FMF Titanium Q Exhuast, Shoei V-Moto Helmet - Dirt Rider Magazine

FMF
Titanium Q Exhaust System
In the quest for four-stroke performance, there is the issue of sound. It is a common misconception that the louder the pipe is, the more power it makes. That is just plain wrong. It is also stupid because you are just upsetting people who ordinarily wouldn't even know you are out riding. So you have to keep an ear out for what muffler you are running on your four-stroke dirt bike. But, you say, all quiet pipes are heavy. Until now! FMF has upped the ante in quiet thumper performance with the introduction of its new Titanium Q. The FMF assembly weighs only 5 pounds 13.8 ounces (compare that with our KTM 450 EXC's 8-pound-3.1-ounce system)--an incredible reduction considering it measures in at 92 to 94 decibels using the 20-inch stationary test. FMF claims the Ti Q muffler is lighter than any OEM stock muffler and even open MX mufflers.We went overboard with the full Ti race Powerbomb header ($599.99), whereas we could have used a much-cheaper stainless Powerbomb ($349.99) in conjunction with the Ti muffler; or cheaper yet, just slipped on the muffler for a 2-pound weight savings.As for the performance, there were actually a couple of benefits, especially for a rider who appreciates a smooth power delivery. Whereas the stock system seems to let out a pretty healthy howl at big throttle openings, the Q muffles the sharp sound pulses a bit better and is much more pleasant from a distance. We doubt there would be a huge power gain on a dyno, but there is definitely crisper throttle response (on a standard-jetted bike). This has been our experience with bikes fitted with Powerbomb headers. It also offered a bit more torque in the low and midrange, letting us pull a higher gear in a lot of situations.The pipe bolted right on (though you must remove the shock to remove the stock pipe). It took only a slight amount of coaxing to get the header onto the exhaust flanges. Since it is so light, there is only a single mount on the muffler can, compared with two for the stocker. Clearance is tight around the shock, and it touched the spring just a bit at full extension while barely kissing the frame on the other side. Our pipe blued nicely at the header, and the can didn't seem to corrode or stain. And truly, we couldn't feel the weight reduction while riding. Heck, there is a battery just a matter of inches from the pipe, and it isn't light at all. The Ti header isn't going to take rock hits as well as steel, which is why FMF recommends the stainless unit for off-road. And we feel the same about the Ti can denting in a crash, as it isn't as resistant to dings as an aluminum one would be. But in day-to-day riding, ours held up well, and its light weight put less strain on the mount and connections. At $499.99, the Ti Q isn't cheap, but there are lots of more-expensive mufflers on the market that don't do half as much for more money. It's worth it, especially when you factor in its two great qualities: light weight and less noise. --Jimmy LewisFox RacingM16 Jacket, Gunner Jersey, Panther II Pant and Bomber GloveThe latest from the folks in Morgan Hill, California, went through a real wringing as I enjoyed a trail ride at Hungry Valley SVRA in some nasty rain. What better environment in which to assess gear?The $99.95 M16 jacket is simple and light, without any of the plastic or fancy stuff. In fact, remove the pads in the elbows, and you could venture into town anonymously--how many other enduro jackets could you do that in? It is a spring or fall jacket as opposed to an outright winter model--functional for both warm days, say up to 75 degrees, and cold ones, as low as 40 degrees. Once you heat up, unzip the sleeves, stow them in the back pocket and look as cool as you feel. Or open the vents underneath your arms. Still hot? More vents at the top of the chest and down the back allow the M16 to operate in full fan mode.Sizing was accurate, with an unrestrictive cut that fits over chest protectors (thanks to waist adjustments), and the jacket was just long enough to keep wetness out but not so long as to hinder sitting on a bike. The sleeves, with their vents and easy-to-remove elbow pads, employ a tighter cut toward the wrist that lessened their flapping in the wind. The pocket package is functional without much flash. The pockets' flap-covered zippers held most of the torrent at bay, but the material was eventually overcome to a small degree after becoming saturated (we spent several hours in the rain).Water resistance still was much better