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/128608
(Left) Our Continental Milestone dirt· track tire just barely cleared the inside of the swingann. Note the square numberplates, which are $S add-ons. They are not necessary for competition, but do lend a dirt-track flavor to the bike. (Right) A quick look at the photo supplied by White Brothers reveals the obvious mods made to shorten suspension travel (arrows): the topout spacers in the forks and the aluminum spacer on the shock body. These changes should be carried out by an experienced suspension technician. (Below) The 21·inch front wheel rule is a unique twist to the class, and really keeps the costs down. Our Continental Enduro Pro worked just as good as a 19-inch dirt·track tire. Although our project bike is an example of a first-rate 250cc Novice Modified Production machine, all that is really necessary to legalize any 250 for the class is a "Class C" rear tire. While a 19-inch front wheel/tire combo is illegal for the class, we have listed the available 19-inch front tire sizes for use on the rear wheel because there may be some applications where the standard dirt track rear tire cannot be fitted due to clearance problems. According to OUf info source, A&A Racing Service (650/654-1669), both the Maxxis and Continental rears are wider than a Goodyear when mounted. A&A has a wealth of experience in the racing tire business, and should be able to make recommendations for anyone who might have clearance problems. turn one with lead... right up until the time that I hooked a hole and slid off the groove and into the marbles just enough to light up the rear tire. Quicker than it takes to tell it, three riders shot under me and tried to race off into the sunset. No way, I thought, and quickly wicked it up to give chase. Slowly but surely I began to reel them in, latching onto the fourthplace guy and attempting to set him up for a last-lap pass. When he bobbled off turn four, I knifed underneath him to claim third, which was more than good enough because everyone transferred to the main event anyway. I'd love to tell you how I got the holeshot and smoked everyone in the REAR TIRES 18·inch: OunlopKl80, 120/90·18 Cost: $102.00 19·inch: Goodyear (fronl), 27.0 x7.0 x19 Compounds: C02, COS Cost: $111.00 Goodyear, 27.5 x 7.5 x 19 Compounds: C02, CDS, CDB Cost: $115.00 Continental (Ironl), 120/80·19 Compound: CM5 Cost: $96.00 main event later that day, but it didn't happen. I did get another holeshot (I'm good like that), but I slipped off the quickly degenerating groove several times and worked my way backwards to fifth. Oh well, some days are like that, but you'd never know it by me. I was sporting an ear-to-ear grin because I had just learned that you can take a modern motocross bike and turn it into a great flat track racer for minimal bucks. And I should point out that I am absolutely convinced that any 250cc MX or off-road bike from the last 15 years could be made to be equally competitive under the 250cc Novice Modified Production rules (in fact, I'm going to find a clean 10 or 12·year-old bike just to prove it). With that in mind, this class has a real chance at being a great success. I plan to find out because now I want to run every single round of the e-moola.com West Coast Flat Track Series. I know that there's a great class for me, and I have a great bike for it. Cootinental (fronlorrear), 130/80·19 Compounds: 00, CM7 Cost: $97.00 Cootinental, 140/80·19 Compounds: 00, CM7 Cost: $98.00 SUPPLIERS Maxxis (front), 27.0 x7.0 x 19 Compounds: CD3, CDS, COlO Cost: $92.69 Bill's Pipes 226 North Maple St. Corona, CA 92880 909/371-1329 Steahly Off-Road 3850 Pioneer Rd. Medford, OR 97501 800/800·2363 Yl250 pipe (works finish) .....$189.99 1300unce boltoOn flywheel weight ..$99 Maxxis, 27.5 x7.5 x 19 Compounds: CD3, CDS, CD I0 Cost: $95.31 Continental rites auailable through: Ascot Tire (east) 4745 Ascot Dr. Cumming, GA 30040 877/663-8473 White Brothers 24845 Corbit PI. Yorba Linda, CA 92887 714/692·3404 FRONT TIRES: Continental Enduro Pro, 90/90·21 Cost: $86.95 DT Suspension conuersion $358.95 Seat graphics $67.95 Graphics kit $57.95 Tag handlebars ...•...•...... $94.95 Avon Grtpster AM24, 90/90·21 Cost: $87.40 AfJA Racing Service, Inc, (west) 933 American S1. San Carlos, CA 94070 800/551-7755 650/654-1669 Milestone eM5 140/80/19-inch rear tire Enduro Pro 9O/90/21-inch front tire IRC Gp·J Front, 3.00 X21 Cost: $48.95 Compound key: Goodyear CD2 (soft); Goodyear CD5/Continental CM5/ Maxxis CD3 (medium): Goodyear CD8/Continental CM7/Maxxis CD5 (hard); Maxxis CD 10 (hardest). $98 $86.95 CN cue' e n e _ S • APRIL 12. 2000 31