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YAMAHA YZ345 PROJECT: TWO-STROKE TUESDAY

June 28, 2023 David

On this week’s Two-Stroke Tuesday we take another look with some unseen photos of a very unique Yamaha YZ345 built by fabricator Howard Jenkins of MotoFab Industries located in central California. Could you imagine a YZ250 two-stroke engine dropping right into a newer Yamaha four-stroke chassis without any major frame modifications? Well, it might just be possible! The topic in our 2-Stroke History section this week is Suzuki’s RM250 and could it be the best used bike ever. Don’t miss our Behind The Build of Mike Browns FXR/Rockstar Yamaha YZ250 at the bottom of this post!

So what if we told you a Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke engine would fit into newer four-stroke chassis without cutting huge sections of the frame away? True story Howard Jenkins CEO of MotoFab Industries in central California had a customer that really wanted to make this bike a reality and he was excited about the challenge of creating something truly different.

This is our first build with the 345 kit the MotoFab crew has done and are excited to feel it put power to the ground. Eddie Saunders (ESR) designs and manufactures the entire cylinder kit in house except for the casting which he has casted in California. The most unique aspect to the cylinder is the power valve design. The main exhaust port actuation is driven by exhaust pressure and can be adjusted to fasten or slow its operation based on the spring tension. The two exhaust side ports are open all the time with no actuation at all.

With more than a year of development the MotoFab intake for the YZ345 has been finalized. This one piece carbon fiber system utilizes the stock air box placement providing a larger volume of air in the system before being restricted by the air filter and is giving better performance on the bottom end. The system has a rubber grommet that presses into the opening of the part at the carburetor that allows for the OEM air boot clamp to make the seal. At the other end it’s connected to the intake boot with a small section on silicone turbo hose that gives the system the ability to flex. Attachment is made to the sub-frame with molded carbon tab at both sides of the subframe.

This YZ345 has a unique wide ratio transmission setup featuring YZ 1st and 2nd gears and WR 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The WR 1st gear the MotoFab crew felt was too low and love the combination of YZ 2nd and WR3rd because the YZ 2nd and WR 3rd are more closely geared than the stock setup from either the YZ or the WR and give a great combination for woods or trail riding.

With Yamaha focusing so much on centralizing mass for the four-stroke version the MotoFab crew positioned the YZ250 two-stroke engine as low as we could in the chassis wanting to keep the weight low. With the much shorter 2-stroke engine and forward facing cylinder, the motor weight in the bike is lower and further forward. They hope it gives the bike a more “planted and stable” feel.

2-STROKE HISTORY

The story of the Suzuki RM250 isn’t just about a single motorcycle. It’s about a dynasty of bikes, championships and riders that goes back to a glorious era in the history of motocross. Click the image below for the full story!

2-STROKE BEHIND THE BUILD

Mike Brown has raced at the highest level of motocross, Supercross and off-road for factory-level teams during a career that has spanned over three decades. The 47-year-old racer is no longer competing to put food on the table, but is now doing selected events for Yamaha, FXR and Rockstar Energy just for fun. Click the image below for the full story!

News

The KTM 450 SMR Is Ready To Rule The Race-Track In 2024

June 26, 2023 David

Supermotos are probably one of the greatest things the human race ever invented. Take an incredibly fun-to-ride motocross bike and put some road tires on it, so you can ride it on the street. Even better, put some slick racing tires on it and race these pieces of motorcycle art around a small track. Since 2003, and AMA’s first-ever Supermoto Championship, their popularity only grew. So if you are looking for your next bike, besides buying a superbike or a supernaked, why not give a supermoto a chance? And when it comes to supermoto bikes, one name sure stands out, those three magical letters… KTM!

The KTM 450 SMR – Built To Dominate The Race-Track

Photo of a KTM 450 SMR doing a wheelie on a race-track

One of the best things, besides Arnold of course, that has ever come out of Austria. The KTM’s supermoto line, and the 450 SMR that was imagined as the ultimate track-day weapon. Without a doubt, this machine is just way too tempting to be overlooked, and for 2024, it’s getting even more addictive.

