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Will My Modified 500 Outlaw Beat A KTM 525?

Question:

Dear Motorhead,

I own a 2006 Outlaw 500 and compared the horsepower and torque levels as well as researching the weight at 440 lbs compared to the 525 outlaw at 395 lbs.

I have added a White Brothers dual E2 exhaust, power intake, rejeted, open air lid with pre filter covering.

Seeing as acellaration is based on hp to weight ratio do you think this will put me up to snuff with a stock 525?

Russell

Response:

Thanks for your email!

You are correct – the old 500 Predator motor which is in your original Outlaw is heavier than the KTM 525. I doubt your mods will get you to the level of peak HP on tap in the 525 though. You’re dealing with one of the off road world’s most impressive powerplants and it’s tough to match the KTM.

Here’s the real issue – torque. The KTM produces huge low end power which your mods on the 500 will not duplicate or address.

While you’ll be putting out more jam with the mods you’ve performed the KTM leaves hard and pulls like a tactor down low.

In any case, enjoy your Outlaw – it is in my opinion the most impressive Pure Sport chassis in the biz right now.

Motorhead Mark

Best Sport Utility ATV: Big Bore

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WINNER: Polaris Sportsman 800 HO

Yup, Polaris took this class last year and wouldn’t you know it, the new and significantly pumped up 800 Sportsman conclusively aced it again this year.

Need justification? The biggest Sportsman still delivers the best ride and the best handling among all competitors in 2008.

The silky response to trail junk coming from the most refined and best calibrated front and rear suspensions in the class is impossible to overlook among the impressive competition in this segment. Simply stated, the Sportsman is the easiest to ride either fast or slow on the widest variety of terrain.

If we could say anything to the competition it would be this: While competitive Big Bores are riding better, none can approach the predictable and linear handling the Sportsman delivers.

One more thing, the 10 percent injection of extra squeeze from this engine is noticeable and welcome in 2008. The extra power, while still not as strong as the beastly Outlander 800HO, is very impressive.

RUNNERS-UP: Can-Am Outlander 800, Yamaha Grizzly 700FI

There are two impressive bridesmaids in this class, not the least of which is the imposing 800 Outlander HO.

We have to admit, it was close for the win as a result of a recalibration to the Outlander’s front and rear suspensions.

This change netted vastly improved ride quality and helped settle the 800’s annoying handlebar feedback, most noticeable in tight, gnarly terrain and especially at WOT speeds.

There’s no need to review the 800 Outlander’s performance potential. If it was only about power, here’s the champion of the ATV universe.

Yamaha’s Grizzly 700FI with or without power steering has moved Yamaha up the Big Bore ladder significantly.

The ultra lightweight Grizz rides great and handles decently, although some front end roll-over is still present in high speed turns.

The addition of power steering has opened up a whole new world of freedom and low effort control for those who can’t live without 27-inch mud tires.

Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the non-EPS 700, either. It’s a great ride at a reduced price.

Warn Introduces the Ultimate UTV Winch

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Press Release –

Warn Industries, the leader in powersports performance accessories, has raised the bar again by creating the ultimate winch for UTV and side-by-side enthusiasts! Introducing the latest addition to the Extreme Terrain winch lineup: The WARN® XT40.

The XT40 showcases a number of amazing features, such as a Wireless Control System, 50′ of lightweight, easy-to-handle synthetic rope, 4,000 lbs. of pulling power, a patented disc brake, and a sealed all-metal three-stage planetary geartrain.

These features add up to the ultimate UTV winch, making the XT40 a must-have for the side-by-side rider looking to take their vehicle to the next level.

The XT40’s Wireless Control System allows for increased versatility, and more recovery options by allowing users to operate the winch from anywhere within a 50′ radius.

The System includes a remote with two large buttons for easy operation (even while wearing gloves), a holster for the remote, a wiring harness with built-in antenna for easy installation, a receiver, and all the necessary mounting hardware. Installation is simple, which means more time riding, and less time installing.

The system is simple to operate, too. Just follow the two-button activation sequence (which prevents accidental power-ups), wait until the two-color LED turns green, and you’re ready to begin winching.

Adding to the XT40’s “Extreme Terrain” nature is its standard 50′ of 7/32” diameter synthetic rope. Because it’s light weight and easy to handle, synthetic rope is favored by riders who push the limits, and ride on the edge.

Other great XT40 features include a high-efficiency geartrain for less battery drain, a sealed minirocker control switch, roller fairlead, and an ergonomically designed clutch-control dial.

Plus, an extreme winch should be covered by an extreme warranty, so the XT40 has a limited lifetime warranty backed by a world-wide service organization.

