Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "wpsteig" wrote:

> Warning. > Newbie questions again. > > What are the Tengai and Motards?

Tengai - japanese fertility dance Motard - leotards on the BBW dancers

A Tengai is a KLR encased in expensive and difficult to replace bodywork, lowered a bit and with better brakes. Motards are basically dirtbikes with 17" rims, slicks, and roadracing brakes. They started out (I believe, I got into bikes in '88) in the '70s for a Wide World of Sports race series called Super TT that pitted top roadracers, MXers, and dirttrack racers against each other on a course that had a little of everything. This faded away but the format was resurrected by the French maybe ten years ago, and is now a very popular race series in Europe and the UK. Think 40-75hp, about 300lb weight, bicycle handling, and one tire or the other in the air most of the time. CR500s and KX500s are good mounts, unless you prefer thumpers. In that case take an XR650R, fit a dual-sport kit and a HRC hop-up kit, hack off every unnecessary item, lace up 17" rims with dual front brakes, and fit DOT legal race tires. Wheelies at every green light, stoppies at every red light. Going into and out of corners sideways with the back tire smoking. I'd be in jail pretty quickly with a bike like that. Running knobbies is the only thing that keeps me honest. Devon wpsteig wrote:

> Warning. > Newbie questions again. > > What are the Tengai and Motards? > > Pat > Tx

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Devon Jarvis wrote:

> Motards are basically dirtbikes with 17" rims, slicks, and

roadracing

> brakes. They started out (I believe, I got into bikes in '88) in the

'70s

> for a Wide World of Sports race series called Super TT that

pitted top

> roadracers, MXers, and dirttrack racers against each other on a

course that

> had a little of everything. This faded away but the format was

resurrected

> by the French maybe ten years ago, and is now a very popular

race series in

> Europe and the UK. > > Think 40-75hp, about 300lb weight, bicycle handling, and one

tire or the

> other in the air most of the time. CR500s and KX500s are good

mounts, unless

> you prefer thumpers. In that case take an XR650R, fit a

dual-sport kit and a

> HRC hop-up kit, hack off every unnecessary item, lace up 17"

rims with dual

> front brakes, and fit DOT legal race tires. > > Wheelies at every green light, stoppies at every red light. Going

into and

> out of corners sideways with the back tire smoking. I'd be in jail

pretty

> quickly with a bike like that. > > Running knobbies is the only thing that keeps me honest. > > Devon

Consider two recent sightings: 1. At a recent First Thursday at Dulono's in Minneapolis, a WR426 with 17" rims, gumball rubber, and a double row of spikes, as in a spiked dog collar, protruding from the Rally Pros, and more spikes in the front fender. No way that will get through tech, not as long as the AMA wants folding footpegs. . 2. Outside Aerostich in Duluth last weekend (World Cup trials weekend), an XR650L, mid 90's, plastic 4 gallon tank, 17" excels with DP rubber on both ends, tons of brakes, a homemade stainless heatshield for the muffler, and a whole bunch of handmade aluminum brackets for stuff like signals, mirrors, etc. This has a familiar ring , I sez to meself. Sure enough, it's Andy's current touring bike. So, what's my point? Just what a wonderful sport this is.