A training opportunity if you're a contender and a chance for the club to test the timing system that has been developed to improve accuracy in scoring and also speed presenting the final results on race day. The system is barcode-based and we'll past a barcode sticker on your helmet with your race number and associated barcode. We'll do a fun mini-race on a short circuit around the hangar and the objective is to have a laugh and work out the bugs on the software..
With stars like David Knight, Taddy Blazusiak and Tom Sagar it's just full of action. Oh, check out the trial riding style, can be useful at parts of Nusa....
Part of my preparations for the upcoming 3rd round of the Nusajaya Enduro Carnival is technical training that is both challenging and intense so it's not only great bike training but also a good workout. Join me if you wish at Nusa on Sun for some solid training at my 'secret spots'. I roll out from hangar at 8AM and I'll pack up at 11:30..
So finally it's done and I've given it a test ride around the block. Can't believe where this started and how good it feels now when it's completed a year later. Many have asked my why etc and I guess there wont be more of these questions now, especially if you get a chance to test ride it. So around the block is obviously no offroad riding but it feels fantastic. Very light feel just like the mx model CRF250R and I can easily lift it off the ground with my hands which is useful when you're stuck in the mud or other nasty places. I went for the X cam to start with which gives the engine a mellow power delivery but a very solid low-end power and torque - nearly tractor like so combined with the wide ratio gearbox I reckon this also is a happy hill climber and I can't wait to give it a spin in Nusa. Will try to post more photos from early stage and also when I find a sticker kit. Once again, XC means X Country or Enduro-engine in MX chassis for a pure-bred race machine with suspension that can take a good beating anytime. Let me know if you want to give it a spin.
OK so here is the long awaited update of the hybrid project finally. It's going to be called the CRF250XC as in X Country. It's basically motocross tempered machine with e-start put simply and I've been studying bikes, setups and mods a long time now and in the meantime done a few already so I expect this to be the dawg man! Expecting to fire it up in a few days but as you can see there are still a few bits and pieces to be put on but it's a huge step from the boxes of scrap a year ago so quite pleased already to be honest..
Just a couple of quick shots showing off the brilliant design of the new Husaberg FE450. Yep, it's broken in, suspension adjusted and maybe still being a bit fine tuned otherwise it's a worry free machine. Of course you need to do the usual maintenance but the one thing you don't need to worry about is carburation since this closed loop EFI alwas is spot on. For example,just when I put the Akra pipe on it was not running perfect for the first few minutes but after a short while it adjusted itself and was running perfect. It always starts easily regardless of weather or if you just fell. An sensor will know if the bike is in an abnormal position for too long, laying on it's side or upside down etc and turn off the engine. Great machine, highly recommended for trails, X Country and Enduro and it's priced the same as a KTM!
With the summer reaching it's end in Sweden it it timely to listen to a winter tune, also includes a bit of spring towards the end. Makes me miss Sweden even though I'm not a big winter fan!
No secret that the CRF is the best bike I've had so far in my 2 years of dirt riding in Singapore but since I bought it 2nd hand I had to do some maintenance and the time was here for a piston change since it has used a bit of oil lately, especially so during the Tuas MX race. Had a few choices on the piston in my store room but went for the Wiseco Hi-Comp piston since the 2008 CRF have a higher comp stock with really good reviews all around so though I'd try to replicate that. Also time for a head review so I decided a while back to buy a race head from the US and keep as spare until this day came. So I stripped everything off the bike and took it over to Frankie's place since this would be the first time for me to open a four stroker engine. Done a few 50cc mopeds in my teens but they were all oil stinking 2 strokers so not quite the same. So few hours later and with me zipping Frankie's tips as good wine we were done with the piston change and also the new head on. I wont give away any details on the head yet but it's complete in every sense even with stiffer springs to handle the cam so there it is. Came home late and parked everything on the porch and went to sleep. Excited to return from work I started assembling the bike with sub frame and all the other stuff, every time the subframe is off I always try to take out the carb for a good cleaning and I've started using filters in all the steps when refueling the bike since last time I cleaned the carb there was a bit too much 'foreign stuff'. Anyway, after a good hour of assembling the moment to start came and of course it was quite exciting. Opened fuel cock - waited a few seconds - gave the throttle to quick twists to the end to squirt in some fuel in the intake And then cranked it over slowly first with the kicker, felt good but way stiffer than before so clearly had something leaking compression in the old setup and then also the hi-comp piston. Ok time to give it a good kick and to my surprise it fires right up on the first real kick!! Slightly different sound from head area and clearly the springs and the race cam is a different story altogether. - OK let it warm up first on idle a few minutes until the radiator cap turns warm and that's a good advise for any bike owner, let it get warm before twisting that throttle!! Ok, so the cap turned nice and warm so time to give it a couple of good twists.. Hard to find good words for the sensation but snorting, fire breathing monster is a good start!! Amazing but totally no hesitation at all regardless of how I whacked the throttle, just a crisp roaring punch of power right there on tap of your right hand!! I think Frankie and I just put together a holeshot winner and I can't wait to get to Nusa this weekend for a real test ride!!
Was planning a normal trail session with bashing, chainsawing and just normal mayhem at Nusa but after hearing that the track owners might be facing some financial challenges for next year due to low support and after all the investments they've done I thought I should take part at least once! Besides, I got badly bitten by the race bug at Ulu Pengili 10 days ago so looking forward to get back on the start line even though I will do the no frills club class trail most likely and with that not gain any larger crowd or fans.. Still, love racing and there's an opportunity to race on Singapore soil and I think the investment done by EZ should be supported and the best way is to take the opportunity, sign up and race. Hope to seee you guys there as well and if you're not racing make some noise for me yeah.. :)
Wicked roost from Pengili that I have saved in a glass box hehe:
Check Juha's flow at the end of the clip, just amazing how he floats through the sand! ISDE coming up next week and after that the Red Bull Romaniacs so plenty race action in September!
Since the 2nd round of the MSSC X-Country series has been postponed to Aug 10th we'll offer some basic riding training session around the new route. The focus will be on the area around 'highsider heaven' so everyone can clear the long hill easily. I know it looks long and intimidating but it's in fact very easy and you will find you self jumping the steps in no time.. This is mainly aimed at newbie riders but suitably for anyone as a guiding session as well for learning and practicing the new route so we'll start early morning with a guiding session in medium pace.
So here are the details for Aug 3: 09:00AM start guide session (medium pace) 10:00AM start newbie session 1 (pace decided by participants) 11:30AM start newbie session 2
As always, hydrate well the days before, bring plenty of water and bring out what you bring in. We don't want to turn the MSSC Dirtpark into a dump or have the senior member acting mums for other riders..
After nearly two weeks of travel and work it's good to catch up with the latest in the enduro and offroad riding world. When reading up on the Wales and French Enduro GPs I came across this guy Alex Rankin. Check out this clip from the Swedish GP, check out the footage, angles and also the editing. I think it's brilliant and will keep an eye on this guy.. It turns out he's doing work for BBC and others: hAlex Rankin web site
When I'm now back in the online media industry I take a great interest in developments from copmanies like Apple, Microsoft, Adobe and a few others. Here's a glimpse of what adobe wants to do with their Air framework for Rich Internet Applications.
