Why use an independent motorcycle shop?
All motorcycle shops are not created equal! At Highland Cycles we believe that the independent shops are the best ones to use and here is why:
Dealerships are great because you can go purchase your new bike, get financed and walk out the door. But dealerships have an amazing amount of overhead and pressure coming down from the manufacturers that they represent. Every year they have to buy more machines, more accessories, more tools, more promotional stuff. That all equals them having no room to work on the cost of their labor or parts. They also seem to be filled with people who feel pressure all day to sell, sell, sell instead of encourage, lead and teach. Now this isn't saying that all dealerships are this way and if you have one that is passionate about the sport and you love then by all means, give them your business.
Independent shops are generally run by enthusiasts who love the sport and just want to see more people riding instead of their bottom line increasing. We got into this industry because we LIVE motorcycles and we want to spread what we call the Gospel of 2 Wheels! We aren't forced to buy any specific parts or accessories and we don't get anything for free. The parts we have hanging on the wall are ones we paid for, tested and approved because we think they will work for you. Independent shops are also hungry, we don't have shiny new models to draw you in, we just have passion to spread around. We want your business, we are driven to succeed and the only way to do that is make our customers super happy. And Highland Cycles can get ANY OEM part you need too. You don't have to feel like your are forced to by those from a dealership. Weh have really good relationships with some great dealerships who share our vision. Like all humans, we make mistakes and drop the ball occasionally but we are motivated to make it right and learn to be better.
Highland Cycles is a truly independent shop and one built on passion, hopes and dreams. We are backing those up with hard work, organization, and planning so that we can offer our passion and drive for 2 wheels to the entire world someday. So, as this season ramps up, consider using Highland Cycles as your personal shop. We will treat you with the utmost respect and will be grateful for your business.
What's in a name??
So, why the name Highland Cylces??? It doesn't position us high in the alphabet, or early in the phone book. It doesn't really make a lot of sense on the surface but like all we do at Highland Cycles, it is who we are!
Our owner Morgan Spradling is of Scottish descent and has a very deep tie to the Scottish people and their way of life. When he was originally dreaming of the shop and business he decided that he wanted to pay homage to and proudly state his heritage. And since Highland Cycles was created in Colorado the highlands of Scotland seemed appropriate place to draw the name from.
After the initial naming and creating of the shop Morgan started to model and continues to shape the business around his passion and the Scottish way of life.
The Scots are a proud people! They are a group of hard working, adventurous, self reliant, honest and fiercely driven humans. They are also know to have been one of the most welcoming tribes in the UK and beyond.
Highland Cycles is the same way. We are honest, hard working and we want EVERYONE to join us in the amazing adventure of motorcycling. We believe that the world would be a better place if everyone rode, if everyone took responsibility for their lives and everyone participated in the adventure that these machines provide!
Like the Scots, we are still a small band compared to big dealerships and sometimes are looked down upon and beaten up by the "man." But we guarantee that we will never, ever give up and we will work tirelessly to "KEEP YOU RIDING"
Our main logo will always be the oval you see below but one of our favorite stickers and Morgan's personal favorite logo is the Mohawked Bagpiper Wheelieing a dirt bike. If you don't have one, please come by and grab a bagpiper sticker and support Highland Cycles and the exciting world of 2 wheels.
Long live Highland Cycles, the spirit of adventure and the gospel of 2 wheels!!!
What is Highland Cycles to the owner Morgan Spradling?
Morgan, why are you starting another Highland Cycles in Grand Junction right now?
Morgan - "One word! Dreams!! I have big dreams. I don't just want to make a bunch of money and ride dirt bikes. I want to change the way the motorcycle industry does business. I want people to work for Highland Cycles as a life long career, be able to save money, support families and have health insurance. I want my employees to have a higher standard of living. I don't want Highland Cycles to be just a stop along the way to a "real" career, I want it to be the goal!!!
I want to spread the gospel of two wheels and what it can do for your life and your health. I want kids to learn the responsibility that comes with buying, maintaining and riding motorcycles. I want to keep people away from computer screens and video games. I want people to be excited about something wonderful. I want people to be able to walk into ANY Highland Cycles and get the very best service, parts, accessories and riding advice that there is to offer at the very best price possible.
