YZ450F GYTR Tall Seat

Yamaha has an accessory division called GYTR and when it comes to accessories for your YZ they have tons to offer. I wasn't quite happy with the “pocket” feel that the stock 2020 YZ450F seat has to it once the foam is broken in, but managed to stumble across the Yamaha Accessories tall seat while out testing one day. I am usually not a fan of taller seats, but being that I wasn't completely happy with stock seat, I managed to steal one from the Yamaha R&D guys to try and came away actually impressed. The GYTR taller seat (part number BR9-F47C0-V0-00) is 3/4 inch taller through the middle of the seat and comes complete with seat base, foam, and gripper seat cover. 

Once the stock YZ450F foam is broken down (around 15 engine hours) it can feel like you’re riding in the bike too much instead of on top of it and that can make the rider triangle feel uncomfortable for riders 5’11 and up. Installing the GYTR taller seat helped with the rider triangle feel for me when sitting. The seat wasn’t so tall through the middle where I felt like I was too high above the machine, but instead had a firmer feel than stock and enough height to help my form on the bike. I am fan of the Yamaha stock bar bend, but with the stock seat it can almost make the bar bend seem too high at times because of that pocket feel. With the taller seat it puts me into a more neutral/attack position coming into corners, which forces my arms to stay bent, instead of dropping down and relaxing too much. 

The transition from sitting to standing is better and requires less effort under throttle. Seat bouncing is needed at times, but when you’re taller (and old), it’s tough to get off your ass to soak up a jump immediately out of a corner. Having just that little bit of extra foam in the middle of the seat makes it easier for me to get off my ass because I don’t have so far to travel to stand. Yes, 3/4 of an inch doesn’t seem like a lot, but it actually makes a difference. In fact I think a 1/2 an inch would have been enough, but I am not hating on the flatter profile of the 3/4 inch height. I had a couple other testers try this seat that were shorter than me (5’9-5’10) and they even thought it was better for them. The gripper cover that comes stock on the GYTR tall seat is as good as the stock seat, but if it was me, I would be looking into getting a GUTS ribbed cover for increased traction while rolling the throttle on out of corners. GUTS seat covers are made well and last.  

To me a $129.99 for a complete seat is worth it for a roomier rider triangle feel as well as making it easier to be in the attack position while riding. You can check the seat out here: 

https://www.shopyamaha.com/product/details/yamaha-tall-seat?b=Motocross+Accessories&d=42|42&f=2020|141&ls=yamaha-motor-company

Acerbis X Grip Frame Guards

When I received a pair of Acerbis X Grip Frame Guards I wasn't exactly going bananas with putting them on ASAP. I mean come on! They're frame guards and the KTM 450 SX-F already comes with a set stock. After I managed to wear the stock ones down in 8.2 hours however I installed the Acerbis X Grip Frame Guards unknowingly that I would be so impressed. 

The X Grip frame guards allows the rider to both protect the frame of the motorcycle from wear as well as trying to add increased grip to the middle of the bike for the rider to hold onto. Made from a dual injected mold; The outer plastic is polycarbonate while the inner plastic is playable and offers added grip for the rider. 

Installing the X Grip Guards are painless as you will only use the existing KTM hardware and the three zip ties Acerbis provides, to secure the guards in place. Once installed and on the track you will immediately notice the added grip you get when squeezing the machine. Compared to the stock KTM frame guards the Acerbis X Grip guards feel like they do not slip/slide around as much on the inside of your boot when squeezing. I also feel at times that the KTM can be hard to squeeze with my legs because it’s so narrow in the middle of the machine. With the X Grip guards I can “lock in” a little better because the middle frame area of the KTM feels slightly wider, in a good way. If you are able to squeeze with your legs more without gripping too hard with your hands, you will be able to last longer on the bike. Loose arms, strong legs is a great way to explain how to go fast on a dirt bike. 

The texture of the X Grip also stays intact longer than the stock frame guards and that grippy material covers a wider portion of the machine. I also tried the X Grip on an aluminum frame Yamaha and there was increased traction for my legs to lock in with my boots, which was a welcomed feeling. The attractiveness of the Acerbis frame guards on an aluminum frame bike isn't very high on my “good looks” scale, but they are effective nonetheless. The X Grip looks way better on a steel frame machine. 

For $49.95 the Acerbis X Grip Frame Guards offer a better gripping platform for the KTM and that grip will last longer than the stock frame guards that come on the KTM 450 SX-F. Acerbis offers a wide range of color options for you and your machine and is available direct at acerbis.com.

FMF 4.1 RCT Muffler With SX Style Megabomb Headpipe (2020 KX450)

The Kawasaki KX450 was the most improved 450 machine of 2019 and with Kawasaki not changing anything on the 2020 KX450, I wanted to test some new aftermarket parts to see if I could improve on what I already knew from last year’s machine. I knew FMF had two headpipes available for the KX450, but until recently I wasn't able to try it. The SX Style headpipe comes down like a “lowboy” headpipe and increases the length in order to shift the power character around. So what exactly did the “SX Style” headpipe do to the KX450 and how is it compared to the MX Style headpipe? First let us tell you about the stock KX450’s power character. 

The stock power curve of the 2020 KX450 engine has a snappy throttle response from 0-10% throttle opening (with a free feel to it) and at times can almost be too touchy through corners with the standard green coupler installed. Once rolling on the throttle and passed the corner, the power is not quite as strong as the Honda or Yamaha, but still creates an easy to ride power feel on the track. I didn't necessarily need more rpm response with the 2019 KX450, but I would be lying if I said I couldn't use more bottom and mid range puling power when coming out of corners. If you go back and read my review of the MX Style FMF Megabomb headpipe with 4.1 muffler from 2019 (https://www.keeferinctesting.com/offroad-testing/2018/8/14/fmf-41-rct-titanium-muffler-system-2019-kawasaki-kx450) you will read that the MX Style Megabomb smoothed out the low end power delivery more than the stock muffler system did, but had more mid range meat, which was noticeable immediately. In a perfect world, I would love to get more of that newfound mid-range “meat” (that the MX Style and FMF 4.1muffler system brings) and shift some of it towards the bottom end. This is why my curiosity lead me to this FMF “SX Style” headpipe.  

As far as bolting on the complete system, it really is a painless install. The 2020 Kawasaki is the lightest Japanese bike in stock form, but when FMF sent me the full titanium system, I was surprised it dropped the Kawasaki’s weight by 2.4 pounds! Also this is just my opinion, but the titanium FMF 4.1 system is one of the most stunning aftermarket mufflers you can put on any bike. I love the blue anodized finish against the green plastic and it makes the whole bike pop more!

Comparing The FMF SX Style Headpipe To The MX Style FMF Megabomb Headpipe:

So how do the two headpipes with the FMF 4.1 RCT muffler compare to each other on the track? The SX Style headpipe, along with the 4.1 RCT muffler made the KX450 feel more playful out of corners than the MX style megabomb that I tried on the 2019. The low end RPM response (0-10% throttle opening) was slightly less with the SX Style headpipe (without the muffler insert), but now the KX450 had slightly more bottom end pulling power without sacrificing that extra mid-range that I liked so much from the MX Style Megabomb headpipe/4.1 muffler system. You will get slightly less pulling power on top end/length with the SX Style headpipe, but to me it was a minimal loss. Some less sensitive riders may not feel the loss of top end pull with the SX Style headpipe, but it’s something that should be noted. I prefer the SX Style headpipe on most motocross tracks simply because the KX450 pulls harder out of corners and I can shift to third gear sooner with the SX Style headpipe. 

Insert in…

You want to know a tip? Don’t throw out that insert that comes with your FMF 4.1 muffler system! Why? Because I actually liked the SX Style headpipe/4.1 muffler system better with the insert in. Why? Because it gave the muffler some added back pressure and gave me some added RPM response without sacrificing a lot of mid range pulling power. With the insert in the muffler, the KX450 now has increased (0-10% throttle opening) low RPM throttle response that I was missing through mid corner and had better corner exiting power. With the insert in you also will get more connection to the rear wheel and more traction when the track gets firmer. The sound of the 4.1 muffler with the insert in is also more pleasant and isn't as loud as the larger opening of the FMF 4.1. NOTE: Not all bikes respond to inserts/back pressure the same so just know that each bike is different. If you feel like you may need a little more low end throttle response from your FMF 4.1 muffler system, try the insert.  

 It’s tough to get more horsepower, added connectivity, as well as an overall better engine character than what a stock exhaust can give, but FMF did a good job with the 2020 Kawasaki KX450 SX Style headpipe/4.1 RCT muffler. It retained the stock system’s low end RPM response, while getting some added bottom end pulling power, as well as mid range meat coming out of corners. In order to get the SX Style headpipe when you order, you must order the SX Style headpipe separate and use the 4.1 RCT slip on. If you order the full factory 4.1 RCT system you will be getting the MX Style headpipe. The SX Style headpipe costs $349.99 and the 4.1 RCT slip on will run you $549.99. The FMF 4.1 RCT muffler also comes with a mounting bracket for the subframe tab to ensure that the tab will not break or crack. Overall, I think this is a good upgrade to your 2019-2020 K450. 

