Tag Archives: Distributing

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RIDING THE AJP PR7 RALLY BIKE: THE WRAP

Mark Berg of Central Powersports Distributing drove out from Texas final week and left us with a wild, various group of check bikes for upcoming points. There was an electrical trials bike, two Italian dual-sports and some Spanish two-strokes. But the craziest of all of them is the AJP PR7. We’ve solely caught glimpses of this bike in recent times. Jeff Schlagel up within the Pacific Northwest was the AJP importer for years, however he lately bought the enterprise to CPD, which additionally handles Rieju, SWM and Electric Motion. Mark simply couldn’t stand the thought of somebody promoting weirder bikes than him.
So what’s a PR7? If you had been round within the days earlier than Husqvarna was bought by BMW (and subsequently by KTM), you may bear in mind a motorbike referred to as the TE630. It had one of many final motors to be designed by the Italian engineering workforce earlier than they had been all dismissed. If you actually look intently, you’ll be able to see some similarities that go all the way in which again to the unique Husqvarna 510 of the ‘80s. That was probably the most superior off-road four-stroke of its time.

The AJP PR7 has a advised retail worth of $11,499

These days, the PR7’s motor is a 600cc DOHC four-stroke with Athena/GET gas injection. It has a hydraulic clutch and a six-speed gearbox. The body is like nothing else on earth. It has a metal steering head bolted to solid aluminum aspect beams. The gas tank is situated below the seat and it makes use of Sachs suspension, entrance and rear. All the elements have a really excessive cool issue. The exhaust system is a downswept titanium Doma with a carbon-fiber finish cap and the brakes are Brembo. It has a fairing that appears prefer it might have come proper off Ricky Brabec’s Dakar bike and two radiator followers. Stock tools consists of wrap-around handguards, an aluminum skid plate and a coolant overflow tank.

The main instrument is a pill that syncs along with your cellphone.

One of the toughest elements about testing a motorbike just like the PR7 is determining the place to check it. If the Sonora Rally was subsequent up on the calendar, we’d take it straight there. As it was, the timing was proper for the 24 Hours of Glen Helen. We didn’t formally enter it within the race–that may take a workforce of riders, a trailer of spares and a world of dedication. The PR7 was the proper chase car. It carries 4.5 gallons of gas and has loads of room for instruments and elements.

Mark Tilley on the AJP PR7.

First of all, the elephant within the room, in case you can pardon the imagery, is the bike’s weight. All that bling and rally tools doesn’t make for a light-weight bike. The PR7 weighs over 400 kilos with a full tank. How a lot over? We don’t know. That’s as excessive as our scale goes. It’s roughly irrelevant, as a result of 5 minutes on the bike tells you extra about its supposed function than 10 pages of specs. It’s simply an excessive amount of bike for a closed course, even one just like the 24-Hour.

The bike is definitely as slim as a typical 450 motocross bike. The seat peak may even be somewhat decrease. When you begin using, although, it’s clear that it doesn’t like low speeds. There’s simply an excessive amount of mass there. The quicker you go, the higher it will get. In truth, the PR7 is extra highly effective than virtually any off-road race bike. The motor is downright wonderful, particularly in terms of low-end. It’s not motocross energy, although. It has thick, clean torque like four-strokes had within the olden days. The powerband begins early and ends early with deep, rumbling pulses moderately than a shrill buzz. The 600 doesn’t depend on RPM to make its level, and that’s emotionally satisfying if nothing else. Unlike the four-strokes of the previous (we referred to as them thumpers, bear in mind?) the AJP is clear and civilized. It doesn’t cough, backfire or flame out. It actually does mix the very best of each worlds.

As the24-Hour went on,the whoops bought larger and larger with each passing hour. The PR7 has about the very best fork that Sachs gives. It has 48mm tubes with a closed cartridge and the piggyback shock is absolutely adjustable. Both ends had been tremendous soft when the course was clean, however they had been shortly overwhelmed. The rear, specifically, is just too comfortable for actually tough terrain. Can or not it’s beefed up? We don’t actually know. When you’re speaking a couple of 400 pound bike, most suspension outlets can be in uncharted territory.
We hope to get to know the bike somewhat higher earlier than Mark returns with one thing even weirder. There are not any rallies on the calendar proper now, so we would must make up our personal. The check will seem within the January, 2024 print version of Dirt Bike.

2024 NGPC SERIES

The 2024 National Gran Prix Sheddule is out! For subsequent yr, bear in mind to enroll in contengancy. All the foremost O.E.s are concerned. It’s free cash–in case you plan on racing anyway, that’s.

AUS SX THIS WEEKEND

Supercross season by no means ends! You can watch spherical two of the Australian supercross collection Friday evening by clicking the picture. Round One in Adelaide was an enormous evening for workforce HRC Australia, Froth Honda Racing’s Dean Wilson (SX1), Boost Mobile Honda Racing’s Max Anstie (SX2), and Repco M9 Honda’s Parker Ross (SX3) took out their respective class honors in a tightly contested opening spherical of the FOX Australian Supercross Championship.

KC FOUNDATION EVENTS

See you subsequent week!

