Had an interesting experience today. I was riding my VOR at the local track and started doing laps with a fellow on a YZ. Well I was able to get by with no problem.. on the inside of the corners. We were similar in size and skill. So what?
Figured it was just another day. I was riding with my friend who now has a VOR 503 Enduro. So after the last pass I pulled over to watch and chat with Brad, the guy with the OTHER VOR 503. After a few minutes the fellow with the Yamaha came over. Wanted to chat about the bikes. And offered to let me ride his new Yamaha. I resisted..he pushed and then I accepted.
What I found was a nice bike. Snappy power. Nice ergo's. etc. But I couldn't push the corners with it as hard as I can with my VOR. I actually bottomed the forks in the corners. Really soft setup. Realise I weigh 230 lbs and I'm a reasonable rider. Not really all that fast. So I suggested the guy add stiffer springs and just generally stiffen up the forks and shock..cause he was having troubles as well with the stock setup.
Then we talked him into riding Brads VOR 503 Enduro. If you ever have seen a shocker this was it...the guy just flat ripped. No way I could even get close to him. The bike just fit. And the power just fit his style. Incredible difference.
He then tried mine. He couldn't make it work like Brads, he thought mine had way too harsh a suspension and wasn't as snappy off the bottom (It isn't..but it makes more power on top) ...So where is all this going?
1) After this I just can't believe what I read in the magazines any more.
2) VOR's work really well for bigger guys...not as well for shorter and lighter ones.
3) These three bike were setup different and you could just see how the different guys fit the different bikes. Brad would probably be better off on the Yamaha. Marcus was RADICALLY faster on the VOR Enduro than he was on his bike and my VOR V-Cross. He came back thinking My VOR was way too harsh, his YZ was way to soft and the Enduro VOR was just right. He also was stunned with the power of the Enduro. I couldn't ride that YZ. Way soft, wobbled all over for me..a setup issue. The Enduro was way soft for me as well, but not like the YZ. I was fastest on my VOR which was way too stiff for the other guys.
4) VOR's turn just fine...
I wouldn't trade my VOR for that Yamaha for anything. Brad might trade his... Marcus would drop his YZ for a VOR in a heart beat..it works for him.
Guess as with all things, different strokes for different folks. All were nice bikes but some fit better than others.
Buy the way Marcus was winning his class in the Hare Scrambles (Check the VDR website)....he is scary fast on that VOR Enduro..
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2001 VOR503 V-Cross
1982 husqvarna XC430
1974 Bultaco Frontera 360
6 Kids, Four Ride, 3 race. (cr125, yz80, 2 KX125's)
Case 780, INT 1066, Ford LTL9000...and a Percheron
Figured it was just another day. I was riding with my friend who now has a VOR 503 Enduro. So after the last pass I pulled over to watch and chat with Brad, the guy with the OTHER VOR 503. After a few minutes the fellow with the Yamaha came over. Wanted to chat about the bikes. And offered to let me ride his new Yamaha. I resisted..he pushed and then I accepted.
What I found was a nice bike. Snappy power. Nice ergo's. etc. But I couldn't push the corners with it as hard as I can with my VOR. I actually bottomed the forks in the corners. Really soft setup. Realise I weigh 230 lbs and I'm a reasonable rider. Not really all that fast. So I suggested the guy add stiffer springs and just generally stiffen up the forks and shock..cause he was having troubles as well with the stock setup.
Then we talked him into riding Brads VOR 503 Enduro. If you ever have seen a shocker this was it...the guy just flat ripped. No way I could even get close to him. The bike just fit. And the power just fit his style. Incredible difference.
He then tried mine. He couldn't make it work like Brads, he thought mine had way too harsh a suspension and wasn't as snappy off the bottom (It isn't..but it makes more power on top) ...So where is all this going?
1) After this I just can't believe what I read in the magazines any more.
2) VOR's work really well for bigger guys...not as well for shorter and lighter ones.
3) These three bike were setup different and you could just see how the different guys fit the different bikes. Brad would probably be better off on the Yamaha. Marcus was RADICALLY faster on the VOR Enduro than he was on his bike and my VOR V-Cross. He came back thinking My VOR was way too harsh, his YZ was way to soft and the Enduro VOR was just right. He also was stunned with the power of the Enduro. I couldn't ride that YZ. Way soft, wobbled all over for me..a setup issue. The Enduro was way soft for me as well, but not like the YZ. I was fastest on my VOR which was way too stiff for the other guys.
4) VOR's turn just fine...
I wouldn't trade my VOR for that Yamaha for anything. Brad might trade his... Marcus would drop his YZ for a VOR in a heart beat..it works for him.
Guess as with all things, different strokes for different folks. All were nice bikes but some fit better than others.
Buy the way Marcus was winning his class in the Hare Scrambles (Check the VDR website)....he is scary fast on that VOR Enduro..
------------------
2001 VOR503 V-Cross
1982 husqvarna XC430
1974 Bultaco Frontera 360
6 Kids, Four Ride, 3 race. (cr125, yz80, 2 KX125's)
Case 780, INT 1066, Ford LTL9000...and a Percheron