If you have any questions about this test please feel free to contact me at kris@keeferinctesting.com. I can guide you through any questions you may have. 

Ride Engineering Axle/Axle Block Kit For KTM/Husqvarna

KTM/Husqvarna uses an axle that resembles a bolt with a nut on one end. Although it’s nice not to have to mess with the left side axle block when putting in the axle through the swingarm, it’s not so friendly on the rear end of the bike while you're riding. Why? Because when you’re heavy on the throttle coming out of corners the rear end of your machine will squat under load putting force on the axle/axle blocks that sometimes can make the shock feel rigid and harsh. If the axle blocks can’t semi float (when hitting bumps under throttle) there will be some added rigidity put on the swingarm. Although crazy to think about little things like this can make a noticeable difference with the handling of your machine. 

Ride Engineering makes a KTM/Husqvarna axle/axle block kit that eliminates the one-piece axle/axle block on the KTM/Husqvarna. Instead, it uses a Honda CRF450R rear axle combined with special CNC-machined axle blocks that slip into the KTM/Husqvarna swingarm. However, you will need the special axle blocks to properly space the borrowed Honda axle. The Ride Engineering axle blocks retail for $54.95, and they offer Honda rear axles for $44.95, but how do they work? 

I am not going to sit here and blow smoke up your asses and say everyone that has a KTM/Husqvarna are going to feel this modification. Could I feel the difference when going back to back with the stock axle/Ride Engineering axle block kit? Yes, I could, but to me I only could feel it when coming out of corners with square edge as well as fast choppy conditions. After installing the Ride Engineering kit the rear of the bike felt more compliant and had less spike/harsh feel. I could feel more rear wheel traction immediately out of corners as the rear of the KTM/Husqvarna stayed straighter under throttle. I also felt like I could stiffen up my shock’s low speed compression because I had a free-er feel to the rear of the bike under load. To me a modification like this is worth it because I can actually feel more comfort. I had some of my less sensitive test riders help me with this test and one of them couldn't feel a thing, so installing the Ride Engineering Axle Block Kit should be based on how sensitive of a rider you are. 

The Ride Engineering Axle/Axle Block Kit does not add weight to the machine and in fact weighs a couple grams less than the KTM/Husqvarna axle, just in case you’re on a diet and counting your grams. The Ride Engineering axle blocks themselves come in black or orange and have a unique design that allows easy chain alignment with tabs that have markings that can be easily seen and measured off the end of the swingarm. The blocks are also 2mm shorter than stock for more gearing options.  

If you’re a sensitive rider and can feel your way around a motorcycle fairly well this Ride Engineering axle/axle block kit is a great way to get more connection out of your orange or white ride. Head over to Ride-Engineering.com to check them out. 

MX V2 ODI Lock On Half Waffle Grips

Lock on grips are all the rage right now. I mean I get it, they're fairly inexpensive, easy to install, and takes literally a minute to install fresh grips and immediately go ride. I have been kind of old school in my “grip ways”, but thought I would test the ODI V2 Lock On Grips to let you all in on how they perform, fit, feel, and last. 

The V2 grip is designed with a low-profile pyramid pattern and a custom-designed half-waffle pattern that eliminates the inside corner where other grips may irritate your hands. Since you don’t need to glue or wire the grips in place, a lock-on grip can be installed in less than a minute (and riders who destroy their handlebars at the races can change to new bars without waiting for grip glue to dry). I do really like this feature of the lock-on grips, but at times I didn't like the rigid feel that the left side gave me (more on that later). I also liked that when you tip over, the grips didn’t rip nearly as easy, and it kept dirt from getting inside your handlebars.

Throttle cams are interchangeable on the V2 ODI Lock On Grips

Installing the clutch-side grip is simple. Slip the grip’s plastic tube onto the bar and tighten a single Allen bolt. Note: The clutch-side grip only has a pinch-bolt on the inside end. The benefit is that there is no hard aluminum clamp on the outer edge which leaves a cleaner look. I will say that if you're installing ODI Lock On’s onto new handlebars with knurling on the left side, you may have to sand down the knurling a little in order to be able to get the grip’s tube to slide over the handlebar.

Don’t think of the ODI V2 throttle side as just a grip, because it’s actually a plastic throttle tube with a grip molded on. ODI makes a throttle tube that accepts a variety of interchangeable throttle-cable cams. ODI makes different cams for most two-stroke and four-stroke models and you’re able to interchange the throttle cams if necessary. 

Even thought these are lock on grips and they have the grip molded to the plastic, they don’t feel that big. I can’t stand large feeling grips because they make my arms pump up too quick. I like that each end feels the same and not larger than the other, like some glue on style grips do. I liked the design of the half waffle as well as the super-soft material that wasn’t hard on my hands. You will notice that these grips are slightly shorter than other grips, but it doesn't create an issue with my size 10 (large glove) hands.

The durability of the V2 ODI grips are superb as they will last as long as any other soft half waffle grip on the market that I have tried. My son Aden has had a pair on his KTM 85SX for several months and they are just now starting to show signs of wear from his nervous novice death grip. If you’re a sensitive grip kind of rider you will notice that lock on grips will feel slightly stiffer than regular glue on style grips on slap down landings, braking bumps, and acceleration chop. These are just some things that I feel, but again not everyone is as sensitive to grips like I am. Glue on style grips feel a little more cushy than the lock on’s in those areas. 

For $25.95 the V2 ODI Lock On Grips cost double the amount of money (from glue on grips), but you're getting an easier to install grip that lasts just as long as well as a new throttle tube with every set. KTM and Husqvarna come with V2 ODI Lock On’s and I have found myself replacing worn stock KTM/Husqvarna ODI’s with the same grip because I have grown to like the feel of ODI’s in my hands, on these two machines. 

Any questions about this test feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com

Works Connection Titan Skid Plate

Written/Tested By Michael Allen:

Any dirt bike (be it off-road or motocross) should come stock with a skid plate. Some people may say that for motocross it’s not necessary to have one because there aren’t big rocks and hazards, but I feel that having a skid plate is cheap insurance for the under carriage of your engine. I’ve had the 2019 YZ 250F for quite a few months now and have felt a little vulnerable at times on the trail and have been sick of pressure washing off baked mud from the bottom of the engine when riding moto. After doing some skid plate research, I reached out to Works Connection to get one of their Titan skid plates to see if it would help my psyche. One of the cool things about Works Connection is that they make three different styles of skid plates for most models. They make an aluminum glide plate, an extended coverage aluminum skid plate, and a composite (like a good plastic) Titan skid plate. Over the past few years I have come to really like composite skid plates because they seem to be quieter than aluminum when roost/rocks hit them and also glance off obstacles smoother than aluminum. When I received the Titan skid plate it came with all the necessary hardware to mount it to the front of the frame (a clamp and bolts) and a bolt to mount it to an existing hole towards the rear. 

The rear bolt is very easy to install because the threaded hole is already in the frame, but make sure you do this first because it helps hold the skid plate in place while the front clamp is being installed. Once installed it was clear how much protection this skid plate offers, covering both side cases, the water pump and the lower radiator hose. There are a few drain/breather holes in the bottom of the skid plate so debris doesn’t get stuck between the engine and the skid plate. I have used the Titan skid plate for a couple months now and haven’t had any on track/trail problems; in fact it has come in quite handy on a couple trail rides (with my buddies) that turned into a dick measuring contest up rocky washes. The added coverage is a plus for protection and the fact that the mud doesn’t cake on the engine makes washing the bike that much easier. Work smarter not harder they say, right? Composite skid plates also have more flex than aluminum, which is good because it lets the chassis work as it should when hitting bumps/obstacles.

There were only two slight negatives when it came to the Titan skid plate. The first being that the front clamp mount, even when tight, doesn’t hold the skid plate super snug. The bolts bottom out, but the distance between the clamp arms and the skid plate is still slightly too large and lets the skid plate float somewhat (the skid plate is still snug, just not super clamped down). Being that the bolts are tight and the skid plate has nowhere to go, this isn’t an issue with a possible failure, but it was just something I wanted to mention in case you were installing and noticed the same thing. The second small issue was that the top front corner of the skid plate touches the bottom of the right radiator. Once again this isn’t a performance issue, but it was just something I noticed. 

