mxa@hi-torque.com
JOY OF DANISH GRASS-TRACK
RACING
Dear MXA,
I really enjoyed Daryl Ecklund’s
story about racing in Denmark in
the December 2013 issue. I was
wondering, do any of the “Big
Five” have 85cc engines that fit
into a 125cc frame? Are there any
grass-track racing venues in the
U.S.?
Bam Bam Cunningham
via motocrossactionmag.com
With the exception of the
annual grass-track race at Red
Bud in October, there are very few
venues in the U.S. that hold these
kinds of events. It is very big in
England. Apart from the TM85 big
bike, none of the Big Five make
full-size 85s—just superminis.
MXA in Denmark.
18 www.motocrossactionmag.com
WHEELS OF FORTUNE
Dear MXA,
My friends tell me about a
rear-wheel kit for the CRF450 that
makes it possible to use the 2012
wheels on the 2014 model. Can you
help me, please?
Erik Forborough
via motocrossactionmag.com
When Honda released the 2013
CRF450, they moved the countershaft sprocket over 3.8mm, which
required the rear hub to be widened
by 3.8mm. Honda did it to get more
clearance between the chain and
rear tire, but every Honda racer who
owned an expensive set of Kite,
TCR, Talon, RAD or Haan spare
wheels was out of luck. He couldn’t
use them on the 2013–’ 14 CRF450.
However, CRFStuff makes special
offset sprockets that allow 2012
and earlier wheels to fit on 2013
and later CRF450s (and the 2014
CRF250). They retail for $128.00 at
www.crfstuff.com or (503) 830-6433.
A BIG VAT OF TAXES
Dear MXA,
I appreciated last month’s
explanation of why European fuel’s
octane isn’t actually higher than in
America, even though it says it is on
the pump. Now, can you tell me why
petrol in London costs $8 a gallon
and only $3.20 in New York?
Stanley Gardiner
via motocrossactionmag.com
The answer is very simple. A
barrel of oil costs the same around
the globe, so the price you pay for
petrol in London has nothing to do
with the cost of the raw materials;
instead, the price is the product of
government greed. In Great Britain,
fuel is taxed at $3.15 per gallon, plus
a 20-percent Value-Added Tax (VAT).
In the United States, the average
state and federal tax on a gallon of
gas is 49 cents.
LOOKING FOR 30-YEAR-OLD
PARTS
Dear MXA,
Any idea where to get straps for
Hi-Point boots?
Doug Lawson
via motocrossactionmag.com
Contact Metro Racing at
www.metroracing.com. They carry
Alpinestars Supervictory boots, which
are identical to Hi-Point Champions.
THE TOP DOG ISN’T GOING THERE
Dear MXA,
In my mind, KTM is the top dog in
offroad motorcycling. Do you think
KTM will produce a 500cc two-stroke
motocross bike, or are these motocross beasts a thing of the past?
Herbert Gonzalez
via motocrossactionmag.com
We don’t think that we will ever
see a 500cc two-stroke from the Big
Five, but we do have an almost-new
eight-track tape deck you might be
interested in.
TELL US SOMETHING WE DON’T
KNOW
Dear MXA,
They banned 500cc two-strokes
that had 52 horsepower and
weighed 230 pounds because they
were too powerful and too heavy.
Now we have 65-horsepower 450
four-strokes that weigh 250 pounds.
Does that make any sense to you?
Michael James
via motocrossactionmag.com
Perhaps you are unaware that
AMA bylaws specifically prohibit any
rule from making sense.
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
Dear MXA,
I have a 2006 YZ250. The bike
comes with Excel rims. Are the Excel
rims on my YZ250 similar in strength
to the OEM Excel KTM rims you state
are not as strong as aftermarket
Excel rims?
Derek Foehr
via motocrossactionmag.com
No. Your Excel rims are the real
deal. The KTM rims are less
expensive Takasago rims with Excel
labels. You are good to go.
KTM 495.
Not really Excels.
Leather
boots.
