Factory Bike Friday: Les Smith’s KTM

We take a look at Grant Langston's new team

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Factory Bike Friday: Les Smith’s Team Ohlins USA KTM 250 SX-F

Words and photos by Shan Moore

Les Smith's Ohlins USA KTM 250 SX-F

World and AMA champ Grant Langston is back in the racing game, running his new Ohlins USA Supercross team, which features Les Smith and A.J. Catanzaro riding the East Lites Supercross series. The team will also be contesting the outdoor series and will announce team members soon. Team Ohlins USA is running KTMs with a lot of backing from Ohlins suspension, motor work by Pro Circuit, and an impressive array of aftermarket goodies. After running a select number of outdoor rounds last year as a start-up team, Ohlins USA brought in Langston to run things for 2012. Here’s a look at Les Smith’s 250 SX-F.

Smith's bike gets the Ohlins "A Kit" stuff.

Of course, since the main sponsor is Ohlins, Smith’s bike features Ohlins “A Kit” suspension front and rear, with a longer Black Mamba rear linkage, which promotes stability in the whoops. The team uses Excel A60 wheels and spokes and super lightweight Talon carbon fiber hubs on all the team bikes as well.

The new GET Ignition system is in vogue now and many of the teams are using it, including Ohlins USA. It allows for data acquisition via GPS tracking, although I’m not sure how many teams are taking advantage of that feature. You can’t do it during a race, but the Joe Gibbs team claims they get valuable information during testing with the device.

According to mechanic Nick Burns, Pro Circuit is building and tuning exhaust systems specifically for the team. They are also using a tunable Moto Tassinari air intake.
As far as aftermarket goodies, Vortex sprockets and handlebars are used, as well as Braking rotors (with stock Brembo calipers), and ICW radiators, plus Smith uses Zeta levers. The pivot design allows the lever to fold outward to prevent bending or breaking in the event of a crash.

A look at the Talon carbon fiber hub.

Here's a look at the Black Mamba rear linkage.

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