Tpc 450r

[atctim]

Jason is right - I agree with him. There is now way that the top pros could possibly turn faster times on two strokes than the new 4 strokes. Technology took over.

Although - if you want to see 2 stroke technology - look at the E-Tek snowmobile engines. They use Evinrude technology and are nothing shy of amazing.

People associate new 4 stroke motors with the heavy boat anchors of yester-year - the new ones are L I G H T and powerful - just the opposite of the old underpowered heavy powerplants.

[Curtis-Tecate3]

The only real problem is that you need to hang on to your wallet, checkbook, and credit cards if you blow one up.

Curtis.

[300rman]

i never said faster on a 2 stroke. i said faster on a faster bike.

and here is a bit of interesting info:

[thefox]

Today I got to take the TPC450R out again, this time with the +2 swinger and matching rear shock. It was quite a bit different that what I remember it being last time witht the stock swinger and shock. Before just opening the throttle would pull the front end letting you know that it wanted to stand up. Now with the longer swinger that first ¼ throttle is usable as a trail machine, open it up more and you better hold on. I would defiantly go with the longer swinger; it makes the power more usable.

Now if you would excuse me, I have to go buy some lottery tickets and hope…

[Derrick Adams]

I sure don't understand that. I run a stock length swinger on my 450 with absolutely no problems keeping the front wheel down. And thats with a 12 tooth front sprocket. Maybe it's my 4 speed transmission though. Jason is running a stock length arm on his 450. Wonder if he has issues with it wheelieing like that.

I also don't know if I agree with the maintainence argument either. From what i've read on thumpertalk the Yamaha 450's are going 100 hours before even adjusting the valves. I've ran mine for 2 years and haven't touched it. (although I am rebuilding it this winter)

[Jason Hall]

Derrick, you know the Yamaha Is just special LOL. I think Honda Is just not steping up and using strong enough material for their valve's. I feel they are just relying on the loyalty of the Red riders to keep people buying, then picking their pockets with valve's that are not up to par. It kinda makes me mad If they (honda) were not raking In the cash selling their parts they would have made the change.

I love my bike just like It Is, I do have a stock swingarm and would never change It. It turns great, and Isn't a crazy wheelie machine. I think throttle control Is something that takes time to get used to.

300rman, My 2 oldest boys ride dirt bikes, one has a crf250, the other has a cr85. My 11 year old on the 85 has a hard time jumping In our yard because of the explosive power of the 2 stroke. He ends up with the bike hitting the power right at the lip of the jump sending the front end skyward. The 4 stroke Is faster off the turn (torque) and easy to manage because of the smooth power. I hope to have him on a crf150 by spring.

[ChrisCrash]

Hello,

Thanks for all the interest in the TPC 450R.

TPC does indeed stand for Three-wheeled Performance Cycle. We hope to be offering conversion kits and complete built-to-order Trikes by Jan 09. I'm also working on the website which will go live by Jan 09 as well. This and the message board is one of my jobs at TPC by the way.

The Trike in the picture was just finished in August of this year and we want to thoroughly test it in the next few months. I do know the swingarm was always intended to be replaced. However the accompanying shock did not arrive in time for our scheduled "first ride" reveal. Several people were invited to this ride and they all came away with the same impression: it needed a longer swingarm. For why I'll turn it over to Bill...





..."Why Derrick and Jason are happy with the stock TRX swingarm I can only speculate. For one, about the only thing they all have in common are that they have 450cc four-stroke motors on 3 wheels. After that, they are very different. They all use different chassis and this probably has a lot to do with it.

Both Jason and Derrick use 18" fast trekker tires. I'm not sure if they use other tires.

However, I use 18" turf tammers, which, from my experience, get a lot more traction than fast trekkers on tracks. And, other than Chuck, I'm the only other one to ride with them.

Everyone else has ridden with 20" Knarly tires which get a lot more traction.

If indeed both Jason and Derrick are using stock TRX swingarms then they only have around 9.5" of travel vs. the TPC 450R's 11.5". This can also play a part.

Then there are motor/tranny differences. I'm not sure what motor (quad or bike) Derrick uses but I believe Jason uses a 02 CRF 450 setup.

