The bottom line: We had to make the green machine better! More fun when cruising the trails, and better prepared for the racetrack environment; a more rounded package.

For our first installment of Tecate-4 mods, we wanted to feature some simple mods that were relatively inexpensive and easy to do at home. Here's what we came up with.

THE MOTOR-HOW 'BOUT MORE SNAP?

Answer products performed a big of low cost magic for our Tecate-4. Since the company had great success with its Roost Boost on new KX250s, it figured that the four-wheeler would fare equally well. The Roost Boost is an electric device that plugs into your black box and fools it into zapping the motor with a hotter, longer spark. The spells instant low-end two mufflers for the machine--one spark-arrested SA-Pro for trail riding and one Equalizer muffler that isn't spark-arrested for race track endeavors. To go along with the mufflers, we also drilled five one-inch holes in the stock airbox and bolted on an '87 KX80 filter. The rich stock jetting was leaned out a bit. The stock # 30 pilot was swapped for a #28, and the needle was dropped down one notch Boyesen multi-action dual-stage reeds were installed in the stock reed cage. We replaced the stock tranny oil with Bel-Ray 80W-gear oil and mixed Bel-ray MCI with premium unleaded gasolines.

GROUND CONTROL

The best way to get the green machine to handle like a champ is to start with the tires and wheels. We slapped on a set of ten-inch Hoosier knobbies we happened to have laying around, and mounted them on CT aluminum wheels. The stock front meats were retained. One-inch Dura Blue wheel spacers were put on each front hub, and two-inchers graced the rear. Answer Products also set of its new SR-IV Alumilite bars, complete with a trick crossbar pad. We opted for these bars because the stock bars are way too short for whoop-holding leverage, and the Answer bars weigh a little more than half as much as the stockers.

The stock suspension was kept intact. After breaking in the shocks, they soften up and work decently. If Sean Finley could win a National with the stock setup, we could certainly live with it for a while.! The front shocks were kept at their softest setting, and the rear shock had the compression set at the number three setting. And 7mm of preload was taken out of the shock to set it up with about two inches of sag. In addition to theses handling mods. And suspension setups, we installed a Funco Bump Steer kit.

EXTRAS

Here's the lowdown on all the trick little items the make the machine easier and sager to live with on a day-to-day basis, and also make it legal to compete on in our local racing organization.

GSM made up a beautiful set of steel nerf bars, complete with nets. While they were at it, they threw in one of their too-hip swingarm bumpers and a front bumper. Steve Graydon n of Graydon Proline fame ran out to the track with a tether (kill) switch, and we then removed the parking brake (to save two pounds) and installed a Graydon parking brake removal plate to keep the caliper free from harm. Once again, because of personal preference, we opted for a twist throttle, and an '87 KX250 twister quickly found a home on the bars. Topping off the package is a set of Answer Day-Glo green grips, which are safety-wired to the Alumilite bars.

TAKIN' A SPIN

The wider stance of the Tecate-4 is well mated with its newfound bottom-end and mid-range power which are the results of the engine mods. All the pieces we installed work together in harmony; like clockwork.

After the engine mods, all we could do was rave. The first feature we raved about was Answer's black-box trickery. Before plugging it in, everyone complained about the green machine's lack of low end and its slowly building mid-range. The Roost Boost really improves the upper low end of the powerband and helps the motor build to a mid-range punch sooner and harder--amazing! The Boyesen reeds helped improved throttle response in a motor that was already responsive to rider input. The Answer mufflers provide a weight savings of about five pounds and give a noticeable, albeit small, power boost. The free-flowing muffler was notoverly loud, but the spark-arrested model is a bit quieter.

The Chassis improvements we made did as much for the machine as the engine mods. Most notable was the machine as the engine mods. Most notable was the extra width we put on the ground. For the money, the wheel spacers are the best improvements that could have been made. The extra width stopped the Tecate-4 from two-wheeling through the corners, and added stability when sliding. The Funco Bump Steer kit's improvement was less noticeable, but still apparent. After we acquire more time but still apparent. After we acquire more time on machines, with and without the Bump Steer kits, we can give a better evaluation of it.

MEATS

The tires. We can't say enough favorable things about the Hoosier T35 rear knobs when they're in their prime--California hard-pack! Even though the stock front tires have less grip than the Hoosiers, our tire setup worked well.

LOW-BUDGET ANSWER

There is no question about it, we improved the Tecate-4's already solid design by leaps and bounds. It is now easier to ride, faster (it was the fastest stocker to begin with) and handles more precisely. All these improvements, and we haven't even opened up the engine (or our wallets), yet.

 

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