r Suzuki's RN-465 Full Floater. "It has no more travel
The air box is mounted on the left side and Suzuki's
k and magnesium silencer are used.
Tuner Rick Asch showed us Goat Breker's KXSOOSR-&1, Kawasaki's factory big bore bike that weighs
approximately 220 pounds. Features include dual plug ignition, four speeds, 43mm Kayaba fork with 12
inches travel, and a Works Performance rear shock at 13 inches travel.
By Tom Mueller
In years past, technology with testing brought us into an age of an "add'l:m"
philosophy towards the current factory MX machinery. More travel, more
horsepower, mQre gadgets.
At the 500cc National MX opener in Southwick, Massachusetts, not all of
the old philosophy held true. Changes had been made, but few of them
attempted to increase or boost what had been available last year, Granted,
all of the Japanese works bikes are now suspended in the rear by a' single
shock. Other than that major change in '&1, the overall idea was to make
what was already there work, and work well.
Suspension seems to be state of the art at around 12 inches front and rear
with' few trying to use longer travel specs. Cubic centimeter limits are
relatively close to what the Japanese production counterparts offer. Ease
of maintenance and improvements on simple items, such as better air flow
through filters and airboxes have come to the surface.
Here are the bikes the factories believe will take their riders to the
winner's circle in this year's big bore National class.
(Above) Gary Pustelak with his Husqvarna 430CR. Up front is 11.& inches
of travel. and in the rear Ohlins offer 12.2 inches of trevel. Motor work is
by RPM. (Left) LOP owner Laurens Offner (right) and Steve Simons showed
us Marty Moates' Suzuki RM465. The Simons Forks up front are now set
at 12 inches of travel but can be adjusted to any length desired. Motor
work has been done by Offner and the large reservoir mounted over the
case is for larger oil capacity and better cooling for the Full Aoater shock.
,
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