We Ride The Jett, Chase, & Hunter Bikes! | Factory Bike Breakdown

Honda HRC and team manager Lars Lindstrom graciously (and shockingly!) allowed our test guru Kris Keefer and motocross journalist to Steve Matthes hop about three Factory Hondas at Washougal MX Park on Sunday to see what they feel like. Keefer and Matthes both got 15 minutes each on the bikes Jett Lawrence, Chase Sexton and Hunter Lawrence raced at the National the day before. Afterwards, the duo broke down what they felt from each bike and also clue us in on why we may be seeing the type of racing we're seeing on the track during the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Season.
Film/edit: Kellen Brauer
Hosts: Kris Keefer and Steve Matthes
Imagery: Todd Gutierrez
Visit Racer X Online: bit.ly/2VKTEp0
Subscribe to Racer X Magazine: bit.ly/2E45hlW
Follow us on Instagram: bit.ly/2X2F7Xc
Follow us on Facebook: bit.ly/2HvF6Wy
Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly/2JWWaWV
Subscribe to Racer X on KZbin: bit.ly/2HvhS2E

[@fugginrambo]

Congratulations to Steve for being the first C rider to make a Factory Bike's suspension look soft.

[@CoreyBanks1]

D rider you mean

[@OGLD]

Bahahahaha

[@fugginrambo]

@@CoreyBanks1 Double D tits rider

[@jetskiordie7976]

Have no effing idea how ANYONE could call that Vet B talent. Legit C rider at best!

[@erikkinninger]

Bro I laughed way to hard at this 😮😅

[@venicebeachsportsnetwork6677]

Keefer is a real dirt bike rider

[@joeschmidt6597]

He used to race as a pro/privateer

[@frankiek2269]

Yeah, you can tell Kris used to race in his younger years, but Steve looked like all he has ever done was ride trails the way he puttered around the track.

[@genegrate8975]

That was one of the best test sessions I really enjoyed it I had a big smile the whole time. Hope there's more to come❤

[@paulharwood7745]

Great breakdown guys. very informative for us the average retired rider and fan. Hey that was cool to hear about the reason that the Lawrence boys clutch levers are in like that. It's amazing what you get used to. You might think they'd say now they are rich and famous, "let's have them back out now dad. We more levers back in the truck." But no. if there's a risk they may break in a points race then dad has taught them a valuable tip. Hope to see more tests like this. Well done. PS; I wonder if in any future elaborations on the test you did on Chases bike you could explain if you felt if the set up would have any baring on why he has those seemingly simple weird crashes. It is like you cannot see any rhyme or reason for them. The bike is up one millisecond and down the next??? It is not as if it is one or two. there was just so many this year.

[@colliecollie6822]

I haven't gotten past 2 minutes yet but I find it pretty amazing that HRC would allow anyone other than a factory rider to throw a leg over a factory bike. Much less start one and take it out on the track.

[@vernmoser7721]

Suucchhh a sick video! How many sports allow this kind of access to their audience?? NONE! Loved how Steve read the room and let Lars go while keefer went full geek😂😂

[@macy9123]

Steve looked good on the 250cc !! and Lars is so freaking cool !!!

[@goldsbym]

I gotta give Mathes credit where credit is due. He has good form and balance on the bike. Especially for his age and for a guy that doesn't ride a lot. Impressive.

[@MrGbustamante]

He cant seem to get up on the tank... takin corners like a wheelie boy! That FLY jersey was LIT

[@Jed-vl3pv]

Was thinking the same thing. Nice and smooth with good technique.

[@robertrishel3685]

He was a pretty fast dude when he was younger👍

[@travistaylor8122]

Dude Steve looked damn good on hunters 250!

[@pineychristian]

Steve doesn't look good on a motocross track....

[@jasonryper2840]

I don't give enough credit to Keefer , he looked like a bad ass on the bikes

[@googsy5773]

great job guys........

