By Jon Row
Basic mud management is part and parcel of any professional MX team’s set up process. Especially in Supercross, handing and suspension dynamics change significantly when extra weight gets stuck on to wheels, fenders, engines and frames. Mud has a bad way of accumulating on a motorcycle’s most weight sensitive places. On fenders for example, weight increases both center of gravity and steering effort. SX aerials become more dangerous with extra mass at the bike’s ends and when launch and landing faces have inconsistent traction.
Accumulation prevention is basic name of the game
Stuffing cavities and crevices with foam, spraying fender undersides with slippery stuff or foam keeps the mud off and the weight down.
tricks include:
Swapping vented to solid discs minimizes brake problems.
Special radiator screens and guards help deal with the thermal problems of reduced air flow to mud encrusted, and insulated, engines.
Removing sprocket guards avoids packing or derailment
Dealing with slick conditions:
Different ignition maps enable more controlled power delivery.
Special tires for better grip and reduced packing
Hand guards and ribbed seats help riders hang on.
Dramatic things can happen when rain falls during a race or parts of the track are under water. Rider prep becomes more than just adding extra tear offs. Soaked riding gear increases weight. Tire and suspension adjustments help but don’t win the war when rain turns racing into survival.
Avoiding air box and induction system water intrusion is critical in water warfare conditions. Modern motocross engines with their minimal oil capacities do not happily ingest much water without the risk of something major failing.
( Click here to check out our VERY Muddy 2008 Daytona SX Photo Gallery )
When it’s really bad –what you can’t see
Of all the tricks, the art of special hand-made air box labyrinths, ducts, channels and drains are the best-kept secrets. Acquired through years of trial and error, most teams won’t let cameras near these but rest assured a lot is going on under here.
When Mother nature becomes their toughest competitor, teams need every trick they can get.
Story: Jon Row
Photos: Justin Dawes & Bikeland.org
Basic mud management is part and parcel of any professional MX team’s set up process. Especially in Supercross, handing and suspension dynamics change significantly when extra weight gets stuck on to wheels, fenders, engines and frames. Mud has a bad way of accumulating on a motorcycle’s most weight sensitive places. On fenders for example, weight increases both center of gravity and steering effort. SX aerials become more dangerous with extra mass at the bike’s ends and when launch and landing faces have inconsistent traction.
Accumulation prevention is basic name of the game
Stuffing cavities and crevices with foam, spraying fender undersides with slippery stuff or foam keeps the mud off and the weight down.
tricks include:
Swapping vented to solid discs minimizes brake problems.
Special radiator screens and guards help deal with the thermal problems of reduced air flow to mud encrusted, and insulated, engines.
Removing sprocket guards avoids packing or derailment
Dealing with slick conditions:
Different ignition maps enable more controlled power delivery.
Special tires for better grip and reduced packing
Hand guards and ribbed seats help riders hang on.
Dramatic things can happen when rain falls during a race or parts of the track are under water. Rider prep becomes more than just adding extra tear offs. Soaked riding gear increases weight. Tire and suspension adjustments help but don’t win the war when rain turns racing into survival.
Avoiding air box and induction system water intrusion is critical in water warfare conditions. Modern motocross engines with their minimal oil capacities do not happily ingest much water without the risk of something major failing.
( Click here to check out our VERY Muddy 2008 Daytona SX Photo Gallery )
When it’s really bad –what you can’t see
Of all the tricks, the art of special hand-made air box labyrinths, ducts, channels and drains are the best-kept secrets. Acquired through years of trial and error, most teams won’t let cameras near these but rest assured a lot is going on under here.
When Mother nature becomes their toughest competitor, teams need every trick they can get.
Story: Jon Row
Photos: Justin Dawes & Bikeland.org
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