I have BIG DREAMS!!!! Thank you all for your support and thank you God for all of your blessings!!"
Why Highland Cycles???
Why Highland Cycles and not any other shop??? That is a very good question and one that I love to answer!
Highland Cycles was started because of an entrepreneurial seizure that our owner Morgan Spradling had back in 2006. He was working for a dealership and woke up one day thinking that he could do it better. He HAD to do it better. It was all he could think about for months and months. Finally he pulled the trigger, borrowed way too much money and started Highland Cycles in March of 2007. He didn't have a clue what was going to happen but he HAD to do it.
After years of struggling, selling all of his bikes, buying more bikes, selling them again, hiring, firing, borrowing and begging he finally started to move in the right direction. He realized his primary aim. "To Keep People Riding!" He didn't want to sell new bikes, didn't want to make as much money possible, he wanted people to ride their bikes. After all, that is what this is all about right???
He hired Mick in March of 2012 and things started to change, they started to get more done and reach more people. Then came Chad in 2014 and Jon this year. Now they are opening a shop in Grand Junction!!! The Highland Cycles Gospel is spreading.
So back to the "Why Highland Cycles" question. Its simple really.....
Because they want to keep you riding. They thrive on the smiles of customers as they fire their bikes up. They are elated when someone rides with them and exclaims "Holy S&*T that was AWESOME." Highland Cycles is the real deal and while they aren't perfect, they LOVE motorcycles and everything about them.
Don't go back to the big box filled with shiny parts and people who hate their jobs, go see Morgan, Mick, Chad and Jon and get psyched on riding!!!!
Fall in Colorado with Highland Cycles!!!
As you know, Highland Cycles is very much a motorcycle focused shop and that has a lot to do with Morgan our founder. He is a die hard motorcyclist to his core. BUT!!! Highland Cycles is also dedicated to keep ALL of your powersports equipment running well and performing above average!
Our mechanics are very familiar with all types of powersports equipment from side by sides to snowmobiles to snowbikes! Chad and Jon can fix anything and love making all kinds of things go faster and handle better.
Together they have worked for every manufacturer out there and can help you make your sled, snowbike, quad or side by side work to its absolute potential.
So, if you have lots of different toys, bring them into us and we will take very good care of all of them.
Highland Cycles Providing Adaptive Equipment
I am very happy to report that we just recently did our first adaptive modifications to a dirt bike to get a rider back out there who had an injury that was keeping him from riding.
We were approached by this gentleman a month ago. He had lost a lot of use of his right hand and wrist and was wondering if we could do something to help him be able to get back on a dirt bike. Our mechanics and parts guys got together and came up with a plan. We didn't know if it would all work but we were willing to give it a try if he was.
His biggest concern was the front brake. He really couldn't grip hard enough or fast enough to feel comfortable with the brake on the right side.
First up we needed to find a way to get the front brake control over to the left side. Fortunately that was pretty straight forward. We got a KTM hydraulic clutch master cylinder and built a custom line that went to the front brake caliper. It worked perfectly.
Because his left hand would be busy with the brake we tipped his clutch lever down and installed a Rekluse CORE EXP 3.0 to take care of that.
After that we installed a "cramp buster" on the throttle to allow him a little easier operation of the throttle with less grip needed.
Not his bike
We are psyched to say that it all turned out really well and the customer is back on 2 wheels again and loving it.
Highland Cycles is committed to helping people get out and ride. Whether you need new tires, a motor rebuilt or custom controls built we will do WHATEVER it takes to get you out!!!!!
Highland Cycles 2016 Race Team
Want to join the Highland Cycles 2016 race team??? We are accepting resumes from now until November 15th for sponsorship for the 2016 season.
Highland Cycles will be choosing between 4 and 6 riders to help out next year. Sponsorship will include a full set of gear (pants, jersey, gloves), 2 sets of tires, parts and service discounts and support at a number of the Webe and Moto Mayhem races!
We will be basing our decision on a bunch of factors but one of the big ones is a commitment to attending all of the races possible and supporting Highland Cycles at the races and in the community.
Highland Cycles is committed to the racing community and we want to help the sport as much as possible.
Please submit resumes to highlandcycle@hotmail.com or at the shop in person.
