In the motorbike world, specialization has been good to us. It’s made the distinction between enduro bikes and excessive enduro bikes, and between motocross bikes and Supercross bikes. In the case of the AJP PR7, the idea of specialization has been taken a step additional than ever earlier than. It belongs to a class of American off-road bikes so particular and centered that it doesn’t but have a reputation. We’ll name it a rally bike for now, regardless that the exercise doesn’t actually exist over right here—not but anyway.

THE PLAYER FROM PORTUGAL
You could be forgiven if in case you have by no means heard of AJP. It’s an organization from Portugal with a really quick historical past within the U.S. It was based by Portuguese enduro champion Antonio J. Pinto and is known as after his initials. For now, the corporate makes solely the chassis for its merchandise. The motors come from all around the world. The PR7 is the flagship of the operation. It makes use of an Italian-made SWM motor. We know, at this level even SWM is a considerably unknown identify stateside.

But, there’s one firm within the bike’s historical past you is perhaps accustomed to—Husqvarna. 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 motorcycle referred to as the TE630. It had one of many final motors to be designed by the Italian engineering crew earlier than they had been all dismissed. If you actually look carefully, you may see some similarities that go all the best way again to the unique Husqvarna 510 of the ‘80s. That was probably the most superior off-road four-stroke of its time.

These days, the PR7’s motor is a 600cc, DOHC four-stroke with an Athena/GET gas injection. It has a hydraulic clutch and a 6-speed gearbox. The body is like nothing else on earth. It has a metal steering head bolted to cast-aluminum facet beams. The gas tank is situated underneath the seat, and it makes use of Sachs suspension entrance and rear. All the parts 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 may have come proper off Ricky Brabec’s Dakar bike and two radiator followers. Stock tools consists of wraparound handguards, an aluminum skid plate and a coolant overflow tank. The listing of glitz consists of billetaluminum footpegs, billet triple clamps, anodized hubs and a carbon fiber airbox cowl proper subsequent to an aircraft-grade gas filler. To high all of it off, there’s a pill mounted behind the fairing that hyperlinks together with your cellphone for navigation.

FINDING A PLACE
One of the toughest elements about testing a motorcycle 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 might take a crew of riders, a trailer of spares and a world of dedication. The PR7 was the right chase automobile. It carries 4.5 gallons of gas and has loads of room for instruments and elements.

First of all, the elephant within the room, when 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 kind of irrelevant, as a result of 5 minutes on the bike tells you extra about its meant goal than 10 pages of specs. It’s simply an excessive amount of motorbike for a closed course, even one just like the 24-Hour.

The first time you place the bike on a middle stand it’s a little bit of a shocker, as a result of it actually doesn’t look that heavy. The bike is definitely as slim as a typical 450 motocross bike. The seat peak may even be somewhat decrease. When you begin driving, 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 nearly any off-road race bike. The motor is downright superb, particularly with regards to the low finish. It’s not motocross energy, although. It has thick, easy 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 most effective of each worlds.

Finding a spot to wring out the PR7 generally is a problem. Almost every thing appears confining when you have got a motorcycle that desires to do 100 mph. When you do discover some area, it’s unimaginable to roll the throttle open and let it run. Even when you’re already going 50 mph, the AJP can yank your arms with extra acceleration any time you twist it tougher.

As the race went on, it turned increasingly more tough to search out that form of open area. The whoops received larger and greater with each passing hour. The PR7 has about the most effective fork that Sachs gives. It has 48mm tubes with a closed cartridge, and the piggyback shock is totally adjustable. Both ends had been tremendous comfortable when the course was easy, however they had been shortly overwhelmed. The rear, specifically, is simply too delicate for really 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 retailers will probably be in uncharted territory.

THE RALLY FACTOR
If the game of rally takes off within the U.S., AJP will clearly be within the driver’s seat. It’s a superbly made motorbike with glorious elements in all places. Until then, its finest position will probably be as an outlaw dual-sport bike. In some states, you may stroll proper into the DMV and get a license plate for the PR7. Not California, in fact, however even out right here on the left coast we see Arizona plates on every thing from two-strokes to quads. A license plate on the PR7 could be an ideal match. It has a variety of virtually 200 miles, and that can get you midway throughout the Mojave Desert. On the freeway, you may tuck in behind the windscreen and make good time. It already has all of the switches for blinkers, horns and hazard lights.

AJP’s U.S. importer is Central Powersports Distributing, and they’re within the technique of homologation proper now. The motor has already handed emission testing on two completely different events; first because the Husky TE630, then because the SWM Superdual. So, it’s solely a matter of time till the PR7 can rule probably the most specialised class within the U.S.; it’s the king of the non-streetlegal big-bore rally class. We simply gotta give you a greater identify.