With the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 in manufacturing and growth of the T.50S track car effectively alongside its means, GMA is popping its consideration to the “entry-level” T.33. It’s a barely heavier, barely much less highly effective companion to the McLaren F1-inspired T.50, but it nonetheless has a 607-horsepower, 3.9-liter, 11,100-rpm Cosworth V-12 and a focused weight of simply round 2,400 kilos. The automaker simply constructed its first “mule” automotive, and whereas it’s miles from manufacturing spec, it is transferring underneath its personal energy and making superb sounds within the course of.
We get to see—and listen to—James, the mule automotive on this newest video from GMA. The firm’s check driver and triple Indy 500 champ Dario Franchitti takes it round a proving floor for a shakedown. He’s cautious with the automotive, as its a recent construct, and it seems to be chilly exterior, however he provides it sufficient throttle to get it slightly sideways at varied factors.
The engine could be very carefully associated to the 12,100-rpm screamer within the T.50, however for T.33, it was modified to provide extra low-end torque. A “shaker” type consumption stands proud above the cockpit and feeds air to 4 throttle our bodies for 607 hp at 10,500 rpm and 333 pound-feet of torque at 9,500 rpm. The compression ratio is a sky-high 14:1 and whereas GMA initially meant to supply the T.33 with a alternative of six-speed handbook or a sequential gearbox, nearly each purchaser went for the handbook, so the corporate cancelled the opposite ‘field.
Naturally, the mule automotive could be very pared again. There are a bunch of switches and panels from the T.50, however the cockpit is usually naked. You may even see the Dynamat on the roof. Frankly, we would take a T.33 like this. Less stuff to dampen the V-12’s word.
At the top of the video, Franchitti winds the V-12 out to 9,000 RPM. A novel exhaust provides it a distinct sound character than the T.50, nevertheless it’s nonetheless superb. We cannot wait to listen to extra.
Last week, the 2024 Yamaha YZ450F arrived and Pete Murray, who rode the 2023 YZ450 all last year, immediately took possession of it. Pete had a successful year on the bike, winning another Vet Championship as well as a couple of wooden bears at Mammoth. However, the rest of us also wanted our turn with the new bike. Surprisingly, everyone loved Pete’s settings and input.
Pete Murray was all over the new YZ450F as soon as it arrived.
First and foremost, the YZ450F is incredibly fast. It doesn’t need any additional modifications to increase its speed. Interestingly, despite its powerful feel, it wasn’t the dyno champion last year. However, it does have the most rapid power gain between 7500 rpm and 10,000 rpm. This is the crucial powerband range that provides the extra boost when shifting through the gears on the way to the first turn. Yamaha has done a good job of making all that power manageable, and the convenience of easy mapping changes with the Yamaha Power tuner smartphone app is irresistible. We immediately installed Pete’s favorite maps from last year.
Our test bike was the 50th Anniversary Edition, which sells for $10,199–that’s $200 more than the standard edition. The Jamie Ellis map. Pay close attention to the throttle opening settings on the vertical axis. They can be adjusted and it makes a big difference.
Pete’s map, which was developed by Jamie Ellis at Twisted Throttle, made the YZ450F more manageable. Pete also made a slight modification to the airbox lid. Typically, riders drill holes to increase airflow, but in this case, Pete taped off part of the air entrance. If you examine the airbox lid closely, you’ll notice an opening on the left that’s closed off on the right. Pete closed off both sides, resulting in what he refers to as the “Husky” effect. For years, Husqvarna had a more restrictive airbox, and as a result, their FC450 felt more controllable compared to the KTM 450SX.
The seat height increased last year making the YZ the tallest of all the 450s.
One of the major changes last year was the Yamaha chassis. There’s no doubt that the new bike has quicker steering and lighter overall handling. Pete was fine with these changes, and while many riders preferred more race sag for stability, Pete went the opposite way. We settled on a setting of 102mm for the sag, with the fork height remaining stock at 7mm. Pete weighs around 175 pounds and found that all the clickers were well-positioned in their stock positions in the rear. He made small adjustments by increasing the rebound damping by 2 clicks in the fork and reducing compression by 1 click.
What all our test riders love about the Yamaha is its roomy layout. The 2022 model felt cramped, leading most of our taller riders to install optional tall seats and lower aftermarket footpegs. But, this year, that’s not necessary. Small riders might not appreciate the increased seat height, but for anyone close to 6 feet tall, the new Yamaha is a great fit.
The 2024 Yamaha YZ450F weighs 231.5 pounds without fuel.
