Monday
Feb022015
Saturday
Jan312015
The New 2015 YZ250FX Story Part 2
Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 12:00PM The 2015 YZ250FX
As you can see by the picture I’ve started nesting with my new bike. Doesn’t everyone take their brand new bike apart when they get it? The answer is of course not. I’ve known plenty of guys who don’t do anything to their new bike other than maybe adjust the levers and such. I’m one of those guys who do take a brand new bike apart, to a certain extent that is. Makes me feel much more familiar with it when I finally do swing a leg over it, besides that I have a lot of stuff I’m going to put on it.
First change was to install a Yamaha GYTR (FMF) muffler/ spark arrestor. (I could have installed a Pro Moto billet spark arrestor) The new muffler has a much longer center section about four inches worth (Not sure what that does) but the muffler its self is the same length as the stock unit. Then a Works Connection RPM/Hr meter, (The RPM feature helps set me the appropriate idle when using a Rekluse) I wanted a Speed/Odo unit so I installed a Trail Tech Voyager unit. That required installing a magnet on the brake caliper and on the brake rotor. Next came the Air Cells, I’ve used Air Cells on all my bikes for years. For those who may not be familiar with them they allow metered air to flow back and forth between the forks and the air chambers. They can be adjusted from zero to ten, zero is fully closed or stock. Air Cells affect the first few inches of travel and can take that initial harshness out of most stock forks; they also help with deflection and are a fairly inexpensive fix to a stock fork, or a complement to forks that have been re-valved.
Next up was a set of Cycra hand guards and Pro Taper pillow grips. I’ve used a Boysen grip on the clutch side for a long time, it allows some movement (Supposed to help with arm pump) but what I like most is it’s the same diameter as the throttle grip and I’ve gotten used to that feel. I also installed a Scotts steering stabilizer bracket for a top mount application, I’ve also gotten used to having the feel of a stabilizer, I’m not sure this bike really needs one it’s just an old habit I developed from having KTM’s over the years.
A set of Fast Way Evolution III pegs were installed in the back and down position, remember I’m old, tall and have size thirteen feet. These pegs make it easier for me to stand up and stay up, plus put me more over the center of the bike and give my foot more room to shift.
A new 2015 Yamaha WR250F skid plate was installed and then the one item I can’t/don’t want to live without anymore, a Rekluse Core EXP. Riding any bike in tight terrain just wouldn’t be fun anymore period without one.
Two items not here yet as I write this are Works Connections radiator guards and a Acerbis 2.9 gal fuel tank. But that won’t keep me from the best part I get to go ride it, so let the tinkering begin.
Doug 21J
Friday
Jan302015
Hurricane Warning For D36 Banquet
Friday, January 30, 2015 at 4:54PM 
District 36’s annual banquet is Saturday night Jan. 31. This year there will be special guests in attendance. Eddie Cole from Matrix/1.7/Next will be there along with his good friend Bob Hannah. Bob will be signing any Hannah stuff you might want autographed. Should be a fun time.
Banquet details at the D36 website.
Thursday
Jan292015
Monday
Jan262015
All New Fly Racing Sector Premium Boot!
Monday, January 26, 2015 at 1:40PM Specs and features in the Product section
Tuesday
Jan202015
2015 Yamaha 250FX Project Bike
Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 4:04PM Is it a trail bike, dual sport, a motocrosser or a cross country racer? Doug will be happy to let us know as he gets up close and personal with his new toy.
The story of the 250FX
Here I am big grin and all, with the brand new 2015 Yamaha 250FX. For those of you who may not be familiar with this new bike it’s basically a 250F MX, but has a six speed gear box, electric start, 18” rear wheel and kick stand. This bike is supposed to challenge the KTM’s, we’ll see.
I wanted a new challenge; I’ve had four great years worth of fun and tinkering on my 2011 KTM 350/390 SX. I still liked the 350/390 and at this point don’t know if this new bike is going to be better or not. But I’m going to find out and like I did with the 350 I’m going to report on it here on this web site.
