The Torture Test - Zip-Ty Racing Husqvarna TXC450 http://www.dirtrider.com/reviews/di...test_zipty_racing_husqvarna_txc450/index.html Speed Freak Photography by Brian Buchanan, Drew Ruiz, Mark Kariya, Brian Robinette This is a very solid platform to start with. We started with the motor where we did Zip-TY modifications to the head and crank for more performance. We installed a Jardine Titanium full system pipe to increase performance. We did a Zip-Ty modification to the carburetor and installed the hot start nut, drain bolt nut and fuel screw. We also installed a remote hot start onto the carb that is attached to the handlebars for convenience. On the controls we installed ARC levers, Easton Handlebars, ODI Grips. On the suspension, all modifications were done by Zip-Ty Racing. We installed Race Tech gold valves and oil to improve the action in the front. In the rear we installed the Race tech and oil as well. Next, we installed a Zip-Ty Racing rear dogbone to the shock to change the linkage ratio for improved performance. We completely revavled the rear suspension and installed gold valves in the forks for improved performance. We installed a DID X-Ring chain and a UNI filter to increase performance, and Pirelli Tires were used to complete the package. Parts and Modifications It's Team Husky! Zip-Ty Racing Products www.ziptyracing.com 760-244-7028 Stabilizer Post Mount Zip-Ty Head Modifications Zip-Ty Crank Modification and Balance Zip-Ty Racing Carburetor Modification Hot Start Nut Magnetic Carburetor Drain Bolt Fuel Screw Suspension dogbone Remote Hot start Cable ODI Grips www.odigrips.com Half waffle soft compound grips Easton www.eastonexp.com Easton EXP handlebars DID www.didchain.com DID x-ring chain Big bikes like the Husky can feel heavy in the air. But that didn't stop Ty Davis and his team from launching the beast all over the MX track. TM Designs www.tmdesignworks.com Rear chain guide Jardine www.jardineproducts.com Jardine Full Ti Exhaust system ARC Levers www.arclevers.com ARC Clutch Perch ARC Front Brake Lever Pirelli Tires www.pirelli.com Race Tech www.racetech.com Gold Valves- Forks UNI Air Filters www.unifilter.com Wiseco www.wiseco.com Editor's Note This year's Dirt Rider Torture Test was set it up like a screening for a reality TV show: Bring what you have and prepare for whatever happens. The idea was to show up at the Torture Test with the best all-around, one-bike-does-it-all off-road dirt bike, with no guidelines or requirements from our side. It was wide open, but everyone knew going in that it would be tough to make the cut to get into the final group of bikes you see in the magazine. Of course, they didn't all make it to the pages of Dirt Rider. Some missed out ever so slightly, some by a longer ways. This is a full test of one of the bikes that missed the final cut. The competition was tough but lurking in this field of bikes you can likely find an example of the perfect bike that fits your needs, or learn what other riders or people in the industry think is the best bike in the whole world. For the people and companies that built each of these bikes, it was the best bike they could deliver.-Jimmy Lewis, Editor Dirt Rider Magazine Dirt Rider Post Torture Evaluation: The best all-around bike because: If you're interested in all out speed and the unbeatable stability of an open-class bike the Zip-Ty Racing TXC450 is all you. It's got more go than show and it has quite a bit of show! But it isn't all top-speed. The bike is precisely wonderful and well-mannered in the tightest of trails. Traditional-feeling four-stroke chug is an effective tool. Add in the increased presence of the Husky brand in the states, some serious contingency bucks and a stellar history and you've got a race bike that just might fit your mold. Ty Davis brought a showcase to this year's Torture Test and it's a worthy display of what he knows about hauling ass.