With all this information factoring in I think that the Titan skid plate is a great option when it comes to protection. Some people are stuck in the old world of thinking that aluminum is the only option these days, but if I can evolve to composite so can you! With an MSRP of $99.95 the Titan skid plate is a great buy for the quality and the amount of protection it offers you on the track or trail. If you have any questions about the Works Connection Titan skid plate feel free to reach out to me at Michael@keeferinctesting.com.   

Tusk Impact Wheelset (2019 Yamaha YZ450F)

Mounting up some hubs/wheels is one of the first aftermarket modifications riders do to their ride. Do all dirt bikes need aftermarket wheels/hubs? No they don’t, but some can benefit from a beefier wheelset (like the Honda CRF250/450R and Yamaha YZ250/450F), so we decided to try the Tusk Impact wheelset and put some abuse on them to see if they really are a great purchase for your used or new steed. 

Yes, this test took a while, but we have put numerous hours on these wheels to see how they would hold up, because quite frankly we don’t want to push something on you if it’s a P.O.S. Tusk’s aluminum hubs are forged from 6061 T-6 aluminum, not cast, and CNC-machined for a quality fit. The Tusk hubs come with high-quality bearings, seals and hard anodized wheel spacers. We have over power washed these areas to see how they have held up and we were surprised that we didn't encounter any issues while testing. The rims are anodized and made from 7075-T6 aluminum. They aren’t the more popular D.I.D. or Takasago rims, but come from a Tusk supplier. The spokes are 3024 stainless steel and are heavier than other spoke choices (more on that in a minute). Tusk wheels come completely assembled and will interchange with the stock OEM wheel components, which is very seamless and nice for the consumer. 

Tusk’s Yamaha hubs are anodized blue, but aren't quite that “deep blue” we see on other hubs, which isn't a bad thing, but took sometime to get used to. The hub color is more of a light baby blue that offsets the black rims nicely. Tusk offers all of the colors of the manufacturer carousel so DO NOT worry they have every color for your ride. Yes, the Tusk wheelset is heavier than the standard OEM wheelset on the YZ450F, but if you’re reading this test I assume that weight isn't an issue for you. If you’re looking for a lower cost hub/rim than you shouldn't be looking at weight numbers, but we will give you the difference anyway. The Tusk front wheelset weighs in at 7 pounds 14 ounces and the stock OEM front wheelset weighs in at 7 pounds 11 ounces. NOT A HUGE DIFFERENCE! The Tusk rear wheelset weighs in at 11 pounds 9 ounces and the stock OEM rear wheelset comes in at 10 pounds 10 ounces. NOT THAT HUGE OF A DIFFERENCE. 

So how do they work on the track? Installing aftermarket wheelsets can change a bike’s character on the track. Some wheelsets can make a bike feel rigid and stiff, especially on slap down landings and on braking bumps. I DO NOT use Excel A-60 rims/Talon hubs because of the rigidity on square edge and braking bumps. These hubs immediately change any bikes handing character. The Tusk hub/rims are only slightly more rigid feeling than that of the stock Yamaha hubs/rims and DO NOT give me that harsh feeling on the track. Yes, it’s slightly firmer than the OEM hub/rims, but they aren’t so stiff that I wanted to take them off ASAP. If you’re purchasing these, give yourself a couple rides to adjust to them, but I am sure you will get acquainted fairly quickly. If they do feel slightly harsher than your stock wheelset try speeding up your rebound on your fork and shock 1-2 clicks to see if that helps. Trust me, it helps in almost every condition with stiffer wheelsets. This allows the wheel to follow the ground better and absorb some of that new found firmness of the hub/rim. 

Rear.

Front.

So how did they hold up? Look… You can count on two things… I am a hard ass when it comes to wheels and clutches. These Tusk hubs/wheels have held up surprisingly well for a lower price point wheelset. The spokes needed to be checked after every ride for the first couple weeks of riding, but after that I didn't have to fuss with them that much. You especially need to keep an eye on the spokes closest to the rim lock, so if you’re lazy (which some of you are) and you don’t want to go around the complete wheel, use the first few spokes as a guide to judge if the others might be loose. In other words if the ones closest to the rim lock are loose then check the whole damn wheel! After almost 30 hours the rim did get a couple whoops in them, but nothing that warranted me to get a new wheel laced up. You know that feeling (when you’re in the air) and your wheel is bouncing around because it has a couple good whacks to it? Yeah, that feeling never happened to me over the course of this test. Good news! The anodizing will fade over time so be forewarned that if you use harsh chemicals like Simple Green or 409 to wash your machine, the hubs will discolor somewhat. I usually use Bike Wash from Blud Lubricants or Slick Products because they are less harsh on our bikes. 

So is the Tusk Wheelset worst it? If you’re looking for another set of wheels that you can take to the track (in case of a flat) for a spare, want a set of practice wheels, or just looking to freshen up your older machine with some bling, the Tusk Wheelset is a great choice. Are these the wheels that I would take to a Supercross? Not necessarily, but for 98% of us they are plenty strong enough. For $549.99 a set, this Tusk wheelset is a really good choice for the working man that loves to go rip on the weekends, wants to look cool, or maybe just wants a back up set so he doesn't have to change a tube/tire at the track between motos. 

I also understand that some people on my social media page say they have had bad luck with these wheels. I understand there is an exception to every evaluation, but I have put in a ton of hard hours on these and have seen zero failures on my end. This doesn't mean that this product is 100% bulletproof, but I would have zero issues riding with these wheels and or recommending these to all of you. If you have any questions about this test or product please feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com. You can order the Tusk wheelset at rockymountainatvmc.com and choose from an array of sizes and colors

X-Trig Rocs Pro Clamps (2019 Honda CRF450R)

I have been getting ready for the first two AMA outdoor nationals and knew that I was going to be running an aftermarket triple clamps and those clamps would be X-Trig. Since my practice bike was my test bike, I thought it would be beneficial to get a set of X-Trig clamps to ride/test with to make sure I could get the “feel” of an aftermarket triple clamp, since I am so used to riding with the stock clamps on the 2019 Honda CRF450R. Like I have spoken about before, it’s tough to find aftermarket triple clamps that perform better than stock these days. So much R&D is involved (at the OEM level) in making a triple clamp that flexes enough, but also has enough rigidity to aid the machine under load/through corners as well. With the triple clamp flex character so important to each specific chassis (on all motocross bikes) sometimes it’s tough to find anyone that can make a “comfortable” set of aftermarket triple clamps. Why do you need aftermarket triple clamps? Well sometimes it’s just for looks with some riders, but there are occasions where you might want another offset to help you get more stability or a sharper turning character out of your machine. In this case I was simply wanting to make sure that I wouldn't be trading comfort for stiffness on the Honda CRF450R somewhat finicky chassis setting.

Enter X-trig’s ROCS Tech Triple Clamps and PHDS Mounts. “ROCS” stands for “Revolutionary Opposing Clamp System”. The ROCS clamp allows for precise alignment of the fork tube with opposing clamping surface patterns, the stiffness of the steering stem is specifically tuned to the respective motorcycle model, the steering-head bearing is already mounted on the shaft tube for convenience, a special fork slot and clamping area for precise fork operation, precise clamping with special screws for low torque specs, OEM attachments can be mounted without auxiliary material, and flexibility that is adapted to the fork with anodizing in the technical factory OEM look. The difference between the ROCS “Tech” and the ROCS “Pro” is the “Tech” uses a standard offset with a pressed shaft tube. The “Pro” has two offsets you can choose from by simply adjusting the shaft tube (or steering stem). I felt it would be beneficial to try another offset with the Honda CRF450R for testing purposes, so I went with the ROCS Pro clamps. 

The PHDS (Progressive Handlebar Dampening System) is a system supported by elastomers designed to absorb engine and chassis vibrations. The system also dampens the forces acting on the handlebar in a horizontal and vertical direction, maintaining steering precision. The handlebar can be adjusted in 12 different positions when the PHDS is mounted. The Honda vibrates more in the handlebar area than any other 450 aluminum framed motocross bike, so this is something that I feel the Honda needs, in my opinion. 

Installation of the ROCS clamp is fairly straight forward (with the pressed shaft tube). All you need to do is grease up the steering head bearing and slide the bottom clamp up in the head tube of the frame. All of the front fender mounting points and even the OEM hour meter bolts up the same way with the X-trig clamps. Super clean! Mounting up the PHDS bar mounts is a little tricky as the mounts themselves have a lot of moving parts, so make sure to read the instructions to ensure proper mounting. Technical Touch offers optional PHDS bar mount elastomers that come in soft or firm, but I chose to run the stock medium style elastomers, which seem to be just fine for motocross conditions. 

