Long-Term Update
Long-Term Update
CYCLE WORLD
HONDA
CRF450R
Where were you last night?
AFTER FENDING OFF COUNTLESS attempts by fellow staffers to con vert our Honda CRF45OR to su permoto-spec, Off-Road Editor Jimmy Lewis finally broke down and converted the bike himself. But only because it was time-for a big service, that is.
We then greased the shock linkage and headset, and swapped our motocross suspenders and wheels for a supermoto setup from Gary Jones at White Brothers-right off his own racebike! We even got our hands on one of the new WB works pipes ($800) that the Honda factory team runs, which gave the bike a meatier-yct-stillsmooth pull. But the secret weapon was a slipper clutch ($736 from STM, www.azionemoto.com), which prevented
Considering all of the abuse that the four-stroke motocrosser had endured, it definitely needed attention. Upon teardown the piston looked great, but we threw in a new one anyway, along with a new pin and rings. Also, the valve clearances were a bit loose and required shimming a few thousandths. All of this work was done in an afternoon, incidentally, as the CRF is surprisingly simple to work on.
compression braking from causing the rear wheel to hop during downshifts.
The end result was a ninth-place finish in Jimmy’s and the CRF’s supermoto debut at California Speedway. With the Glen Helen 12-Hour fast approaching, however, it’s back to moto it goes!
$6299
SUZUKI
V-Strom
Stromping mad!
OUR LONG-TERM SUZUKI V-STROM definitely isn't shy about showing Jits feelings. When its stock Bridgestone Trail Wings finally wore out after 9000-plus hard miles, the big, blue `Zook let us know by throwing a hissy fit. Handling took a dramatic turn for the
worse, but new footwear in the form of Pirelli MT90s in 110/80-19 front ($131) and 150/70-17 rear ($170) sizes turned the Strom’s frown upside-down.
One thing we noticed about the Pirellis is that when they slide, they regain traction a bit more abruptly than the old Bridgestones, accentuating the Strom’s top-heaviness-especially if the gas tank and our new Arrow tankbag ($115 from Givi, www.giviusa.com) is full.
Another side-effect of the newfound grip is increased front-end flex. For sure, the Strom’s steering-head bearings have suffered from the occasional wheelie and stoppie, but we suspect worn-out fork bushings, too.
Even so, everyone who has ridden the Suzuki has praised its creature comforts. After rushing to a Rush concert in rush-hour traffic, Executive Editor Brian Catterson remarked, “Thank God for the handguards, because the bars are right on target with most SUV’s side mirrors.” And photographer Barry Hathaway went so far as to say he’d like to ride the V-Strom around the world!
$8899
DUCATI
999
Start of a beautiful relationship
IT'S IMPRESSIVE HOW SILENT THE CW staff can be when writing assignments are being doled out during an editori al meeting. Come time to pick longterm testbikes, however, everyone’s lips are flapping, voicing their opinions.
Those opinions were unanimous concerning the Ducati 999’s inclusion as a long-termer. Conveniently overlooking the Ducati-powered Cagiva Gran Canyon we tested circa 2001, we haven’t had a long-term Ducati since our 1998 ST2, so the time was ripe for another. And with the 999 boasting a more street-worthy riding position and simplified maintenance, it was a natural.
Fittingly, our red Ducati arrived just in time for Christmas 2002, and has been racking up mostly racetrack miles since.
Between Executive Editor Brian Catterson’s pro bono gig as a Club Desmo riding instructor and a pair of Pirelli press introductions, the bike spent three days at Laguna Seca, two-and-a-half at Buttonwillow and another one at the Streets of Willow Springs. The Catman then rode the bike to the AMA national at Sears Point, a 1000-mile round trip. Aside from a cracked left heel guard ($20), the “check engine” light occasionally illuminating for no apparent reason and a light oil film in the vicinity of the crankcase breather, it’s so far, so good.
$17.695