We will announce the race team members January 1st!!!
ProTaper Micro Bars are HERE!!!
When we found out about the ProTaper Micro bars we were super excited. As you all know, we support kids riding more than anything and we are always looking for a way to make their experience better. Well ProTaper has come up with a great way to do just that, The Micro Bar.
I am going to let you read their words about the bars because they explain it better than I can.
"The ProTaper Micro Handlebar kit was designed to revolutionize the way youth riders control their off-road motorcycles. By employing recent advances in manufacturing techniques, ProTaper has innovated a handlebar conversion kit that offers a reduced diameter handlebar for youth riders to better grasp while riding and racing. By reducing the hand-hold area, youth riders can now grasp the reduced size grip the same way an adult rider grasps traditionally sized grips. This gains more control, drastically reduces fatigue, and ultimately gives younger riders the opportunity to ride and race to their full ability. The unique design of the Micro handlebar utilizes an advanced, abrupt-taper, to give it a smaller diameter in the hand-hold areas while still maintaining a 7/8” diameter throughout the clamping and control areas; making it simple to directly install onto any make or model 2-stroke mini cycle of 85cc and smaller."
We have been waiting for quite a while to get our sets of the bars but they are finally here and I am so excited to get a pair on my kids bikes. The design is great and the fit and finish of the kit is very high quality. If you have a kid on a bike 85cc's or smaller I highly recommend a set of these bars to help them to have a better time while riding.
We don't have them available on the website yet but you can call the shop and we will ship them anywhere in the US or you can swing on down and check them out in person.
Highland Cycles IS FUN!!!
Motorcycles are fun, they aren't necessary, we do not NEED them! We as people do NEED fun and activity and this select group of people called motorcyclists have chosen these two wheeled magic carpets as our means to fun, escape, relaxation, excitement, exercise, and camaraderie!
Highland Cycles was created and is driven by the desire to create fun in the form of motorcycling. We don't sell parts to save you money, we don't offer great service because you need to get to work on your bike. We do everything we do to keep you riding and having FUN!!! Even if you commute or work from your bike, we all know that it is more fun on two wheels than any other mode of transportation!
When you think of motorcycles and you think of fun, think of HIGHLAND CYCLES!!!!
Fly Evo 2.0 Gear In Review
I am not normally a big "gear" guy. I usually just buy whatever is on close out or looks cool but I decided that since I have this new website that I would try to pick out some stuff that I could review and be critical of.
Our Fly rep came into the shop and showed me some of the new Fly gear and I decided that I would give it a try even though I haven't worn Fly gear in a long time.
I decided on the Evo 2.0 because it seemed to be a durable yet high tech option. It boasted of having the BOA system to fine tune the fit and they had a totally ridiculous HI VIZ color scheme. So I ordered a set for the annual death march. I knew that if I stayed comfortable for 170 gnarly miles then I could recommend it to my customers.
At 6:30 am on Sunday morning I pulled on the new gear and cinched down the adjustments around my "robust" figure. We headed out on one of the hardest rides I could dream up and the gear did an amazing job. I was cursing the venting at 7:00 am in Gunnison Colorado because I was freezing but it worked really well (too well that early in the morning). I stayed comfortable all day long and into the night as we finished the ride.
My gear "fresh" from the Death March
I think that the venting that they put into the (for lack of a better word) crotch and butt area did a great job of keeping me from having any monkey butt at all. I really liked the BOA cinch system that allowed me to tighten the pants down and keep them from wanting to fall down. I absolutely LOVE the grippy stuff they have on the lower back of the jersey. It kept it in my pants all day! The feel on the bike from the leather inner knee patches was great too. All in all, I really liked the gear and would recommend it to any customer. It isn't super inexpensive ($50 jersey/$170 pants) and I cannot say much about durability yet but I like it and will follow up with a long haul test later this year.
If you have any questions please post here or call us at the shop 970-240-2197. We would be happy to answer any questions or order up a set for you!
Mobius Knee Braces In Review
So, I have worn lots of knee braces over the years and I have never been super amped on any pair. They have always been a necessity that I tolerated. I don't have bad knees and have never blown anything out so they have always been preventative and therefore somewhat of a burden. I have never sprung for custom CTi's so they have always been off the shelf and bulky. My last pair was a set of EVS Web Pro's. You know the ones, carbon and all that. $700 so they should be great right?? Nope. They were bulky feeling, always falling down on long rides and just not comfy.
