Long term bike tests – MotoHead https://www.motoheadmag.com Fresh dirt bike action for the real MotoHead! Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:19:21 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://www.motoheadmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/cropped-MotoSquareWebBlack-02-32x32.jpg Long term bike tests – MotoHead https://www.motoheadmag.com 32 32 Whatley tests our 2022 Yamaha YZ125 https://www.motoheadmag.com/whatley-tests-our-2022-yamaha-yz125/ Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:19:17 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=33365 Since quitting as a full-time pro rider, former British MX1 champ Kristian Whatley now races a modified 2021 Yamaha YZ125 for fun. The son of ex-GP rider and British champ Jem, Kristian jumped at the chance to swap bikes with MotoHead’s Dave Willet and have a rip on our all-new 2022 YZ125 around the awesome Rogers Hill venue in the UK. Whatley and Willet talk about the YZ125, two-strokes, coming out of retirement to race again and lots more in this fun, knock-about raw video.

]]> Dialling in Honda’s CRF450R https://www.motoheadmag.com/dialling-in-hondas-crf450r/ Mon, 12 Apr 2021 19:08:11 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=29475 There’s no finer way to celebrate Spring and the relaxing of lockdown rules to finally get out on track – especially if it’s on Honda’s awesome new 2021 CRF450R. MotoHead’s Dave Willet kicks off the new riding season by taking the bike to Fatcat Motopark to get his mind, body and bike back in sync with riding again. With the front forks already reworked by ERS, Dave talks about the suspension, chassis, handling, power delivery and more in the first of our long term tests with Big Red.

]]> Get more from the KTM 300 EXC TPI by adjusting the powervalve https://www.motoheadmag.com/get-more-from-the-ktm-300-exc-tpi-by-adjusting-the-powervalve/ Fri, 05 Feb 2021 16:22:05 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=28421 We’ve had our fuel-injected KTM 300 two-stroke enduro bike on the dyno and found real power gains with an aftermarket exhaust system. And now by adjusting the stock powervalve, we’ve found even more useable horsepower and bigger spread of power!

]]> Power upgrades for the KTM 300 EXC TPI https://www.motoheadmag.com/power-upgrades-for-the-ktm-300-exc-tpi/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 19:05:25 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=28278 Want to get that bit more out of your fuel injected KTM 300 EXC TPI enduro bike, or just want to change the power delivery? Check out our dyno test of the stock exhaust system versus an aftermarket DEP exhaust, and a range of DEP silencers. And the results are surprising!

]]> Fast AF KX500 Ep3: The Kawi two-stroke versus the dyno! https://www.motoheadmag.com/fast-af-kx500-ep3-the-kawi-two-stroke-versus-the-dyno/ Thu, 24 Dec 2020 12:39:51 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=27753 We put the mighty aluminium-frames Kawasaki KX500 to the ultimate test as it’s bolted to the dyno at the DEP development facility for some full power runs. With unexpected results! And then the DEP crew fabricate a special exhaust for the real factory look.

]]> Set-up secrets of a Yamaha YZ125 https://www.motoheadmag.com/set-up-secrets-of-a-yamaha-yz125/ Mon, 17 Aug 2020 10:02:27 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=26332 Take a stock 2020 YZ125 and make it even better. That’s the mission of MotoHead’s Dave Willet, a former British 125 champion with more experience of the YZ125 than just about anyone else on the planet. From jetting to squish, pipes to clutches and more, he talks through the initial set-up of the smokin’ YZ! It’s like one man’s personal love letter to his favourite bike!

]]> Setting up WP suspension on a Yamaha YZ450F https://www.motoheadmag.com/setting-up-wp-suspension-on-a-yamaha-yz450f/ Sat, 15 Aug 2020 12:32:41 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=26308 MotoHead’s Dave Willet gets to grips with the WP Cone Valve Spring Forks and Trax rear shock on our Yamaha YZ450F in part two of our investigation into after market WP suspension. He tries the bike around the Flackwell Heath track and focuses on dialling in the rear shock.

]]> Tested: Yamaha YZ125 with Rekluse clutch https://www.motoheadmag.com/tested-yamaha-yz125-with-rekluse-clutch/ Sun, 19 Jul 2020 20:35:23 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=26049 Squeezing every ounce of power from the motor and getting to to the ground, ride after ride, is crucial on a high-revving 125 two-stroke motocross bike. And with the clutch getting lots of abuse, it’s one component not to be skimped on.

MotoHead’s Dave Willet, who raced Yamaha YZ125s to British championship titles, fits the all-manual Rekluse TorqDrive manual clutch pack into a 2020 YZ to see how easy it is to fit, whether it offers and real performance upgrade and whether you should consider one.

With the latest technology packed into the clutch, the Rekluse is very different to stock. With more clutch plates, stiffer springs, basket sleeves to eliminate wear and the new Rekluse oil, it’s a test all bike racers should watch!

]]> Tested: WP suspension on a Yamaha YZ450F https://www.motoheadmag.com/tested-wp-suspension-on-a-yamaha-yz450f/ Tue, 07 Jul 2020 18:25:33 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=25902 Yamaha’s standard suspension might be among the best right off the showroom floor, but can the bike be made even better with aftermarket parts? MotoHead’s Dave Willet tries the latest WP Cone Valve Forks and Trax rear shock to find out in the first of a new series.

]]> MotoHead man Willet’s doing Weston! https://www.motoheadmag.com/motohead-man-willets-doing-weston/ https://www.motoheadmag.com/motohead-man-willets-doing-weston/#respond Mon, 08 Oct 2018 16:58:11 +0000 http://www.motoheadmag.com/?p=16027 Check out the bike of choice for MotoHead’s chief tester Dave Willet as he tries to better his top 10 ride at Weston.

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