than expected. The jacket kept out most of the water, even in a downpour; it also didn't have either of us sweating and thus wet from the inside out, a common problem on heavier, more-restrictive jackets.The Gunner jersey ($29.95) is standard fare, but the moisture wicking was noticeable. The cuffs and sleeves were a bit more snug than most jerseys; under the jacket this wasn't marked, but a little more room would be nice.Continuing with the military theme, the Bomber glove ($34.95) looks tough enough to do battle anywhere. It fits, well, like a glove. Sampling in the muck revealed the only flaw of these mitt protectors: The strips of nonslip material on the fingertips were simply too small and ineffective to provide any tackiness with which to grab our sodden clutch and brake levers. Most gloves make you feel as if you're glued to the metal, but these were slippery.At first glance, the black Panther II pant ($99.95) appears quilted. Pick it up, and its lack of bulk becomes obvious. Vents along the thigh open to allow a breeze to reach your hot spots, but the elastic patch in the crotch was a little too vented as it let in water without a fight. That'll wake you up!Overall, we stayed dry; the ripstop material on the pant didn't let water pass. Its over-the-boot design is also great for keeping water out of your boots. A word of caution for thumper pilots: The material, normally protected by your boots, will melt against a sizzling header or clutch cover. While the adjustable hook-and-loop cuff can tighten up the base around the boot, I couldn't get it as tight as I would have liked. The waist adjustments definitely aided in comfort. The pockets on the thighs allow you to carry your keys, though the idea of smacking against a branch and driving a key into my thigh kept me from testing this concept. However, a small wallet would also fit, nice for the dual-sport rider making a lunch stop. --Bryan NylanderAnswer RacingAlpha Air Vented GearIn the not-so-distant past, vented gear was something you had only after an altercation with a pair of scissors. Today, riding gear with holes purposely woven in the fabric is popping up from just about every clothing company. Personally, I think vented gear is one of the best things to happen to riding gear. I run a bit warm when riding, so I want maximum airflow practically anytime the mercury climbs above 60.So I was elated to try the Alpha gear, since the staff would be racing at Glen Helen Raceway Park in September (for those in the rest of the country, that means one thing: hot). The pant, which retails for $129.95, was light, not overburdened with excessive rubber, logos or useless paraphernalia. The seat of the pant was ample enough to provide room where needed without that obscene baggy look, and the legs fit over my knee braces sans drama. On top, the $44.95 jersey continued this theme and was fairly roomy and comfy. The sleeves were a shade short on my long limbs; however, that's something I can live with. After a brief tip-over and the resulting tears, I did manage to get a hole at the seam on the ruined sleeve. Crash damage or not, that was the only problem I could uncover.I wasn't so sure about the $29.95 gloves at first. There is no closure system; you simply pull them on and go. But they fit fine, and once on the bike, I never noticed them--like a second skin. Overall, today's Answer race gear is a lot better than the stuff that I sampled four years ago, and this set will see more action. --Bryan NylanderThor Force Chest ProtectorUsually right after my helmet comes off, I take off my chest protector. Yet I found myself not removing the Force between motos--a first. Then I began paying some attention to it: how well it fit, how it didn't rub anything too much. Its comfort seems rooted in its so-called triple-layer back-protection system, mostly, I realized, through a thick, rubbery foam along the center of the back plate that keeps the protector riding high and away from your back or neck. The mesh-net-suspended shoulders hold the protector up and attach with three-position-adjustable rubber straps between the back plate and front panel. There is more foam under the shoulder and a piece on the chest area. Standard clasps secure the front to the back via adjustable straps for a snug fit. The protector gets bonus points for having every plastic edge that might irritate or cut you covered. Even the small upper-arm plates, which usually get unsnapped or cut off and thrown in the trash, have been in place since day one. About the only issue I had was the foam pad under the shoulder