So recently I decided to switch it up and try the completely different Mobius braces. I was lucky enough to meet and talk to Taylor Robert at our Moto Mayhem race in July. He is wearing them now and I asked him his honest opinion about them. He said that he really liked them so I figured that is all I needed.
Here is why you should at least consider our reviews on here. I had to purchase a set. Yes I pay less than retail but no one gives us stuff to say nice things. I have to buy them with my own money so if I say I like it, it is because I really like it.
So I received my braces just a few days before the Death March and I was worried that I would take them on this giant ride and end up having blisters, or at the least have to adjust them all the time. Well I was wrong, they were great right away
I put the braces on for a couple shake down rides in the adobes. They took me a couple tries to figure out how to fit them correctly but after that I was in love with them. They fit great based on measurements that I took using their online guide. The strap and cable system of attaching them to your legs is super easy to do and is really secure. During the death march I only adjusted them once after the first 50 miles and they stayed in place for the following 120 miles of seriously gnarly terrain. They feel really slim on the bike. Unlike most braces the hinges aren't big bulky things, they are very trim and you barely notice any extra width. I used the MSR sock/legging combo things as sleeves and everything stayed put, allowing me to focus on finishing one of the hardest rides I have ever come up with.
My braces after the death march
These braces aren't super cheap but I have found that nothing good is so get over it and be prepared to spend some money. That said, at $600 they are less than a lot of braces and well worth every penny if you value your knees. If you have any questions about these please feel free to comment below or call our shop and ask for Morgan. 970-240-2197. If you want to try a pair on, we will order them and if they don't fit, we will send them back and get the right size or find the braces you need.
8th Annual Highland Cycles Bataan Death March
Well the 8th annual death march is in the books and it was bigger and better than ever. This year I turned 40 the day after the march so I decided to make it one for the books.
We camped out at Hartman Rocks again but instead of trailering up to the start we left from camp and snuck through town at 7 am. We started with Mick, Ian, Jeff, Brian, Kain and myself. The Prossers were supposed to meet us at the trailhead but were running late so we took off up Fossil Ridge. After getting to first stopping point it was clear that Mick, Ian, Kain and I were holding a brisk pace and Jeff and Brian decided to hang back together and enjoy their day at a slower speed.
We finished Fossil and Gold Creek in really good time and hit Taylor Park ahead of schedule. At the trading post Ian decided that he would head home to be with his daughter so Kain, Mick and I headed for Timberline to knock out the hardest trail of the day.
With just the 3 of us we made pretty short work of Timberline and all came out the other side ready for more. We rode up to the start of Star Trail where I had stashed gas and met the Prossers there. They had skipped Timberline to catch us so now we were up to a crew of 6. We took off up Star towards Italian Creek Rd. No real problems on Star but I did have my one crash of the day on a switch back but came out unscathed.
After we hit Italian Creek rd we headed to the italian connector down to spring creek reservoir. We headed up Flag trail to Bear Creek trail and down to Spring Creek rd for a gas and food stop. While were were filling up Kain and all of the Prossers decided that they were done and didn't want to follow Mick and I up Deadman's.
We said our goodby's and Mick and I launched into uncharted terrain for the death march. We rode up Deadman's to Reno Ridge. We raged the ridge to Reno Divide and headed down to Cement Creek and up to the Mount Tilton trail. After reaching the saddle we rode down Secret trail to the Taylor divide road and up to Star Pass. Mick and I stood on top of Star Pass and decided to try and do all of Double Top to Walrod Gulch before putting lights on. We charged hard and made to Cement Creek Rd with enough daylight to ride up and over deadmans and back to our gas just as it was getting dark.
We installed our lights and headed down the Spring Creek Rd to the Taylor River Rd and up to One Mile Campground. From there we took Rd 586 back to Lost Canyon Rd and back to town then Hartman's where Jeff and Brian were waiting with food and beer and pie for my birthday.
All told we put in over 170 miles in 14.5 hours of riding. It was exactly what I wanted to do for my 40th birthday!