POLL RESULTS

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Our last poll asked what you think the best sport class 450 is. From 750 participants, the results were as follows:

21.73% – Yamaha YFZ 450 (163 votes)
18.93% – Polaris Outlaw 450MXR (142 votes)
18.67% – Can-Am DS450 (140 votes)
11.87% – Honda TRX450R (89 votes)
10.80% – Kawasaki KFX450 (81 votes)
10.13% – Suzuki QuadSport 450R (76 votes)
07.87% – KTM 450CR (59 votes)

Scroll down to take part in our latest poll. We ask:

What ATV do you think should have won Best BIG BORE Sport Utility ATV?

1. Polaris Sportsman 800 HO
2. Can-Am Outlander 800
3. Yamaha Grizzly 700FI

Cast your vote now!

BRP STARTS THE ATV RACING SEASON WITH A WIN

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Press Release –

The 2008 season will be an important one for BRP Can-Am as it starts the pursuit of several racing championships with its DS 450TM ATV.

One of these championships is the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), which got underway with round one at Speedworld located near Phoenix, Arizona.

The desert course was not so much a desert as a deluge of rain swept in from the mountains just before the Sunday Pro race was to start; this meant more of a challenge for the racers and pit crews.

“No one likes to see one of these ‘survival’ races,” said Del Bohlman, Product, Media Relation and Racing Manager for Can-Am. “These races, however, are extremely important for testing. And to pull away with a victory is a testament to Josh Frederick, the DS 450 and everyone at Team Motoworks.”

Josh Frederick of Team Motoworks was able to overcome the elements that brought to a halt many of the competition’s race ATVs and come away with a win in Sunday’s premier Pro ATV class.

Starting from near the back of the pack, Fredericks passed the entire field of waterlogged ATVs and riders until he was the frontrunner on a course that saw several parts closed due to as much as three-feet of standing water.

“I ended up getting almost last place out of the holeshot, and I’m actually kind of glad because there was a lot of carnage during the first lap due to the track conditions,” said Frederick. “My Can-Am DS 450 ran great! There was a part of the track where the water came all the way up to the seat and the ATV did great. It never skipped a beat!”

In Saturday’s Open Pro ATV class, Team Motorworks’ Brandon Smith took third in a gruelling race that saw the top three finishers all within a minute of each other throughout the race. Smith’s team mate, Dillon Zimmerman, had a top-10 performance in the weekend’s Pro-Am ATV class.

Round two of the WORCS series will be February 22 to 24 at Mesquite Motocross near Mesquite, Nevada.

Polaris Announces Limited Edition 2008 Rangers

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Press Release –

Polaris Industries today announced its new hardest working, smoothest riding 2008 Limited Edition (LE) RANGER Side by Sides.

The lineup includes five, customized models which will be available at select US and Canadian dealerships starting in February.

New Polaris LE RANGER models include:

2008 RANGER XP, Painted Orange Crush Rally

The Painted Orange Crush Rally XP has all of extreme off-road performance of RANGER XP with a 700 EFI engine, new hand-operated parking brake with shift interlock and one-ton towing. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

o Painted Orange Crush hood with Rally stripes, dash, glove box, suspension springs and rear A-arms
o Cloud Silver cab frame, bumpers and screen
o Custom cut and sew stitched orange/silver/black deluxe seat
o 14 inch cast aluminum rims with Goodyear MTR radial tires

The MSRP (US) is $11,499 and the MSRP (Canada) is $15,199.

2008 RANGER XP, Midnight Red

Due to the Midnight Red XP’s extreme popularity, Polaris has brought it back again for 2008. Unlike it’s predecessors, this Red includes the new hand-operated parking brake with shift interlock and one-ton towing. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

o Painted Midnight Red hood, dash, glove box with custom Matte Black hood accents
o Silver suspension springs and rear A-arms
o Wrinkle Black painted bumper screen and cab frame
o Custom cut and sew stitched red/silver/black deluxe seat
o 12 inch Black painted aluminum rims with Polaris PXT radial tires

The MSRP (US) is $10,999 and the MSRP (Canada) is $14,599.

2008 RANGER XP, Black Metallic

The same ultimate performance as the RANGER XP, the Black Metallic RANGER XP screams Xtreme. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

o Painted Black Metallic hood, dash, glove box with Silver hood accents
o Silver painted cab frame, bumper, grill, suspension springs and rear A-arms
o Custom cut and sew black/silver seat
o 12 inch Black painted aluminum rims with Polaris PXT radial tires

The MSRP (US) is $10,999, and the MSRP (Canada) is $14,599.

