riding and I have been pretty nervous all week, to be honest,” said a relieved Tanti. “I have never been in this situation before and this is my first pro title, so I was just doing my best to get the job done and make sure I didn't make any stupid mistakes. “It's not the way you always like to win a championship, but the hard work was done in the earlier rounds and I was able to…

FEATURE HONDA CR250R Cam Boyle knows how to build a seriously impressive motorcycle, and his latest Honda CR250R is no exception. “I bought this 2007 Honda CR250R off a guy down near Port Macquarie,” Cam explains. “It was in really good condition, so I didn't have to do too much work in blasting the bike itself. The bike ran really well, very strong in fact — 49HP to be exact on just a stock top and bottom end. I was stoked on that. The guy I bought it from seemed to think it only had 25 hours from new.” Although the bike was clean, Cam isn't a guy to accept just OK when it comes to a build. “I started at the wheels. The rims were cracked from the age…

The non-ADR enduro bike market is becoming tightly fought in Australia. With the opportunity of recreational registration in Victoria, and the booming enduro, Amcross, and Transmoto events around the country, bikes such as the Honda CRF250RX are cementing themselves further in the Aussie market. With the 2022 Honda CRF250RX copping a host of upgrades, we loaded it up and headed to an epic property near Mudgee, NSW, for a day of fun. We rustled up two everyday trailriders with racing experience, a current extreme enduro competitor and myself for a range of opinions on the Honda. DIFFERENCE IS IN THE DETAIL So what's different between the R and the RX Hondas? Essentially, the Honda CRF250RX gets the performance and handling from the latest CRF250R, but the suspension is set up…

FEATURES » Frame: Aluminum TIG welded and heat treatment » 16” composite wheels with pneumatic tyres » Seat Height: 17” » Weight: 9kg with battery » High-output brushless motor » 20 per cent more power than original 16eDRIVE » 10 per cent more efficient than original 16eDRIVE » Increased durability » Thermal protection for motor and controller » No fuse » Power selection modes: Low/ Training mode ~ 5mph (8km/h); Med/Standard mode ~ 7.5mph (12km/h); High/Advanced mode ~ 13mph (21km/h) with stock gear ratio » Industrial-grade, lithium-ion battery and charger » Quick disconnect/connect battery » 20Vmax Voltage (18Vnom) » 4Ah » 30-60 min run time » 30-60 min charge time…

MOMENTUM IS KEY You need to keep moving forward in sand — it's almost as simple as that. While the bike is driving forward, the weight is transferred rearward, keeping the front light and on top of the sand. The instant forward momentum is halted, the weight of the rider and bike transfers forward, burying the front wheel into the soft surface until it tucks and sends you over the handlebars. The goal is to try to apply some throttle for basically the whole track. The smallest amount of throttle will keep the bike driving forward; it may only be five per cent but that's much better than none. You'll find that washing speed off earlier than usual before turns and then driving the bike into and through the corner…