The Kenda Equilibrium in review
PhotoCredit : Jimmy Lewis' Dirt Bike Test
Well, it took a while to get one of these bad boys on my bike but I did and here is what I think.
The Kenda Equilibrium is a hybrid between a trials tire and a traditional knobby tire. It is intended to compete with the Golden Tyre Gummi and other super sticky Euro tires.
The first thing I noticed when I mounted this tire is how stinking soft the carcass and knobs are. It is much softer than any other tire I have ever personally used. That makes for an easy mounting job even on my Mousse Bib on my 19" rim. I paired the Eq up with my favorite front tire of all time, the Bridgestone M59 and headed up to Rico and the Calico trail.
That area is filled with everything from dark black soil with roots to scree fields for miles so it wasgood test for the tire. After a full day up there I was very impressed with the traction that the Eq provided. It hooked up everywhere really. The only place it lacked was in some deeper mud but I don't know what would have done well there.
So after that I took it to our local Uncompahgre Plateau for some higher speed ripping and some night riding to see how it would do when pushing it harder in the turns and trying to keep up with my pro level employee Mick Holloway.
I was super impressed with the tire for the whole ride. I could charge hard into and out of turns without it wanting to step out and it held back well when hard on the rear brake. Over all I really like this tire but here is the rub.
This is what it looks like after two rides. It probably has about 100 miles on it and it is wearing really fast. I can say that it is still hooking up pretty well considering its shape but I don't see this being a great everyday average tire.
The cost is good, at $83 per tire it is way less than the $150 Golden Tyre and holds up about the same. In my opinion this is a very good race tire for Endurocross, or hard enduro style events where traction is key and you don't care too much about how long it lasts. Click on the pics above for the videos of the two rides this tire went on. Or click below for the videos and watch what I put the tire through. We stock the 18" version at the shop so if you need a great race tire with boat loads of traction, come on by or give us a call at 970-240-2197
The Sedona MX907 in review!
Well here it is. Arguably one of the weirdest looking tires made but one of the most popular!
I finally had the chance to try out the Sedona on my own bike. I would have done it much earlier but they were back ordered for what seemed like forever!
I put the Sedona on to my 18" wheel with a well worn Mousse Bib because it has a very stiff side wall and I had heard that it is bouncy if you have too much pressure or a new bib.
The first ride for the Sedona was up in the Taylor Park/Crested Butte area and I have to say I am very impressed. We rode 60 miles of tough and worn out single track with lots of roots and rocks and the Sedona performed very well. We rode in dry/slick areas and wet roots and the back of Elsa never did anything unpredictable. I am also really happy with how it looked after that ride. I am a wheel spinner for sure and I feel like the Sedona is going to last a long time. The tire doesn't hook up like a softer/higher priced tire but the long life will make up for that easily and I am not very picky about rear tires since they always seem to be spinning.
I recommend the Sedona for sure. At $70 you can't beat the price and we are trying to keep them in stock!
Helmet light review
As a lot of people know, I LOVE riding at night. I found my love of night riding during training for the 2006 Baja 1000. I soloed that race from Ensenada to La Paz and got to spend a lot of time on the bike in the dark.
I have used lots of different helmet lights in lots of different situations and all of them have left something to be desired. So I kept looking and trying different ones. My biggest complaint was always about the mounting system for helmets and the lack of adjustability. Recently I decided to buy a Baja Designs helmet light because I knew that they had a good mount set up. But when I called them I found out that they had quit making helmet lights. I asked the rep where I should look and they pointed me towards nite rider.
I checked out what they had and called them to find out what I needed to mount it to my Arai. They were super helpful and I ended up with the Enduro 2800 Pro light
After I got it all set up and charged the battery I took it out on a ride up Lower Spring Creek trail here in our valley. I can say without a doubt that it is the BEST helmet light I have ever used.
The light output is more than enough to see without any other light on the bike. I was riding Elsa (TC250) and felt comfortable going pretty fast.
The mounting system is far and away better than anything I have used or seen. The Jawbone system is fool proof and infinitely adjustable so you can get the light in the exact location you need.
