2020 Yamaha YZ125X
Overall Review
Premix fanatics unite! Ok, we know it isn’t a new two-stroke motocross machine but another two-stroke option is still a good thing. And when it comes down to it, cross-country style racing is still a growing sector of the dirt bike market and off-road is where a majority of riders, including pro motocrossers, get their start. Speaking of starting, that is exactly what the YZ125X is aimed at. Getting people started in the glorious sport that is dirt bike riding. Or even getting them riding again
Polisport Honda CR Restyle Kit: Nardo Gray
The Good
Awesome color, solid fit and finish, no rough edges or extra plastic to trim
The Bad
Fender mount washers would be a nice addition, shock access holes could be lined up better.
Overall Review
If there’s one thing I love it’s old two strokes. And if there’s something that I love doing to old two strokes, it’s making them look as updated as possible. The Honda CR chassis from the early 2000’s finally has an incredible facelift option on market thanks to Polisport. Polisport originally came out with the CR Restyle Kit in an assortment of colors consisting of red, white and black. Now, Polisport has decided to introduce the same kit in the very popular Nardo Gray colorway and I had to
Polisport Honda CR Restyle Kit: Nardo Gray
Vital Rating:
2020 KTM 350 SX-F
Overall Review
For 2020, the KTM 350 SX-F received the same changes that its bigger and smaller siblings received as well - updated suspension settings with a few new parts in the fork and a vented air box cover. Neither of these changes made the bike wholly different that the 2019 bike, but we did notice a bit more initial movement in the fork and a bit more bark from the motor as well, especially in map 2. If you've never ridden a KTM or Husqvarna 350, it is probably different that you think. To say that it
2020 KTM SX-E 5
Overall Review
At this year's Red Bull Straight Rhythm, while most people were focused on two-stroke machines, we were getting our first in-person look at a brand new no-stroke machine - the 2020 KTM SX-E 5. This minibike has been in the works for years and we've had a few packets of information floated our way, but we actually got to see the bike in the flesh and get a little on-track demonstration. Adjustability Before looking at the obvious difference in this bike and the 50 SX (the motor), the SX-E 5 has
Gaerne GX-1 Boots
Overall Review
Motocross boots are hard to make, which is obvious when you realize there are only a handful of legit motocross specific boot companies out there. Gaerne has been there since the beginning and while their current flagship boot, the SG-12, is on some of the top riders in the professional ranks we are looking at their GX-1 Boot that got a complete redesign for 2019. The previous GX-1 had been in Gaerne's boot line up for some time, and it was a standard entry level boot that was high on value and
Dunlop Geomax MX53 Tires
Overall Review
Vital MX: Dunlop themselves concedes that a lot of their pro and amateur racers use their MX33 tires most of the time, it seems that Dunlop has worked hard in developing a intermediate/hard-pack tire that exceeds the current performance of the MX52 to offer a better option when track surfaces start to get baked-out and hard. With a new tread pattern, new carcass layup, and new rubber compound, Dunlop claims the new MX53 tire extends its performance parameters further into the intermediate zone
2020 Kawasaki KX450
Overall Review
For 2020, the KX450 gets green numberplates (instead of the standard white) and new graphics. That's it. But we are not disappointed because of two very important facts: One, just last year, the 2019 was pretty much all new. Two, this year's KX250 was also heavily updated. Team Green isn't slacking in the least. For a detailed look at what changed from the 2018 to 2019 KX450, check out this First Look. And for our first test of the 2019 KX450 take a look at this video. The main things to recap
2020 Yamaha YZ450F
Overall Review
Motocrossers can be impatient, sometimes. We complain when we see bikes unchanged, and want new bikes every year. But, for 2020, Yamaha has left us no room to complain about the YZ450F lacking changes. While it isn't a new-from-the-ground-up bike, from the brakes to the triple camps to suspension and the motor, there isn’t an area on this machine that wasn’t massaged by the Yamaha R&D department. 2020 Changes: Motor Overall, Yamaha went to work making the cylinder head, and everything in it
2020 Honda CRF250R
Overall Review
This is yet another year that Honda has gone to work on its CRF250R with a long list of changes. In 2018, the bike was changed from the ground up with a whole new engine architecture, frame, and suspension, which made it somewhat surprising that for 2019, they also made changes to boost bottom end power. Apparently, Honda didn’t feel like they did enough because, for 2020, they have made another full list of changes with the same target in mind. To quickly recap, the all-new 2018 CRF250R was
2020 KTM 300 XC TPI
Overall Review
The future of two-stroke dirt bikes has been in flux for years. While there is a modern resurgence in their popularity, both in motocross and off-road riding, in the motorized recreation arena in general, engines that burn both gas and oil have been slowly fading away. Yet KTM, especially with the 2020 launch of five TPI two-strokes, has bucked that trend and is standing firmly in the corner of all two-stroke fanatics by continuing to develop, improve, and expand their two-stroke offerings. The