ULTIMATE KTM 790 ADVENTURE: THE WRAP
The KTM 790 Adventure R is a bike that really sets your imagination loose. From the moment that bike was released, it invited conversation and planning on how to build the ultimate rally/adventure bike. Sometimes, those plans turn into reality. In this case, the guys at AEO Powersports–a new KTM dealership in Murrieta–took the bike to the next level, and this week we got a chance to ride it back to back with a stock 790 Adventure R.
The key element on this build is the suspension. The stock stuff is good for a production adventure bike–maybe even among the best. But there’s more on the table. WP offers the XPLOR 7548 fork as an upgrade. This is a closed-cartridge Cone Valve fork that’s basically built to works-bike standards. What makes the Cone Valve design special is that is doesn’t use shims, which bend and wear out in traditional forks. The shock is the WP XPLOR 6746, which is built to the same standard. Between the two, the travel was increased by over an inch.
The bike is still pretty new, so there aren’t yet that many aftermarket items ready to go. Enduro Engineering has a skid plate that can protect the engine, which is essential. The Seat Concepts saddle is another good idea. The stocker isn’t that great. The Akrapovic exhaust gives the bike a very cool sound, saves weight and adds a little snap, plus it has some very cool-looking carbon fiber heat shields.
With any adventure bike that’s actually to be ridden in the dirt, an extra set of wheels is a very good idea. Knobbies don’t work well on the street and street tires don’t work well off-road, so the only good solution is to have an extra wheelset. You can leave the stockers on the bike for riding around town or commuting, then when you’re ready for a real off-road adventure you bolt on your dirt tires. Dubya already has the wheels figured out, and for this build, the AEO guys used Michelin adventure knobs. After spending a day on the bike, I’m completely on board to build one just like it. I thought the stock suspension was good until riding this bike. For some reason, good suspenders make the bike feel lighter. When you don’t bottom in G-outs, the bike just feels more like a real dirt bike. For now, the kickstand is a little too short but that’s a modification to come. We also are anxious to see some crash bars, but for now, the market is pretty thin in that department.
WORLD VET
Only 7 days until pre-entries close for the 35th Annual Dubya World Vet MX Championships, November 1-3.
Save up to $50 by pre-entering before Thursday, October 31st.
Pre-Entry Vintage Fri Nov 1st – $50 first class/$40 additional classes
Post entry – $70 first class/$50 additional classes
Pre-Entry Sat and Sun Nov 2-3 – $90 first class/$80 additional classes
Post entry – $140 for two days/$100 additional classes
Pre-Entry Saturday only Nov 2nd – $60 first class/$50 additional classes
Post entry – $80 first class/ $60 additional classes
Pre-Entry Sunday Only Nov 3rd – $60 first class/$50 additional classes
Post entry – $80 first class/ $60 additional classes
XC PROJECT UPDATE
Two weeks ago I finished building a 2019 KTM 250XC project. This is the last of the carbuereted off-road bikes from KTM. That makes it the last chance to try some interesting products, like the Lectron carburetor. No one has been that excited about the the stock Mikuni carb, so the project centered on a Lectron conversion. In the last update on this bike, I had jsut assembled the bike, but wasn’t looking forward to dialing in the new carb, mostly because I had never done anything with a Lectron before.
Apparently, jetting a two-stroke doesn’t have to be that hard. I expected to spend a day or two working to get the carb just right–that’s what history has taught us about two-strokes. Instead, I spent about 30 minutes. The Lectron came out of the box nearly perfect for a cool, 70-degree day at 1500 feet MSL. It started easily and seemed absolutely perfect for trail riding. It wasn’t until I put the motor under a big load climbing a sandy hill that I noticed slight detonation. The first move was to turn the metering rod clockwise a full turn. The eliminated the pinging, but then it was a little rich down low. Eventually I settled on half that much. We also rode the bike at 3500 feet on a warmer day, and noticed no difference in jetting. I don’t know what to expect as far as the bike’s amiability to greater changes in altitude and temperature, but already it’s an improvement over the Mikuni. The bike ran cleaner and didn’t have that lean-surge feeling that KTM two-strokes have had for years now. We can’t say, however, if the Lectron was responsible for an increase in horsepower. If it did, it wasn’t significant enough for seat-of-the-pants testing. The whole story will appear in the January 2020 print issue of Dirt Bike.
GNCC GOES PINK
As the 25th Annual AMSOIL Ironman Grand National Cross Country race draws nearer, Crawfordsville, Indiana is set to host the final round of the 2019 AMSOIL GNCC Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship. The season finale has been deemed a “pink race” in honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and will take place the weekend of October 26 and 27.
