Tag Archives: invited

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RIDING THE 2024 KTM 450SX-F FACTORY EDITION

KTM invited us out to Glen Helen Raceway this week for our introduction to the 2024 450SX-F Factory Edition. Unfortunately, after we acquired there it was raining–solely at Glen Helen, nowhere else. The monitor was a swamp. We pickled up the bike anyway and headed into the hills to journey and check it in personal. The Factory Edition has been a convention since 2012 when it allowed Ryan Dungey entry to a motorbike that hadn’t reached full manufacturing. KTM promised to import the minimal variety of items earlier than spring in order that it might qualify underneath the manufacturing rule. All these years later, there was a Factory Edition launch whether or not or not there are any important adjustments that might violate AMA guidelines.

Sean Lipanovich on the KTM 450 Factory Edition.

This yr there are adjustments to the body. It has much less materials across the steering head and the shock tower. That would have been a transparent no-no in response to AMA guidelines, which let you add materials to the body, however not take it away. The engine hangars are new as properly. There was a big backlash over the earlier body which most amateurs and a few manufacturing unit riders thought of too inflexible. The new Factory Edition additionally has important suspension variations. The linkage is new and has a smaller pivot bolt with much less drag. The lever ratio is unchanged, however the spring price has elevated and there are valving adjustments to each the shock and the Xact air fork. In the previous, when there’s a body or motor change like this, the Factory Edition didn’t get too many different goodies. This one is an exception. It has an Akrapovic silencer plus the disc guard, glide plate, holeshot system, upgraded wheels and so forth. It even has new shrouds.


The greatest information of all is that it additionally has an up to date model of the KTM Connect Bluetooth system. This was first rolled out on the 2021 Factory Edition, but it surely didn’t actually get off the bottom. Only just a few items have been on the market. Now it’s rather more subtle. The bike has a sending unit on the fork tube reasonably than within the crossbar pad. It additionally has a GPS unit on the entrance fender. It has all of the engine tuning options that the earlier function had–engine braking, throttle response, traction management and launch management. Plus this one permits you right into a subscription LitPro service (which can value $8.99 a month).
The KTM LitPro service provides the identical options for lap instances and phase, coronary heart price and normal coaching as the final service. In addition, it’s built-in with the motorbike’s telemetry. It can inform you what gear you’re utilizing on any part of the monitor, what rpm you’re at, how far you’re twisting the throttle and extra. It opens up an entire new world of coaching potentialities.


There was method an excessive amount of within the KTM Connect app for us to discover on our first day of testing. Our essential precedence was to expertise the brand new body. Sean Lipanovich was our guinea pig. He has hours and hours of testing time on the 2023/2024 commonplace body, plus he owns a 2022 mannequin with the earlier, extra compliant body. Immediately he might inform the distinction. The new Factory Edition turns precisely like the present commonplace mannequin, which is to say it’s wonderful. It drops into turns simply and has little or no chassis motion on the exit. The noticeable change is in straight-line consolation, notably at decrease velocity. The earlier chassis gave you method an excessive amount of monitor suggestions. You felt each rock and pebble. Plus, you can really feel the motor pulse and vibrate. The new body takes away that onerous edge. You would possibly even assume it has a softer shock spring. It doesn’t–the shock is definitely one step stiffer.


On large impacts and in whoops, the bike feels basically the identical. The motor additionally appears like an ordinary mannequin with an aftermarket exhaust system, which is to say excellent. We nonetheless really feel it has one of the best energy within the motocross world proper now. It positively guidelines the dyno, and continues to be exceptionally controllable. Like The commonplace mannequin, it has a handlebar-mounted swap that permits entry to 2 completely different maps, traction management, launch help and Quickshift. All of these options may be fine-tuned now by means of the KTM Connect App.
The large query for Sean: will he lastly commerce in his 2022 mannequin for the brand new body? He says this one nonetheless isn’t as compliant as his bike, however we additionally know that KTM frames take time to interrupt in. A motorbike with 10 hours is simply stepping into its prime, so we must wait and see. By the time we deliver out our full check within the April, 2024 print version of Dirt Bike, we’ll know for certain. We’re fairly certain Sean might be on board for the brand new bike by then.

