RX-1 lessons learned from a Hill climbing legend.

[Frostbite]

I was at the Spokane snowshow today and I must say there was very little Yamaha representation. There was one RX-1 mountain displayed on a Reclift with some nice stuff on it. I started asking questions and realized I was talking to what can only be called a Yamaha hill climbing legend. Mr. Dave Konopaski from Columbia Falls (could be treewhacker for all I know)had this sled pretty well decked out. Here are a few things I learned.

1. He had the new 162" CAT track on it with the MPI rear suspension brackets and billet wheels (oversized in the rear). He also had WORKS shocks in both postions. You could roll the entire track around with 2 fingers and he had a bout 2" of sag in the middle of the track.
2. He had K&N filters with Boondockers nitrous on it with the bottle mounted between the steering assembly and the engine sitting laterally to the frame (sideways).
3. He said he had tried every clutch weight in the world and found the Heel clickers to work the best. He mentioned what spring too but It was all French to me when the springs aren't Yamaha.
4. His secondary had the E/R enclosed roller secondary from High tech. He said he loved it and mentioned his helix but once again FRENCH.
5. He had SLP powder pro (7" wide) skis on the sled and said he was very impressed with them and liked them better than his Simmons.
6. He was using a late model Yamaha Seca battery (Here's the number YTX9BS std .9Ax5 10h or quick 4.0 A x1.0h) mounted all the way up in the front. He said he was able to remove a whole bunch of extra wiring by doing that.
7. He had the White Knuckle QC-1 exhaust and liked it a lot. It left the tunnel extension clean.
8. Before getting a smokin deal on this Arctic cat track he ran the 2.25" finger track last year and loved it. he said there is no comparrison to the riding the "slicks" everyone else is using. I asked him to sell it but he sounded like he was going to keep it for spring riding.
9. He had a left hand throttle and what I think was the MPI parking brake replacement kit.
10. Thats' enough. He said he had saved 60+ pounds from the sled (so far). The 162" AC track is only 49 lbs.

I just thought I should pass on these tips learned on my scouting report today. Maybe someone can use this stuff. Later. Powder Blue

Oh yeah one more thing. I noticed all these 1/2" holes drilled in the plastic in a pattern right in front of his primary clutch. There must have been 50 holes with window screen on the inside. He also had the area behind the secondary clutch above the left footwell cut out. He said on a heat gun his clutch temps. dropped 30 degrees and he has never gotten snow in there. With the added vents there is flow through ventialtion to his clutches.

Oh yeah. Just one more, I promise. All the cheesy green colored Phillips head fasteners on the side covers (the ones that look half stipped). He had replaced all of them with fasteners from the Yamaha V-max motorcycle. They are now and Allen head and his were black (maybe painted). They looked 100% better than the green tinted stripped out ones.

Dave's business is called KONO's 2 cycle (he'll have to change that) and his phone number is 406-892-5679

 

[treewhacker]

Sounds like Dave all right. He told me he was going to some shows when I talked to him last week. I can testify his sled is awsome, works better than any sled I have seen for climbing, and he pulls away from me in a drag race. Here's a pic of our sleds from last season, North of Columbia Falls. Dave will be helping me get the 162 set up on mine, well maybe, if he's not mad at me for pasting his pic on the internet. Yes he reads here often.

 

[Frostbite]

Tree Whacker, I have dealt with Dave for years. When I had my 87 Exciter and wanted to long track it Dave was there to tell me how to do it right. He ported my cylinders and shaved my head (the sled not me).
Then I bought a MSRX and knew Dave was the guy to ask about what tricks needed to be done to make it work. He hooked me up again and never even tried to sell me anything. I guess that's what so nice about him, he shares all his secrets and isn't trying to sell you every gizmo under the sun. I know he hill climbs competitvely, grass drags and who know maybe asphalt drags too? Sorry, no I'm not building a monument of him.
Tree Whacker, so you can probably attest to the fact that the 2.25" x 151" finger track worked well on Dave's (and his buddys) sleds (especially in drag racing). Powder Blue

 

[treewhacker]

It worked well enough to wax me. It wasn't a drag race, just goofing around on the trail, but never the less, he walked away from me. I'm going to the 162 with a 3" pitch.

 

[Turk]

Let me give you guys a tip on how to set up hc,s for the mountain. I ran em in my 01 700mm at revy. They work well with the stock secondary set up. Run about 5 grams in the heel & load the pivot with some weight too. Keep the tip empty or very light.....you will get killer backshift this way. You are gonna have to play around to get the amount of weight exactly right. On the flats they work well loading the tip. I tried that in the mountains & it sucked loading em up that way. It taked a lot of messing around but the outcome is worth it.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks Turk, I think I've got enough testing to do this winter with all the clutch weights I have to try. I will print this to save as a reference though. Are you getting a Turbo too? Man, it's is going to suck being me. Now Spray, treewhacker, you, snow fever, silver streak are all going to be miles ahead. I'll feel like the guy on the non turboed cat :cry: PB

 

[Jonny Rocket]

PB. Don't feel too left out. I also have no turbo. We will just have to make up with other mods. YEA Right!!!

I was also disappointed with the show. NO Yamaha booths at all. But that silver RX-1 with the 162 was damn awesome.

 

[Frostbite]

J, sorry I missed you at the show. I pulled my track off today. Tomorrow it's the 2.25" finger on the way. So when I tell someone I'm "giving you the finger" will have a whole new meaning :lol: Tomorrow it's the Holzman ATACC and the water temp. gauge. Take care buddy. PB

 

[spray25]

J,

Good to see you back on here. PB & J together again.

It's almost got me tearing up.


PB,

Don't feel bad. J spent all year following the pack on that inferior black rattle trap he rides.

 

[Jonny Rocket]

You are off tomorrow? Where do you rate. I just got done relocating the new lightweight battery, taking out the old battery bracket. All this is suppose to take off 20 #'s. I also ordered the K&N's. Should be here end of the week. That's about all I am going to do for the year.

Who did you end up getting the track from? If you need any help let me know. I am always looking to learn.

Jon.

 

[Jonny Rocket]

OK. Time to defend self. Last post was off before reading the post from the obviously drugged up Spray. I told you to get off the bottle. Sounds to me like you are envious of the black beast. Once you go black, you will never go back. 8)

 

[spray25]

Once you go black, you will never go back. 8)

Cause you're so damned embarressed for holding up the whole group!

 

[Jonny Rocket]

Right. I do not think that word means what you think it means.

 

[Silver Streak]

Ello, my name is Inigo Mantoya---oops wrong storyline. Turbo's right? Ya, I can't wait for mine!!!
SS