#1. Flex Bars.....best mod for any off road bike on the market. #2 Scotts
dampener, from ATK as option. #3 Rework suspension and springs for 5'-9.5" /
170lb rider at Pro Action and add air reservoirs to the front forks for volume.
#4 Dual Sport from ATK #5 Thor offset shifter tip on stock arm, a must for
boots of size 11 or over. #6 Excel / Talon trick rim/hubs with wave rotors.
Bling and a 4.75lb unsprung weight savings over stock DID's. #7 With 70+ mph
connector roads, the stock 13/50 (3.846) was changed out to a 14/47 (3.357). I
took a 49 (3.5) with me incase I was being overly optimistic for 14,000 steep
climbs.
Tech day: The bike squeezed in at the 96 DB limit due to mechanical motor
noise. The test was done at a throttle opening well above the torque curve
required to ride the bike, but the same as other bikes with less bottom oomph.
Day one: Having to shake the butterflies from the surgery and the first time
"moving" since the same, it was a confidence building day. The bike, gears,
injection, my foot all HAD to work as Taylor Pass was the order for the start
of the day. They all worked like a charm and after a good nights rest in
Crested Butte, Tuesday morning was a all smiles, new frame of mind day. I was
back in the saddle.
Day two: A 200 mile work day for the ATK.... not believing the gas mileage from
day one, 100+ miles of mixed terrain high dessert to Lake City confirmed the 70
to 80 MPG fluke from Monday. After lunch, another 100 miles of Powder Horn,
Cinnamon Pass and Cork Screw Pass tested the suspension and fuel system. Even
at 13,000 feet with tall gears, steep rock switch backs were second gear pulls.
First gear had too much torque and spun out the rear on the loose traction
steep rocks and rubble. On the other hand, the compression was so strong, steep
downhill's (Cork Screw in the pouring rain) were effortless as the motor
breaking relieved my recovering right foot from any real rear brake work. I was
in disbelief that I did not pinch tubes or bend rims as many riders "whittled"
their way through jagged rock step climbs and the throttle on, straight line
method worked well for me. The Ohlin's suspension ate up the impacts with
little more than a "rock and roll" attitude while many other suspensions worked
the "fringe". Into Ouray for a fun evening. What a great little town...and yes,
with the more vertical trek on the afternoon....still 60 to 70 MPG. The bike
was just pulling low RPM's all day. (note for Db. testing in tech.)
Day three: Out to Black Bear Pass and on into Telluride. This was the breath
taking scenery, but steep wet rocky assents and descents kept your mind on the
trail. Again the compression was a asset on steep downhill sections. A quick
pass through town (we were asked to avoid spending money there till they again
accept the roll of recreational vehicles in their area again) and Imogene Pass
was the afternoon run. Outside of an occasional Jeep with a Poodle staring out
the back window (and the town wants us off the trails) to slow down the
progress, this pass was a beautiful chase up rock and ledges. It allowed 4th
and 5th gear pounding of the tires, rims....bike... with the bike jumping
sections of rock like they were not there. This was an outstanding display of
the bikes manners and agility. Back into Ouray and gas for the day...1.7
gallons! That night the bike got a oil change with over 450 miles in 3 days. I
could not help but to notice the increasing number of bikes on their side
getting new clutches or auto clutches from a sponsor vendor. After the days
ride, I now really appreciate the fact that the low end power never required
feathering the clutch. Just roll on the throttle and hang on, even with the
tall gears I chose for the event!
Day four: Back over the Alpine Loop via Engineer Pass (12,800') and Powder Horn
to Lake City , top off the bike and stomach and back to Crested Butte on the
high dessert. Another 200 mile day completed. Many other bikes showing need for
clutch and services throughout the pits while I washed mine off and parked it
for the evening. The attrition trailers were filling up.
Day five: Out of town on Kebler and Ohio Pass and into Carbondale and up Hwy 82
to Snowmass with one stop for another 4 stroke failure on the highway to get
picked up from our group. At this point I could not resist the temptation to
see how the bike would run at top end and for the first time during the event,
I heard the high RPM 86Db. chatter as the speedo tapped 83 MPH for a few miles
on....mountain gears??? It was tough to put the bike back into the trailer for
the ride back to Dallas .
Home: A change of oil and I am going to leave the new gears on the bike. Ready
to go! I have other bikes to ride in the garage. The XC 200 will definitely get
the hole shot, but tops out in the upper 40 MPH range. The KX 250 is brutally
powerful, but does not have the suspension for the woods. The ATK is an unique
machine...not for everyone.....but it is the best ride for the week of workout
I put it through. It never complained and made the effort much easier with its
suspension and power.
Neal Seidner 2006 450 Enduro .. x2
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