There are plenty of upgrades for the new 450 SMR, so let’s start with everyone’s favorite part. The engine. It is a one-cylinder four-stroke 449.9 cc engine that makes an impressive 63 horsepower. KTM swears that its new single-overhead-camshaft engine continues to be one of the most insane and perfectly executed mechanical gems. Going down the same line as their motocross and hard-enduro/dual-sport line-up, the 450 SMR’s engine was lightened (now weighs only 59 lbs) and pushed towards the center of the bike for better handling and anti-squat behavior.

How did they get a lightweight engine capable of pushing 63 horsepower? With the new cylinder head. Shorter and lighter with a more compact profile. Next was the new ultra-light crankshaft to offer more performance, better response when you twist the throttle, and to keep any pesky vibrations to a minimum. The housing for the crankshaft was made through a high-pressure die-cast process to get thinner and more durable walls. The slipper clutch is from Suter Racing and offers rear stability when you slam on the brakes in the middle of an apex.

Making The 450 SMR Ultra-Light

KTM 450 SMR 2024 doing a burnout

The light-weight exhaust is a compact two-piece header that can easily be removed without messing around with the rear shocks. But, things get even better at the exhaust department. You can also order, from the KTM’s power parts list, an Akrapovič ‘Evolution Line’ exhaust. Made from light-weight, high-grade titanium, and 1,9lbs lighter than the stock one.

The frame was made to provide flexibility while keeping it solid length-wise. The sub-frame was made from reinforced aluminum and polyamide for increased durability and flexibility. The swing-arm was also made to be as light as possible, therefore aluminum was used to make it.

The suspension on the 450 SMR is top-of-the-line, specifically made for supermoto bikes. The front fork is a 48 mm air-sprung WP XACT that uses AER technology (basically a capsuled air spring and a pressurized oil chamber). It is easily adjustable through a single air-pressure valve. The rear shock is also WP XACT, and can be easily tuned without the need for tools. Wheels are light-weight Alpina, 16.5 at the front and 17 inches at the rear, and they come dressed in Metzeler’s Racetec K1 supermoto tires. To stop this bad boy is a job for Brembo brakes. A four-piston radially mounted caliper with a 310 mm disc at the front and a one-piston caliper with a 220 mm disc at the rear.

The high-tech stuff is also quite interesting. You get to choose between two engine maps. The first map gives you easily controllable, tamed power delivery. The second map will give you more of a no-holds-barred, anything-goes approach to power output (you were warned). Another cool feature is the easily de/activated quick-shifter that allows you to shift into higher gears without squeezing the clutch, but only from second to fifth gear. To keep you safe when things get slippery is what the traction control is for. If the revs jump too fast, the onboard computer sees that as a loss of grip and cuts down the power to the rear wheel. What kind of street rocket would the 450 SMR be without the launch control? Just press the traction control and quick-shifter button together for this to activate. All of these nice-to-have gadgets come with a base price of $11,999.

The Blue And White Option

A studio photo of a Husqvarna FS 450 for 2024

The biggest competitor to KTM for the wildest bike is, who else but the KTM-owned Husqvarna. Both of their line-ups for 2024 seem to be aiming at each other’s throats. In the world of off-road bikes, this is the best news someone can hope for. Husqvarna’s FS 450 for 2024 seems more than upgraded and ready to take on the KTM’s 450 SMR.

Although the spec sheet reads the same, a keen motorcycle fan knows that the bike, and the company that makes it, is more than just a list of parts. Husqvarna and KTM do not make the same motorcycles. They are however, in this case, equally priced.

Featured

Hublot Launches The New Big Bang UNICO Magic Gold, Limited To 200

June 14, 2023 David

Hublot’s Big Bang Collection continues to evolve with new designs and materials, making it the luxury Swiss watchmaker’s most popular model. To celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Big Bang, Hublot has released the new Big Bang UNICO Full Magic Gold. This 44mm watch features Hublot’s scratch-resistant Magic Gold construction with a “sandwich” design. The skeletonized dial design highlights the craftsmanship of Hublot’s watchmakers, displaying Arabic numerals and skeleton Big Bang hands.

The Big Bang Unico Full Magic Gold is powered by the thinner and more precise in-house HUB1280 self-winding chronograph movement. A sapphire crystal backcase allows a secondary view of the movement in action, with each piece engraved with its specific production number. The Big Bang UNICO comes with a comfortable black structure-line rubber strap. This limited edition watch is only available in 200 pieces and is priced at $38,800.

