I love my 2017 KTM 690 Enduro, but like anything, it has a few flaws. For almost 11k, KTM couldn't include a sleek looking LED taillight that is vibration resistant and doesn't fill up with silt from water crossings? And, did the left rear turn signal have to sit in the path of hot exhaust gases? The folks at Sicass Racing seemed to have asked themselves the same questions and rather than whining about it like me, they offer a solution with their 2008-2017 KTM 690 Easy Fit Under Fender Kit. Sicass Racing essentially took an OE KTM dirt bike LED taillight & bracket assembly and added an LED license plate light to keep you legal, everything plugging into the factory wiring. I can't stomach cutting up factory wiring, so being plug & play rocks. Since the bracket is OE, it fits, well... like OE! The only mod that you need to make is to trim off some plastic ribbing under the fender to create some clearance for the license plate light. This was easily done with an razor knife in just a couple of minutes and is completely hidden when buttoned up. The license plate light works just fine, but the rear corners stick out a tad past the rear fender tip, so while it doesn't look quite OE, only the picky will likely notice. Sicass Racing also offers optional accessories to complete the taillight kit that include a license plate holder and an assortment of halogen and LED turn signals. I went for a pair of their amber/orange lens LED flat mounts, but they also offer clear and smoke lens options. The turn signals also have factory style plugs, so like the taillight, plug & play installation. When you drill the mounting holes for the turn signals, pay close attention to the ribbing on the underside of the taillight bracket. You need to leave a path to tighten the phillips head fasteners. On a recent ride, I had a buddy follow me while we talked via our bluetooth head-sets. He felt that running and brake lights were plenty visible, even in sunlight and that the turn signals were reasonably visible despite their narrow spacing, flat orientation, and small size. That's more than good enough for me. As those the ride on the street know, some drivers wouldn't see if you have you had 747 landing lights as turn signals. I didn't install in-line resistors or an LED compliant relay, so the blinkers do hyperflash. I'm of the opinion that this makes them more visible, so I'm leaving them as they are. In terms of durably, zero issues so far with the hardware, bracketry or the electrical components. And, I don't expect any having run an OE KTM LED taillight for a number of years on a previous 450 dual sport that saw plenty of abuse. The flat mount turn signals have stayed exactly where I put them, they are out of harm's way, whether it be exhaust gases, trail brush, or the occasional tip over, and the tail light doesn't fill up with silt from water crossings. Lasty, I think that the Sicass set-up looks a whole lot better than stock, but aesthetics is your call. I pointed out the kit to my riding buddy and he said that if I hadn't, he'd have likely not noticed, so it clearly looks like it belongs. Overall I'm pleased with the functionality, performance, and looks of the KTM 690 Easy Fit Under Fender Kit & accessories from Sicass Racing. http://sicassracing.com/store/products/tail_lights/sicass_easy_fit/2008-17_ktm_690_easy_fit_under_fender  

Previously, I have used the Wiseco Racer Elite piston in my Kawasaki KX250F’s that exceeded my expectations and tremendous results. However, I have had the opportunity to make the brand switch from the 2017 Kawasaki KX250F to a 2018 Husqvarna FC250. I’ve had a good amount of time on the bike, riding it as showroom floor stock, 9 hours, and then installed the Racer Elite piston. Mainly, I tested the Racer Elite in the indoor environment, of professional Arenacross races, Amateur Supercross events and a pro Supercross track. In this process, I have obtained my Road to Supercross points in four events for my professional Supercross license with only a Racer Elite piston, race fuel, and an aftermarket muffler installed on the bike. Daytona Amateur RCSX, Photo by David Pilgrim - Pilgrim Pictures This was a great opportunity to get some thought provoking data on the Racer Elite piston’s impact on performance, these disciplines require a great range of power throughout the power curve and test the bikes ability and response due to the different obstacles and conditions. I showcased the Racer Elite in multiple events including Greensboro Arenacross, which featured bit of sand and dirt mixture that held a good amount of moisture, but was slick in berms and nasty ruts. This made the catapult and rhythm sections a challenge demanding immediate torque. Florence Arenacross was mainly red clay providing loads of traction however, the track broke down and got deep ruts which can rob a bike of its low-end power. The South of the Border training facility I rode both the Arenacross and Supercross tracks, both hard clay that was no nonsense and not very forgiving requiring bottom to mid end horsepower, not high rpm’s which would result in spinning. Greensboro Pro Arenacross, Photo by Martha Prentis - MEPMX In my previous experience with the Racer Elite piston, it created a strong increase in power throughout the power curve in the Kawi and made the bike leap out of the corners. The Husqvarna FC250 is a bit different compared to my last experience, as it has an impressive 5 more HP stock out of the crate, than a KX250F, and the meat of that power can be found in the high RPMs. Of course, once you got to that top end