came unglued. I caught it and stuck it back on with silicone glue, also fixing other loose ones.The clear polycarbonate shell stayed clean even after being left out and tossed around in the back of my truck between rides. Only a minor glitch for fashion-conscious riders was the small screws attaching the Thor logo rusted when left wet. Available in six color combos and sized in youth, adult and XL (for those weighing more than 200 pounds), this $130 ($100 for youth) chest protector has done everything asked of it, from damping a body blow from a handlebar to softening a back-first landing on call. The venting really works--mostly because the panels ride plenty far off your body to allow airflow. It doesn't bind or hinder movement, either. And the best part, as we said before, is you can hardly tell it's there till you need it. That is exactly how a chest pro should work. --Jimmy LewisPro CircuitRM250 Pipe and SilencerSuzuki's RM250 has one of the most-aggressive stock motors, but I wanted to see if I could change the power characteristics in order to do some fine-tuning. I bolted on a Pro Circuit works pipe and a Factory Sound silencer. After spinning some laps with the stock jetting, I made a few adjustments as the bike was too lean. I swapped the main jet to a 162 and dropped the clip one, putting it in the third position. The results were huge! The motor gained more midrange. Believe it or not, the powerplant revved a bit slower to the mid and didn't hit as hard, making it much more predictable and tractable. Top-end power still hit hard, but with the PC system it pulled much longer and didn't go flat, instead revving to the moon. Overall throttle response was quicker and cleaner.The pipe and silencer's craftsmanship is top-notch; all the welds look as if they are off a factory race bike. The pieces mounted easily and required only a few short minutes. The only maintenance the pipe needs is a good scrub after each wash to keep it from rusting, as it is bare metal. The silencer uses a high-quality, super-tight packing. In fact, it is packed so tightly that the bike seems a bit loud at first, but after a few rides, the packing loosens up and the bike quiets a little. If you ride a lot, Pro Circuit recommends you repack the silencer every six months to help keep the sound down. But if it's packed well, the bike sings a beautiful tune as the PC silencer gives the RM a great sound--you know, that factory sound! The works pipe retails for $229.95, and the Factory Sound silencer retails for $119.95. --Corey NeuerShoeiV-Moto HelmetIt has been a while since Shoei had a new lid, and the new V-Moto won't set any standards for style, with its conservative shell design. But the visor, with its raised center and resultant hump, have people talking. Although the style jury is still out, as a new design always takes some getting used to, putting on the V-Moto was interesting.Immediately I noticed the helmet is light, but not so light as to feel unsafe. For those accustomed to typical motocross helmets, the fit is tight. The chinbar padding actually touched my forehead as I slipped it on, giving me the impression the front portion is smaller or narrower than what I'm accustomed to, a typical sensation on street helmets I've worn. Once on, the fit was just about perfect around my medium-sized head. I felt nice, snug contact without any pinching or poking, except for the cheek area, where it was a little squishy. The helmet comes with 35mm cheek pads, so I switched to the thinnest size, 33mm, which alleviated most of the squeeze. After about five hours in the helmet, I broke it in and got used to it.The venting was on par with most helmets that use air channeling. The visor flows a little better than most helmets as long as you are looking straight ahead, but you have to be going fast to notice it. Roost and sun blockage and ducking branches/leaves were normal. Although most goggles fit in the eyeport just fine, some of the larger goggles that I use were a tad snug. Anyone wearing even-larger or over-glasses goggles should check the fit. Liner removal is pretty standard and easy to do once you get the procedure down with a little practice.The helmet did a fine job of keeping my head from breaking the ground. After minor falls, scratches were minimal.The V-Moto is available in sizes XXS to XXL in quite a few color combinations--even the trendy new matte-black finish. Prices range from $324.99 to $424.99 depending on the graphics. The cheek pads added an extra $35.90 to the price, and a replacement visor runs from $12.50 to $40. --Jimmy Lewis