NissanUs

Nissan Formula E Team to tackle the heat in Jakarta

June 5, 2023 Prafful Singh

May 31, 2023

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Formula E Team is set to take on the Jakarta E-Prix this weekend, looking to build on a positive performance in Monaco. The squad picked up its best result of the season on the Monte-Carlo streets, with both Sacha Fenestraz and Norman Nato in the top-three in qualifying, before Fenestraz claimed fourth in the race.

The championship now returns to Jakarta following its maiden visit to the city in Season 8. This year, the event becomes a double-header, with teams and drivers to be battling the tough conditions in two races. With temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius and extremely high humidity, the new-for-Season 9 Gen3 cars will face a unique test on the Formula E calendar.

The 2.4-kilometre circuit, based in Northern Jakarta and a short walk from Ancol Beach, features 18 corners, with the best overtaking opportunities into Turns 1 and 16. Those heavy braking zones and the twisty, high-speed middle sector combine to produce a layout that tests driver and car throughout.

Qualifying takes place at 10:40 WIB (UTC +7) on both days, with the two races getting underway at 15:00. Find out how to watch here.

Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “We’ve been working hard since Monaco to give us the best possible chance to build on our performance and keep up the momentum, which has been a challenge for us this year. We definitely made big improvements ahead of the last round, so we’re aiming to consolidate that and continue our development. Jakarta will be tough for everyone. It’s very hot, humid and physically strenuous for the drivers. But it will also be very demanding for all the teams, mainly because of the conditions. With this in mind, we’re focusing on finding the best possible set-up to keep the car as cool as we can and to look after the tires. Our goal for the remainder of the season is to find some more consistency and to be able to fight with both cars in the points. Jakarta will be a challenge, but it’s one we’re ready for.”

Sacha Fenestraz: “The hottest race of the year, everybody has been telling me how tough it will be! On the racing side, I’m very excited, following our best weekend of the season in Monaco. Heading to Jakarta, we are happy and in a good position in terms of the team environment. We’ll be looking to back up our performance from Monaco and prove it wasn’t a one-off, so it’s an important event for us. The track looks interesting, similar to Monaco or Cape Town in terms of some of the corners and the track characteristics, so I’m hoping for a great weekend.”

Norman Nato: “I’m excited to race in Jakarta, a new venue for me. It will be really tough physically for the teams and drivers with the high temperatures. We’ll look to build on the promise we showed in Monaco, and hopefully be able to put both cars in the points. To be second and third in qualifying was an incredible achievement, but we have to always look to improve and continue the momentum. This weekend we need to take that promise and convert it into two strong races to get the second half of the season off to a great start.”

More information
Please visit Global.NissanNews.com/FormulaEPressKit

About Nissan in Formula E
Nissan made its all-electric racing debut in Season 5 (2018/19) of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, becoming the first and only Japanese manufacturer to enter the series.

In Season 7 (2020/21), Nissan announced its long-term involvement in Formula E and its commitment to the Gen3 era, which will run from Season 9 (2022/23) through to the end of Season 12 (2025/26) of the all-electric racing series.

In April 2022, Nissan acquired the e.dams race team, with the Japanese automaker taking full ownership of its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

In June 2022, Nissan announced it would supply its Nissan EV powertrain technology to McLaren Racing for the entirety of the Formula E Gen3 era.

For Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Nissan Formula E drivers will be Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz.

Nissan races in Formula E to bring the excitement and fun of zero-emission electric vehicles to a global audience. As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify every all-new vehicle offering by the early 2030s in key markets. The Japanese automaker aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.

About Formula E
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from inception back in 2020, having invested in certified climate-protecting projects in all race markets to offset emissions from every season of electric racing.

All cars in the championship are powered by electricity, with the series acting as a competitive platform to test and develop the latest in electric technology.

The World’s greatest manufacturers race against each other on street circuits and Formula E promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility in city centres in a bid to combat air pollution and lessen the effects of climate change.

Contact
Maria De Juana
Head of Communications, Formula E, Nissan Motor Co.
Phone: +33-6 17 36 37 61
mdejuana@nissan-europe.com

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