I am super picky about bar positioning, shocking I know, so I went with the mounting hole closest to me (when sitting on bike) on the triple clamp with the PHDS mounts forward. This handlebar position gave me a +1 mm bar position (forward from stock), which I preferred as the stock Honda rider triangle is just fine for my 6’0 frame. The PHDS bar mount itself is the same height as the stock bar mount, which also was good for me and I mated the clamp/mount with a Pro Taper EVO SX RACE handlebar. Having so many positions available for the rider is definitely a huge positive for adjustability with these ROCS clamps. If you feel like you need a higher PHDS handlebar mount, X-trig also offers spacers to go under the PHDS mounting system. You can pick from 3mm, 5mm, and 10mm spacers.

So what did the X-trig ROCS Tech Triple Clamp and PHDS handlebar mounts do on the track? My goal for this test was to not gain front end rigidity, get a more precise front end feel through corners, without getting deflection on hard pack/rough straights. Basically trying to NOT get a harsher ride on the Honda, tough to do right? The good news is that this is exactly what I found with the X-trig ROCS Tech/PHDS system, but there is some fine print that I want to fill you in on. The X-trig ROCS Tech clamp on the CRF450R provided enough flex and doesn’t feel like it negatively affected front end bump absorption, but was also stiff enough to give me a positive front wheel feel through flat corners. The ROCS Tech clamp is most noticeable when diving deep into a rut where there is a huge load put on the front end, forced by the rider. The chassis positivity through this area is better than the stock clamps. The stock clamps has a tendency to flex too much and give the rider a wiggle immediately off throttle (on deeply tilled tracks or soft dirt) or give the rider an unsettled (dive) when dropping into a long/deep rut (this sensation can only be felt mostly by faster or heavier riders). The X-trig ROCS Tech clamp gives the front end less wallow (firmer) and more cornering stability (without upsetting chassis balance). Straight line stability is as good as stock and front end bump absorption is only minimally stiffer feeling on braking bumps/square edge. 

Optional Setting: I have tried the ROCS “Tech” with the pressed steering stem shaft as well and that set up is a little firmer of a feel as well as provided a little more rigidity (I found out this when I went to ride my race bike, which has the “Tech” installed). The differences are small, but I did feel it nonetheless. Going to a 24mm offset on the ROCS “Pro” helped the Honda settle down on faster tracks. Running the fork up 4mm with a 24mm offset really helped calm this chassis down for 2:00PM motos (AKA ROUGH TRACKS). The 24mm offset did affect the Honda’s turn in capabilities and made it feel slightly heaver through corners. If you’re looking to slow the chassis down on faster tracks try going to the 24mm offset, 105mm’s of sag, and the fork up 4mm. 

The PHDS mounts do not vibrate nearly as much as the OEM rubber mounted bar mounts. The PHDS bar mounts flex as good as stock with the standard elastomers (up and down), but dampen vibration noticeably better around the track (especially at higher RPM’s). Slap down landings are improved slightly and front end positivity (entrance into corners) are as good as an OEM feel. Simply put, the vibration characteristics the PHDS mounts provide are well worth their weight in gold. I use “weight” because they are heavier than stock ones by quite a bit, but I will gladly take some extra ounces over vibration any day. 

The cost of the X-trig ROCS Tech Triple Clamps and PHDS handlebar mounts are $900.00. The cost is more expensive than other triple clamps out on the market by a couple hundred bucks. However, there are only two triple clamps that I have tested, that to me, are as good or better than stock. If you're looking to get a set of clamps for the temperamental Honda CRF450R “vibes” pick up some front end cornering stability, get an optional offset, and even improve the looks of your Honda, X-trig has some really nice clamps and handlebar mounts available for your red motocross machine. You can check out and purchase all of the X-trig products over at technicaltouchusa.com.   

If you have any questions about this test please feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com. 

Pro Taper Fuzion Handlebar

The Pro Taper Fuzion handlebar has been around for a while now and was a totally new concept to the off-road world (for crossbar lovers) when it was released a few years ago. The flex/locking system allows riders to choose between a stiffer/more controlled handlebar feel or a softer more shock absorbing feel depending on terrain and rider preference. Changing the bar from “Locked” to “Unlocked” takes only seconds by simply removing the bar pad and turning a knob. The Fuzion utilizes Pro Taper’s exclusive aluminum alloy, 4mm wall design for lightweight, strength and comes in six different bar bends.

 Depending on what type of bike I am riding depends on if I like running a crossbar or not. For example, lately when I have been riding a KTM/Husqvarna I like to run a crossbar because it feels better through corners to me visually (I know, don't ask). When I ride a Yamaha I go to a handlebar without a crossbar. Why? You guessed it, because they come stock with that style and it feels normal to me. I usually can tell the difference in stiffness when I go back and forth between each type of bar I ride with, so this made me want to test the Fuzion technology.

 The 1-1/8 Fuzion handlebar weighs in at 1lb,15oz. and was put on several of my test bikes. The easy-to-adjust locking system can be adjusted by simply taking the bar pad off and turning the knob in the middle of the crossbar. If you’re used to running a 7/8 bar with a crossbar on your bike, but want some added strength, the Fuzion can be a great option. The downside to using a standard oversize bar with a crossbar is getting added rigidity through the bars that could be hard on the arms/wrists. Setting the Pro Taper Fuzion to the “unlock” position was most noticeable on the 2019 Honda CRF450R due to it being a more rigid feeling chassis. In stock form the Honda comes with a Renthal Fatbar handlebar and putting the Fuzion bar on gave me a less rigid through my arms. On braking bumps and hard slap down landings the Fuzion bar flexed as if I didn’t have a cross bar on. Does it flex more than an oversize crossbar-less handlebar? After spending more time on both types of bars I would say it’s very similar, but the crossbar-less handlebar still has a bit more flex to it.

 I am very picky when it comes to handlebars and I felt that the Fuzion handlebar (when in the “locked” position) is slightly more precise (than on the unlocked position) when trying to corner on hard pack slick surfaces. Also, to my surprise only a little more rigidity was felt on braking bumps and on flat landings when “locked”. The smoother the track surfaces the better the Fuzion worked in the locked position. However, 90% of the time I felt the Fuzion felt best when “unlocked”. Especially for the hacked out, choppy, desert tracks I test on.  A few tip overs and one big get off left me praising the Fuzion’s durability. This happened on the Husqvarna and the handlebar got twisted in the bar mounts, but the handlebar itself wasn’t bent.

 So at the end of the day why not just use an oversize crossbar-less handlebar you ask? The Fuzion handlebar eliminates having “crossbar lovers” cut their oversized crossbar handlebars for increased flex (and avoiding potential handlebar failure to achieve desired flex when he/she demands a crossbar). I like that ProTaper addressed the need for this niche market and cater to picky people like myself. Yes, it’s more expensive (at $129.99) than your average 7/8 handlebar, but it also will withstand a bigger crash.  

Fire Power Featherweight Lithium Battery

Fire Power is company owned by WPS (Western Power Sports) and they have recently come to market with a new Lithium battery to replace your OEM battery. The Fire Power battery components are designed, manufactured, assembled and packed in one location assuring high quality and consistency, are lighter than your standard OEM battery, has a built-in LED test gauge, has increased cranking amps over lead acid batteries, a fast recharge that can be brought up to a 90% charge within 6-7 minutes, has a claimed longer cycle life compared to lead acid batteries, a longer shelf life (up to 1 year before requiring recharging), can be mounted in any position, comes with no hazardous acid or heavy metals, non-explosive and non-combustible, and comes with a two-year warranty. 

We tried a Fire Power battery in our 2019 Yamaha YZ250F and our 2019 Honda CRF450R with great results. The Yamaha YZ250F is sluggish to start and absolutely hates starting in gear. The YZ250F battery also took a crap on us (completely died) only a couple months in, so a new battery was in order. After installing the Fire Power battery into our CRF450R/YZ250F not only did they fire up quicker, but starting both in gear was slightly better as well. Fitting it into both machines was easy, but we didn’t like that the little square threaded nut (inside of the posts) could fall out, if the battery was tipped, so be aware of that when installing. The Fire Power battery on the Honda is slightly smaller than the OEM battery, so there will be a little more space inside the cage (in the airbox).   

Letting our Honda sit idle in the shop for over one month proved to not be a problem for the Fire Power battery as the red bike fired up instantly. The LED test light is also a nice feature just in case you decide the night before that you want to ride the following day. Not all of us ride every weekend, so this feature helps with the rider who may take a longer breaks in between riding sessions. Simply take your seat off, push the LED test light button and make sure your good to go for the following day’s activities. 

What about weight? The stock OEM Honda CRF450R battery weighs in at 1.06 pounds and the Fire Power battery weighed in at 0.95 pounds. Cutting some weight up high on any dirt bike is essential and will improve the handling character, especially leaning into corners. is it enough weight for you guys to feel on the track? Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to lose weight and add some cranking power on a four-stroke at any time. 