power, it never stops digging and gaining speed, but getting there is the bump that is needed from the Husky in my humble opinion. For tight and technical racing, it’s super important to have reliable bottom to mid-end power for multiple scenarios, but is especially important for whoops! The Racer Elite piston provided the Husky a lot of necessary power for any scenario that was thrown my way from my indoor endeavors. It was very easy to notice the increase in power, however, what was so amazing was exactly how the increase in power changed the overall performance and profile of the bike. It added a good deal of power on the lower end of the RPMs, which made it easier to climb quicker towards the high RPMs where the FC250 excels. In addition to a needed bottom end bump, it promoted the never ending full throttle climb on top that allowed me to really ring the bike out on an Arenacross straight without worrying about unnecessary shifting. This was also helpful coming out of a tight corner into a finish line catapult or a big triple into a rhythm section, because I was able to use the same gear coming out of the corner all the way up the jump without concern of coming up short. If you’ve ever frame-cased an Arenacross catapult, you understand why that is such a relevant concern! Greensboro Pro Arenacross, Photo by Martha Prentis - MEPMX As I mentioned, the Racer Elite provided a much needed bottom end bump in horsepower. Before I added the Racer Elite I was skimming the Arenacross whoops at the South of the Border in 3rd gear, with a little bit of struggle. I was then instructed to use 4th gear instead which would utilize a greater amount of power available in the gear and decrease engine breaking and front end drop. This worked nicely, but it was difficult to get consistent runs because I felt the need to enter in with more speed to compensate for the lower RPMs. For me, I do better in Arenacross whoops when I am able to focus on each whoop and adjust accordingly for each one. When I added the Racer Elite piston, I was able to keep a controllable approach, and gain speed further into the whoops because I was able to judge each one and keep a consistent amount of throttle and even started to increase the throttle towards the end and start to skip one whoop out. This not only helped with the whoops themselves, but made the following corner easier because I had better control going in, had less jerky or rushed movements within the corner, and was able to keep a good speed coming into the following rhythm section. In the type of racing where your lap times range from about 21 to 26 seconds, every tenth and even hundredth of a second is crucial. In the two pro Arenacross rounds that I raced in, there were two very particular instances that I can specifically say that the benefits of the Racer Elite piston made my success that much more attainable. They happened in separate rounds, but actually made the difference of making the main event in one of my classes. In Greensboro I had started around 5th in my AX Lites LCQ, and had to quickly make my way to second place to get my spot in the main event. For this race, the catapult had an exceptionally short run and the corner before got pretty deep and beat up. For the final two passes, the riders in front of me were having a hard time clearing the catapult, whereas I was able to get plenty of power to the ground and with the help of the Racer Elite piston, I was able to jump the catapult free and clear and get the drive necessary to propel the Husky up and over to set me up correctly for the next corner. It was the ability of my bike to get the power out of the corner and up over the catapult that got me within striking distance of those in front me going into the following turn. The second instance was in my AX heat race in Florence, where I was sitting two spots out of a transfer. I knew the two riders ahead of me were going to get together in a corner before a rhythm section. I had made sure I gave them some room, but I would have to cut down hard in the corner and triple into the section, which was no easy task even with a clean outside line. They had hit each other, and I was able to cut down hard on the corner, into a deep rut. Even with almost coming to a standstill, I sunk deep into the rut and gave it a handful of throttle that started at mid RPM’s and was able to triple into the rhythm section and pass both guys for the transfer spot. Compared to how the bike performed without the piston, I doubt that I would’ve cleared the jump in a pinch like that! Florence Pro Arenacross, Photo by Martha Prentis - MEPMX Overall, I was very impressed with Racer Elite piston in the FC250. Of course, with some high quality race fuel, the benefits of the Racer Elite are further enhanced. I truly believe there was a substantial difference made in my bike because of the piston, and it helped give me a boost of confidence in my machine to know that I was able to accomplish what I was demanding from the bikes performance. Aboard my FC250 with only a Wiseco Racer Elite piston, slip on muffler, and race fuel as my engine modifications, I was able to make both the AX and AX Lites main events at both the Florence and Greensboro Arenacross races and place top 5 in the Tampa Amateur Supercross round and winning the Atlanta Amateur Supercross in the 250 A class. These finishes produced the results and earned the points required in the Road to Supercross in order to obtain my professional Supercross license. The Racer Elite pistons performance was instrumental in the outcome of the end results!

