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/128198
Moose Racing sent along some of its riding gear for me to use, and being a moto guy, I hadn't ever worn Moose gear before. Moose also sent along its design engin.eer and eight-time consecutive AMA National Enduro Champion Dick Burleson to make sure I was happy with the gear and generally school me in the art of woods riding. Suffice it to say that I need a lot of help before I'U be able to keep up with Burleson in the woods, and he was riding with a broken collarbone! As humbling as it is to get schooled by a hobbled man of twice my age, without him and Gary Hazel there, I could quite literally still be lost somewhere on the expansive 1900-acre McKool Ranch. But with the use of the Moose Monarch Pass gear, I would have probably been snug as a bug. The stuff keeps you really DIcIt Burteson warm and dry without sealing in your sweat and odor. Plus, it's utilized Moose's easy to move around in - unlike some other bulky foul-weather Monarch P _ gear. gear once the _ The other gear I was placed in was Moose M1 racewear. It's weather started. designed for motocrossers, such as team rider John Dowd, so it's no wonder why they put me in it. What I can say about the M1 gear is as big a compliment that can be said about riding gear in my opinion, and that's that the gear never bound up on me or made me think about it whatsoever while out on the trail. It was neutral, which is really nice. And the M1 vest was perfect for keeping me warm in the chilly temperatures - until the weather got wet. anyway. And the M1 stuff is reasonably priced, to say the least. MI Jersey ..............................................•......$29.95 M1 Pant .................................................•....$99.95 MI Vest $49.95 MI Gloves $19.95 $299.95 Monarch Pass Jacket $199.95 Monarch Pass Pant $25.95 Monarch Pass Gloves been riding and looped it out up one of the hills that the KLX practically idled up before. The stability was also helped out a lot by the ESP fork and shock modifications. Hazel said he and ESP's George Capodieci did a lot of testing, and the suspension works really flawlessly. ESP replaced the extremely soft stock fork springs with a set of Eibach .44 units, and the shock utilized an Eibach 5.7 spring. Both ends were given Thumper WORCS valving. The engine mods consist of the Thumper 470cc kit, which will work for either the KLX400 or the DRZ400. Wiseco custom-builds 97mm pistons for Thumper, and to accommodate the piston, the cylinder is bored, and a custom sleeve is installed. To handle the power, 20percent stiffer clutch springs are utilized, along with Thumper high-surface-area clutch plates. That's it for the basic kit, and the basic kit is probably all most weekend warriors and trail riders need to liven up their 400s. But Hazel knew we at Cycle News are Tim Allen types. We value anything with "more power." With that in mind, Hazel threw in a few added engine bonuses, including Thumper Stage-Two Cams and Cylinder-Head Porting. These mods are what give the Thumper KLX so much more mid- and top-end power, as opposed to the primarily low-end gain achieved with the basic kit. Hazel says Thumper frequently does the 470cc kit, only to have the bike's owner return for the other mods. And that's okay with Hazel. The last thing Thumper did to the motor was add one of its Serviceable Oil Filters. It's reusable and has a higher micron rating than the stock paper filter, so you can't really go wrong with that. This is one part that will likely save you money in the long run. Now, you can easily keep the stock exhaust with the 470 kit and notice a huge change in your machine, but if you go to the aftermarket for a new exhaust, the difference will be exaggerated much more. FMF's Power Bomb head pipe and Power Core 4 silencer not only improve the power of the machine, but the look and sound as well. But don't worry, it's not loud by any means. For the finishing touches, Hazel used his buddy Burleson's preferred bend of Moose Flex Bars and Moose XCR Grips. No complaints here. And to address one of my biggest concerns, being a newbie to woods riding, Hazel installed Enduro Engineering handguards. That way, I felt free to hit as many trees as I wanted. And I did. Hazel also installed a tall seat for my buddy Jonnum, who has legs like a giraffe. My legs are less lengthy actually, kind of stubby - but I wasn't bothered in the slightest by the tall seat, Actually, it was easy to move around on for both the shorter Burleson - though I'm sure it wasn't his preference - and myself. The new foam actually killed two birds with one stone, as it also eliminated that "going uphill" feeling the stock seat leaves you with. The Thumper Pro Series seat cover offered plenty of grip as well, even in the less-thanideal conditions (for a motocrosser). The stock pegs were replaced by units from IMS for added foot traction, while the new tank was an IMS unit as well. Thumper's Wrap-Around Radiator Braces are designed to keep your radiators intact in case of a fall, and I'm sure they did their job. I put the bike on the ground plenty, and the radiators weren't damaged. I can't say as much for the rest of the bike, but the radiators were fine. Hazel installed carbon-fiber Thumper skid plates to the big, er, The hIct that the KLX Is hlNlVY actuIIlly helps It stay planted In _me surroundings. Meybe heftY Isn't .11 bed. thumper, which not only added to the bike's overall appearance, but would likely come in handy when encountering any sort of stubborn logs or such on the trail. Thumper Racing turned an average four-stroke into an extraordinary machine with its KLX470. It almost makes me look like I know what I'm doing in the woods, which I don't. Plus, most of these modifications would be perfect for anybody who has a DR-Z or KLX that they have outgrown, either by skill or stature, because, in this instance, power breeds versatility. (Left) When encountering some of the slick, rutted uphills In the woods, the 470 just chugged right up. It's effortless. (Right) The ESP suspension mods not only help the KLX soak up surprises in the woods, they also add a touch of nimbleness to the beast. Ducle n e _ S • JANUARY 29.2003 29