The 2011 TC450 thread has me cracking up some. People getting all worked up about a centric CS sprocket. Really, think about the bike, what else is out of the box thinking and were getting all worked up. Maybe we get more worked up about the BMW sourced engine and it spills over. What got me really thinking about it is this weekend I tore down the ATK 490 DS bike for an upcoming event this weekend and was laughing at how this bike from 99 does a lot more to think out of the box. What if husky said "We have designed the simplest most reliable DS bike we could build using out of the box thinking. This bike will include a single sided frame that carries 2 quarts of oil (3 total), an air cooled electric start 4 valve belt driven overhead cam motor, Twin needle PDS progressive no link single shock rear suspension, and aluminum subframe with integrated aluminum air box." We would have all spit our lunch. See how the crazy frame design makes the valve EZ to check... Fact is this bike works real good. The rear suspension is excellent and the forks are great too. A buddy of mine just bought a 99 ATK 506 (same bike bigger bore and stroke) after riding mine and LOVES it. He proclaimed it to have the best stock suspension he has ever rode. (he needs to ride better bikes he he he, he is on a 07 WR250) Just a simple and funny observation.
Looks like you were T boned on the right side. Actually, that upper frame tube might solve the fuel tank size issue in the Wr125's???????
Wow, I've never seen an ATK in her birthday suit before. Simple and very smart. Dirtbikes ('spesh jap ones) have always been a bit conservative and slow to evolve compared to road bikes. Mebbe it's something to do with development budgets or the need for simplicity and ruggedness, but e.g. the whole "straight inlet tract, airbox on top, fuel under the seat" thing that we see on the G450 and the new Husky was done a long time ago on race reps. Smaller dirtbike companies have often been the first with innovations, but may not have the R and D budget to see things through. One thing that really does bug me is that dirtbikes still have major engine components with lives rated in hours (and failures are not uncommon), but roadbikes with comparable or greater bhp / litre outputs have more relaxed servicing requirements and don't seem to break as often, despite using exotica like Ti valves and whatnot. Hmmm... The next piece of "out of the box" thinking I'd like to see is plain bearing dirt bike motors. Lighter with greater longevity. Ball bearings and needle rollers are just a hangover from the days of "oil mist lubrication" and for me have no place outside of strokers. I'm just sayin'! [/$0.02]
The mighty Rotax. What a lovely stump pulling creature from the day. I had a CCM with the same motor...well a 605. These motors are so well built I still wish I had never sold her. There are so many ways of getting the power YOU want with all the tricks one can do with their motor. I ran a 860 cam to give me the topend rush and used Hylamar as a base gasket to raise compression. Fastest motor I've EVER riden...so far.