2008 RANGER XP, Mossy Oak™ Browning Edition

No RANGER limited edition line up would be complete without a hunter edition. This machine has all of the features of the RANGER XP with the addition of a Mossy Oak™ patterned body and Browning Buck Mark accents. The RANGER XP’s Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) coupled with Independent Rear Suspension (IRS), will ensure a great hunt regardless of what Mother Nature throws your way. Features on this limited edition model include:

o New Mossy Oak™ New Break Up design (hood, dash, rims, decals)
o Custom Custom Cut & Sew Browning seat with Buck Mark decal
o No-shine wrinkle black paint (cab frame, bumpers, screen)
o Factory installed 4000 lb. Warn winch
o Dual Lock & Ride® Mossy Oak Gun Scabbards

The MSRP (US) is 12,299, and the MSRP (Canada) is $16,199.

2008 RANGER CREW, Turbo Silver

Haul all your friends in style with the new RANGER CREW in Turbo Silver. Along with RANGER CREW’s six-people capacity and massive under-seat storage, additional features on the limited edition model include:

o Turbo Silver hood, dash, glove box with custom Matte Black hood accents
o Silver suspension springs and rear A-arms
o Custom cut and sew stitched silver/black deluxe seat
o 12 inch rear, nine inch front cast aluminum rims with Polaris PXT radial tires

The MSRP (US) is $11,999 and the MSRP (Canada) is $15,499.

Polaris Announces Limited Edition ATVs for 2008

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Press Release –

Polaris Industries today announced the company’s limited edition ATV offerings for 2008. ATV enthusiasts will be able to get “The World’s Toughest ATVs” in six limited edition packages.

New 2008 Polaris LE ATV models include:

2008 Sportsman 800 EFI Nuclear Sunset-Big bore power with a hot paint job. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

· Nuclear Sunset paint
· Black cast aluminum rims

The MSRP (US) is $8,599, and the MSRP (Canada) is $11,699. Machines will be available in US and Canadian dealerships in March.

2008 Sportsman 800 X2 Stealth Black-Most versatile ATV gone stealth. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

· Stealth Black paint
· Cast aluminum rims

The MSRP (US) is $9,599, and the MSRP (Canada) is $11,999. Machines will be available in US and Canadian dealerships in March.

2008 Sportsman 500 Touring Pearl White-White times two. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

· Pearl White and Silver paint
· Cast aluminum rims

The MSRP (US) is $7,999, and the MSRP (Canada) is $10,299. Machines will be available in US and Canadian dealerships in May.

2008 Sportsman 300 Pearl White-A Gem in the Mid-Size class. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

· Pearl White and Silver paint
· Cast aluminum rims

The MSRP (US) is $5,099, and the MSRP (Canada) is $7,199. Machines will be available in US and Canadian dealerships in May.

2008 Sportsman Browning Hunter Editions-The ultimate hunting machines. Three Browning editions are offered in the 500 H.O. EFI, 800 H.O. EFI models and Sportsman 500 X2. All include the following additional features:

· Mossy Oak® “New Break Up™” brand pattern
· Camo-pattern rims
· Hand and thumb warmers
· Rear rack extenders
· Engine braking system (EBS) with active descent control (ADC)
· Gun scabbard with Lock & Ride™ gun mount
· Rear work lights
· Polaris 2,500 lb winch
· Browning logos

The MSRP (US) for the Browning Sportsman 500 is $7,899, the Sportsman 800 is $9,499 and Sportsman X2 500 is $8,899. The MSRP (Canada) is $10,599 for the Browning Sportsman 500, $12,699 for the Browning Sportsman 800 and $11,899 for the Sportsman 500 X2. Machines will be available in US and Canadian dealerships in April.

2008 Outlaw 525 S Stealth Black and Gold-Blazin’ Stealth speed. Additional features on the limited edition model include:

· Stealth Black/White paint
· Gold powder-coated A-arms, Swingarm and Heat Shield
· Black Powder-Coated Wheels
· Cut ‘n Sew Seat (STX Vinyl/Carbon Fiber Vinyl,/White Vinyl)

The MSRP (US) is $7,599, and the MSRP (Canada) is $10,799. Machines will be available in US and Canadian dealerships in March.

Raptor or YFZ450?

Question:

Dear Motorhead,

I am in the market for a new quad and am torn between the Yamaha 700 Raptor and the YFZ450. I am a sucker for displacement, but from what I’ve heard the 450 is one mean SOB. 

I want to buy one of them and install some reliable horsepower and handling mods right off the bat. I have $3-$4,000 extra to put in either quad after the purchase. I have no plans to race but want to be able to carry the mail when I want to.

Any suggestions in what mods I should do first will be greatly appreciated. 

BTW…I bought your latest issue at Walmart and as a first time buyer I can say I am very impressed. 

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks in advance,

Craig

Response:

Thanks for your email!

Without telling me what you have experience with in the past, I am reluctant to recommend one of these ATV’s.

The 450 is a purpose-built, dead serious competition targeted ATV. The Raptor is a much more versatile, trail friendly vehicle which, in my opinion – is the right choice for a non-racing buyers.

The power is super broad, it’s EFI and the chaissis is super compliant for both trails and dunes.

