Rat’s alternative sports xtra update!! Rat’s Publics Service announcement Warning It’s Addictive! I want to start off by warning everybody about a terrible sickness going around called SMF. The scariest part is the amount of people just in our area alone that have come down with this life changing and VERY contagious condition. I came down with it about 4 weeks ago when I least expected it. I had heard about it, read about it and even saw it in person a few times, but I never really thought it was that big of a deal, and surly it would never happen to me. A supermoto race course usually consists of about 30 percent motocross and 70 percent road course which is just enough of each to test all you?re skills, definitely the most well rounded form of motorcycle racing. It?s amazing but even with bald tires you can still rail the berms and exit the turns with plenty of traction, and in supermoto it?s all about bug splattering speeds and my new favorite, backing it in on the road course. Backing it in is the art of going into a corner hot and downshifting hard while maintaining a totally controlled slide in to the apex of the corner mostly using only engine braking (deceleration of the motor) which really has a lot to do with the clutch. Oh yeah did I tell you how far you can lean one of these bikes at speed, I actually ground down the outer sides of my boots while keeping them ON the pegs, and, and, See I told you I?m showing severe signs of SMF right now. Supermoto Experience It all started out on a crisp clear Saturday morning when the ASULT Productions crew and I headed out to Amago raceway to meet up with our Italian speaking friends from Adige slipper clutches, they flew out for us to do some testing and to produce their new promo and installation videos for the American market.Enrique from Baja Cycles who not only is a US dealer for Acerbis and Adige he also set the whole thing up, and as always he did it first class.(Thanks again Enrique!) We met up with Jean Turner from Cycle News and a few other pros to help with the testing and feedback, I knew most of the guys but then this Chevy truck pulled up with 2 of the most beautiful bikes I had ever laid eyes on. After the first lap on the old go-cart track I was HOOKED!! And I just couldn’t get enough. Even stock the bike come set up with such a low center of gravity that on the road sections the bike handled totally insane, and after only a few laps I already felt totally comfortable backing it in while keeping my feet on the pegs, but in the dirt it felt a little heavier than the big 5 brands.But being bone stock with no suspension work or any other adjustments whatsoever the bike handled and jumped pretty good, and don’t forget this bike is a commuter. My overall opinion of the 2008 Aprilia 550 is it’s a great all around bike for a daily rider and if you want to make this bike into a supermoto racer that’s fairly competitive, there’s not that much you need to do. Another thing about this bike is it?s definitely one of the most awesome looking bikes you’ll ever see anywhere. So if you’re looking for a street legal supermoto but want something different check out the new Aprilia 550s and I promise you wont be disappointed. After almost running it out of gas they finally told me it was time to get off the bike I needed to share, then it was on with the testing, we had all makes of bikes for our testing, we first rode the bikes stock, then Walter the Adige technician would replace the stock one with the new Adige anti hop slipper clutch. The difference was amazing, this is a bolt on upgrade that you can really feel the difference, and if that wasn’t enough the Adige comes with 3 different shim sizes depending on how much engine braking you want, and believe me you can totally tell the difference. If I was going to add one part on my bike to make it handle better besides suspension work, it would be one of these Adige clutches, they not only help put the power to the ground on acceleration but they will also help with fatigue and handling by keeping the tire on the ground coming in to braking bumps. It’s a must have product if you’re a serious racer and you’re looking for that little edge over the competition. With better traction control and adjustable engine braking (just 10 min) for different track conditions, you’re sure to see lap time improvements wherever you race. We also loaded up and headed out to the Colorado River where we met up with Eamon McDonald the owner of Predator off road to shoot for his upcoming video. We got some sick footage and also got to rip up the dessert in a couple of their sweet X18 intimidator off road cars. If you haven’t got a chance to check them out in person their the coolest little cars that come with everything you can imagine, from heated seats to 20 inches of travel mounted atop 31 inch Pro comps with true bead locks. These rides are absolutely amazing, and with a small price tag of just over $26000 I think everyone should have one! Check out the small video short of Aemon and our friend tuck tearing it up at Aha Quinn and showing what big things these little cars are capable of on their web site predatoroffroad.com. Make sure and keep an eye out for the new X18 racecar coming out soon, I?ll get back to you next month and let you know how these racers handle at the track!! Oh yeah and how can I forget one of the highlights of the month, I know you heard about it, who didn’t? It was the Dirt Alliance Dirt Tour at the Perris fair grounds. Our Alternative Sports Xtra cameras rolled deep without missing a thing, along with all the action I interviewed some super cool people like drivers and members of the band, we also hooked up with our friend Deano at Unleashed Hardcore Apparel and got the 411 on the styles in the industry from his sweet little daughter Nevada. And let me tell you if you weren’t there, you missed out, the event totally lived up to all the hype! It was insane, the whole day was action packed with freestyle motocross, a big air truck jump, the RBP diesel dyno finals, and the dirt styles showcase featuring all the latest styles, clothing lines, and what’s cool in the industry. If you want to contact ASULT productions for any video production check out myspace.com/ratsultasx until next time DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLD IT!! Peace.
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