IT490K Test

[alexbrown64]

For those that love the old big bore enduro bikes, i thought i would post up this test of the IT490K from Trail and Track magazine.  One of our members is a star and featured on the front cover.... go PBMGold!!
Cheers,
Alex

[PBMGold]

Thanks Alex. I was going to curse you for scanning the article. First time I've read it in 32 years. I was certain that it would be cringe worthy but I was pleasantly surprised with the authority I spoke, grammar seemed OK and I appeared to get the technical side covered. I am sure nobody ever guessed I had no idea what I was talking about....or maybe they did.

I have no recollection of Allan Gibbs being the test rider and don't even remember how that arrangement occurred. If you are reading this Allan and your memory is better than mine, please expand on what occurred. I do remember our local crew of star riders playing merry hell with the bike and agreed Yamaha had got it right.

Thanks again Alex for, as Barry Sheene often said, "Made me a legend in my own lunchtime".

[Tony.Brown]

Good article, having owned an IT465 and an IT490 for a couple of years, for the most part it is very accurate.

One quote I remember reading back then by one of the magazines comparing the 465 to the 490 that has stuck with me was something like "The 465 has the power to climb trees...... unfortunately it would rather climb them than go around them" or something to that effect. The 490 was a much better bike in every respect.
Webby's in Caloundra mentioned in either that article or another from the time, to really wake up the IT490 engine one of the mods was to raise the exhaust port by 6mm!!
Sounds like an awful lot of metal to remove.
Tony.

[80-85 husky]

the it didn't need waking up that's for sure

[Tony.Brown]

Lol, I still carry scars from that bike!