 It's great to see another excellent two stroke enduro in the market. While Gas Gas have made superb trials bikes forever, reviews of their earlier two stroke enduro models consistently said they were heavy, underpowered and had mediocre suspension. Financial troubles almost killed off the brand a few years ago but they are back with a revamped 2018 range which is lighter, more powerful and finally with great suspension, those brilliant Kayaba forks and rear shock from Japan. Like Beta, they have FMF exhausts standard. And all models come standard with a kick start, for guys who really miss this on other European brands.  There are three models, the Gas Gas 300EC base model with all the road gear. The Gas Gas 300XC is the cross country racer with slightly firmer suspension and an engine slightly retuned for competition. Then if bling is your thing there's the 300GP model with floating front disc, gripper seat, Rekluse clutch cover, anodized triple clamps, renthal bars, quick release front axle, the list goes on. So starting with the Gas Gas 300EC review what's it like? First the suspension is beautiful. Incredibly supple over small bumps, but soaked up the jumps and big hits with ease. It makes me wonder why European brands keep stuffing around with European suspension. The past two years Beta have dialed in the Sachs suspension very close to the standard set by Kayaba, I reckon all the Europeans could have saved a lot of messing around years ago by opting for Kayaba.... I never rode the older heavy Gas Gas models, but at a reported 105kg or 231lb they are getting close to the industry standard. It feels light, very stable at speed, and the flared side panels make it easy to grip the bike with your legs. If you sit a lot then you'll like the soft seat too. Power delivery is extremely linear with almost no powerband evident, at least with the stock power valve setting. At first I wondered if I was actually on a 250 because I was stalling the bike in technical terrain, and needing to keep the revs up on hill climbs. But as the speed picked up I found that gentle power was a pile of fun. I rarely ride my Beta RR300 at higher revs as it scares the shit out of me, but with the Gas Gas I was happily giving it handfuls of very predictable throttle. And the Gas Gas is no slouch, there's a reported 55hp on tap and it really sings along when you hit the gas... gas. Great to see a very light hydraulic clutch, matched with a slick gearbox and nice wide ratios. Then over to the Gas Gas 300XC review the cross country racer. There's meant to be more mid range power with a slightly different pipe, personally I couldn't really pick this out. The Kayaba suspension is firmer on the XC, still very plush but I think more aggressive riders would appreciate getting a bit more feel of the terrain back through the wheels with the XC. So where does the Gas Gas fit into the market? First it's very competitively priced at least here in Australia. It's around the same as Beta but given you get the kickstarter standard it's effectively $400 cheaper. If you are very finnicky about your suspension then the Kayaba forks and shock are a definite plus. There's a very good chance you'll save money by avoiding expensive suspension tuning. The gentle power characteristics would make it a near perfect bike for anyone getting into two strokes for the first time. And if you do like the playful revvy nature of 250s then this is a 300 you can ride like a 250 and not scare the bejesus out of yourself.  Personally I found the lack of grunt made it a bit harder in technical terrain or on tough slow climbs, but it just means needing to rev and slip the clutch more. The seat height is on par with other brands so short legged riders may find it's a stretch to reach the ground, the Beta would suit better in that respect. Having said that, all these European two stroke models are brilliant nowadays - top riders are winning enduros on Shercos, Betas, KTMs and Gas Gas two strokes. There are slight differences between the brands but I doubt you could go wrong with any of them. It's great to see Gas Gas offering another high quality alternative that is priced substantially below KTM, Sherco and Husqvarna. A big thanks to Mansfield Marine & Motorcycles for letting me abuse their Gas Gas models, and watch Euro Enduro's vid about common mods and known issues with the Gas Gas 300XC and 300EC review. 

Remember high school? I remember the sports and the general shenanigans that I got myself into on the daily basis. What I don't remember was in the text books that I was given. As a 17 year old dirt bike kid, I really didn’t have much interest in the fundamentals of data management, or the tragedy and betrayal contained in Shakespeare’s Hamlet; a shocker I know. But, what if my textbooks were full of juicy tidbits about the fundamentals in a dirt bike's engine? Had that been the case, maybe I would have focused a little more in class instead of doing peelers in the parking lot.  “The Two Stroke Dirt Bike Engine Building Handbook” by Paul Olesen states on its cover, “Precision Engine Building Knowledge For Beginners and Experts”, essentially an encyclopedia for the maintenance of a two stroke dirt bike engine. It contains almost 300 pages of intense knowledge on the subject, complete with full color photographs to accent the knowledge within, as well as insightful tips throughout. The book itself is text book sized with a soft cover. My favorite aspect the book is the high level of detail that went into its creation. It's so incredibly detailed that even the most veteran motorcycle mechanics can likely gain new tidbits of information from its pages. The book is laid out in an easy-to-follow chronological order, beginning with a diagnosis of issues regarding maintenance, on to a detailed list of tools used in the following processes, and a complete run down of the entire two stroke engine. I absolutely love all the photos in the book, as they help bring all the information together when working on my bike. At least for me, my retention is better when I can refer to a visual after reading technical subject matter. When referring back to a section, often times the photo was enough to jog my memory on what I previously read.  