DIR

TB

IKE

•JU

LY

2009

•w

ww.d

irtbikem

agazin

e.c

om

RRAADDIICCAALL RRIIDDIINNGG TTIIPPSS:: TTHHEEYY WWIILLLL CCHHAANNGGEE YYOOUURR LLIIFFEE!!

ALL-NEW 4-STROKE FIXALL-NEW 4-STROKE FIX

COOL GEAR & TIPSCOOL GEAR & TIPS

CCC02977

•• DDRR..DD’’ss WWIICCKKEEDD KKLLXX•• PPRROO CCIIRRCCUUIITT KKTTMM MMOODDSS•• DDUUAALL SSPPOORRTT 665500ss•• BBIIGG BBOORREE HHOONNDDAA CCRRFF227700

NEVER STALL AGAIN!NEVER STALL AGAIN!www.dirtbikemagazine.com

07148602977

9

07

$4.99US $5.99CAN

JULY 2009

Attn retailer: Please display

until July 16

BUILT TO THE HILTBUILT TO THE HILT

DEAL WITH THE HEATDEAL WITH THE HEAT

BBEEAATT TTHHEERREECCEESSSSIIOONN

AANNDD HHAAVVEEMMOORREE FFUUNN

$4.99

DB_0709_cover_spine:Quark Pg text 5/4/09 12:02 PM Page 1

JULY 2009 / DIRT BIKE 33

TTHHEE QQUUIIEETT

HHUULLKKWaking up a silent monster

W e haven’t missed a Nevada 200 trail ridein over five years. We salivate for this

ride and look forward to it for the demandingterrain that runs the gamut from fast desert tohigh-elevation mountains. With this multidayride in mind, we always put considerableeffort into building a machine for the event.This year, DR.D stole our Kawasaki KLX450and returned it in a completely different formwith the goal of a stronger power curve andsuspension that focused on flattening out theterrain of the Nevada desert a little moreeffectively than the stocker. That meant valv-ing changes for better manners at speed with-out making it a jackhammer. Our only requestwhen the bike left our possession was that wedidn’t want a loud bike. After that, they coulddo as they pleased.

The DRD KLX did it all. It was a champ through every typeof terrain at the Nevada 200, handled EnduroCross-styleriding and even dealt with natural-style motocross tracks.

Dr_D_p32-36:Layout 1 4/30/09 4:35 PM Page 3

32 www.dirtbikemagazine.com

PROJECT OFF-ROAD KLX450DB

Dr_D_p32-36:Layout 1 4/30/09 4:34 PM Page 2

34 www.dirtbikemagazine.com

PROJECT OFF-ROAD KLX450DB

JOLLY GREEN GIANTDR.D put focused effort into the motor mods. It received

a Wiseco high-compression piston while the head wascleaned up with minor porting work. All the smog equip-ment was removed with the use of an Applied Racingblock-off kit. A complete DR.D titanium system with a 94-dB insert handled exhaust evacuation and kept noise onthe quieter side. Stock jetting is way too lean once a stocktrail motor is allowed to breathe, so an OBEKS needle inthe third position from the top replaced the stock needle,and we went one step richer on the pilot and main jets onthe KLX.The results were impressive. Right off idle, the motor

pulled very hard and kept pulling stronger through themidrange. The top-end power was decent, but not equalto a 450 MXer. Still, this motor loved to be short-shiftedand lugged, which is perfect for trail riding and general off-road excursions. While the motor was smooth, the addedboost was very welcome when you need to lift thefront end over rocks or get on top of the sand in themany sand washes of the Nevada 200. With the richerjetting, we never flamed out in slow conditions andwere able to go from sea level up to about 7000 feetbefore experiencing any slight rich burble. We wereable to clean up that issue with the fuel screw.

DR.D took care of the motor work while Barnett handled the clutch duties. Barnett has a lifetime guarantee on its baskets andpressure plates. Decal Works took care of the graphic duties, and an IMS GP tank meant we could go hours between gasstops. A CV4 reflective sheet was used on the underside of the gas tank, while trick-looking CV4 green radiator hoses flowedcoolant. Buried in the motor and airbox was a Ready Filter air filter and oil filter.

The suspension was handled by Race Tech, whorevalved it to mimic the stock plushness and resist bot-

toming out. Because we wanted our DR.D KLXto maintain its great ability to handle

single-track rocks and roots, wechose to leave the stock springs

rather than go stiffer. Thisturned out to be a great choicewith the Race-Tech valving. It

still soaked up all

All it takes is one crash to appreciate the Sunline levers.They move in every direction, and broken levers are virtuallya thing of the past.

TTHHEE QQUUIIEETT HHUULLKK

Dr_D_p32-36:Layout 1 4/30/09 4:38 PM Page 4

JULY 2009 / DIRT BIKE 35

The 94-dB DRD exhaust system was fairly quiet and added power—both good things. The Kenda meats hooked up well in softand intermediate terrain, while the Seal Savers kept us from crying the seal-leak blues. Light Speed hooked the KLX up withsteel 57mm wide footpegs. A BRP chain slider and chain guard keep the chain in line.

the small stuff but did a much better job and handled bighits without hitting the stops. A big bonus to the handlingof the KLX was the Scotts Stabilizer. Most of the time weran it on a pretty light setting, but when things got rockyand nasty, we turned it up and just hammered through

ugliness in a straight, controlled line.Galfer handled the braking duties with a 270mm over-

sized Wave rotor up front and a Wave rotor at the back,both of which were made from high-carbon stainless steel.

Galfer brake pads put the squeeze on those rotors, muchto our approval. The added power of the oversized frontrotor really came into play after many hours in the saddlewhen big downhills seemed bigger and the fingersbecame weaker.Any bike, whether it is a stocker or a tricked out

machine like the DR.D KLX, needs protection. If you don’twant to add weight, Light Speed’s carbon fiber parts arean excellent choice. The DR.D machine sported a LightSpeed skid plate, engine guard set, rear rotor guard and

A BRP triple clamp held oversized Tag bars and a ScottsStabilizer. The stabilizer is heaven-sent in fast, rocky conditions.

If anyone ever tells you Nevada isn’t rocky, he’s lying.

Dr_D_p32-36:Layout 1 4/30/09 4:38 PM Page 5