For $119.95 this Fire Power battery is a fairly inexpensive way to get some starting security on longer trail rides, days at the moto track, and lose a little weight in the process. You can check out all the Fire Power products over at firepowerparts.com or if you have any questions feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com. I’m an open book!  

Yoshimura RS-4 SS/AL Full Muffler System For 2019 Kawasaki KX450

By: Dominic Cimino

Any of you that stay up to date with us here at Keefer Inc. are aware that I really enjoy riding the 2019 KX450. Like I really enjoy it. Maybe it is because we have the chassis and suspension dialed in just for me or maybe it’s just because the bike is so damn fun. Either way, I am excited to continue making improvements to this bike in the upcoming months because every time I ride it I feel faster. Next on the chopping block is the motor department and we decided to start with exhaust first. I wanted to test the RS-4 Stainless Steel Yoshimura system because I have had great luck in the past using their systems on other bikes and the guys over there always take great care of us. 

Yoshimura exhaust systems are made from scratch right here in Southern California. Their R&D facility houses everything from the race team shop, dyno/engine rooms, to the space where they lay all of their own carbon fiber. The attention to detail and quality of product is top notch in everything they produce and to give you a little more background on Yosh, you can watch this short clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5J5kltNfvQ

Although it is a couple years old and mainly showcases road racing disciplines, trust me when I say that it all translates equally into motocross. You can sleep peacefully knowing that your investment is going to be worth it. 

The stock exhaust system on the 2019 KX450 is not too bad overall. Beside it looking really bad (that is a no-contest) and weighing a decent amount, it produces a good tone and useable power. I think this exhaust compliments the motor and power delivery well by keeping things linear and quick revving - one of my favorite traits about this bike overall. But on the flip side, the motor does lack some “meat” in the RPM range and the over-rev tends to sign off relatively quickly at the top. Installation of the new Yosh was quick and easy with every single piece fitting in place perfectly. I love when that happens! The stainless/aluminum system that I tested weighed over a pound less than the stocker and comes in at a fair price of $675.78. In roughly ten minutes, the KX looked better instantly with the new system in place, and when I pushed the button to wake her up, she sounded healthier too. I am not a fan of obnoxiously loud exhaust systems so I was happy to listen to the Yosh when cracking the throttle on the stand. Definitely louder than stock, but not deafening. 

Before installing the new Yoshimura system, I did a couple morning motos at Glen Helen to get the best gauge of the stock comparison. The most obvious difference when cruising back onto the track was the tone, as it has a deeper/healthier sound. But when in stride, the exhaust made the KX come to life from the mid range and beyond. The linear power curve stayed true on delivery, but exemplified a more crisp powerful feel when on throttle. I felt the Yoshimura system was able to harness a little more “meat” that I have been searching for and also helped push the bike into the higher revs more efficiently. On the top end, over-rev was increased quite a bit as the KX seemed to pull longer and harder overall. I noticed when charging down Mt. Saint Helen I could hold 2nd gear almost half way down the hill before hitting the limiter. The stock exhaust would sign off way earlier than that in the beginning part of the day. I also realized I stayed in 2nd gear almost all the way around the Glen Helen circuit. This is a testament to the linear power I have been talking about on this 2019 KX450, and the Yoshimura system makes it even better. Where I didn’t notice a substantial improvement was bottom end power delivery. The KX is not a torquey bike in stock trim by any means, but I was expecting to get a little more bark with the new system. This was not the case and I found myself clutching the bike in the soft corners to wake it up in order to get back into the mid range, where I think it excels. 

Overall, the new Yoshimura exhaust system is a great performance improvement to this already great bike. Looks good, sounds good, and runs good - thats what it’s all about, right? Obviously, I am going to set my sights on continuing to improve the power delivery to round out this new KX450. I am happy with the mid/top end feel, so maybe we can experiment with new map settings to get a little more lovin’ down low.  As always, stay tuned for what is next here at Keefer Inc. If you have any questions about the 2019 KX450 please feel free to email me at dominic@keeferinctesting.com.  Or you can head over to Yoshimura-rd.com to see what they offer for your green machine.

Ride Engineering Billet Kill/Engine Starter Button

 By: Matt Sirevaag

Modern day dirt bikes are getting more complex with electronics, buttons, switches, and other high tech gadgets. This seems to leave less room on the bars for handguards, GPS mounts or any accessory that the consumer may want to install on the bars. I am not like Kris however, because “I love hand guards”,  so I was a little sad when there wasn’t much room on our 2019 FC350 handlebars to mount any. Since I was bummed, Kris suggested that I test out Ride Engineering’s Billet Engine Kill/Starter Button. Ride Engineering designed the button in hopes to clean up some of the clutter as well as gain a little room for anything that you may want to mount.

New Way…

As the heading states you can use the Ride Engineering button for a kill switch or a starter button. The new button/switch mounts on most current bikes via the clutch or brake lever mount and to me seems like a smart idea as you kill two birds with one stone. You already have real estate on your handlebars for a brake or clutch so why not mount your kill/starter button to one of those and free up some room right? However just not that installation on any Husqvarna and KTM will only allow the Ride Engineering button to be mounted to throttle tube housing. Installation is fairly easy as I unbolted the throttle tube housing on our 2019 Husqvarna FC350, used the supplied bolts (that are longer than stock), and mounted up the new switch as my starter button. There are a couple of ways to wire this switch after cutting the old one out, but I suggest soldering the wires and using shrink tubing. This will make sure you have a good corrosion and water resistant connection. 

Old Way…

The Ride Engineering starter/kill button does exactly what it was designed to. It leaves you more room on the handlebars as well as give your cockpit a cleaner appearance. I have had zero issues (while riding) using the Ride Engineering button and it hasn't missed a beat, even after riding in freak Southern California rain storms (as well as with bike washes). The only squabble I had is that the button position is at the mercy of your throttle tube housing and or lever angle. I would like to have my starter button facing upwards in case I stall the bike and need to push the button in a hurry. This is nothing more than a personal preference, but something I wanted to mention. The Ride Engineering starter/kill button comes in polished aluminum or anodized black and retails for $54.95. You can find all Ride Engineering products over at ride-engineering.com.

Acerbis Footpeg Protectors

Have you ever been ripping ruts or laying it over in a corner only to find that your footpegs are stuck upwards? You either spend the next straight slamming down on the peg (with your boot) or maybe you find yourself pulling off of the track to get the dirt out between your return pedal spring/pegs. Yes, it’s a pain in the ass and some bikes are worse than others (like the Honda CRF450R). Well, Acerbis has been making these rubber footpeg protectors for sometime, but a lot of you may not know about them. 

Constructed of EPDM 40 rubber, the Acerbis footpeg covers are designed to keep dirt out of your footpeg/return spring area so that the pegs can return properly once you bury it into a rut/corner. The installation takes some patience, but once you manage to spread the rubber around the peg and onto the footpeg mount/spring area, you can position it so that it is tucked up in there neatly. 

The Honda CRF250R/450R collects the most mud/debris in the footpeg area and I frankly got sick of trying to stomp down my pegs after I have ripped a deep rut. The Acerbis rubber protectors kept the dirt out of the footpeg springs throughout each moto and I never once had to worry about getting my footpegs hung up. The rubber is fairly durable and can withstand some abuse of rocks, sand, and the occasional strong power washes. I have only ripped one rubber protector (at Glen Helen) on a rock and although it sliced the bottom of the rubber, it still held onto the peg and did its job for the rest of the day. 

For around $20.00 I would keep a couple sets of these Acerbis footpeg protectors handy in the tool box for early morning motos or just leave them on 24/7. The Acerbis footpeg protectors fit all modern Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, Husqvarna, and Kawasaki dirt bikes. You can get these at rockymountainatvmc.com or acerbis.com. 

FMF Factory 4.1 Slip-On (2019 Yamaha YZ450FX)

Story By: Michael Allen

The simple fact that more manufacturers are offering off-road closed course competition bike’s brings a smile to my face since at heart I’m an off-road lover. That being said I feel like most manufacturers should know that 99% of all off-road racing organizations require race bikes to be equipped with a spark arrestor. Although the bikes are really good in stock trim, this issue has opened up a nice market for aftermarket exhaust manufacturers to be able to come in and save the day while making bikes race legal. I recently ran into this issue when I decided to race our 2019 Yamaha YZ 450FX at a local District 37 Sprint Enduro and realized last minute that I needed a legal muffler. I made a couple calls, but before I knew it FMF saved the day and I had a slip on Factory 4.1 on its way (two days before heading to the race). 

