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bmadson
MCUSA Scribbler



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Date Joined Jul 2005
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  		   Posted 2/11/2008 1:17 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
We toss three of the meanest roost-throwing enduro motorcycles through sand, snow and mud in this year's 450 enduro challenge. Check out MotorcycleUSA's 2008 450 Enduro Shootout.
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x2468
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  		   Posted 2/11/2008 2:15 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
nice write up. but no orange? the ktm 450xc would run laps around these bikes, and the 450 exc is on par, but 100% street legal from the dealership. woulda been cool to see those two thrown in the mix. but still, good review.

Kawasaki Kx250
Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4

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Kenny
MCUSA - Editorial Director



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  		   Posted 2/11/2008 2:55 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
x...you should know the story by now. KTM says they dont have the resources to come play with us so we play without them unless we happen to get lucky. The bikes do rock...but you never know if they can win until they go head-to-head. Well, maybe next year.

Fire it up Holmes!

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mauiheadhunter
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  		   Posted 2/11/2008 5:42 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

I went out and bought the 08 WR around Christmas time.  The cost of the bike plus the goodies to improve it's performance still kept it under the price of the Honda's.  Then I even had the dealer make it street legal and that was still cheaper than buying the KTM EXC!  Its so different than my DR650.  Still getting used to the different style of riding but its been a blast so far.

Anyway, I was really hoping that there would be more of an extensive test group for this year's test.  Is this because other manufacturers were not invited, or had they just elected not to lend a test bike?  I bought my bike based on the last year's article and I have friends that were looking to the same this year.  Do you have plans of reviewing the rest of the 450 enduro bikes as you get them, or is it if you get your hands on them???  Your online magazine really influences my friends and I in our decisions.  Mahalo!

Hawaiian Style

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Blender
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  		   Posted 2/11/2008 6:40 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
My favorite of all of the MCUSA bike test shootouts. I'll be picking away at this report slowly so as to make it last!
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Chedda
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  		   Posted 2/11/2008 6:51 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I know it isn't your fault (I'm sure the manufacturers can be a pain i nthe nutz) but I do remember that one year in the enduro shootout when you guys had somehow snagged a KTM, ATK, and a Husaberg no less! I must have watched the helmet cam footage of that test at least a dozen times.
 
By the way I liked the music selection for this year's footage. Very epic, Star Wars Episode 1 lightsaber dual-ish.  It works so much better than the loud scream rock that makes it on so many dvds.
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x2468
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Date Joined Feb 2005
Total Posts : 1171
  		   Posted 2/12/2008 9:16 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Kenny said...
x...you should know the story by now. KTM says they dont have the resources to come play with us so we play without them unless we happen to get lucky. The bikes do rock...but you never know if they can win until they go head-to-head. Well, maybe next year.


well my bad. I thought it was only an isolated thing in 1 or 2 past shootouts, and since you tested the new ktm xcs a few months back i thought maybe you had found a reliable KTM source. I get it though.

Kawasaki Kx250
Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4

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x2468
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  		   Posted 2/12/2008 9:19 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
plus im a KTM loyalist. can't help but ask :

(i just don't own any of them yet because they're too dam expensive.....)

Kawasaki Kx250
Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4

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bkorfhage
Punk Kid



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Total Posts : 410
  		   Posted 2/12/2008 11:42 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
That Brian Chamberlain is one hot piece of ACE.

go ahead, ask me anything...

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Desmolicious
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  		   Posted 2/13/2008 1:17 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
korf, you got your MBA yet?
:)
I can understand that you guys de-restricted the Yammie, but shouldn't you also do that to the Kawi and Honda to keep things fair? Or does it not make any difference to those bikes?
I've never been to Hungry Valley... is it a place where it will be swarming with other riders in the weekends or can you go there and have fun and not worry about getting run over by other people?
Thanks!

Børk! Børk! Børk!

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Hilde44
MotoUSA - Dirt Guy



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  		   Posted 2/13/2008 2:37 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

We want to keep all bikes as stock as possible. The only reason that we allowed the WR to be modified is because Yamaha's methods of meeting emission requirements severely hampers performance. It would not have been remotely competitive while the other two run extremely well in stock trim - which earned bonus points from our testers.

We didn't like doing it that way any more than you guys, but it's a necessity and the fact that every WR owner, unless mentally retarded, will perform the mods convinced us to give it the green light. Not ideal, but acceptable was our conclusion.

As for Hungry Valley, it is a popular spot, especially on weekends. We tested during the week and saw maybe five people, but you will have to watch out on the trails on Sat/Sun. I don't think there are as many people out there on a regular basis as say, Glamis, but this is Southern California we're talking about. Can you ever escape a crowd there?

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Hilde44
MotoUSA - Dirt Guy



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  		   Posted 2/18/2008 12:02 PM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
It was incorrectly stated that the Yamaha loses its green-sticker status with the throttle-stop modifications. However, those changes do not affect the Air Induction System which is where the real emission control takes place. My apologies for any confusion.
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luke9
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Total Posts : 5
  		   Posted 2/27/2008 9:15 AM (GMT -8)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

thanks for all the info on the 450's, butttt, whats happened to the small bore enduros? i cant find any recent info on the CRF250x (05 was the last test i have seen on it) and i would like to see how it stacks up against to new WR205F's... sooo mavy u could hit honda up for one and have another enduro shootout..

        thanks

 Luke

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