GNCC Racing welcomes its riders and fans to be decked out in pink with graphics, gear and more. — Ken Hill
The purpose of Ironman’s “pink race” is to raise awareness and funds locally for breast cancer care and research, while also bringing the GNCC Racing community together for a cause that exceeds racing. The pink attire will make a compelling distinction throughout the woods, hills and dirt of Ironman Raceway.
GNCC Racing will relax number-plate background codes for the race and encourages riders to run pink backgrounds, available via HBD MotoGrafx. To continue the fundraising efforts, a pink front number plate background will result in a $5 donation. A full set of front and side backgrounds will include a $10 donation. In addition, each order will include one free mini plate. Email [email protected] or call 386.308.2225 to order yours.
We hope to see everyone with their pink graphics this weekend.
HBD MotoGrafx is also providing the exclusive GNCC breast cancer awareness race stickers for a minimum $1 donation. Stickers will be available at rider registration throughout the weekend. All donations from background sales and stickers will once again go to the Montgomery County Free Clinic (MCFC), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free mammogram examinations across the Crawfordsville and Montgomery County region. Last year GNCC made a group donation from all of the event’s efforts of over $10,981 to the MCFC.
The race facility will be adorned in pink, including a special pink podium backdrop. The backdrop will be autographed by each podium finisher during the weekend and auctioned off on Saturday evening before the Craig Morgan concert, with proceeds going to the MCFC.
Yamaha Motor Corporation will once again be contributing to the Ironman GNCC fundraising efforts, and will donate $50 for each class win at the Ironman GNCC by a Yamaha rider, and $50 for each 2019 National Championship clinched on a Yamaha.
2020 VINTAGE DAYS
Plan ahead! The dates for the 2020 AMA Vintage Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio have been set. On July 10-12, 2020 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days returns to the premier racecourse for the 26th year.
AMA members can purchase discounted tickets now at www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com/tickets. AMA members save an additional $5 off the already discounted early bird pricing. AMA members can also call (614) 856-1900 to order their tickets.
“AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days has been a highlight of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course calendar for decades, and we’re thrilled to welcome this one-of-a-kind event back to our historic race facility and to North Central Ohio again in 2020,” said Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course President Craig Rust. “AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days has grown significantly over the years and reflects both the deep passion for motorcycling in America and our strong partnership with the AMA.”
Activities at the event include the AMA Vintage Grand Championship, which features road racing, motocross, hare scrambles, trials and flat-track racing. In addition, North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet is packed with parts, bikes and memorabilia from all eras. There are shows with examples of some of history’s most beloved motorcycles. Attendees are entertained by stunt shows, demo rides of current production bikes and live music, while seminars on numerous topics by noted motorcycling experts keep them informed.
Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The mission of the Hall of Fame, located on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling’s legends and heroes. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Hall of Fame’s website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.
ROAD TO RECOVERY AND MICKY DIAMOND
Encinitas, calif. (October 21, 2019) – On October 9, 2019 Micky Dymond sustained a traumatic brain injury when he crashed on his bicycle during a training ride in Orange County, California. Even though Dymond was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, he still sustained extensive head trauma that caused subdural brain contusions and subarachnoid hemorrhaging that rendered Micky unconscious for nearly fifteen minutes at the seen of the accident. He came to briefly, only to go back to being unconscious upon arrival at the ICU. He woke up five days later. After spending the first week unconscious in ICU, and another week in a neuro trauma unit, Dymond is on the next steps of his road to recovery.
In addition to his head injury, Micky also sustained a broken collarbone, broken ribs, damage to his hip, a deep laceration to his head and large amounts of road rash. At this time, Dymond is under 24-hour care and is being treated for MRSA in the Neuro Trauma Unit at OC Global. The goal is to get him admitted into an acute rehabilitation facility in the Orange County, CA area to help him heal and combat the long-term effects of TBI (traumatic brain injury).
Unfortunately, Dymond does not have medical insurance and is expected to have insurmountable medical expenses. Therapy, coupled with a two week stay in the hospital, and the fact that Dymond won’t be able to work for months to come, all add up to a long and expensive recovery for Micky and his family. If you are able to support him, please make a tax-deductible donation to his cause here. Funds donated to Dymond’s cause will go directly to cover the mounting medical expenses he incurs.
Please leave a positive message for Micky Dymond on his Road 2 Recovery cause page. Any and all prayers and positive vibes are appreciated and needed.
Micky and his family are grateful for any donation. Please find the Road 2 Recovery donation page here.
ABOUT ROAD 2 RECOVERY:
The Road 2 Recovery Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization founded to help professional AMA licensed professional motocross/supercross members and action sports professional athletes with financial assistance if they sustain career-ending injuries as well as providing motivational, emotional, and spiritual support to these individuals and their families.
Take care,
–Ron Lawson
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