I’ve ordered a lot of trick stuff for it that will be trickling in over the next month and my plan is to share what and why I’m putting on a particular part and the expectations for doing it.
So stay tuned.
Doug 21J
Saturday
Jan102015
Southwick Returns from the Dead!
Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 5:31PM
Westfield News
Southwick’s new motocross promoter plans to race
The American Legion Post 338 will still hold all licenses and permits
By Hope E. Tremblay, Westfield News Published: January 9, 2015
SOUTHWICK – Southwick Motocross is changing hands again.
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart met this week with new motocross promoter Keith Johnson, and said Johnson has plans in place to race this year.
“He will be meeting with the Board of Selectmen in early February. He is going to coordinate with other public officials, such as the police and fire chiefs, ahead of his meeting with selectmen,” said Stinehart.
The American Legion Post 338 will still hold all licenses and permits related to motocross at their track, and the Legion will contract with Johnson and any other interested parties to run and promote motocross. Last year, after longtime Motocross 338 promoter Diane and Ralph Pirello retired, race enthusiasts Mike Grondahl, Travis Louks and Steve Yelin stepped up to take over. Now, Stinehart said Johnson will promote motocross in Southwick.
“I don’t know all the details but Mr. Johnson has raced on the track and has a lot of plans,” Stinehart said. “I believe Mr. Grondahl will still have some interest there.”
Calls to Johnson were not returned for this article. According to KeithJohnsonMX.com, Johnson has been a professional motocross racer since 1988 and is an owner of the Keith Johnson MX Racing School in Middleboro.
The site lists his career highlights, including being the 2009 Loretta Lynn’s national champion, winning both the junior 25 plus and 35 plus Vet classes, and the 2008 Loretta Lynn’s national champion winning both the junior 25 plus and 35 plus Vet classes. Keith also won all three titles at both Lake Whitney TX, and Oak Hill, TX.
Johnson lives in Carver with his family.
Thursday
Jan082015
Red Bull Frozen Rush
Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 7:56PM Ricky Johnson gears up for Frozen Rush's off-road racing madness
Follow the link below to read Sports Illustrated's story on RJ
http://www.si.com/edge/2015/01/08/ricky-johnson-red-bull-frozen-rush-2015-preview
Thursday
Jan082015
The Dirt on Motocross - Indoors
Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 7:42PM Sedalia Democrat - 1/8/14
Faith Bemiss
Chris Frye, left, with Highway 65 Motocross in Sedalia, and Tracey “T-Man” Freeman, with 343 MX, of Ottawa, Kan., discuss options for prepping the floor of the Mathewson Exhibition Center on Wednesday morning for the Liquid Nitro Arenacross and Freestyle Tour motocross event slated for Friday and Saturday at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.
Freeman uses a Bobcat to transform the south end of the arena floor into a “rhythm of obstacles” course for the motocross event this weekend. Frye said 80 dump truck loads of dirt were brought in by employees of the Missouri State Fair for the event. The north side of the arena will feature a “whoop-de-doo” course and the center of the floor a finish or “catapult.”
Amid smoke from the Bobcat and a fine sifting of dust, Frye works in the center of the dirt pile at the Mathewson Center to create the finish area for the motocross event this weekend. He said it would take eight hours to build all three courses and another eight hours “dressing it up.” The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. In advance, tickets are $10 for children age 3 to 11 and $16 for adults. Ticket prices increase $2 if purchased at the gate. Kids age 14 and younger are free on Friday with a paid adult. Advance tickets can be purchased at Yeager’s Harley Davidson, Dick’s Honda and online at motorheadevents.com.
Friday
Jan022015
Snohomish Track Plans Approved...Again
Friday, January 2, 2015 at 8:28AM Despite objections, motocross racetrack plans again approved
GRANITE FALLS — Plans to build an off-road motorcycle racetrack along the Mountain Loop Highway have again received approval from the Snohomish County hearing examiner.
