Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126424
(Abovel ThIll Bengt Aberg-fremed TTliOO wu piloted by Denny Turner. (Belowl Kelvin Franks created this XR&OO for Jim Gibson to ride. lAbovel Rex St8ten'. wtn."1Ing TTliOO, w;th DIck Menn frame end Pro-Tee euglue. (Belowl RIck Munyon'. XR2&O wu simIIer to Larry Wosick'. XR500. CMC Four-Stroke National MX championship machinery Things that go thump in the· sunshine t~ By Mark Kariya With the growing sophistication of worldchampionship caliber motocrossers, it's only natural to find some of that trickery duplicated on the machinery raced locally. Having the latest, longest, lightest and fastest iron at the track is imperative to being tres chic. Though not as popular as the 20 presently dominant two-stroke sereamen, a steadily expanding four· stroke market guarantees that they will not be left at the line with out-dated equipment. Rex Staten's winning Yamaha is a Dick Mann·framed TT&OO punched out to a monsterous 640cc. courtesy of a Pro-Tee stroker kit. Turned down YZ forb and a pair of Fox AirShox entire motorcyck was completed just a few days before the race. Bassani Manufacturing handled the job of keep its claimed 2&2 pound wet weight amply suspended. while a doubleleading shoe set up in the conical front hub works in conjunction with compression to handle braking chores. Jim Gibson's mount is the latest in a long line of Kelvin Franks' creations. Staning out with a basic XR&OO engine from Escondido H!Jnda. Franks built one of his special frames to house it. utilizing a very distinctive swingarm. The motor has been worked on a little, though time did not allow exte1'lsive modifications. In fact. putting tOSfther an exhaust system in Iell time than they would have liked. With the bike's weight at 24!l ~nds dry, Ohlins do a tremendous JOb of keeping t~ back wheel to the ground. Up front is a conglomeration of things including Pro Fab triple clamps and Maico sliders. Bill Bell had a couple of bikes to handle. One was an XR&OO nestled inside a ColJ frame built to his specs and ridden by Larry Wosick. Beeause it's the same bike that was ridden in Baja, reliability was no problem. KYB's in front and Fox AirShox in back ~Ip keep its 246 pound wet weight tracking true. The other Bell bike was the XR2&O that Honda enduro whiz Rick Munyon rode in the Open Pro race. Using the same basic chassis and motor as his enduro bike. the suspension was more akin to Wosick's in order to cope with motocross-type pounding Munyon finished fifth overall with &-& fmisbes, quite a laudable performance for a midget-motored enduro bike among the monster motOCl'OSlrn. Danny Turner's bike has been 16 months in the making. Starting out with a standard TT&OO, an Aberg fram~ was procured to cradle the engine, wrenched on by Doug Kohler. The bike currently runs four speeds. In the offing is a three speed utilizing second, third and fourth from a regular tranny. Fox AirShox deliver 11 ~ inches of rear wheel travel while the front moves 11 inches vertically, thanks to KYB Pro-line forks worked on by Euro· Cycles. Titanium hardware helps keep the weight down to 248. Helping to defray expenses incurred by the project are PCP Yal{laha. Hi·Point Racing Products, Pona Aviation and Farm Air Flying Services. •