Whereas, I'm using a 06 TRX tranny and lower end with a 06 CRF head. I'm also using a 07 CRF 41mm FCR carb that is modified.

I believe Derrick and Jason use stock exhaust vs. my HRC/Pro Circuit Titanium combination.

Both Jason and Derrick also use a larger and heavier front wheel and hub combination. They both use, if I ‘m not mistaken, 11x7” rims on stock Honda cast aluminum hubs. Whereas, I use a 10x5” front wheel and a smaller, lighter aircraft-grade aluminum billit hub.

I don't know the wheelbase of either Jason's or Derrick's trikes, how much they weigh and what the weight bias front to back is.

When I first mocked it up, it was built to 86 ATC 250R specs, i.e. wheelbase, footpeg height, width and weight bias were identical and seat height and handlebar height were 1/2" taller. Knowing that the old factory Honda ATC's used +1.5"-2" swingarms and knowing the 450 puts out more power, I decided on a +2" swingarm and I also pushed the forks 1.5" forward in a new set of triples.

Comparing the stock swingarm vs. the +2" is night and day. With the stock swingarm, you have to lay off the throttle and you are not able to use all the power. Whereas, you can the throttle and use all the power with the +2" yet still the front end will come up if you’re not paying attention."...


Here are some pics and short video clips from the other day of riding with theFox.

TheFox checking it out

[Derrick Adams]

What Bill said is totally true. All our bikes are totally different chassis designs. I'm sure that has everything to do with it.

[thefox]

What Bill said is totally true. All our bikes are totally different chassis designs. I'm sure that has everything to do with it.

I guess I will just have to test ride them all then.


There wasn't enough time for you guys to swap trikes at Smith Road? Unfortunately when really testing the trike you need a good amount of seat time that and being a more skilled rider then I am would help too, I'm not a racer.

[ChrisCrash]

Fox,

You're exactly what we want. We want riders of varying skills and abilities to test ride the TPC 450 and let us know what they like and what could be improved.

What is your opinion on the seating position given that you're much taller than Bill and Chuck?

By the way, you're welcome to get as much seat time as you want. You know where we are.

Anybody else in the NY or PA area is also invited to take a test drive and give us their opinions.

Thanks,
Jeff.

[SYKO]

how tall are you FOX? im 6 and 250 im cuirous as to how it feels as well.. my 85 250R has a 2 in longer subframe and seat and 2 in lower and 2 in back pegs and I feel comfortable on it now.

[Jason Hall]

I agree with what Bill said except that I can't have more than 9.5" of rear suspension travel with a stock swingarm. My frame Is a CRF, I did not move the mount under the swingarm bolt that holds the front shock linkage. That mounting bolt Is closer to the rear of the bike. That allows the linkage to have more movement before It Is fully extended. Because the mounting locations are different on my bike I use a Linear linkage setup. That simply means there Is no Progression In my linkage. The shock movement In refrence to the rear axle stays the same through the entire shock stroke, where a progressive link varies the movement of the shock In Its travel. With the linear link It takes some of the guesswork out of shock valving.

As for Derricks bike, he can also get more rear suspension travel by adding long travel linkage along with a long travel shock. All his rear suspension bolt locations are the same as a stock 450R.

Bill did you shorten your front forks, I ask this because I noticed that your fork gaurds are not close to the lower section of the aluminum tubes. My fork gaurds are even with the aluminum dust seal collars.

[thefox]

how tall are you FOX? im 6 and 250 im cuirous as to how it feels as well.. my 85 250R has a 2 in longer subframe and seat and 2 in lower and 2 in back pegs and I feel comfortable on it now.

I’m 6’-3” and 180. I can’t compare to the 85 R because I have never been on a water-cooled R before.

First getting on the 450 the seat height feels a little tall but that feeling soon goes away. I do slide forward on my 350x a little as I am riding which cramps the space some, I didn’t notice this at all with the 450.



Did the pictures of the 450 next to the 350x come out?

[SYKO]

yea I just looked over them again.... im very interestes and I will have to wait till my house if paid off next year befor doig any major decisions on anything...

[ChrisCrash]

Here are some more Pics Of Andrew Riding it.
















Jeff.