 |
 |
 |
DIRT RIDER MAGAZINE DREAM RIDE: NIKS INDUSTRIES CRF450R WORCS RACER
From the October ‘08 issue of DirtRider...
It’s no great trick to build a fast bike. The trick is to build a bike that allows the rider to perform at his best with the minimum amount of energy expended. Niks Industries, known as a distributor of innovative products, focused on massaging a CRF450R motocrosser into a WORCS racer targeted at fast lap times and that goal of minimal rider (and machine) fatigue.
Even with all the bling and cool components you see on the exterior, one of the biggest first impressions came from the brakes. The wave rotors (oversize up front), pads and steel brake lines provide improved power, and AP Racing brake fluid keeps the braking power consistent through a long moto. The modified brakes gave better-than-stock strength, consistency and fade-resistance. The rear brake’s progression allowed smooth rolling on of the brake.
The Niks bike had its handling dialed, too. Tracking coming into turns was a little unstable or nervous, probably because of the soft shock setting, but once you got into and were heading through a corner the bike was precise, planted and very agile for a 450. The steering stabilizer, which worked great on the high- speed chop, didn’t make the steering feel heavy in even the slowest, tightest corners. This is one 450 that doesn’t take a lot of muscle to muscle around.
The engine is strong, cleanly carbureted and usable. The lack of a hit ensures you won’t lose your arms at the 30-minute mark, and the smaller rear sprocket, a 46-tooth, saved a few shifts.
The bike also has plenty of protection to keep things running right, and the CRF rides on a tubeless rear tire to make sure all this preparation isn’t jinxed by a flat.
The Niks bike is a great long-event weapon tuned to get lap times down, keep them down and preserve energy for that last-lap charge. It’s good to be strong when your competitors are at their weakest.
Ryan Orr
From the October ‘08 issue of DirtRider. Copyright DirtRider, reprinted with permission.