MORE KTM TESTING


Also within the April subject we can have a brief comparability between the KTM 450XC-W and the KTM 500XWF. What’s a 500XWF you ask? Most riders don’t even understand it exists. It has the identical chassis because the 450XC-W off-road bike that we examined late final yr. However, it has a motor similar to the one within the 500EXC dual-sport bike. Why trouble? It’s largely to present California sellers one thing to promote. For over a yr, it’s been a battle to register closed-course competitors automobiles in California and only a few bikes meet the present inexperienced sticker requirements. KTM hasn’t even had a inexperienced sticker bike for a while. Now they do, and we wished to know if the 500XWF works in addition to the 450 closed-course model. We’ll fill you in, so keep tuned.

Pete Murray on the KTM 500XWF.

VIRGINIA CITY GP

The Virginia City GP goes again over a half century. The begin on C Street is an honored custom.

The 53rd Virginia City GP is scheduled for April Twenty seventh-Twenty eighth.

  • The Drawing Party is scheduled for five:00pm April 6, 2024 on the iconic Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, NV. This annual occasion guarantees to supply good instances and lasting reminiscences. As in previous, the beginning numbers and grid positions are revealed, together with superb sponsor publicity through the raffle and dwell auctions, all whereas elevating cash for native charities and neighborhood companions supported by the VCMC.
  • Drawing Party occasion posters are again from the printer and prepared for distribution later this week. Please use the connected Drawing Party poster file together with your social media accounts. We might be contacting everybody for each give-away (raffle) objects, in addition to objects for public sale, to schedule pick-up, properly forward of the occasion.
  • New for 2024 is the Vendor Area will now embody the usage of the historic Virginia City Train Depot. While further inspection and planning is required, we need to take full benefit of this unimaginable property…extra to observe!
  • Move-in to the Vendor/Sponsor space race weekend will start on Friday April 26 at 7:30am. The present plan is to have a gentle opening of the seller space at 12:00pm Friday April 26, to take full benefit of the registration (strolling) site visitors.

See you subsequent week!

–Ron Lawson
NewsNew

HONDA TRANSALP ADVENTURE BIKE–FIRST RIDE: THE WRAP

Last week, I had the opportunity to ride the 2024 Honda Transalp 750 for the first time. Honda invited me to ride the bike on the PA Wilds BDR-X route. Backroads Discovery Routes (BDR) is a non-profit organization that provides track logs and resources for dirt rides across America, making epic rides accessible to everyone. The PA Wilds route is one of the BDR-X loops and offers the best of Pennsylvania’s autumn scenery.



We got to ride the 2024 Honda Transalp 750 in perfect conditions on the PA Wilds Backroads Discovery Route.

The Honda Transalp 750 is an adventure bike that stands out for its affordable price. With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $9999, it is even cheaper than the CRF450RL dual-sport bike. Powered by a 749cc parallel twin engine that produces approximately 80 horsepower, the Transalp offers various electronic riding aids. It’s the perfect bike for embarking on an adventure and then riding back home.

The Transalp features an inline two-cylinder motor with a single overhead cam, utilizing Honda’s Unicam configuration. The crank pins are offset at 270 degrees, giving the bike an uneven V-twin-like pulse. The Showa suspension offers adjustable preload and nearly 8 inches of travel. What sets the Transalp apart from other adventure bikes in its price range is its impressive electronic portfolio. The bike has four pre-set “ride modes” – Standard, Sport, Rain, and Gravel. A handlebar switch allows you to easily switch between these modes, each offering different power output, traction control, engine braking, and anti-lock braking settings. Additionally, there is a user-defined mode where you can customize settings according to your preference. The power setting primarily adjusts throttle sensitivity rather than peak power. The Transalp also offers five levels of traction control, four engine braking settings, and three ABS settings (road, off-road, and off).