The new decision, released Dec. 23, revisited an earlier one the examiner issued in May. The project still must adhere to a long list of conditions intended to limit noise, water runoff, dust, light pollution, fire danger, traffic and more.
“It's great news,” said Gary Strode, co-owner of the company trying to build the track. “Hopefully, we're getting near the end of it here.”
Not so fast, say neighbors and environmentalists fighting the project. They see the hearing examiner's latest response as inadequate.
Lingering concerns include landslide risks on steep slopes, the risk of additional sediment to nearby Canyon Creek, groundwater contamination from oil spills and the potential for engine noise to harm populations of the marbled murrelet, an endangered seabird that nests in old-growth forests.
“There's a lot of risk there for the county if they go ahead and approve this project,” said Bill Lider, an engineer who consulted for opponents.
The examiner's decision can be appealed to the County Council and to Snohomish County Superior Court. Before starting construction, the project also must obtain permits.
The examiner's 93-page decision is the latest turn in a nearly decade-long effort by MXGP of Kirkland to build a motocross facility in Snohomish County.
In 2005, the county shut down a track the company was operating without permits on farmland near Monroe. In 2006, plans to build a track in Maltby fell apart in the face of neighborhood resistance and zoning rules.
MXGP bought the Mountain Loop property in 2007, after the County Council agreed to open up some commercial forestland for motocross tracks.
Attempting to stop the proposed track there are the Mountain Loop Conservancy, the Pilchuck Audubon Society and the North Cascades Conservation Council.
They want to preserve the peace and tranquility that make the Mountain Loop Highway a magnet for hikers and wildlife watchers. They're also trying to protect forest habitat and fish runs in Canyon Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Stillaguamish River.
MXGP's proposal calls for building out a complex of multiple tracks in five phases. The work could take up to 15 years to complete. It would occupy a 437-acre site located between two quarries, Green Mountain Mine and Snohomish County's Sand Hill gravel pit. About 80 percent of the property would remain as forest.
There are plans to build an earthen berm around the project to dampen the sound offsite.
The examiner's decision takes up three legal issues: granting a request to rezone MXGP's property to forestry and recreation from just forestry; issuing a conditional use permit; and denying a land-use appeal.
In February 2014, hearings on the project stretched over five and a half days. People sent in 385 comment letters. Track opponents compiled 899 signatures for a petition.
Examiner pro tem Phil Olbrechts issued the first decision in May, but agreed to reconsider it after opponents appealed.
In both decisions, the examiner imposed a 49 decibel sound limit at the property line. That's lower than normal conversational volumes. If noise levels come within 5 decibels of that threshold, the track must conduct continual noise monitoring for next nine months.
The limit applies to racetrack operations and construction, though not daytime construction during the first year.
“The person with everything at risk is me,” Strode said. “If I'm wrong and my experts are wrong, I lose millions of dollars.”
The examiner's rules prohibit recreational motorcycle or ATV riding before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m. The nighttime limit is dusk when it falls before 9 p.m. No racing is allowed after 7 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes earlier.
Races could only be held on Saturdays and Sundays, with an exception for some holidays.
No more than 40 motorcycles or ATVs could race on at any track at the same time.
No national races under the American Motorcycle Association are allowed.
In the more recent decision, the examiner told MXGP to limit the number of parking spaces.
Also new is a condition for track operators to distribute leaflets informing patrons that off-road vehicles aren't allowed on nearby national forest lands. Anyone who violates those rules must be banned from the facility for a year.
The new decision also clarifies noise-monitoring procedures.
Other conditions are addressing landslide hazards within 200 feet of any developed areas.
The track's operator must keep a log to record complaints about noise, dust, traffic, parking, restrooms, security and other issues.
There's a requirement to pay a combined $47,000 in traffic-impact fees to the city of Granite Falls, the state and the county.
