Dirt Bikes Review

Dirt Bikes Review: Honda’s CRF250R is all new for 2010. It has a no battery fuel injection system, a lightweight unicam engine; a new single exhaust setup moves the muffler forward, closer to the bikes center of mass, thus improving weight distribution and handling. There is also, an all new twin-spar aluminum frame. The new CRF250R also has the Honda Progressive Steering Damper which is reported to be exclusive to Honda, ensures sharper corning ability and straight line handling. Encompassing much of the styling of the much larger CRF450R, it is said that this is the lightest, most powerful CRF250R dirt bike to date. The CRF205R’s new programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) system optimizes performance and improves fuel efficiency.

The CRF405R for 2010 has fuel injection, which makes the CRF450R more efficient. Also new for 2010, ECU programming helps sharpen throttle control and starting. Because of fine tuning to the fork and rear shock, balance and suspension has improved action at both ends. The Honda Progressive Steering Damper gives you the most responsive and best handling dirt bike on the track. You can fine tune your CRF450R, s fuel injection system for specific track conditions by using the HRC fuel injection setting tool. Get all the information at: http://powersports.honda.com/2010/crf450r.aspx , plus read all the great reviews of these two extremely popular dirt bikes.

Although this is a 2009 model, the CRF230L deserves recognition. The CRF230L is a street legal dirt bike that has a 223cc single cylinder engine, six speed gear box, a lightweight chassis, Pro-Link rear suspension, plus head and tail lights and turn signals. The CRF230L is called a dual sport machine because it can be ridden on or off road. It has electric start which makes kick starting unnecessary and the keyed ignition makes sure that only you can start it. The CRF230L also gets great gas mileage; it’s the one bike that can do it all. If you are a person who wants a bike that can be ridden on the street and off road, then check out the CRF230L. You won’t be disappointed.

Dirt Bikes Review - Introduction

Dirt Bikes Review: My name is Edward. I’m a retired senior who loves riding motorcycles.

As a member of the United States Air Force, I developed a love for riding motorcycles. Through out my Air Force career, I always managed to keep a motorcycle around. Even when I served tours overseas, the lure of riding caused me to find some two wheeled motorized bike to ride. Renting a bike or borrowing a bike - when I didn’t have one of my own, would be an obsession for me. Dirt bikes and riding of road was a thrill for me, especially being stationed overseas. Of course, my first experience with bikes was just the thrill of learning to ride. I was taught to ride by an Air Force friend, who saw my anxious exuberance and wide-eyed amazement of the beautiful BSA 650cc Lighting that he owned. So after much begging, pleading and attempted bribery, my friend took me to a vacant lot and proceeded to teach me about bikes and how to ride.

It wasn’t until my first overseas assignment to Thailand, that I was introduced to Dirt Bikes. To me, the 350cc’s of fury I rode on and off road, was just a motorcycle. Then one day, I went to pick up my rented 350cc and the owner asked my why I was riding the bike off rode? He told me that “if I wanted to ride off-road, then rent a Dirt Bike”. I was bewildered. What’s a Dirt Bike I asked? He took me aside and showed me an array of smaller 60cc to 250cc bikes with high ugly looking fenders and big knobby tires and said to me, “this is what you need for off-road riding”. So being young, energetic, and eager to try something new, I cranked up a 250cc – I was afraid of the smaller bikes. Boy! Was it loud, but I climbed aboard and took it for a spin. As I left the road, in a mad dash for the wooded area, I gunned the throttle and noticed its quick response and how well the bike handled in the dirt. Jumping a small stream and almost landing on my butt, I couldn’t help but notice the adrenalin rush and how much fun I was having. Alas, I grew older and as my off road riding days seemed to wan, I acquired a love for street cruisers. But, my encounter with Dirt Bikes still has a special place in my heart to this day. Next post, I’ll shed some light on the history of Dirt Bikes – what they are and how they came into existence.

Dirt Bikes Review: Evolution, Part - 1

Dirt Bikes Review: Part – 1, the evolution of Kawasaki motor company’s dirt bikes. The Kawasaki motor company’s first production dirt bike produced in 1963 - the B8m Moto crosser was a racing machine that won the majority of motocross races in Japan at that time. Kawasaki’s legacy started with the B8m Moto crosser and the long running KX motocross series stemmed from these early bike races. The KDX series bikes from Kawasaki were more suited to cross county and enduro racing. However, because of new emission laws these 2-stroke bikes were on their way out and 4-stroke dirt bikes such as the KX250F and KX450F were developed. The KX250F has some updates for 09’ such as: the carburetor and ignition settings have been revised to improve low end power, the transmission has new thicker gears to improve strength and reliability, titanium foot pegs and mounting brackets and an assortment of aluminum components instead of steel to reduce weight, the aluminum skid plate and renthal bars are standard. The KX450F dirt bike has a new redesigned cylinder head with revised exhaust and inlet ports, fuel injection and a new piston, all of which has made the engine much smaller and lighter. The KX450F has a reworked frame and the main spars being smaller making the frame narrower but slightly thicker down beside the rider’s ankles for improved control and feel over the bike. The swing arm has a different profile and mounts higher in the frame, also the sub-frame has been redesigned, and it’s narrower and stronger. The aluminum skid plate is also standard on the KX450F. Both the KX250F and the KX450F have Black anodized rims. The majority of updates for Kawasaki dirt bikes of 09’ appears to be mainly on the four strokes and the 2-stroke bikes receiving cosmetic updates. Read more about these two bikes plus the KX65 and the KX85 model Kawasaki’s at: http://www.motocross-racing-tips.com/kawasaki_dirt_bikes.html