[@jonathondavis170]

I thought Steve looked pretty good on the track! He was having a blast, and looked cool doing it! And of course, he knows bikes - factory mechanics know them in and out, and honestly they are like lineman in the NFL who do all the heavy lifting to make things happen, and get little recognition! That's why him and Kris made a great team this day - Kris is more of the racer/tester, and Steve is more of a builder/technician! Very cool to have them two interact with HRC Honda!👍💪

[@dyliver7806]

I think I’d value this video a lot more if we had a James Stewart, RV test ride and give feedback on each bike hard to take this serious 😅

[@nateairulla]

Haha kinda true but also us customers are closer to them than RV and JS7

[@BennyBen9]

We want more

[@brentowen9480]

Do they mean the Lawrence's perches are "pushed" more center of handlebars? I do that so that my buddy Newton and his laws of leverage help me out.

[@nateairulla]

Soo weird seeing someone else on Jett’s bike

[@kevinlong2074]

I still think Jett"s bike has more cc then other riders ,never seen nobody that more faster than everyone else , gotta be

[@junlu1266]

Keefer got the old man style

[@bobbyblenio4571]

Keefer …actually kinda Fast !…I’m Very Surprised that Honda would Let these guys Ride they’re Bikes !…I Wouldn’t want Anybody Riding My Bike !

[@dbzgameplay9034]

Keefer saying it’s not down on HP 😂, your comparing it to what? Have you ridden the Star or PC bikes… No. point made…. 0

[@goldsbym]

Exactly. Those Honda 250cc are down 15 percent on power to the Yamaha 250cc. The PC Kawasaki has better power than the Honda. You will see the power difference at Unadilla.

[@mingomane1]

Can’t believe Steve would wear American colors like that. Is he trying to divide the sport?

[@austinjordan1744]

😂

[@maverickzmedia]

Literally laughed out loud haha. Steve is becoming the grumpy old man pretty quickly

[@trippgraham4751]

Makes it even better he was on a aussies bike 😂

[@nicoloco5923]

Lmao thats great dude. What a dumb take by steve

[@motosaki404]

haaahaha well played. oy oy oy

[@KingFriday274]

It's difficult to distinguish Mathis from jet and hunter. Very similar body types and technique.

[@brianq103]

🤣

[@_Bryant.R]

I think matthes was the one going for the Anderson look with the untucked jersey.

[@garywinkler883]

Hilarious!!

[@frankiek2269]

@@_Bryant.R. It wasn’t untucked. It doesn’t fit. Lol

[@gazza70cr]

@@frankiek2269

[@lifeafterjess8872]

So awesome that Lars made this happen! HRC has never been this transparent with their race bikes. Thank You Honda! Thanks to Chase, Hunter and Jett! Ride Red!

[@CoreyBanks1]

Ride red get head!

[@Marine450x]

Ditto!

[@jamesmiller1277]

What an awesome video. So cool to have two different kinds of riders talent, age and wobble or weight of riders. Would love to see you guys do this for all the factory teams. Props to Honda,Larz, and all the team that made this happen. Good luck luck at Loretta’s this week Kiefer. #33/#1/+40!!!

[@anthonyegnor6347]

Lucky bastards. Every single Honda fans dream. Hell ya. That was cool of Honda! Thank you Lars and American Honda for signing off on this.👍👍⬆️

[@barnescycle]

Mathis says he wasn't scrubing but I bet there are tire marks on the fenders

[@codytaylor048]

😂

[@joeschmidt6597]

Lolololol

[@HarborEdwin]

Brilliant solid branding and customer goodwill that Honda just afforded to the public! Awesome test and video, Guys. Thanks.

[@Steezy_Mx]

“I don’t remember saying yes to this, maybe it was after a few drinks or something” 😂

[@daneg]

Matthes and Keefter are the MX version of the Odd Couple. 😄(gawd that's a dated reference 🤨).

[@kruse1105]

100% 😂

[@garywinkler883]

LOL

[@miniwolverine6227]

Only thing I noticed is that the suspension sags more on all three bikes when Matthes is riding them! 🤣🤣

[@daneg]

2nd comment. thought it might be first. was close. 😄

[@churchofbrap876]

He's riding factory bikes, you're in your mom's basement making fun of him in the comments? Think about that keyboard warrior.

