Cycle World – August 2019

50 / CYCLE WORLD

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the XR69

chassis is its overarching sense of stability. On a mod-

ern superbike, there’s a certain uneasy, sort of loose or

wallowing feeling that comes with braking late and hard

on a modern-day chassis. It forces you to be patient as the

chassis regains composure before you can comfortably

flick it into the turn. But not on the XR. A firm squeeze on

the brake lever smoothly pitches weight forward with zero

nervousness and all confidence. Chassis guru Curtis says

it’s thanks to superior amounts of lateral rigidity at the

steering head and swingarm pivot.

BELOW: “This is a team challenge. Do not take unneccessary risks

passing your teammates, don’t even get close to them,” said Team

USA captain Dave Crussell on the eve of the International Chall-

lenge... Clearly, those words were forgotten by Steve Rapp and I.

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