When I got the new 4.1 slip on muffler I immediately installed it, which was very self-explanatory and the fit and finish of the stainless can mated to the carbon endcap was top notch. Now here is the part of the story where Kris gave me crap about the spark arrestor… Admittedly I was putting on the muffler last minute and rushing to get all of my stuff ready to race the next day and I did what everyone says not to do; I assumed…. I assumed that the muffler came from FMF with the spark arrestor screen already installed, so I didn’t even think twice before loading up my bike and heading to the race. Well… I soon found out (thanks to my friend Brendon) that I didn’t have a spark arrestor because as Kris warned me about (and I forgot) FMF puts the insert in the bottom of the muffler box, where it stayed in my recycle bin until I got home that night. Luckily I was able to squeak through sound and spark arrestor testing and go to the start line. 

Initially what I noticed when I fired the 450FX up was that the new muffler was slightly louder (without the screen insert) than the stock muffler. This slightly louder sound was deeper than the somewhat raspy sounding stock muffler. The performance of the stock muffler was by no means hampering the 450FX power character, in fact it was quite good, but like I said, I needed a spark arrestor. The new 4.1 has a larger opening than the stock muffler, which in turn gives the 450FX slightly less back pressure. With a little less back pressure the FX lost a touch of smoothness in the very bottom end, giving the bike a more on/off feel. The tradeoff for the on/off feeling on the other hand was that the bike gained some over-rev and seemed to pull slightly longer into the RPM range. During the race I changed maps to try and smooth out the bottom end which helped, but didn’t completely remedy the bottom end touchiness. After getting home, going into my recycle bin (thankful the trash man didn’t come) and installing the spark arrestor insert, the bottom end delivery smoothed back out. With the insert comes a quieter sound, which was welcomed as well as some added back pressure. The back pressure gives this bike a little more lugability without wanting to flame out, so I didn’t have to worry as much about covering the clutch in tighter sections of the trail. 

The bottom line is that all bikes marketed to off-road racers should come with spark arrestor inserts, they don’t. That being said, FMF has done a great job at providing the off-road community a multitude of choices for whatever their specific type of riding entails. From full titanium systems, to more affordable aluminum slip on mufflers, FMF seems to have all the bases covered. At $449.99 for the stainless/carbon slip on that I installed, I think it’s a good combination of not breaking the bank while still looking slick at the track (not to mention that it takes almost two full pounds off your bike). If you have any  questions, or just want to tell me I’m a dumbass for not seeing the spark arrestor in the box, feel free to reach out to me at Michael@keeferinctesting.com . 

Hinson Nine Plate And Rekluse Torque Drive Clutch Comparison

I originally wanted to do a Hinson versus Rekluse clutch test for the 2019 Honda CRF450R, but after going back and forth for a few weeks (testing these parts), I decided that both of these mods are such an improvement over the stock clutch system, that there shouldn't be a “winner”. Each clutch has a specific character/feel on the track, but both are equally as impressive and much better than the stock system. Since we had to purchase our own 2019 Honda CRF450R test bike this year, I wanted to really try/test quality upgrades, that this bike absolutely “needed”, since we would be having to sell this unit at the end of the year. The 2019 CRF450R “needed” a clutch upgrade and so this evaluation process was born. I let my resident mechanic/blue collar test guy Matt Sirevaag install and ride with each clutch system initially and then I tested each to get my impression. This article is based on what we thought collectively, but if you want to hear even more background/feedback about these parts, check out the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Keefer Tested Podcast that will be up very shortly. -KK

 For years Hinson has been one of the go to clutch manufacturers for factory motocross and off-road race teams. In the last few years Rekluse has been making a name for itself as they are now on a ton of race teams in any given paddock as well. So when it was time to install a clutch in our 2019 Honda CRF450R test bike, it only seemed right to ring up Hinson and Rekluse to see what they had to offer for a bike that needed help in this department. Hinson sent us their complete nine plate clutch kit (part # HC989-1901 ) that adds two extra friction plates (to a total of nine), while the stock Honda CRF450R uses seven friction plates. The Hinson complete clutch kit comes with a new clutch basket, inner hub, pressure plate, fibers, steels, clutch springs and let’s not forget the icing on the cake, a billet proof clutch cover. This is a complete kit that replaces all of your stock clutch components. 

Rekluse sent us their Core Manual Torq-Drive clutch kit (part # RMS-7101002). This kit goes a couple steps further using twelve friction plates. Yes, you read that right twelve plates! The Rekluse Torque Drive Kit comes with inner clutch hub, Torq-Drive friction plates, thin steels plates, pressure plate, core clutch springs, spring screws with screw sleeves, basket sleeves, new tab washer, and a beautiful Rekluse clutch cover.

When it comes to the 2019 CRF450R there are a couple items that can be addressed to improve the clutch. It has been well known that Honda has not exactly led the 450cc class in clutch life and/or in the clutch lever pull department. These have been weak points on the Honda CRF450R for quite sometime and usually the bike gets ranked down in shootouts because of it. Honda has made progress from their old four spring clutch as the new CRF450’s have gone back to a six spring clutch. The stock 2019 CRF450R clutch has a very narrow window of engagement and is tough to really get a linear engagement/progressive actuation when attacking the track. This makes it very hard to modulate the power in corners as the clutch makes the power similar to a light switch that has an on or off type of feel. I am sure most of you Honda guys can relate as our email inbox has seen a flood of Honda clutch questions. The clutch pull takes He-Man type strength and can expedite arm pump in a moto, which sucks huge for us blue collar riders! With a narrow window of clutch engagement and a very hard clutch pull it really makes it difficult to manage the power (of the Honda), especially late in the moto as fatigue starts to set in. The stock Honda clutch also tends to fade as the moto’s get longer and if you're a clutch dragger like Keefer is, things can get ugly (or hot) in a hurry. This leads us to clutch life; I am not even close to what you call a clutch abuser (like Keefer), but I have always taken pride in the life I can get out of a stock clutch on other machines. With this Honda CRF450R I even showed signs of wear and slightly burnt clutch plates at less than twenty hours. This was a problem that needed to be addressed. 

Besides riding these dirt bikes, I love working in the garage and wrenching on them. When the Hinson package arrived I told the wife I would be eating dinner in the shop and I began to tear into the 2019 CRF450R’s clutch. Just be forewarned that this Hinson system is a more in-depth install then just changing out clutch fibers and steels. There are some special tools needed to help with install of the clutch basket. Besides your basic hand tools you will need a clutch hub holding tool to remove and Install the new clutch hub. Also needed is a drill or grinder to remove the primary drive gear from the stock hub, so that you can re-install it onto the new Hinson billet hub. Hinson provides great instructions with pictures, which are very helpful for you novice mechanics out there (cough, cough, Keefer). Lastly don’t forget to use your OEM Owners Manual to provide you with the correct torque specs. Hinson also states adding 300cc more oil than stock, so 1300cc without changing an oil filter and 1350cc with oil filter replacement is your new levels with the Hinson Kit.

The first test of the Hinson clutch system was during the Dubya USA Vet Nationals at Glen Helen. Right off the bat I noticed that the clutch pull was slightly easier, which made me happy right away. The second positive aspect of the Hinson clutch that I noticed was that the engagement of the clutch was not nearly as narrow (or on/off) as the stock clutch. I feel this was the best part about the Hinson set up because it really helped open up my corners. I now had a clutch that I could easily modulate the power of the Honda’s engine character without shutting off the throttle. Most times with the stocker I would have an issue with the front tire jumping out of ruts or wheeling right out of a corner because I had trouble with the on/off engagement feel. However now I found myself rolling through corners with more speed and confidence knowing that I was hooking up better. The Hinson gives the sensation of added rear wheel traction and a more connected feel to the track. I didn’t notice any clutch slippage or jutter while abusing the clutch during motos and Keefer even mentioned that he could ride/slip the clutch (during his 30 minute motos) without the clutch fading.

The Rekluse Torque Drive clutch install is easier and at the same time harder to install than the Hinson. Why? Let us explain… It’s easier in a sense because you are using your stock outer clutch basket, which means there is no need for any grinders. It’s slightly more difficult because there are a lot more moving parts like the basket sleeves, which will test your patience, while installing the fibers and steels. Having said that the other important part to pay attention to is the Rekluse Torque Drive starts and ends with a steel plate, not a fiber. Another difference from most clutch kits is that Rekluse provides (in the kit) three different clutch springs to help tailor the clutch feel/delivery to the rider. Silver giving you the easiest clutch pull, gold, and then red being most aggressive with the hardest clutch pull/bottom end hit/delivery. You can run three silver and three gold or three gold and three red to really help get the clutch feel/power delivery that you prefer. I decided to go with three silver and three gold springs in hopes to help clutch pull feeling at the lever. Just note that the stiffer the clutch spring the harder it is on your transmission under heavy load (acceleration).