[@CoreyBanks1]

@@churchofbrap876well he is fat af and is a liberal. So we got that right to make fun of them

[@kevinsnow9157]

@@churchofbrap876 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@miniwolverine6227]

@churchofbrap876 you like apples? How many likes did YOUR comment get? How ya like those apples? And yeah, I’m the dude from Good Will Hunting that will rock your ass! I’m all bite, no bark brother! No need in the nonsense you spew! All NEGATIVE SCHITT just because you have a different opinion than someone else? WTF??

[@Dave-ph4gf]

Class act for the team honda hrc ❤️

[@h20mxracer222]

I know you guys realize just how amazing it was for Honda to let you ride their factory bikes, ESPECIALLY the bikes that are winning the championships this year. Absolutely epic dream ride right there!!

[@Smilesmd35]

Lars standing there making sure they don’t say anything they’re not supposed to 😂

[@Twisted_Biscuit]

Levers being pushed in doesn't just mean you break less levers, it lets you pull them in easier by using the end of the lever. Physics, you're increasing the moment arm reducing the torque(pull force) required to engage, less fatigue and arm pump.

[@brentowen9480]

Hey that matches my comment above. I push the perch in is as far as I can with fat bars. Would go even further if I ever had full 7/8".

[@Natedoc808]

💯 on torque/lever arm with levers run in. Also if you’re just using one finger for the clutch it makes the pull so much easier. Funny thing is they commented how much easier the church pull was on Jett’s but attributed to the lever not the position

[@dormantmenace]

Actually pushing the lever in makes it easier to pull. Your pulling from further up the lever. Creating more leverage. If you perfure 1 finger or middle over index. It makes it easier to feather. It can save the lever in a fall. But some Teflon tape under the perch works just as good

[@TrevorAvrett]

Thank you Steve for pushing for this, and Keefer as always for the bike reviews! Now if only Mitch Peyton was as cool as Lars...

[@kevinsnow9157]

He’s not .

[@justinmatthews5262]

Keefers comment about Mathes 'looks like a swordfish jumping out of the Ocean' 😂😂😂😂

[@DislodgedTKO]

This type of stuff makes me want to buy a Honda! #ridered

[@goodguyeugene]

Had to replace fork seals after Mathis

[@EricBoskee]

You cant possibly take 'bike insight' from a guy (steve) that stays in one spot on the bike around the entire track

[@craigf7188]

He’s letting us know what the bikes like as a vet/ club level rider, yeah a massive market

[@LiverpoolFC658]

Amazing HRC giving out factory Equipment to The Press to ride , Awesome Stuff!!

[@sampeters3849]

Keefer 👍🏻 Matthes 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 What a wasted opportunity for someone to actually ride the bikes and give us info.

[@darinharker21]

Thanks to Lars and the team for making this possible.

[@chestercalloway3812]

Is JT pulling Steve’s gear deal for sporting the AStars shirt?

[@Runk3lsmcdougal]

That's awesome haha props to HRC

[@astreet339]

I see why Steve doesn’t want anyone to watch him ride at Millville lol

[@scottpeters8640]

Thanks for this great video guys ! We all know that Factory Honda is the epitome of the sport no matter which team or bike you like.

[@coltonfarley775]

Matthes says he's "a tad over weight" that wallowed out jelly roll is obese, I could hear the bikes screaming for help to get his ass off the seat. That factory suspension was begging for mercy, and that stuff can take some serious abuse.

[@daneg]

gawd those 450s. I thought Matthes was gonna stall for sure at 2:08

[@gazza70cr]

Seeing Steve Matthes riding a bike is hilarious. It's a must watch.

[@churchofbrap876]

Are there any videos of u riding factory HRC bikes on KZbin? Please post the link.

[@gazza70cr]

@@churchofbrap876 No video but there was this one time.😃 Seriously though, I commend Steve for giving us a good laugh with his appearance and riding. He is truly a man of the people. No hate here. 👍

[@pineychristian]

​@@churchofbrap876there is no videos of me riding a factory anything but I guarantee you can put Steve on a factory bike and me on a stock bike. I will pass him every time. He needs to stay off the track...

[@churchofbrap876]

@@pineychristian but he's riding factory bikes, you're a troll in the comments. Hmmm. Jealousy?