Each task is explained down to the very smallest step, leaving no question unanswered. I have years of experience working with two stroke engines, but I still found new information in the book. The simple tips and hints (such as a cardboard bolt holder/organizer) are items that will save you time and unnecessary stress in the garage. The book shows proper and improper techniques for tasks including bearing and seal installation and removal, circlip installation, and various other techniques that you will use constantly when working on a motorcycle. The book states in its introduction that it is meant to be complimented too a proper service manual, something that I agree wholeheartedly with. A service manual with give you the values and specifications you'll need, whereas this book will give you an insight into why the specifications are what they are and their purpose in the engine, as well as the mechanical techniques required to perform the task. About my only gripe about the book is its page thickness. I found myself turning two pages often vs. the single page that I wanted. But, then again, the paper quality is nice, so I will likely stand-up to repeated use. As far as I'm concerned, this book is a must have for any DIY two stroke mechanic. It will save you time and money, and if you're like me, the peace-of-mind and satisfaction of knowing that the job was done right. If you want a copy, you can find them at: https://www.diymotofix.com/the-two-stroke-dirt-bike-engine-building-handbook.html  

Many riders don't seem to put too much stock in HQ aftermarket wheel sets outside of noticing how sexy they typically are. However, over the years I’ve used a number of different race wheels and can say that without a doubt, they have material advantages over stock. Recently, I got the chance to test a set of wheels on my 2017 KX250F built by FasterUSA, using Excel A60 rims and FasterUSA billet aluminum hubs, stainless steel spokes, & spline drive nipples. The first thing that I noticed about the wheels was how incredibly solid they were, even after putting in a few hours and some hard hits that could create a wobble in a stock wheel. As someone who is concerned about my equipment lasting considering the trials I put them through, I went with the slightly heavier but stronger Excel A60 rim, along with beefy stainless steel spokes  & spline drive nipples. While the wheel set components I chose didn't save much weight vs. stock, in just about every way, they are much stronger & more durable. Better built wheels mean the bike will roll much easier and with a lot less effort, especially with high-quality bearings and no additional weight for specialty spacers. The reason why is that the wheels hold their shape. What does that mean for riders? Well, it just makes gaining and keeping speed easier. This is great for all conditions and all parts of the track, especially tight sections. Less dramatic fluctuation of throttle use in tight corners or sections means a more stable bike. Florida’s tracks have a lot of sand, and I found that I was able to carry better speed throughout corners and I was maneuvering around the bike less against the struggles of sand. Engine braking became less dramatic (especially on a modded 250F), which helped keep the bike more stable in the entrance to corners and allowed good body positioning to really dictate where the bike was going, minimizing the feeling of “knifing”. As someone who races the top-level of amateur motocross, soon transitioning to pro, I am hard on equipment. I demand every ounce out of my bikes, and sometimes that means over-jumping because you’re trying to get every inch of advantage on your competitors. Production wheels can get flat spots fairly easy when put them to this kind of test and in some cases can result in a blowout, even if you keep up on your spokes. Even with a flat spot, your tire can grab a rut wrong and have an effect on your performance. There is also a small detail called unsprung weight. Unsprung weight refers to the weight of a part of a vehicle that is not supported by suspension. On a bike, the wheels are something that is not supported by suspension... the rear wheel is one of those parts. Any additional weight creates a more dramatic rebound when you apply the same amount of force. Flat spots can create unevenness in your wheel,  causing a wobble and additional wear on your bearings. This has an effect on the integrity of the wheel which is an issue whether you are a pro or a novice rider. The Excel/FasterUSA combo held its own even after a few accidental OJs and the rigors of my riding style. They just simply felt well-built whether they were in my hands or under me, and the spokes seemed to stay tight (something you have to stay on top of with stock wheels). In my opinion, it makes sense to have aftermarket wheels not only for the performance aspect, but because they are stronger and more durable than stock. The Excel A60 is 15% stronger than their Takasago rim, using a V-Curve design to reduce mud build-up, and is used by some of the top off-road & motocross teams including Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing & Factory Off-Road, and Star Racing Yamaha. FasterUSA makes their own hubs in-house using high-grade US certified aluminum, anodizing their hubs and spokes. Overall, it is a worthwhile investment not only from a performance and aesthetic standpoint, but also having a strong, reliable wheel that is going to last a long time.  Check out RK Excel for more on the A60 rim and FasterUSA to take a look at their services, wheel sets, components, & how they're made. FasterUSA hubs come with a full one year warranty, but claim they've never seen a broken hub outside of negligence such as loose sprocket bolts. FasterUSA wheel sets don't come with sprockets or rotors, but top brands can be added. FasterUSA has complete wheel sets starting at $849 USD with Excel Notako rims (enthusiast level rims), going up to the top-of-the-line Excel A60 rims starting at $1,139.