The battery life is really good on these lights. At full blast they only last about an hour and a half but you don't need full light to have a ton of fun. I ran my light at about 800 lumens and felt great. At that brightness they will last over 3 hours which is usually more than enough ride time to have fun. You can always purchase another battery and ride until the sun comes back up.
After having so much fun I asked the Nite Rider folks if I could be a dealer and they said yes. I will be stocking the Pro 1400 and Jawbone mount at Highland Cycles from now on. I think that is will be the ultimate set up for economy and brightness. Click the pic below for the video of my ride. If you haven't ever tried it, I highly recommend riding at night. With the proper light set up it is so much fun and it makes all the trails you have ridden a million time feel brand new again!!!
Elsa the 2015 Husqvarna TC250 update!!
So most of you know how very much I love this bike. I have poured my heart into her to make it the best bike I can build and then let quite a few of you ride her in all sorts of conditions!
Well I recently made a decision to make her my bike alone and so I have begun personalizing her.
Our Highland Cycles suspension specialist Factory Suspension Works suggested that I pony up and have a Huck Valve installed in the shock. I have resisted that for quite a while because I just didn't believe that some part could make a bike that much better. Well after a long discussion I decided to let Greg do it. Let me tell you, that stinking valve is AMAZING!!!!!!
It is hard to truly describe how good the MX-Tech Huck Valve is. I LOVED my bike before but it has taken it to a completely new level. The best way I can explain it is that the rear of the bike is so completely settled in any terrain that it inspires a level of confidence that produces speed everywhere.
I got Elsa back from Greg at Factory Suspension Works and took it to the Uncompahgre plateau for a Thursday night ride. We headed out on Buck Trail first. I was timid at first, not knowing what to expect but as I rode the trail I slowly picked up the pace. After about 2 miles of riding I really picked it up and started trying to find things to hit and test the valve. Elsa was a new animal. She has always been spirited and fun but now she was planted and driven! I found that I could hit anything (and I mean anything) in the trail and the bike would track straight and soak it all up. It is so smooth through rough terrain that it makes you look back to see if you are on pavement. As the night wore on I began to ride faster and faster, eventually exceeding the speed I have ever traveled on those trails. No matter what I threw at Elsa, she ate it up and begged for more.
I am a 100% believer in the Huck Valve now. Do you have to have one??? No! They are very expensive and the rider is the most important part of the equation no matter what. Do you need one to win races?? NO! I have watched super talented people win on very "limited" equipment. BUT, if you are planning on keeping your bike for a long time and you can afford some really nice equipment and you want the very best there is to offer in suspension, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!!
We at Highland Cycles can help you out if you want to take this step towards the best bike you can build. We use Factory Suspension Works for all of our custom suspension work. You can drop the bike off at our shop and pick it up as a completely different animal. Feel free to contact the shop at 970-240-2197 or highlandcycles@hotmail.com to talk about this or any performance upgrades you are considering.
Highland Cycles and the next step
Highland Cycles is getting ready to enter another stage of its growth. I have hired another great mechanic to take my place in the back of the shop. Jon Turner will be coming aboard very soon and I am so excited. Jon is a great mechanic and is excited to be a part of the HC crew!
We are making this step for 2 reasons. The first is that we have too much work to do and we can't keep up. As owner and resident chatty kathy, I cannot get enough work done to help Chad out. The second and biggest reason is that I need to free myself up to start working on getting our Grand Junction location established
YES, we are coming to Grand Junction soon. I have a manager lined up who will do a bang up job. I need a mechanic, a parts guy and a location now.
My overall goal for Highland Cycles is to cultivate small shops that offer a local feel and great service and have the buying power to offer internet pricing in the store. I want every Highland Cycles to be a place where riders hang out and get parts and service. I will not EVER hire someone who doesn't ride and LOVE riding. We ARE Motorcycling. We eat it, sleep it and breathe it.
I am so excited about the future and what it holds for us. Look out world, Highland Cycles is coming!!!!!
2 stroke vs 4 stroke!
Well you must know that I am partial to 2 stroke dirt bikes. My personal offroad only bike is a KTM 300 and I chose a TC250 for our flagship. But I also own and LOVE an XR650R and have raced 4 strokes from Mexico to Colorado. We also work on and do lots of performance work to both types of bikes. And we LOVE all dirt bikes and ALL motorcycles for that matter. Here is my short and curt reason I love 2 strokes the most!
