Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Keefer Tested

Let us walk you through the updates that Yamaha made to the 2027 YZ450F. Is the 2027 that much better where you need to spend the extra money on it or is the 2026 version jus as good? Get some settings as well as some mods you can do to your new bLU cRU in order to make it ride a little better!

--- CHAPTERS ---
00:00 Show open & sponsor rundown
09:10 Glen Helen test day & Aden's contract update
10:48 Guest test rider contest announcement
13:56 2027 YZ450F clutch, brake & suspension updates
25:24 MX-33 front tire rant
27:09 Shootout stats & Honda comparison tease
29:00 Mid-show ad reads
34:08 Engine feel & clutch hose follow-up
43:22 Chassis, stability & comfort comparison
48:02 Reliability & engine longevity
50:24 2026 vs 2027 buying advice
51:45 Sign-off & next week preview

Honda left the CRF250R unchanged in 2027 but that doesn't stop us from bringing you some info about the red machine and where this bike could fit in for your next purchase. Get some mod suggestions as well as some settings all within this episode.

--- CHAPTERS ---
00:00 Show intro
08:14 2027 Honda CRF250R overview: the vanilla ice cream take
13:18 Engine breakdown: maps, gearing, and mods
19:37 Chassis feel and rigidity
24:45 Offset clamps, engine mounts, and torque specs
29:20 Ad reads: Blood Lubricants, Ride Engineering, Yamaha, Eagle Grit
33:44 Suspension settings for the CRF250R
36:56 Clutch, seat foam, and Works Edition upgrades
41:53 Ergonomics and looks
42:55 Aden, Kenny Day, and who this bike suits
45:17 Next week preview and sign-off

Is the Honda is as good as Keefer remembers from Millville? Listen as this episode dives into what the biggest differences are from the 2026 to 2027 CRF450R and if the new chassis has more comfort on hard pack conditions than the older chassis. Honda also lost a bunch of weight in 2027, so Keefer will break down everything from the weight loss program to the newfound power so if you're in the market for a new CRF450R, this show will help you make that decision.

--- CHAPTERS ---
00:38 Intro & show welcome
02:09 Sponsor reads: Rocky Mountain, FXR, REP & more
09:06 Revisiting the Honda at Glen Helen & new engine power feel
21:07 Throttle hang-up issue, engine specs & new clutch design
28:20 Sponsor reads: Blood Lubricants, Ride Engineering, Yamaha, Eagle Grit
32:30 Back to the Honda: chassis stability vs the 2026
36:45 Cornering feel & initial tip-in on the new chassis
42:44 New frame geometry & seat/subframe comfort
48:05 Showa suspension settings breakdown
56:32 Works Edition details, pricing & spec comparison
1:01:21 Reliability outlook, weight loss recap & sign-off

I fly to Florida to ride Zach Osborne's Loretta Lynn's winning Beta 450RX and I take you along with me. Learn about what's involved in Zach's machine, how it runs compared to the stock 450RX, what unique pieces are on Zach's bike, how it rates compared to other factory bikes I've ridden and much more in this episode!

--- CHAPTERS ---
00:37 Intro and sponsor rundown
06:53 Heather and Greg join the show
10:01 Summer School takedown explained
14:33 Setting up the Zach Osborne Beta feature
16:31 Flying to Florida to ride Zach's bike
23:32 First impressions: cockpit and bar setup
30:24 Engine feel and delivery breakdown
35:37 Gearing, ECU and vibration talk
39:56 Chassis comfort and gusseted frame
48:14 Swingarm length and offset geometry deep dive
54:49 Soft fork, stiff shock and suspension feel
1:00:48 BYOB customer program and Vortex ECU dreams
1:08:42 Clutch, brakes, tires and drivetrain details
1:15:38 Fuel boiling issues in Florida heat
1:18:16 Listener Q&A and closing plugs
1:20:58 Next week preview and sign-off

Keefer gets Mark Johnson from REP on the phone to talk about suspension as well as chassis tips for the KTM 450 SX-F. Topics like spring conversion kits, AER set ups, chassis lengths, torque settings, chain slack and more! If you're an orange brigade rider, you will love this show.

--- CHAPTERS ---
00:38 Intro & sponsor rundown
10:21 2026 KTM 450 SX-F project overview
15:12 Getting Mark from REP on the line
16:51 The REP app
19:38 AER fork feel: East Coast vs West Coast
26:27 AER pressure checks & temperature swings
29:29 Nitrogen vs helium fork fills
32:59 REP linkage systems explained
36:00 Husky height vs KTM height confusion
38:10 Factory Edition cone valve first impressions
43:58 Cone valve vs shim stack tech
47:18 KYB vs 6500 spring conversion kits
50:37 Chassis length & torque settings
55:30 Chain slack settings
58:43 Shop trends & new chassis rumors
1:02:05 Wrapping up with Mark & REP plugs
1:05:17 Mid-show ad reads
1:10:47 Recap: comparing REP, Factory Connection & WP settings
1:14:44 Tires, exhaust flange & engine feel
1:15:45 Bars, vibration & clamp offset takeaways
1:20:16 Budget-friendly KTM mods recap
1:22:49 Race plans & sign-off