AUGUST
2017
38
ON THE COVER: The 2018 Honda CRF450 and KTM
125SX start the ball rolling for next year’s bikes.
144
90
96
FIRST LOOK! THE 2018
KTMs ARE HERE NOW
Every year KTM’s R&D
department throws everything they’ve got into one
machine. This year the KTM
85SX got the total remake.
As for the rest of the line,
find out on page 38.
FIRST LOOK! THE 2018
HONDA GOES ELECTRIC
Last year if you wanted an
electric-start Honda, you had
to buy a kit and build it yourself. For 2018, every CRF450
will come with the magic
button already installed. If
you like kicking, buy a 2017.
MOTO PHYSICS 101:
PANIC REV SECRETS
Nothing in the world strikes
fear in the hearts of motocross racers like the panic
rev. That high-pitch whine is
proof positive that someone
is in big trouble. The good
news? It isn’t you this time.
RACER’S GUIDE TO THE
2017 YAMAHA YZ450F
The MXA wrecking crew spent
the last year ironing out the
bugs in the Yamaha YZ450F.
We tell you all the inside
secrets of how to tame the
beast and soothe the savage
soul of Big Blue.
TWISTED DEVELOPMENT
SCIENCE PROJECT FC450
Looking for the ultimate
Husky FC450? Josh Mosiman
was. He enlisted the help of
super-tuner Jamie Ellis to
build a 450 National bike that
changes horsepower output
as you race it.
DEAN WILSON REPLICA
PRIVATEER YZ450F
Former 250 National
Champion Dean Wilson raced
the opening rounds of the
2017 Supercross series in
a pickup truck with his own
YZ450F in the back. We
wanted to be just like Dean.
116
VOLUME 45, NUMBER 8
WARNING: Much of the action depicted in this
magazine is potentially dangerous. Virtually all
of the riders seen in our photos are experienced
experts or professionals. Do not attempt to
duplicate any stunts that are beyond your own
capabilities. Always wear the appropriate safety
gear.
BIKES
38 FIRST LOOK! 2018 KTMS
58 FIRST LOOK! 2018 HONDA CRF450
78 SUZUKI RM250 TWO-STROKE
96 RACER’S GUIDE TO THE 2017 YZ450F
116 TWISTED DEVELOPMENT’S HUSKY FC450
144 DEAN WILSON REPLICA YZ450F
FEATURES
84 ON THE BLOCK: STEVE McQUEEN’S
1974-1/2 YZ360B
90 MOTO PHYSICS: THE SCIENCE OF
THE PANIC REV
PERSONALITIES
64 RYAN HUGHES LEFT IT ALL ON THE TRACK
TECHNICAL
56 FORK WORKS: FACTORY CONNECTION
AER SPRING CONVERSION
74 TEN THINGS: CLOSEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
86 TEAM TESTED: PRODUCT REVIEWS
88 BARE BONES: SUSPENSION TIPS
152 ASK THE MXPERTS: TECH ADVICE
PRODUCTS
130 HOLD IT WIDE THUMB TAPE
132 PROX BRAKE DISCS
134 PROTECH FULL-WRAP KTM FORK GUARDS
136 PRO-BOOT SOLE REPAIR
138 HI-POINT M15/M16 ITT TUBELESS TIRES
140 PRO CIRCUIT CRF450 SHOCK LINK
142 ACERBIS X-MOVE 2.0 BOOTS
REGULAR STUFF
48 DREAM JOBS: LIVING THE LIFE
50 FADED GLORY: ANDY JEFFERSON
55 HIT PARADE: COOL STUFF
76 BIG MOVERS: WISECO
94 CLASSIC IRON: 1976 YAMAHA TT500
126 GIZMOS & GADGETS: TOOLS OF THE TRADE
128 FORGOTTEN TECH: 1992 YAMAHA WR500
DEPARTMENTS
8 JODY’S BOX
18 MAIL ENTRIES
22 ON THE MAINJET
58
114 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
160 MOTO IN MOTION
170 GREAT MOMENTS