So lets start with maintenance. Since that is part of what we do all day every day, it is a big part of how I choose a bike to ride day in and day out. Lots of people say that 2 strokes need more maintenance but that is just wrong no matter how you look at it.
First of all lets talk about oil changes. A modern, high performance 4 stroke requires an oil change every 15 hrs of operation at the very minimum. If you go past this interval you are taking a chance at serious engine damage since a modern bike only holds about 1 quart of oil and it lubricates the transmission, clutch and motor (except Hondas but then you only have about 650 cc's of oil in its motor). To do this service correctly you are buying high end synthetic oil and a filter every time.
Now lets look at 2 strokes. The motor oil in a 2 stroke is mixed with the gas and is effectively changed every time the motor makes a revolution. The transmission oil is the only oil you have to change and since it just runs in the tranny it isn't all that critical. As long as there is good oil in there it is pretty much OK. A modern full size bike holds about 850cc's of tranny oil and there is no filter so its way cheaper to do a normal service on the bike.
Now lets talk about bigger motor maintenance. If you read your owner's manual you will see that if you follow their suggestions you will see that both 4 and 2 strokes require top end replacements more often than you would like. I won't go into details but I can say without a doubt that the parts cost for top end maintenance for a 2 stroke is about 1/3 the price of a 4 stroke. Now people argue that 4 strokes don't require maintenance as often as 2 strokes but that isn't true. That may have been true when the only 4 strokes were the likes of XR's but nowadays 4 stroke bikes need pistons at the same interval or earlier than most 2 strokes.
Now lets talk about the complexity of the job. Even though I make my living working on bikes I honestly believe that most owners could do a top end on a two stoke with a few tools and a manual. I DO NOT believe that is the case with 4 strokes. There is so much more going on with a 4 stroke and so much more could be ruined if you don't know what you are doing. It also costs a lot less to have a shop rebuild a 2 stroke than it does a 4 stroke.
So we have talked about the costs but I think that what really matters in every true motorcyclist's heart is excitement and fun. I have ridden and raced just about every type of bike you can imagine. And while I have never and will never be a professional racer or rider I can say without a doubt that there is NOTHING more exciting or FUN than trying to keep a 2 stroke in the powerband.
I know that there are lots of people being brought up who have never ridden a 2 stroke and I understand that if you want to compete on the national level in motocross or supercross, you have to ride a 4 stroke. But I recommend that everyone at least give an old smoker a try at some point. I honestly believe that they represent the true heart of motorcycling! Either way, GET OUT AND RIDE!!!!!!
300 Super Build
This winter my 2012 KTM 300XC turned over 400 hrs on its little motor so I decided it was time for a complete overhaul. Instead of selling it and getting a fresh one (which is usually what I do) I figured I would try to make my old girl into a brand spankin new ride!
So here is what we did: First thing was to remove the motor from the frame and completely disassemble it all the way to the crank shaft
After we had it torn completely down we sent the cylinder to US Chrome in Wisconsin to re-plate and match it up to the brand new Vertex Piston we bought for it. They also applied their new APC coating to the piston to help match it up even more perfectly and add durability.
We sent the crank out to Crankworks in Arizona and had them install a new Hot Rods rod and bearing and balance and true it to better than new specs.
After we got all that back, we replaced all of the bearings and seals in the entire motor and assembled it.
After assembling the motor we serviced or replaced every bearing in the chassis and serviced all of the suspension.
After we got the important parts done, we hung all new plastic on the frame and prettied her up!
Then we took her out and broke her in. Now comes the really cool part of the story. This bike is BETTER than it ever was before. I have been able to put over 20 hrs on it since the rebuild and it just keeps getting better. With the perfectly matched piston and cylinder and balanced crank it is smoother than when it was new. Not only is it less buzzy but the power is electric. It never surprises and never leaves you wanting more. It is hard to describe how good this bike is now. I invite anyone and everyone to come and ride it. I guarantee that you will like it.
Let us know if we can build you the ultimate offroad bike. I feel like Highland Cycles and build you the best bike around that is durable and performs better than new!!! www.highland-cycles.com 970-240-2197