As I rode to an undisclosed location (Keefer’s Test Track) with the Rekluse Torque Drive I immediately noticed a much better lever feel than stock and a slightly lighter pull than the Hinson. As I made my way around Keefer’s new test track or I should say turn track, I noticed that the Rekluse has a wider window of engagement than the stock clutch, yet very close to what the Hinson had to offer as well. This makes it a lot easier to modulate the power of the Honda just like I mentioned above. You can really slip the clutch and feed the power better to the rear wheel. This gave me a new found confidence as I was able to cover the clutch and keep the Hondas front tire from lifting out of corners (similar to the Hinson). If anyone knows Kris, you know that you’re always on the clock when you’re riding, which meant thirty minute moto’s to test the Rekluse’s durability. As it neared the end of each moto (which we did over the course of several weeks) the feel at the lever stayed consistent and never seemed to fade on either Kris or I very much at all. Messing with the lever play while riding was minimal and Keefer even mentioned that he barely had to adjust the free play during his sand motos. As with the Hinson, the Rekluse clutch definitely got the power to the ground and gave both of us a little more snap (bottom end response) out of corners. The Rekluse got the power to the rear wheel better than the stock unit and nearly as good as the Hinson. The only difference we both felt was that the Rekluse had a little more bite (or pop/excitement) out of corners than the Hinson. The Hinson had slightly less bottom end hit than the Rekluse, but had slightly better rear wheel traction. The Rekluse made the Honda feel more exciting and playful out of corners without sacrificing traction. Both clutch kits provided much better power delivery/traction than the stock system and have lasted much longer as well. Another positive attribute of the Rekluse Torque Drive is that it actually improved the recovery time of the engine when I found myself in the wrong gear (mostly third gear in tight corners). With just a flick of the clutch the Honda’s engine was right back in the RPM it was supposed to be in.

This was a very educational test for me as I have never tested or used an aftermarket clutch in any of my bikes. Keefer thought it would be a great way for both of us to feel the differences between two companies that know a thing or two about clutches. The Hinson and/or Rekluse Torque Drive clutch systems are just what the Honda needs. They both improved performance as well as reliability, which to me is the most important piece to this test. I am a blue collar type of guy that works to put food on the table for my family, not pay for unwanted parts/bling for my dirt bike.

Hinson’s nine plate clutch kit retails for $1,184.99 and is not exactly what you call inexpensive, but to us, this Hinson Nine Plate set up could pay for itself if you’re hard on clutches like Keefer is. The Rekluse Core Manual Torq Drive retails for $899.00, but since you re-use your stock outer clutch basket, we can see why this costs less (than the Hinson). If I was to go purchase a clutch for my personal Honda, which this one kind of became, I would choose either one of these because they both fixed my two major gripes with the stock 2019 CRF450R clutch. Either one is a great choice, it’s just a matter of how much money is in the ol’ bank account. -Matt Sirevaag

If you have any questions or concerns about either of these products feel free to email kris@keeferinctesting.com and he can hopefully guide you into the right purchasing direction.

Pro Tech Wrap Around Fork Guards

Not only motocross riders, but ALL motorcycle riders alike can agree on one thing; there is almost nothing worse than going to load up your bike to go ride and noticing a leaky or blown fork seal. CRAP! There are two main ways fork seals end up leaking; one is from letting mud dry on your fork tubes, then going riding and forcing the dried mud into the seal, which tears the seal. The other is from small rock nicks on the fork tube, which can create sharp high spots that tear the fork seals as well. 

Pro Tech is a company out of the United Kingdom that reached out to us to test some of their fork guards that are meant to help keep your fork tubes a little more out of harm’s way. Pro Tech noticed that modern day fork guards on production bikes are very bare and exposed on the back side, that leaves the fork tubes susceptible to being chipped by rocks/mud. Along the lines of what KTM used to do with their full wrap around production fork guards, Pro Tech designed their guards to wrap slightly further around the back of the fork leg, which made for an easier installation process than the old KTM guards. I mean it’s fork guards people, let’s not make it rocket science to install right? The theory is that with less area for rocks to get past the guard there is less of a chance at damaging the fork seals. 

We used these guards first on our 2019 KTM 450XC-F test unit seen zero nicks/chips on the forks when we took them off. The next bike we put them on was our KTM 300 XCW TPI and after riding in plenty of mud, following other riders at speed on high speed gravel trails, we have yet to have a fork seal failure. The guards come with all the necessary mounting holes and/or clamps to hold the front brake cable or trip meter wire to the guards as well as coming in a few different color options. The fit of the guards are spot on, but I don’t think they look quite as good or have the quality of production fork guards. However, to me, if they truly make the seals last longer it’s worth the slightly less looking quality. Most production fork guards plastic structure feels sturdier to the hands compared to the Pro Tech guards, but the PT guards didn't break or crack under the normal bush whacking we do out here in California. One other area where the Pro Tech guards are lacking is in the diversity of brands. So far they only offer guards for KTM, Husqvarna, Sherco, and Honda, but after talking with Pro Tech they told us that the next step is to make guards for more models as long as the demand is there. Although we don’t get that much mud on the west coast, I have put a lot of hours on these guards and like previously stated, I haven’t seen an issue yet. For around $50.00 they are a relatively inexpensive way to protect your forks a little more. If you want some extra insurance on those long off-road or muddy motos maybe this could be an option for you riders out there. You can check out Pro Tech at https://www.protechguards.co.uk/ to see if they have guards for your machine. If you have any questions about the Pro Tech fork guards feel free to reach out to me at Michael@keeferinctesting.com. 

Keefer’s Thoughts: I was told that KTM went away from the wrap around fork guard for production because of mud collecting near the tops of the fork guards at times. When we tested those models (that I had the wrap around fork guards back then) at home we didn't have an issue, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. I know for drier conditions the wrap around fork guard is a great way to protect more of the lower fork tube and this is a good thing. Just be aware of mud collection near the fork guard when you're riding long, deep, mud ruts. 

We are fully committed to keeping up with our complete transparency of tests, so we will always make sure that the consumer is completely communicated to about any product. -KK 

Raptor Titanium Footpegs

There are many aftermarket parts that are easy to improve upon with stock motorcycles, but there are also some that are pretty damn good in production form. Some people don’t realize how much goes into making a stock footpeg work so well, but listening to Keefer talk about how much he has tested production footpegs got me thinking. Footpegs basically don’t get the recognition they deserve because frankly, if you aren't talking/complaining about them, that means they are doing their job. You never hear a rider say “hey bro, my footpegs are working great out there”. No instead, no news is good news, when it comes to footpegs. However, there are many aspects to look at such as pitch, sharpness, folding ability, etc. About a year ago I bought myself a personal bike, a 2006 YZ125, which has been a blast, but after many off-road rides, the pegs were looking a little tired, dull, and tattered. Kris saw my beat up pegs and said I should try a set of the Raptor pegs he had in the shop and since most all current Yamaha pegs are the same, they bolted right up to my 2006 personal steed.

The look of the Raptor pegs are quite aggressive with large, pointy, titanium edges that appear hungry to eat any boot sole they come in contact with. The fit and finish of the Raptor pegs are top notch and being a metal fabricator myself, I can truly appreciate the craftsmanship of quality material/good looking welds. On my initial ride with the new pegs I noticed the slightly larger than stock platform which I like because it adds some comfort when standing. I also noticed that the pegs sit flat and not upward like smoother aftermarket pegs we have tried in the past. Although they do look aggressive they don’t seem to chew up boot soles any quicker than stock foot pegs.  My foot placement/grip is slightly better than stock when it comes to forward and back movement, but when it comes to side to side movement, I think the raptor pegs are somewhat lacking in grip. The reason I say this is because if you look at most stock foot pegs, the three or four outside teeth are taller than all the others, which helps keep your foot from sliding off the side of the pegs. The Raptor pegs are flat all the way across, there aren’t any built up teeth near the end of the peg, which led to my feet slipping off the sides of the pegs a couple times when the riding got wet/slippery. One other negative thing I noticed with the Raptor pegs was that the brake side peg, when folded up, started putting a small crease in my brake pedal where the pivot bolt is. This didn’t cause a problem, but I could possibly see over time, with a big enough hit, this possibly being an issue. 

After many HARD off-road miles on the Raptor pegs they show no sign of wear and because of the strong titanium material, they take abuse without ever bending, denting, or getting dull. Like I said in the beginning of the story, there are some parts that are hard to improve upon and I think Raptor did a good job of improving the stock foot peg in some areas, but also came up slightly short in others. Footpegs are very much a rider preference part and for me I’ll take the couple shortcomings in order to have an overall stronger foot peg that will stay sharper for a longer period of time. 

If you have any questions about the Raptor pegs feel free to reach out to me at Michael@keeferinctesting.com. -Michael Allen

Yoshimura RS-9T Full Titanium Sytem For 2019 Honda CRF250R

It’s no secret that the Honda CRF250R is still lacking some bottom to mid range power when compared to the other competitors in the 250 class in 2019. Seeing as how I’ve been logging some hours on this machine as of late, I decided to test the full Yoshimura RS-9T titanium system to see if we can get some added low end power. Installing the new full system took me less than 20 minutes and the instructions were very detailed. All of the parts that came inside the box fit perfectly and no curse words were thrown out in the garage while installing the Yoshimura exhaust.