–Ron Lawson
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RIDING THE 2024 RIEJU MR300 TWO-STROKE: THE WRAP

Last week, Mark Berg from Central Powersports Distributing drove all the way from Texas to Southern California to deliver several bikes for testing in future issues of Dirt Bike magazine. As the U.S. distributor for Rieju, Electric Motion, SWM, and now AJP, Mark brought a variety of bikes, but the one that had everyone excited was the Rieju 300MR Racing. This bike is the standard edition of the 300 two-stroke model. Rieju is a Spanish brand that took over the production of the bikes previously known as GasGas. Stefan Pierer acquired a majority interest in GasGas three years ago, specifically for the trials bikes. During that time, the two-stroke off-road bikes were temporarily discontinued until Rieju took over.



2024 Rieju MR300 Racing

What sets Rieju apart is its commitment to quality. The MR300 Racing, priced at $9,699, is not considered a budget brand. It comes with premium parts and is not associated with any Chinese parent company. While it may be less expensive than Husky’s TE300 model, it is by no means cheap. The bike has a slightly old-school feel, with a motor that dates back several years and lacks fuel injection and an electronic power valve. It is equipped with a Keihin Carb and an externally mounted electric starter. Rieju uses KYB suspension and includes an FMF silencer/spark arrestor as standard. One notable feature is the USFS-approved spark arrestor, which is uncommon on modern two-stroke bikes. The bike also features Nissin brakes, billet hubs, a backup kickstarter, map switch, handguards, a skid plate, and frame guards.



Pete Murray on the 2024 Rieju MR300 Racing.

One of the standout features of the Rieju 300MR Racing is its spacious and comfortable layout, which resembles what a 300 two-stroke from Honda might look like. The motor offers excellent torque, with spot-on jetting. It’s worth noting that it may run a little lean on pump gas when the weather cools down. In terms of power, it falls between the KTM 300XC and the 300XC-W, with a more aggressive feel than the XC-W model, especially at lower RPMs, but not quite matching the sheer power of the XC. Many riders find the XC too aggressive for off-road use, particularly in the green map. The Rieju 300MR Racing is comparable to the KTM 300XC in the KTM’s mild map. While the Rieju has its own mild map, it primarily affects the top-end power while leaving the bottom-end mostly untouched.

On the downside, the Rieju motor vibrates more than KTM or Husky models, and the suspension can feel slightly stiff. Although the 2024 Rieju model hasn’t been weighed yet, last year’s model without fuel weighed 242 pounds, which is a bit heavy, but further testing will provide more accurate information. A full test of the Rieju 300MR Racing will be featured in the January 2024 print edition of Dirt Bike magazine.

AJP’S NEW DISTRIBUTOR

Central Powersports, the U.S. distributor for various brands, is now also the distributor for AJP. AJP is a Portuguese brand that sources parts and components from around the world. While its smaller bikes use Chinese motors, the flagship PR7 model comes equipped with an Italian-built SWM motor. The PR7 is reminiscent of the SWM Superdual X, which was tested in 2019 and shares similarities with the 2011 Husqvarna TE630. The AJP chassis is designed for rally use and features a tower that houses a GPS-linked tablet. Currently, the PR7 is intended purely for off-road riding, but plans for a dual-sport version are underway. Look out for a short riding impression of the PR7 in the upcoming Dirt Bike magazine.



the PR7 is in full rally configuration as delivered. The price is $11,499.

CARSON BROWN’S KDX



Carson Brown and his KDX220.

Carson Brown and his father Duane share a passion for older bikes, frequently finding hidden gems and turning them into rideable machines. These bikes are not just for display—they are ridden hard. In their latest venture, they brought down a retro Kawasaki KDX220 last month. It was incredible to witness Carson’s skills on such an iconic bike from the past. Stay tuned, as there are big plans for this bike.

2024 HUSQVARNA NORDEN 901



2024 Husqvarna Norden 901

Husqvarna recently unveiled its 2024 Norden, which boasts several updates. The Cornering Motorcycle Traction Control (MTC) now offers ten different levels of rear wheel slip when the optional Explorer Mode is engaged. The bike also features a new USB port, hazard warning lights, and an updated exhaust system.

Technical highlights of the 2024 Husqvarna Norden 901 include:

  • New grey and yellow graphics for a distinct appearance
  • Revised Cornering sensitive Traction Control with 10 levels of adjustable rear wheel slip in Explorer Mode
  • New exhaust system for EURO 5+ compliance
  • New USB port on the side of the dashboard
  • New hazard warning system
  • Bosch Cornering ABS
  • Chromium-molybdenum steel frame with engine as stressed member
  • 889cc parallel-twin engine delivering 105 hp peak power and 100 Nm of torque
  • Adjustable WP APEX suspension for exceptional comfort on and offroad
  • Four selectable ride modes (Street, Rain, Offroad, optional Explorer)
  • Ride-by-wire throttle with adjustable response (in Explorer mode)
  • Standard Easy Shift function (up and down Quickshifter)
  • PASC Slipper clutch
  • Tubeless spoked wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires for balanced on and offroad performance
  • Large 19-litre fuel tank offering a range of up to 400 km
  • Optional Connectivity Unit for TbT+ navigation, phone calls, and music from a rider’s smartphone

That’s it for this week’s update. Be sure to check back for more exciting updates in the world of dirt biking!



–Ron Lawson