Dirt Rider Says: Husqvarna is making a big push in the United States. As part of their racing effort they've teamed up with Zip-Ty Racing to attack the vast expanses of western off-road. Wide open spaces and plentiful sharp and hard obstacles await these bikes every weekend as Ty and his rowdy crew of racing hooligans goes all out. These bikes are built for one thing: To survive and shine in this chaotic world. As such, the list of modifications applied to this bike is Ty-approved and often Ty-applied and Ty-designed. There's a reason his company sells off-road parts you see featured on most off-road racing teams' bikes. Ty is also one of few race team owners/racers that can and does rebuild every part of the machine himself (including total suspension revalves). In fact, he's one of a very few race team owners/racers in general. In all his racing endeavors Ty's experience in improving stock machinery may be needed now more than ever. With all it's endearing qualities (tractable smooth power, capable transmission ratios, anchored straight-line stability and high-quality control components) the modern day Husqvarna is a couple years behind the class leaders in research and development. Chassis rigidity, suspension compliance and reducing the heavy weight feel top the list of things riders often want to improve. The Zip-Ty crew definitely enhanced the Husky's strong points. In fact, in all-out top speed this Husky is amazing. And the stability up there is great, too. The bike out-accelerated our entire field of Torture Test bikes from MX bikes to trail hounds. It is bomb-run ready and its internal motor magic is churning perfectly. Lewis praised the Husky during his Extreme Test lap. He claimed it was "One of my favorites." Amazingly, the bike also turns like crazy in tight trails. Just a light pull on the bar initiates the corner and the bike happily follows. The still feels heavy but the suspension performance isn't bad at all, and most of the time it is supple and controlled while going all out or creeping through trees. It seems the bike has the high and low speed realms handled, but what about the middle? This bike was WAY better than I thought it was mostly because the motor was so smooth and easy to use, just forget about the clutch and ride. The handling was mellow and easy to feel comfortable on even though the bike was a little heavy. One of my favorites. -Jimmy Lewis in Extreme Enduro Ty rode it first admitting it was jetted to rich then I rode it. Latter Ty discovered that the choke was on & that is why it felt like the air filter was clogged, but the motor was powerful on top & the over all feel was a bit harsh but handled the high speed sections with out deflecting off the chop. It cornered easily with a point and shoot feel. On the trail the choke was off and what a big difference! The motor made good low rpm power, traction was great but the over all feel of the bike was a little tiring to ride. -Dave Donatoni Speed freak Kris Keefer was on point at the Terrain Test. On board the Husky he posted one of his fastest times despite pushing the suspension to its limits. Zip-Ty's Husky 450 has great straight-line stability. Its roll-on power was smooth with a nice, long mid-range, but it fell flat up on top. The bike had to be backed in more in corners than trying to front-end-steer this bike. Fork was soft under heavy braking, but could soak up smaller chop really well. The shock seemed like it moved a little too much for me, but I still logged one of my fastest times aboard this bike. --Kris Keefer The front end on the husky felt rigid but it still turned well while sitting down in the trail. The motor was very strong and pulled really hard from bottom to top, it was great for a wide open track. The suspension was all over the place-deflecting off of bumps and I couldn't get it to calm down. -Chris Barrett As a desert guy who occasionally goes to the track this was my glass slipper. The bike handled excellent, was well mannered in the bumpy stuff and was ridiculously fast. It did have some issues that need to be addressed-mainly the rigid front end and some bad vibrations. -Ryan Hanna Ty, are you sure this isn't a 510?-Jimmy Lewis after radar run.
I just read that yesterday...very nice to have another aftermarket company producing race enhancing products.
They didn't include it in the print article, but they did show some of it's lap times, which were all great. Low lap times win races.
I just had a wild idea... too wild to be talked about at the moment cause I've not thought it completely through. Related to improving sales in North America without Husqvarna spending $.... I keep thinking of all kinds of things on that topic. EDIT - never mind, it was a dumb idea... although I have other ideas. .
Hmmm.... Forks not quite right and engine vibe are topics we see pretty often on the forums. Hope husky will get the hint someday? Good to read some notable positives on the bike in such a high circulation rag.
Just haven't read about much work with the zokes and race tech valving. I installed gold valves on my old klx with kayuba (sp) forks and had a lot more adjustment available. Haven't seen anything about their usage on zokes till this article. The forks just seem to be a common issue with lots of us whether it be a TE or TXC so I'm wondering if it'll ever be addressed at the manufacturer level or if it's a euro type thing.
Good read. Sounds pretty spot on. not to knock Ty's suspension and understand these guys are on another level speed and talent wise but my LTR suspended TXC450 was magic carpet ride plush and still very controlled. Jakes stock TXC250 suspension is equally remarkable. I bet there is more performance to be had there. That said stiff forks for the dez are probably standard issue and where Ty's crew lives.
I've been exchanging some emails with Scot Harden about larger fuel tank for WR/CR125. He's off to Italy at the begining of May to talk to design and marketing about some upgrades for US spec bikes. Better spec suspension valving is tops on his list.
About time they realized we dislike the valving they send us. In the end though many of us have to have them revavled anyway as we weigh different and ride different and at different speeds through different stuff. It really is the one area of the bike that really need personalized for maximum performance.
Mike...I'm suprised you aren't pimp'n a TXC 510!?!? I guess that 610 has enough desert juevos for you. When you coming up for some NW woods riding with that beast? David
The test zone was a perfect combo of tight single track and some fast open track type sections. As some have seen on the western HS Pro-moto vids. Glad to see "us" finally getting dialed in, Chris Barrett is a very fast pro mx guy so as nice of a fellow he is a real offroad suspended machine will never be to his feel. For the western HS they bulldozed that little tight wash section into about a 2 track wide turn. One of our crew TB on his 300KTM, jumped onto the X enduro course not knowing they were doing time trials,,,he got jammed up there and JL came through tapped him from behind and threw a fit at his ruining the test time,,,,,our crew is always mixed up in some sort of shenanigans (it was a funny scene). They had all the foto lights and reflectors with all the magazine crew supervising the shoot at that spot. somewhere ther must be a foto of Tommy laid over the bars kissing his fender with JL crashed into the back of him yelling.
We on the East Coast lead a pretty quiet life. As close as we get to that, is crashing in front of Paul Clipper taking pics for Trail Rider at an ECEA run.
trail rider magazine is the real deal. not so much industry input injections into the articles. It seems more like the Aussie mags,,,written with humor and less worried about hurting anyones ego. It is kinda fun though to be around the hub of all these industry folks and to see first hand who and what is going on with the tests and other stuff.