After you buy one or the other, we can talk performance mods!

Good Luck!

Motorhead Mark

Hi Craig,

I thought I would chime in as I have a lot of experience with both these units being one of the sport riders of our publication. 

The 450 is a great ride but if your not focusing on the track you might want to stay away from it. The mill is already running at the top percentile of it’s power range and modifying it can be a nightmare if you want a reliable and trail-able sport quad that’ll really haul donkey. 

The 700 Raptor in the SE package gives you almost everything you’ll find on the 450 including a sweet suspension package if you do happen to find yourself on the track wanting to throw down a few laps and heat up the shock oil.

Modifying the EFI mill is not terribly hard and the available modifications to really pump up the juice are out there.

If you’ve got 3-4 grand to throw into the ATV I’d recommend the SE Raptor and then take a look at either a big bore kit with a plug and play tuner box, a pipe/air, filter and some other goodies. Or go the whole way and throw a turbo kit on it.

Now the turbo kit is pretty serious and will probably run you a little more green but if you’re looking for something that is absolutely wild on horsepower the turbo kits out there really do impress. 

Just a few thoughts, 

AJ Lester

Moose Racing GNCC Contingency Program

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Press Release –

Moose Racing continues its support for America’s largest off-road racing series, the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series, with the 2008 Moose Racing contingency program.

Racers who purchase gear at participating Parts Unlimited/Moose Racing retailers and race at least 10 GNCC events will receive free gloves, as well as up to $200 in free race gear.

The new program will reward up to $15,000 in new gear and gloves.

The new program is an addition to Moose Racing’s existing contingency plan, which awards GNCC Class Champions with a complete Moose Racing outfit, consisting of Moose racing pants, jersey and gloves, as well as THOR Racing boots.

With GNCC Series hosting 65 classes in 2008, that’s an additional contingency package of $26,000, bringing the total program to $31,000.

Beyond contingency, Parts Unlimited and Moose Racing will support the sport by hosting four dinner shows at the GNCC events in 2008.

The selected rounds are the Triton GNCC in Melbourne, Florida, the Steele Creek GNCC in Morganton, North Carolina, the Spartan GNCC in Sparta, Kentucky, and the Ironman GNCC in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In Florida, Parts Unlimited will serve dinner on Monday, in North Carolina and Indiana it will serve dinner on Saturday, and in Kentucky it will serve dinner on Friday.

As always, the top Moose Racing pro riders will serve the dinner to the racers, including GNCC Champions David Knight and Bill Ballance. Music and entertainment are also planned for each event.

The 2008 Can-Am GNCC Series kicks off at the Triton GNCC in Melbourne, Fla., with ATVs hitting the trails on Sunday, March 2 and motorcycles on Tuesday, March 4.

The 2008 GNCC tour will feature over $3 million in contingency and prizes, making it the richest off-road series in the nation.

Complete information on the Moose Racing Contingency program is available at the all-new Can-Am GNCC Website, www.gnccracing.com/contingency.

BRP SIGNS TOP CANADIAN RACERS

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Press Release –

BRP’s Can-Am DS 450 EFI ATV will be challenging for the podium in each round of the Canadian Motosport Racing Club’s (CMRC) National Series and the CMRC’s provincial series in Quebec in 2008.

Richard Pelchat, Michael Ouellette and Jimmy Morin, three of Canada’s top ATV motocross racers will pilot the DS 450 EFI in races across Canada, including Quebec.

“From the beginning of our DS 450 development program we were committed to making a machine that will win championships,” said Bernard Guy, ATV marketing director at BRP. “To win a Canadian championship would be very special for BRP, which is exactly what these three racers and teams will set out to do.”

Five-time Canadian national champion and St-Romuald, Quebec resident, Richard Pelchat, will be racing for the Can-Am team in select World Powersports Association ATV Tour events, but will focus on the 2008 CMRC national series events and 2008 ITP/Moose Racing ATVA/AMA Motocross Championship.

Michael Ouellette of Tingwick, Quebec, will ride Can-Am ATVs with the NDB Sport / PLX Sport team.

Last season Ouellette just missed taking third in the CMRC National Championship. This season he will focus on improving on his fourth-place showing in the series.

Cap-St-Ignace, Quebec’s Jimmy Morin suffered from bad luck last year during the CMRC Nationals, but four top-five finishes allowed him to finish sixth overall.

For 2008, Morin will race for the Can-Am team with the NDB Sport / PLX Sport team and looks forward to staying consistent through the entire series to make a run for the championship.

Each racer will pilot the all-new, high-tech DS 450 EFI, which features an innovative ALTEC aluminum frame and chassis components.

Inside the chassis sits the potent Rotax 450 engine that produces championship-calibre power.

This combination gives the DS 450 EFI model the highest power-to-weight ratio and the lightest dry weight in its class.