Innehållsförteckning för March 2017 från Dirt Action

“YAMAHA’S SUPER TÉNÉRÉ XT1200Z IS A CAPABLE MACHINE YET IT GOT LOST SOMEWHAT IN THE TSUNAMI OF COMPETING MODEL RELEASES” Yamaha’s Super Ténéré XT1200Z is a capable machine yet it got lost somewhat in the tsunami of competing model releases since it first appeared in 2010. Back then it was greeted with anticipation as it came off the back of the release of its smaller cousin, the XT660Z, which sent folks into a veritable frenzy to think the Japanese were re-entering the adventure market with that familiar moniker. Since 2010, however, the market has grown larger than anyone could have predicted. There have been several excellent model updates from BMW, KTM and Triumph as well as new entrants to the category from the likes of Ducati — and, of course,…

I’ve said it before, but there’s never been a better time to buy a 250F. While on the whole the market obsesses about the 450, the fact is a large percentage of riders would be better riding a 250F. Right now, both KTM and Yamaha have two outstanding bikes on offer the likes of which we’ve never seen before. They’ve evolved far past the trail-oriented chook chasers of years gone by — and, for clarification, I never much rated the average 250F just a couple of generations ago. What we have now is a fast, light, agile and versatile bike that I know I’m faster on and can ride longer than if I was on a bigger bike. KTM’s 250 EXC-F is all new for 2017 and it’s the best…

SANTA CRUZ TALLBOY The Tallboy cuts a whole new swath across the trail-bike landscape. As a 27+ bike it revels in the severe. In desert-dry conditions, the wider tyres float above the dust and find oases of grip where standard tires flounder. And, when the monsoon comes, lower tyre pressures pull the Tallboy through the slickest of root sections like a Defender on diff-lock. In its 29-inch form, the Tallboy’s renowned rowdy streak comes to the fore. Happy at full gas, up- or downhill, the speed and agility of the 29 configuration will have you bagging on e-bikes at every turn. DFR450ZX 18V MOBILE AUTOFEED SCREWDRIVER • Makita-built 4-pole motor design with dual steel bearings provides maximum torque • Increased rotational speed ensuring smooth screw driving • Toolless stopper base…

“SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE ON A 450 AND THE WAY THIS BIKE HOOKS UP KEEPS IT COMPETITIVE IN THE PERFORMANCE STAKES, WHERE THE SECRET TO WINNING IS LESS TO DO WITH OUTRIGHT POWER THAN WITH USABILITY” Following the launch of the 2017 RMZ 450, Suzuki was nice enough to leave us with one of the bikes for a couple of months and let us get some more seat time away from the official press event. Here’s what we thought. THE ENGINE While this bike isn’t going to win any outright horsepower contests on the dyno, what it does have is delivered in a way that goes a long way towards making that a moot point. This bike’s power is dished out in a way that more riders would be able…

Heading into the 2016 Australian motocross championships, the Motul MX Nationals, many regarded the season that lay before them as one of the most exciting in recent times, especially in the premier MX1 division. With both Dean Ferris and Todd Waters returning from the world stage to race for CDR Yamaha and Wilson Racing Coolair Motul Pirelli Factory Suzuki teams respectively and tackle the two reigning champions from seasons past — KTM Australia’s Kirk Gibbs and NPE Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Matt Moss — there was a lot of hype well before the season kicked into gear. With Brett Metcalfe on the SD3 Husqvarna team added to the mix plus a handful of other super-talented riders, last year’s MX1 class promised to provide some of the most spectacular racing we’d seen…

KEN ROCZEN RYAN DUNGEY Every year the greatest riders on the planet line up for the greatest racing series for two wheels on dirt. The AMA Supercross season is the one fans await most eagerly — and it’s not just about the epic battles and the incredible riders and insane tracks... or even the fireworks. So much of the show is about the jaw-dropping race bikes. Bikes that you and I can’t have and will never ride. Bikes that are the cutting edge, the types of beasts that only the likes of Reed, Roczen and Dungey can truly contain and ride like monsters. So let’s take a moment to have a close look at some of the standout bikes as they appeared at A1. You might need…

THERE IS A LOT OF POWER — AND I REALLY MEAN A LOT OF POWER — BUT IT’S SMOOTH AND CONTROLLABLE While we’re still in the honeymoon period, the KTM 500 EXC is a seriously impressive thing — and sexy as, too. We’ve had a few trips into the bush and I even took her for a spin to the local cafe for a coffee! We got some strange looks from the cafe racers that day. BREAKING HER IN The engine is extremely impressive. There’s a lot of power — and I really mean a lot of power — but it’s smooth and controllable. You can feed it on in a manageable way; I’m yet to have a big scary moment due to the aggressiveness of the engine. The KTM…

“I FELT LIKE I HAD A COUPLE OF AVERAGE YEARS AND I KNEW I COULD COME HOME AND REBUILD MYSELF WITH CDR” Twenty sixteen was a year Dean Ferris will never forget. Returning to Australia after spending four years on the world stage, he joined the CDR Yamaha team and carved out his first-ever senior national championship in the MX1 class in 2016’s MX Nationals after also finishing second in the New Zealand national championship with the JCR Altherm Yamaha racing team. If that wasn’t enough, the Kyogle Kid rounded out the year with a supercross round win to his name on his way to finishing second in the Australian Supercross Championship. Let’s throw it back to the end of 2015 and your decision to come back from Europe to…

“450S ARE TOUCHING ON THE 56–60HP MARK THESE DAYS AND THAT’S OVERWHELMINGLY THE CAPACITY THAT SELLS IN AUSTRALIA — THIS IS WHAT MOST OF US ARE RIDING” Has the 450F become too powerful for the average rider? This is kind of a touchy subject in some circles. Blokes don’t like to admit any machine with an internal combustion engine might be too much for them. But it’s worth having the conversation about the fact that the current lineup of 450s may well be getting too powerful to be practical and fun for the average rider. Four-fifties are touching on the 56–60hp mark these days and that’s overwhelmingly the capacity that sells in Australia — this is what most of us are riding. Now, think back to the days when the…

2017 SUZUKI RM-Z450 01 It was good enough for Roczen to whip the best. He might have taken the number-one plate to Honda but he won it on Suzuki. 02 Black triple clamps and black rims are the bomb. 03 The 49mm Showa SFF-Air TAC fork is one of the best air fork designs we’ve seen yet. 04 Suzuki Australia runs some rad financing deals, so check the ’Zuke website for all the current info. 05 Ricky Carmichael. They could sign Kim Kardashian to ride Suzuki and we’d still be all about RC.…