Trail Bike Test SSR 189 from Dirt Bike Magazine: Part 1
Whether you ride for fun or professionally it’s always a
great idea to read reviews about the dirt bike that you are interested in purchasing. At LSK Lebanon we want you to love everything
about the bike that you purchase. In
this week’s blog, we will highlight an article from Dirt Bike Magazine about the
SSR 189. They had so many great things
to say about the SSR 189 we will have to finish the article in a few
blogs.
“WHAT IS INSIDE?
In addition to the new cosmetic look, the SR189 has
significant internal changes. Of all the midsize four-stroke play bikes we see,
only the SR189 has a 10-inch-travel inverted fork with both compression and
rebound adjustments. The SSR’s fork has massive 43mm inner fork tubes and a
large front axle with proper double pinch bolts on each side to add rigidity to
the front end. The cast-aluminum triple clamps have double pinch bolts as well.
Out back, the 189 has just shy of 8.5 inches of rear-wheel
travel. The piggyback shock has a large shaft and a sizable body with spring
preload, compression and rebound adjustments. The shock does use a linkage that
is attached to a steel swingarm that looks like it could be aluminum. You will
see that the frame is robust for a trail or play bike, particularly in the
swingarm pivot area. It is constructed of stamped and welded parts, so it is
fully boxed in like modern steel-framed motocross machines. It has a big-bike
size and styled rear axle and chain blocks. It even takes a 32mm axle nut like
a full-size modern bike.
WHAT ABOUT THE ENGINE?
Things are a little more old-school in the engine bay. As a
two-valve, air-cooled, single-overhead-cam, carbureted four-stroke, the SR189
is typical of the Honda CRF150F, CRF230F, Yamaha TTR125 school, but the SSR
differs in carburetion. It uses a 30mm Chinese carburetor with a
handlebar-mounted remote choke. A Honda CRF150F uses a 24mm carb, so the SSR
runs harder, particularly on top. The carb uses normal Keihin pilot jets but
uses a less-typical flat main jet. We’d heard stories of accelerated slide wear
in Chinese carburetors, but ours had a chrome-plated brass slide that looked
perfect after many hard hours. The carburetor does not have an accelerator
pump, so it hesitates if the throttle is whacked open too fast.
The engine has both a kick starter and an electric starter.
To be honest, we never even tried the kickstarter and even considered taking it
off. Shifting is crisp, if not especially smooth. Young riders with smaller
feet felt it was harder to shift than those with a size-9-or-larger boot. Our engine
didn’t use any oil. We changed the oil twice, and the magnetic drain plug never
evidenced any worrisome chips or metal filings. It has an oiled foam air filter
with a large element for a machine this size.
LEGALITIES
The exhaust note on our bike has a bark to it. The pipe is a
solidly mounted, attractive unit, but there is no spark arrestor. That means
that the SR189 is a closed-course competition model. Obviously, it would be
better if the machine met EPA standards for trail bikes so it would have no
trail restrictions. This matters more in states with lots of national forests
and BLM land. It matters not at all for those who ride on private property.”
Article Credit: Dirt
Bike Magazine
As you can see from the article that the SSR 189 is a very
impressive mid-size bike for the performance and the value. At the
best dirt bike dealer in Lebanon we have several SSR bikes in stock, check out
our website. If you have any questions
about the bikes that we carry stop by the dealership and one of our knowledgeable
staff members will help you understand the bike from front to back.
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www.LSKLebanon.com
801 N Jefferson Ave
Lebanon, MO 65536
(417) 588-3550
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