The new line of off-road bikes for 2010 such as the KLX450R, KLX140L, KLX110L to name a few; also the motocross bikes like the KX450F, KX250F, KX100 and the KX85 can be seen and compared at Kawasaki’s web site: http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/SubCategory.aspx?id=11

Dirt Bikes Review: Evolution, Part - 2

Dirt Bikes Review: Part – 2, the evolution of Yamaha dirt bikes. Yamaha’s first dirt bike the DT1 – a 250cc 2-stroke made a big impact on North America’s off road bike scene. In 1975 the YZ250 the first motocross bike to feature a single shock rear end was introduced. The only serious mid capacity - four stroke motocrosser on the market, the YZ400F set the benchmark for the four stroke revolution in 1998, as other manufacturers struggled to catch up. Yamaha’s dirt bike line-up for 09’ includes: the YZ450F which has a redesigned swing arm making it lighter and offers better performance when cornering and it also has better traction. The rear suspension linkage has been reworked to match the new swing arm. The YZ250F also has a new swing arm, reworked suspension linkage, and the new rear hub to take the 25mm axle. The exhaust system has changed, the titanium header is 60mm longer to improve bottom end power, and the muffler is 50mm shorter to improve bottom end throttle response. The YZ125 and YZ250 models had a few updates for 09’ such as a gripper style seat cover, gold plate drive train and both bikes have 48mm KYB forks up front and KYB rear shock. The smallest of the Yamaha dirt bikes – the YZ85 – still has KYB 6mm inverted front forks and the Kayaba link type shock on the rear. The novice rider to the expert rider can experience the fully adjustable suspension front and rear, and a single back bone, double cradle frame for improved handling and cornering. Read all about complete updates for Yamaha’s line up of dirt bikes at:

http://www.motocross-racing-tips.com/yamaha_dirt_bikes.html

Yamaha’s line of motocross bikes for 2010, like the YZ450F, YZ250F, YZ125, YZ85 and its line of off road bikes: WR450F, WR250F,TT-R230,TT-R125LE, just to name a few can be seen and compared at Yamaha’s web site: http://www.yamaha-motor.com

Dirt Bikes Review : Evolution - Part - 3

Dirt Bikes Review: Part – 3, as the evolution continues with the amazing story of Honda dirt bikes. The dirt bike boom started in 1968 and Hondas were everywhere. They were being raced in the desert, trail ridden all over the county, and abused in endures. In 1961, the CA-100T Trail 50 (trail cub) made its first appearance in school parking lots, retirement villages, and on the back of motor homes everywhere. The little 50cc four stroke engine, matched with a three speed with an automatic clutch had a step through frame that allowed ladies with skirts to ride it. There was also the C110 super sports cub that came along about this same time. It looked more like a motorcycle even though it shared most of the power train of the trail 50. In 1968, the first real dirt bike from Honda was the Z50 mini-trail. It had a three speed unit with fold up handle bars so that it could fit in the trunk of a car. The Z50 still holds the record as - American Honda’s all-time best selling bike - with a total sale of 450,000 units, and is responsible for introducing off roading to more youngsters than any other model. Honda brought out the MR50 Elsinore in 1950. It had real knobby tires, a three-speed gear box, and it was a 2-stroke. The MR50 was responsible for many young kids learning how to trail ride. In 1970 the CT70 72cc powered by a four stroke with a four speed manual clutch, was a favorite dirt bike of hunters, fishermen and some lucky youngsters. In 1971 the SL70 Motorsport came along, then the XR75 which became the XR80 by 1979. Honda has had numerous small dirt bikes through the sixties, seventies and eighties, some good, some bad. But in 1973 Honda’s CR250M Elsenore was released to the public and motocross was changed forever. The CRF250 for 09’ has been updated. The engine has a new cylinder head designed to improve low to mid range power and the engine is lighter than last year. The transmission has had internal changes made which are designed to improve gear shifts making them smoother when shifting under a load. Read about the new 2010 dirt bikes from Honda featuring the CRF450R and the CRF250R at:

http://www.dirt-bike-tips-and-pics.com/honda-dirt-bikes.html