Now to the part that everyone wants to know. Does the Yoshimura help the 2019 CRF250R? The simple answer is yes, but who likes simple answers? Not me! With the stock system, the Honda pulls nicely from mid top end, but when exiting corners and trying to grunt up obstacles, the engine needed some assistance. The best way I can explain the stock feeling 2019 CRF250R is that it needs help on “recovery" when the rider makes a mistake. “Recovery” basically means how long it takes the engine to recover by getting in the meat of the power again. When you're tired or lazy and miss a shift, this is where the Honda CRF250R gets smoked by the Yamaha YZ250F. I had to ride a gear lower at times in corners (with the stock CRF250R compared to other 2019 250F machines) and if I didn’t, it took a bit of clutch feathering and more coaxing to get the bike pulling hard again. If the track is flowy and fast the stock Honda works great, but when the track is tighter, this engine suffers.

As soon as I fired the bike up with the new exhaust it was clearly a bit louder, not obnoxious, but a nice throaty sound that was deeper. I tested the stock system back to back with the Yoshimura system on consecutive days, so it was interesting to see the places (at each track) where the bike really felt different. 

The most noticeable place the bike felt better was out of tight inside ruts that exited up jump faces. With the stock system I had to slightly slip the clutch all the way up the lip (to be able to clear the jump). When I bolted on the Yoshimura system I could leave it in second gear and just use the meat of the newfound bottom end power to pull me up and over those types of jumps. When I had to be in second gear and scream the bike (with the stock system), I could now be in third gear and use the smoother/stronger part of the power to exit the turn with the Yoshimura muffler system. RPM response was improved as well and this made the Honda feel even lighter when popping out of corners. Connectivity to the rear wheel was improved and even with that extra RPM response I gained with the Yosh system, I received more rear wheel traction. From mid to top end I only noticed a sightly better pulling power down each straight with slightly more over-rev. This part of the muffler wasn't mind blowing, but took me a couple tracks to figure out that there was a little extra “meat” through the mid range (compared to stock). Overall the little Honda just has a little more RPM response, better pulling power through second and third gears, and a small gain when revving the bike out in each gear.   

 This doesn't mean that your new Honda CRF250R (with the Yoshimura exhaust) is going to be a YZ250F killer, but it closes the gap a little. If you have a 2019 Honda CRF250R and feel like you’d like a bit more bottom-mid range power I’d definitely look into the RS-9T system. There are three types of Yoshimura mufflers that you can choose from; a slip on muffler system ($763.15), the full stainless system ($947.36), and the full titanium system ($1463.15). Admittedly none of these are super inexpensive options, but it’s one of the few things in today’s four-stroke world that provides a true bolt on benefit. Besides, if you were looking to save a few bucks, I don't think you would be rocking a new 2019 Honda CRF250R right now anyway. 

Ride Engineering One Piece Oversize Bar Mount

The Ride Engineering One Piece Oversize Bar Mount has a one-piece top that is designed to resist bending much better than the stock bar mount. Precision machined from aircraft quality aluminum, there is also a 6mm difference between the forward and back mounting positions. Ride Engineering also machines their own stainless steel posts that prevent over tightening, unlike some other competing brands that DO NOT use quality posts. 

We stuck the Ride Engineering one piece bar mount on our 2019 Honda CRF450R and ran it with the stock triple clamps and Ride Engineering’s Works Edition Red Triple Clamps as well. I hate realigning bent, twisted and misaligned front ends, especially during a race. I rarely bend handlebars, but I do have some screwed up twisting going on after some wash outs/tip-overs. Usually, the standard rubber-mounted bar mounts get tweaked and I've even bent the bar-mount stem a time or two while the handlebar somehow stays straight. One of the best products I've found to keep me pointing in the right direction is the Ride Engineering One Piece Bar Mount, in which I tested on our 2019 CRF450R. This $104.95 all aluminum bar mount is sturdy enough to take some crashes, but doesn't cause any added rigidity problems. I would know because I am super sensitive to any added rigidity in my front end. The flex I got on the track (from the Ride mount) is as good as the stock flex and Ride Engineering’s rubber cones are also as flexible as stock. Ride does offer a variation of different elastomers/rubber cone compounds for a custom desired flex, just in case you need a stiffer or softer feel. The Ride Engineering Fourth Generation One Piece Mount has been refined over the years to weigh as little as possible, yet stay strong. The final product is a little heavier than stock, but for the added strength that I am getting, it’s worth its “weight” in gold. 

Installation is simple as the Ride Engineering One Piece Mount easily goes on with the stock Honda rubber cones or you can choose to get Ride’s rubbers (like I mentioned above) as well. The top mount is a one piece design held on with eight 8mm head bolts and when placed over a Pro Taper EVO bar, the machined guidance holes (in the mount) lined up perfectly, making it easy for me to set my bar at the right angle. Once tightened up, I forgot about this mount and didn't stress on the average tip over or any normal sized spill I may take. So, if you're like me and your bike hits the ground on occasion, this mount is money well spent. Head over to ride-engineering.com to check them out or get yours. If you do decide you need this piece, use the code Keefer-20 to see some dough. 

Pro Circuit Ti-6 Pro Titanium Muffer System

The 2019 Yamaha YZ450F won the Keefer Inc. Testing shootout this year because it has all tangibles that are needed to let a rider go fast on the track with the least amount of work. I am a fan of the stock muffler system on the 2019 YZ450F, but was looking for a full system to help me lose some weight and gain a little more mid range pulling power without sacrificing low end delivery, that the stock system does so well. I went to Pro Circuit to seek out Mitch Payton and see if he would give me a Ti-6 Pro Titanium System to try out. I managed to walk out with a system, but missed out on the opportunity to speak with Mitch. He probably doesn't even know who the hell I am, but I appreciate that he got me a system to test out. I haven't tested that much Pro Circuit products in 2018, but our next couple project builds will have some PC products on board or 2019. 

The Pro Circuit Ti-6 Pro full system was created for professional racers competing in a series such as AMA Supercross or AMA Motocross to ensure they pass AMA/FIM sound regulations. The Ti-6 Pro Titanium Exhaust System is constructed of titanium throughout the head pipe, mid pipe, and canister while the end-cap is carbon fiber. I wanted the “Pro” system because I have learned that loud mufflers are not the best mufflers for power feeling on the track and sometimes putting an insert in “some” mufflers actually helps power delivery.

Installation of the PC system was painless to install (for Yamaha standards), but always make sure to install the headpipe on the cylinder head studs and then connect the mid pipe. Once the mid pipe is slipped onto the headpipe you can begin to tighten the headpipe nuts. This assures that the mid pipe doesn't bind and is free. 

So how does this sucker feel out on the track? The exhaust note on the Pro Circuit Ti-6 Pro is not near as loud or weird sounding as the Ti-6 or T6. The exhaust note on the “Pro” is deeper and slightly quieter, which I personally like more. The power delivery is slightly smoother down low, but only on throttle opening. At 0-5% throttle position there is a slightly softer RPM response, which I didn't mind on nasty, dry, choppy tracks in Southern California. If I needed more bottom I simply ran a more aggressive map and that helped the “pop” I was looking for out of corners. I usually ran the TP 2.0 map with the Pro Circuit system and it made me happy with the amount of smooth roll on power I had. The rear wheel definitely feels connected to my throttle hand and in comparison the PC system has more bottom end power than that of the Akrapovic that I tested a couple months ago. The mid-range is where I wanted more power out of the Yamaha and this is where exactly the PC system delivers. The meat of the Ti-6 Pro’s power out of corners and accelerating down the next straight is much better than stock. I am able to use second and third gears longer with the PC system (compared to stock) and even though the low RPM response is slightly softer than the stock system, the mid-range RPM response is much more instant. Mid- range RPM response is crisp and makes the Yamaha feel “lighter” when trying to hop over square edge choppy areas of the track when accelerating. Top end pulling power is as good as stock as the PC Ti-6 Pro doesn’t pull harder up top, but the PC system does have slightly more over-rev. I am able to be slightly lazier with my shifting and can decide to shift later after each corner. 

I was impressed how the Pro Circuit Ti-6 Pro delivered and spread out its power and to me made the Yamaha even more fun to ride. If that is possible? The PC Ti-6 Pro Titanium System runs $1,064.95 and is available over at procircuit.com. I will be doing a 2019 Yamaha YZ450F Muffler Shootout Podcast in the very near future, so if you want to hear how it stacks up against its competitors listen and subscribe to the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Keefer Tested Podcast right now. 

If you have any questions about this test please feel free to email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com.