project ATV

By the staff of Dirt Wheels TRX650R ONE-OFF HONDA Way back around 2004, Jay VanValkenberg had been riding a big-bore TRX250R two-stroke for 15 years. He bought it brand new back in 1989. Then he decided to add a four-stroke quad to his collection. He was sick of waiting for Honda to get in gear and offer a big-bore-thumper, straight-axle quad. Being a diehard Honda fan, he wanted a thumper that had plenty of torque and plush suspension. He decided a fully built TRX450R wouldn’t satisfy him, so he decided to build…

Budget build by the staff of Dirt Wheels PROJECT HONDA TRX400EX In world history, the Dark Ages were well before the discovery of America, but for the sport ATV world, the dark ages were the 1990s. Yamaha kept the sport quad light burning with the Blaster and the Banshee, but other brands shied away. Just 10 years earlier all four brands had performance two-stroke ATVs and had fun riding, racing, and going crazy. Then, in 1998, 10 years after the last Honda TRX250R, the 1999 TRX400EX was released. It revitalized…

By the staff of Dirt Wheels,  Photos by Ken Hill YFZ450R WOODS MACHINE It takes a lot to become a pro-ATV racer. You need commitment to put your all into each race, every practice lap, and have the willingness to put your wellbeing on the line to place a foot on the podium. Countless hours are spent wrenching, working out your body and psyche, all while honing your skills on the quad to become one of the best. None of those facts matter, though, if you don’t have a great machine to pilot in the hunt for victory.…