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/128383
Russ Pearson's Montclair Yamaha YZ450F Continued from poge 33 circles a lot. With the Yamahas. I've been riding them now for the last five years or more. We kind of have a pretty good system. knock on wood. because next year will probably kick my butt. I'll be scratching my head. but we kind of have a pretty good medium setting that works good everywhere." What is that medium setting that Pearson speaks of? Well for him it is all about confidence. "I did my testing. a lot of it. down in Lucerne [California] and stuff," Pearson said. "That place is notorious for anything and everything. That place has gnarly wide-open chop. to everything. I got a setting that worked. where it's not perfect everywhere. but it's good everywhere. It's just a comfortable, consistent and confident feel. It's not going to kick you. and it doesn't do weird stuff on you. where certain areas you ride super tight. It's just good and gives me confidence." Pearson went on to say that he tried his suspension in motocross and found it to work surprisingly well - surprising because usually desert and off-road suspension is a touch softer than motocross. to say the least. "I actually converted over to motocross. and it [the off-road suspension] felt pretty good on motocross." Pearson said. "I tested out motocross suspension, tested out a bunch of other stuff. and for all and all. I just stuck with it. It felt as comparable. or better than anything else I could do. So. I just figured I'd stick with something that I could get my confidence up with." While his suspension is confidence-inspiring. the settings are intended for going fast. "It's made to race." Pearson said. "To handle out in the desert. it has to be able to handle the little stuff but also handle the big stuff. too. because there are always those 'oh crappers' in the desert. The harder you push it. the better it works." straights. and in the tighter turns and steep hills. it is not too much to handle. It's just perfect for a guy like me who has not raced in awhile - and. evidently. for one who races all the time. too! I did, however, get stuck on one of the tricky silt hills in the back section of the track a couple of times. but that was more operator error than it was a lack of power. which I begrudgingly admitted to back in the factory Yamaha pits after the race. And then there was that start thing. which the Yamaha guys qUickly reminded me of when I finished. Once again. though, it was operator error: I stalled it. What can I say? I'm a little rusty with the old hand-on-the-helmet starts. When it comes to the controls and rider comfort. just like everything else on the bike. it couldn't be much better. I personally run my levers slightly on the high side and. luckily. so does Pearson. His bar bend is also an excellent choice. I might add. as my arms never pumped up. Clutch pull is also easy. almost effortless - no doubt because of the Hinson components and Works Connection clutch perch. Thanks to Pearson's cockpit setup, I was so comfortable on the bike that I phYSically lasted a lot longer than I expected to before my tongue was getting caught in the spokes. Overall. there really isn't anything I didn't like about the bike. It handles well. makes exceptional power and is supercomfortable to ride. And to top it off. it just looks trick! I know that if I had this bike at my disposal. I'd be a full-time off-road racer again. eN 34 JUNE 22, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS RUSS PEARSON'S MONTCLAIR YAMAHA YZF450 (Left) Pearson runs BRP triple clamps and a GPR stabilizer to give him be"er control when blazing across the desert, (Above) Although the motor is surprisingly stock, he does have Zip-Ty Racing modify the head a li"fe bit. Most of the engine mods are designed to smooth aut the power delivery. (Below) Pearson opts for the Pro Circuit Ti-4 GP Series exhaust system. CYUNDER-HEAD MODS: 2ip-lY Racing PISTON: Stock CYLINDER: Stock EXHAUST: Pro Circuit Ti-4 GP Series LUBRICATION: Yamalube CLUTCH: Hinson wlstock plates COUNTERSHAFT SPROCKET: ........ 14- tooth. Sprocket Specialists 50-tooth. Sprocket Specialists REAR SPROCKET: CHAIN: RK AIR FILTER: UNI SUSPENSION: Stock/Pro Circuit TIRES: Bridgestone HUBS: Stock/Polished HANDLEBARS: Pro Taper GRIPS: scon TRIPLE CLAMPS: BRP STABILIZER: GPR BAR ENDS: GPR CLUTCH PERCH: Works Connection GAS TANK: .IMS FOOTPEGS: Pro Circuit BRAKES: Stock Acerbis HAN DGUARDS: CHAIN GUIDE: TM Designworks GAURDS: ....E-Une and Works Connection PIPE GAURD: E-Une DISC GAURD: .zip-Ty Racing CHAIN ADJUSTERS: .zip-Ty Racing CARBURETOR: Stock wlZip-Ty Racing mods