Well, the "wheelsmith" pipe is actually the Maico Only biult "Pro-Form", an excellent pipe, but not -one off or works. The actual Wheelsmith downpipes, 1st hung low-like a CZ pipe, then abuptly upswept like a TM250 pipe. Besides, the Wheelsmith bikes were not full factory bikes anyway. Sure, they got some Mag sliders and stuff, but so did TNT Maico. Hell a true Wheelsmith was waaaayy tricker than a factory bike in most all cases( the late 77 Mosier ridden pre-production 78 Magnum is one exception).
If the rear hub really exploded-that would be the first 74.5 narrow hub I know of failing. more likely- the front hub was used-another narrow hub or 75 -76 hub and laced to excels...maybe they are "works" excels. The shocks? Well, I appreciate everything Gil V has done, and Works contiunes to do for VMX, but.................like a friend of mine said( Walter no offense-the same YSS shocks would take mega $ to import)-a bad set of Ohlins is better than a good set of Works.
The cool thing on the bike is the Maico Only RV converson IMO. It is claimed that MO really turns the personality of the 250 engine around-and it actually runs hard.