One-day attendance cannot exceed 800 people for riders, spectators and facility staff. The motocross park can be used for a maximum of 150 days per year.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
The new decision, released Dec. 23, revisited an earlier one the examiner issued in May. The project still must adhere to a long list of conditions intended to limit noise, water runoff, dust, light pollution, fire danger, traffic and more.
“It's great news,” said Gary Strode, co-owner of the company trying to build the track. “Hopefully, we're getting near the end of it here.”
Not so fast, say neighbors and environmentalists fighting the project. They see the hearing examiner's latest response as inadequate.
Lingering concerns include landslide risks on steep slopes, the risk of additional sediment to nearby Canyon Creek, groundwater contamination from oil spills and the potential for engine noise to harm populations of the marbled murrelet, an endangered seabird that nests in old-growth forests.
“There's a lot of risk there for the county if they go ahead and approve this project,” said Bill Lider, an engineer who consulted for opponents.
The examiner's decision can be appealed to the County Council and to Snohomish County Superior Court. Before starting construction, the project also must obtain permits.
The examiner's 93-page decision is the latest turn in a nearly decade-long effort by MXGP of Kirkland to build a motocross facility in Snohomish County.
In 2005, the county shut down a track the company was operating without permits on farmland near Monroe. In 2006, plans to build a track in Maltby fell apart in the face of neighborhood resistance and zoning rules.
MXGP bought the Mountain Loop property in 2007, after the County Council agreed to open up some commercial forestland for motocross tracks.
Attempting to stop the proposed track there are the Mountain Loop Conservancy, the Pilchuck Audubon Society and the North Cascades Conservation Council.
They want to preserve the peace and tranquility that make the Mountain Loop Highway a magnet for hikers and wildlife watchers. They're also trying to protect forest habitat and fish runs in Canyon Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Stillaguamish River.
MXGP's proposal calls for building out a complex of multiple tracks in five phases. The work could take up to 15 years to complete. It would occupy a 437-acre site located between two quarries, Green Mountain Mine and Snohomish County's Sand Hill gravel pit. About 80 percent of the property would remain as forest.
There are plans to build an earthen berm around the project to dampen the sound offsite.
The examiner's decision takes up three legal issues: granting a request to rezone MXGP's property to forestry and recreation from just forestry; issuing a conditional use permit; and denying a land-use appeal.
In February 2014, hearings on the project stretched over five and a half days. People sent in 385 comment letters. Track opponents compiled 899 signatures for a petition.
Examiner pro tem Phil Olbrechts issued the first decision in May, but agreed to reconsider it after opponents appealed.
In both decisions, the examiner imposed a 49 decibel sound limit at the property line. That's lower than normal conversational volumes. If noise levels come within 5 decibels of that threshold, the track must conduct continual noise monitoring for next nine months.
The limit applies to racetrack operations and construction, though not daytime construction during the first year.
“The person with everything at risk is me,” Strode said. “If I'm wrong and my experts are wrong, I lose millions of dollars.”
The examiner's rules prohibit recreational motorcycle or ATV riding before 9 a.m. or after 9 p.m. The nighttime limit is dusk when it falls before 9 p.m. No racing is allowed after 7 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes earlier.
Races could only be held on Saturdays and Sundays, with an exception for some holidays.
No more than 40 motorcycles or ATVs could race on at any track at the same time.
No national races under the American Motorcycle Association are allowed.
In the more recent decision, the examiner told MXGP to limit the number of parking spaces.
Also new is a condition for track operators to distribute leaflets informing patrons that off-road vehicles aren't allowed on nearby national forest lands. Anyone who violates those rules must be banned from the facility for a year.
The new decision also clarifies noise-monitoring procedures.
Other conditions are addressing landslide hazards within 200 feet of any developed areas.
The track's operator must keep a log to record complaints about noise, dust, traffic, parking, restrooms, security and other issues.
There's a requirement to pay a combined $47,000 in traffic-impact fees to the city of Granite Falls, the state and the county.
One-day attendance cannot exceed 800 people for riders, spectators and facility staff. The motocross park can be used for a maximum of 150 days per year.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.