The Transalp decked out with Honda accessories

Even without utilizing the electronic aids, the Transalp delivers smooth power delivery starting just above idle. At low speeds, the bike maintains excellent torque and doesn’t chug or stall. It is comfortable running at low RPMs for long stretches and offers plenty of power when the road straightens out, revving up to over 10,000 RPM. In the dirt biking world, the Transalp is an incredibly capable bike, providing all the power needed for off-road adventures. However, compared to sport bikes, the Transalp’s power output is more modest. A 750 sport bike has around 40 horsepower more and revs approximately 3000 RPM higher. But such power is unnecessary and impractical when riding off-road.

With its consistent and smooth power delivery, the need for electronic aids to control it is minimal, even for intermediate riders. For most situations, the best setting involves going into the user-defined settings and increasing power, reducing traction control, and turning off anti-lock braking. Reducing throttle sensitivity is only necessary on rolling loose rocks, but the Transalp’s pleasant nature makes it hardly noticeable. Traction control is more complex and primarily designed for inexperienced riders to avoid accidents. In its most aggressive setting, it causes the motor to stumble whenever wheelspin is detected. While useful on wet pavement, it can hinder momentum off-road. By reducing traction control to one third power, it becomes more effective, allowing slight rear-end drifts. Turning it off requires reconfiguration each time the bike is restarted, and the same applies to turning off the rear wheel anti-lock feature.

Unfortunately, suspension adjustability is not available on the Transalp within this price range. The Showa suspension is decent for low-speed rock sections, offering a cushy ride without any strange behaviors. However, when reaching higher speeds, vigilance is necessary when encountering big ditches or ruts, as the handling can be less refined.

Our test bike came equipped with non-stock tires, Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross, both front and rear. Additionally, it featured Honda’s accessory skid plate and engine guards. To achieve its affordable price, the Transalp is stripped down, and riders may need to make it more suitable for off-road riding by adding their own modifications. To learn more about the Transalp, check out the January 2024 print edition of Dirt Bike magazine.

WIN A DUCATI DESERT X & SUPPORT BDR!

By donating, you can support Backcountry Discovery Routes, a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating and preserving off-highway riding opportunities for dual-sport and adventure motorcyclists. Backcountry Discovery Routes is offering a chance to win a Ducati DesertX in their annual sweepstakes. The customized Ducati is called the ‘BDR Cross Continent Special Edition’ in celebration of the upcoming California BDR North route, which will connect the BDR from Mexico to Canada. Donations as little as $25 can enter you into the sweepstakes. The winner will be announced during a live YouTube broadcast on January 5, 2024, at 1pm PST. Help support the ADV community and enter the sweepstakes here.

Prize Details:

  • Custom Paint Job
  • Outback Motortek Protection Package: Crash Bars, Skid Plate, Luggage Rack, Rear Rack
  • Touratech Suspension Extreme Rear Shock & Closed Cartridge Conversion for Front Fork
  • Touratech Zega Pro Panniers 31/38 ltr.
  • Scotts Steering Damper with Muller Motorsport Mount, donated by Upshift Online
  • TripleClamp Moto – HPCorse SP-1 Titanium Short Exhaust
  • Zumo XT 2 with Locking Mount by Touratech
  • Touratech Defensa Hand Guards
  • Touratech Rear Brake Reservoir Guard and Rear ABS Sensor Guard
  • Cyclops Adventure Sports Auxiliary Light Kit
  • Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage/Threadworks Custom Tankback
  • Motoz Tractionator Dual Venture (front) & RallZ (rear) Tires
  • Black Dog Cycle Works Foot Pegs
  • Doubletake Mirrors
  • CruzTools Tool Kit
  • Rich’s Custom Seats Leather Seat
  • Moto Camp Nerd complete camping package (includes Big Agnes Copper Spur tent, Sea-To-Summit sleeping bag, Nemo pad, Big Agnes Mica Basin chair, and more)

DUBYA WORLD VET

The Dubya World Vet championship is taking place this weekend at Glen Helen Raceway. The event promises excitement with past champions like Mike Brown in attendance. If you can’t be there in person, you don’t have to miss out. You can watch a live YouTube feed of the event on Sunday, starting at 8:20am, on MXA’s YouTube channel. Managing editor Mark Tilley will be commentating the action.