Last year, we mistakenly published an incorrect weight for the bike without fuel. To rectify this, we weighed the 2023 Yamaha YZ450F once more and confirmed that it weighs 231.5 pounds, which is the same as the 2024 model. This makes it the lightest of all the Japanese 450s. A comprehensive test of the 2024 Yamaha YZ450F will be featured in the January 2024 print edition of Dirt Bike magazine.
3-BROS 24 HOURS OF GLEN HELEN
On the 28th of this month, the 3-Bros 24 Hours of Glen Helen event will take place. The SRA racing crew has put together the entire course, which includes the GP track, the Arroyo, the Vet track, the Truck track, miles of fire-roads, and some single track. The race will start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.
SETH AND THE VETS
Seth and the Vets will be riding a Yamaha YZ450FX in the 24 Hours of Glen Helen.
Seth Barnes, a National Sales Rep at Dirt Bike Magazine and a former U.S. Marine Corps member, has teamed up with fellow Marines Ray Rodden and Skyler Periera to participate in the 3-Bros 24 Hours of Glen Helen. They are all part of the Soflete Race Team. Soflete is a fitness training company for military and first responders. The team was formed last year for the Vegas to Reno race, where Brent Phillips and below-the-knee amputee Josh Rotcaamp secured a 3rd place finish in the +30 Intermediate class. This will be their fourth ride together in the 24-hour race. You can follow their progress through Glen Helen’s live scoring system.
Seth Barnes breaking in the Team Soflete 24-Hour Yamaha.
NEW TRIUMPH TIGER 900 RANGE
2024 Triumph Tiger Rally Pro.
Triumph has announced significant upgrades to its Tiger 900 line of adventure bikes. The range consists of three variations: the Tiger 900 GT, the GT Pro, and the Rally Pro. Some of the key highlights from the Triumph press release include:
– The new Tiger 900 range offers increased performance, enhanced capability, improved all-day comfort, and a more aggressive attitude. – The engine has been significantly upgraded to provide 13% more power, higher peak torque of 66.38 LB-FT, and a 9% improvement in fuel economy. – New active safety features and a new 7″ TFT instrument panel offer improved capabilities. – The rider seat and damped handlebar mounting system have been redesigned to enhance long-distance comfort.
USA Pricing: Tiger 900 GT starting from $14,995
Tiger 900 GT Pro starting from $16,895
Tiger 900 Rally Pro starting from $17,395
Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) will make a significant entry into the U.S. automotive market by showcasing two supercars at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in California on August 18. The highly anticipated open-top T.33 Spider and the track-only T.50s Niki Lauda will be unveiled for the first time in the United States, marking a milestone for GMA in terms of their vision and expertise.
The T.33 Spider is designed with the utmost driving perfection in mind, utilizing Ultralight carbon monocoque technology. Weighing just 2,443 lbs and equipped with a powerful 3.9L Cosworth GMA.2 V12 engine, the T.33 Spider offers an exhilarating driving experience with exceptional performance characteristics. It also prioritizes usability, offering ample luggage space and the option of both right and left-hand drive.
Alongside the T.33 Spider, the first production T.50 supercar and the exclusive T.50s Niki Lauda will also make their presence felt at The Quail. The T.50 aims to redefine driver-centric supercar engineering with advanced aerodynamics and an impressive 670PS Cosworth GMA V12 engine. The T.50s, priced at $3.9 million, is a ground-up redesign featuring a bespoke transmission and extensive aerodynamic enhancements to generate astounding downforce. Additionally, during Monterey Car Week, Gordon Murray’s Heritage division will showcase the iconic Brabham BT44B Formula One car at Laguna Seca, highlighting Murray’s illustrious motorsports achievements and legacy.
In 2023, what would a two-stroke Honda CR300R look like? John Murray, a self-proclaimed “Honda Guy,” is one of the many people who would love to see Honda produce two-stroke competition motorcycles again. Instead of waiting for Honda, Murray took matters into his own hands and built the KTM-powered Honda CR300R. This week’s 2-Stroke Tuesday focuses on his creation.
Using OEM KTM and Honda parts, John Murray built the KTM-powered Honda CR300R. He also added some bolt-on items from companies like FMF, ODI, Race Tech, Dubya, Rekluse, Dunlop, and Decal Works, who topped the project off with a custom set of graphics.
The details of Murray’s build may not be as refined as a factory build, but it gets the job done, and that’s what matters.
The FMF pipe required modifications and custom brackets to fit properly.
The addition of a hydraulic clutch and an electric start is a dream come true for Honda two-stroke enthusiasts.
The 2023 KTM300 SX two-stroke engine fits perfectly in the 2023 Honda CRF450R chassis.
The electric start button is a much-desired feature for two-stroke owners.
While John Murray’s KTM/Honda “Under Construction” project may not appeal to everyone, we appreciate his efforts in building this machine. Stay tuned for more updates.
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