Project KTM Killer (old man woods bike)

 

I have been riding some of the new two stroke trail bikes and though I am stuck in the past I must admit that the modern trail bike has evolved a fair bit. Be it, this coming from a ham fisted WFO junky who has always raced off road on modified motocross models. Bottom line is that I am getting older and days spent riding 100 mile tight mountain single track on the main jet of a 55 hp fire breathing thumper steed set up more towards desert style off-road are making me feel my age the day after. To further my krux, I am a stout and stubborn anti-conformist so orange, Austrian, or even European won’t curt my mustard. As they often do, the mis-aligned queer gears in my head began grinding out a patina pervert plan: How good of a woods bike could I make out of a trusty steel frame Honda CR250... just then a lightning storm erupted above Dr. Frankenstein’s Laboratory. Good old Brian aka The WOR Godfather found me a 95 model for what looked a steal at $450. However to judge a book by it’s cover is far more safer a bet than used dirtbike shopping. The first sharp peanut in the turd was discovered when the drain plug was removed pooping out various chunks of steel and rubber bits. The fuel tank’s content had spilled past the float valve flooding the crank case, eventually seeping past the main seals, and eventually deteriorating the clutch basket dampers allowing the primary gear to break free from the clutch basket. The second sharp peanut in the turd to pass was discovering a botched weld job on the cases from a repair of a large hole. Skid plates are cool. I then discovered cracks in the frame so I sandblasted, welded, and had it powder coated. I bored out the triple clamps to accept some twin chamber Showa forks I had lying around and re-valved the rear shock. I shaved the head a whopping .065” to get squish at .047” but it detonated badly so I have fattened up the Lectron considerably. It is still a touch pingy once in a while so I plan to open up the dome. I’m also waiting on a Rekluse Core Manuel clutch assembly which will more than double the build cost. I have an 18” rear wheel to put on after I wear out the 19” knobby and I plan on raising the seat foam and handlebar height. I’ve put about 4hrs on it and I can say that it is a fun ripper. With a bit more tweaking I think it will hold it’s own against modern two stroke trail bikes just fine. And with some style!

Hill Climb Racing. Colorado Hill Climb Racing

 It takes everything I have to compete in these events. These "Hill Climbs".  No, not nitro burning extended swing arm chained tire drag race, what every red blooded yankey doodle thinks of when I tell them that Hill Climb racing is my main focus these days.(Although that looks fun and challenging in it's own way) The Hill Climb I love is rather a rare treasure left behind in the old dust of Pikes Peak. These Colorado gravel roads. Switch backing up mountains through forests, sheer cliff edges, and the occasional fucking Brown Bear.  As the cars both blue groove and chew the surface, the breaking points change, the random large rocks get kicked out of the ditch and into the line where concealing tree shadows can change from morning to evening. All the while the comfort zone expands into the limit of possible speed, constantly clawing for the new course record. What better a test to one's ability. A beautiful back drop to find a machine's character, become one with the controls all the way through to the tires, and exploit every tiny molecular piece of matter that makes traction. Yum.