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MY DREAM come true 450x by f2
Hello my friends,
I have been an avid desert racer for many years. “Avid does not mean fast,
just that I love doing it” I have always raced on bone stock KTM’s
and Honda’s and had always felt that my equipment might be holding me back
from becoming the best racer/rider I could be.
So I had an opportunity to get a custom-built race bike by F2Racing.net. They
are the same guys who build Steve Hengeveld’s bikes. “That guy is
fast” They are an awesome group of tech heads over there and talked me through
what I wanted and what I really needed. “not always the same thing”
We talked about how I ride and what has worked for me in the past and what I expected
a perfect bike should feel like. I truly respect the quote, “you only know
as good as you have ever ridden” Well, F2 and I agreed that a tractor like
450x that would have a good to mild snap in the low end and a strong tractor like
pull in the middle and top end for desert racing. Awesome!! So, I supplied the
bike and off to work they went. I am not sure of what all they did, “some
of it is a secret” I know some head work, porting carb work and special
coatings to make it xr650r bullet proof. Plus a matching of header pipe and exhaust
to compliment the power and pull of the bike. And to add to the package, I had
them do there new suspension service and valving on the forks and shock to match
my weight and riding style. “ I am excited about this”
You can call and ask them of what they did, I just let them go ahead and do their
thing, I trusted them!
I topped the rest of the bike off with a nice selection of bling from Crfsonly
and other providers.
So.. the big day.. I pick the bike up from the owner of F2racing and he goes
over all that I should expect from this bike and how to break it in. He said
that it would feel stiff for about the first 5 hours of riding until the frame
breaks in a little. “I did not know you had to break in a frame but now
I know you do”
Well, I felt the best way to break in this Desert Killer would be to take her
to BAJA and flog her! I took her on a 5 day riding trip covering most of the
2008 Baja 500 course “loop from Ensenada to Ensenada” That should
give me a good idea of what she would do!
Day 1: 125 miles - F2Racing was right, she was stiff as can be, making me feel
a little apprehensive on turns and whoops, but through the day she was just
breaking in and getting more plush.. not perfect but getting better.
Engine day 1: I took it easy on her, never keeping it at one rpm for long and
never seeing WO, and to be honest WO on this bike scared me.. because 80% throttle
was smoking fast!!
Day 2: 100 miles – The bike - I have now named “Shinurah the Desert
Angel” - started right up in the morning after an oil and filter change.
She purred to life begging me to take her to her to the grounds she was made
for! Right off, she still felt stiff, but better then day one. The days section
consisted of some rocks and wide open areas, good fun! Through the rocky tight
slow sections she handled just perfect and the bike through the day was feeling
smaller and more nimble to me and she plushed up. Then when I hit the wide open
stuff, I let her breathe a little and found out fast that this bike was far
better then I was. 0 to scary in 4 seconds!! That motor pulled through all the
gears and it had enough snap at all ranges to pop over any washes, ruts or g-outs!!
DANG and it was just day two on the motor!! I pulled into the ranch hotel at
the end of the day with a smile from ear to ear!!
Day 3 and 4 – I am going to combine these two days together because “Shinurah”
just got better and better.. Day 3 was a short day, not due to the bike but
due to the heat in the interior of Baja “110 or so” So I could not
give her a full test until day 4 up in the forest area, where it was cooler
and a littler easier on me.
The slick forest roads where a blast with power on demand from the f2raing 450x
power plant! Unbelievable throttle response and pull! These roads brought me
to some secret mixed track that really showed the suspension agility. The suspension
had finally softened up and would attack trophy truck sands whoops straight
and nimble, allowing me to time a few doubles and triples to make it through
those sections faster then I have ever gone! WOW.. this bike felt like a mountain
bike with a huge motor!
The only problem I had was to be going to fast an blow a corner and bounce out
through the rocks and trees.. laughing the whole way!! I had fun on her all
day just finding what limitations the bike had, or more so.. it turned out what
limitations I had.. This bike made me a better rider and I look forward to her
teaching me a few lessons!
Day 5 consisted of just cruising single track and having fun on her, I felt
confident that she could handle anything I threw at her and I felt confident
that she would get me through things I might be able to on my past machines.
Over all: The F2Racing.net bike was more then I expected or could of wished
for. The engine is a fast tractor and bullet proof, the suspension is responsive
in the slow stuff and a fly couch at speed! Over all I am in love and if you
ever get a chance to build a bike just for you F2racing are the go to guys!
Here she is
Shinurah The Desert Angel - F2Racing.net built
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