DUCATI’S NEW SINGLE

Following Ducati’s announcement of entering the motocross market, the company showcased its new single-cylinder motor. The Superquadro Mono is a 659cc short-stroke single-cylinder engine with desmodromic distribution, derived from the 1,285cc Superquadro of the 1299 Panigale. It is the most powerful single-cylinder engine to have ever reached production, utilizing the desmodromic system for high revs. The limiter is set at 10,250 RPM, and the power output is the highest in its segment, reaching 77.5 horsepower at 9,750 RPM, which increases to 85 with the racing exhaust. Initially designed for supermoto, it is likely that the motor will be introduced as a dual-sport/adventure model to compete with the KTM 690 Enduro.

WORLD SUPERCROSS IS BACK

The second round of the 2023 World Supercross championship is taking place this weekend in Abu Dhabi. Ken Roczen will be participating, looking to continue his success from the previous round.

That’s all for now. See you next weekend!



– Ron Lawson
NewsNew

2024 RDRCO GEAR LAUNCH AT GOLD CREEK LODGE

We had the amazing opportunity to try out the new Motosport RDRco gear and visit the famous Gold Creek Lodge in Bayview, Idaho. It was an incredible experience, to say the least! The team at Motosport feels more like a family than just employees of a company, which made our time with them even more enjoyable.

We spent the entire day riding in the new RDRco (Octane) pant, jersey, glove, and Factor helmet equipped with rider-to-rider communication from Cardo, and we were absolutely impressed. The Octane line offers features and functions typically found in higher-priced gear, and its clean design comes in multiple color options. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to try out the boots, but the RDRco helmet also surprised us with its comfort and affordability.

The views from the trails surrounding Gold Creek Lodge are absolutely breathtaking, and the hospitality there is unmatched!

Yes, we couldn’t resist taking a picture of our delicious breakfast, and trust us, it tasted as good as it looks. The food at the Gold Creek Lodge is simply amazing.

If you’re a small group of riders looking for challenging trails and a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience, we highly recommend checking out the Gold Creek Lodge.

BMW

The MINI design studio collaborates with Constantin Prozorov to create stunning visuals for the new MINI model family

Munich. The MINI design studio has partnered with rising collage artist Constantin Prozorov to present the new MINI model family in a unique and fresh way. Prozorov, known for his striking image compositions, has previously made a name for himself in the fashion industry. For MINI design, he has created three captivating collages that feature the brand’s future models amidst fantastical illustrations and animations.

The MINI design team draws inspiration from the art and fashion scene, and Prozorov, who has previously worked with luxury fashion brands, brings his modern and avant-garde aesthetics to this collaboration. Using digital technology, he reinterprets the background motifs provided by the MINI designers and combines them with his distinctive fantastical figures and floral elements.

“Constantin Prozorov’s artistic style provides an inspiring perspective on the design of the new MINI family,” says Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “It is unique, playful, and exudes positive energy.” Over the course of their collaboration, Prozorov and the MINI design studio have created three urban dream worlds, seamlessly merging surreal elements with the depiction of the new MINI models and their surroundings. Each collage consists of up to 200 layers and can be experienced as both a static image and an animated clip.

All three collages share common stylistic elements, forming a triptych. These include a vibrant rooftop stage for the all-electric MINI Cooper, a water-rich landscape with a picnic area for the all-electric MINI Countryman, and a bright urban environment showcasing the future all-electric MINI Aceman. Additionally, hidden details can be discovered upon closer inspection, such as the Spike character rendered as an art toy in the MINI Cooper collage, a glistening dolphin crossing the path of the MINI Countryman, and a stylized playing card representing the MINI Aceman.

Prozorov has a keen eye for fashion and has incorporated design features like recycled knitwear, which is a prominent interior surface in the new MINI models. These elements appear abstracted and oversized in his collages. Furthermore, he integrates the brand’s trademark slotted hole and familiar motifs from pop culture and contemporary art, encouraging observers to think beyond traditional boundaries and explore the diverse possibilities of art and design.

The collaboration with Constantin Prozorov has opened up new perspectives on the MINI models for the MINI designers themselves. Engaging in conversations with creative individuals from various disciplines has always been a key source of inspiration for them. The results of this collaboration will be presented during the IAA Mobility 2023.