[@pineychristian]

@churchofbrap876 there is no jealously when you make a factory bike look that bad and slow. He doesn't belong riding period.

[@joeschmidt6597]

Mathes: I’m a _tad_ overweight The factory suspension determined that is a lie.

[@RobNaughton54]

I only noticed two things in this video, it looks like the two 450s run a different header pipe and Steve is better rider than I could’ve ever imagined. 😂

[@brentowen9480]

I wanted to see him do the uphill floater before the left then down thru trees.

[@pedrogonzalesthespanishgyp7964]

Steve needs the shock taken off the Team HRC semi and run on his bike. Lucky guy

[@caliweasel]

Can't wait to see all the memes that come from this.#getoffthebike

[@canciaro]

My god the Fly Racing gear looks so awful compared to the big brands

[@jfd889]

feel sorry for the suspension after porky pig aka matthes threw a leg over each bike...

[@jpesicka492]

Pulp looks like a tomato on a toothpick on a bike. 😂

[@shawnhorne9296]

No disrespect but at the speeds you'll ride there's no way you can get use of the suspension the 3 riders of these bikes , no way what so ever

[@jamespatterson2002]

mathes is blazing fast said no one ever USA USA!!!!!!!

[@tankeater]

Still crazy to me that HRC only have 4 factor riders

[@NinetyTres]

Quality, not quantity

[@lw3918]

Jesus Steve if you went any slower you'd be stopped.

[@lazurus222]

Keefer looks fast to be honest. Matthes looked good too ,suspension looks a lil soft steve . Wish i could see what those bikes are like

[@motofunk1]

This was great. Lars..... Please let James Stewart do this same thing.

[@Shawn-in-da-Canyon]

A little overweight? Oh ok! 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@YeahImAnthony]

Keefer fuckin rips. - Maine guy

[@mikebishop6095]

I’m 5,9 213 and have same gear as Steve I realized that’s what I look like when I ride lol

[@matheson68]

yes but Steve is about 283

[@Kawiboy]

Kudos to HRC 👏👏 Well done fellas 💪👊😉

[@daneg]

One of them (I think Mattes) said he was surprised by how much pop Hunter's 250F had and suggested the bike wasn't at a disadvantage on gate drops. The next step is to somehow convince Star to let you on their bikes for a whopping 15 mins. I'd love love love a comparison of the 250s and 450s respectively. and what, if anything, do the blue bikes give up in handling/stability for that powa? i know. i know. who doesn't want this? hehe

[@brocmx7865]

Steve you lookin quick on that 250

[@kpm134]

I just want to hear DV’s commentary

[@matheson68]

that would be very funny. And also JT when he sees mathes in that fly gear.

[@christophervillarreal8565]

"all you technique crazy dudes" Kief is the fuckin man lol

[@toybugengoodman3490]

THAT BIKE IS RED WHITE AND BLUE WHY WOULD HE RIDE THAT VERY DEVISIVE.

[@TraviNomotion]

Same with his gear he’s divisive

[@markswartmx56]

Bucket list dream day -- congrats boys!!

[@rad9693]

Hey man Hats Off to SM he looked pretty good. You know Steve was thinking dam back in my day I would of ripped this Shit

[@joeschmidt6597]

Only thing Mathes ripped back in the day was his moto pants

[@anthonymacella4677]

How hilarious would it be if they showed everyone repeatedly washing the front end on Sexton’s bike😂

[@voiceofreason9238]

You could give me Hunter's bike. I would still be 4th in 250 B's.

[@dank3823]

That was awesome. Fascinating to hear about how different Chase and Jetts bikes are. Great video.

[@Rynos9Lives]

Hey, you said it, Damn straight your overweight..!😂 New clutch went in that bike immediately afterwards.

[@markdittbenner9949]

Hats of to HONDA..👍 . For being transparent with your bikes ...The Red bikes are fantastic....your riders Rock...keep..them all happy...they love the red bikes as well...give JETT a blank check he deserves it...💪👍

[@mikemcnabb2744]

Jett is obviously a GREAT rider. But am I getting this right? One bike is reportedly superior in the handling and comfort department, and incorporates a different frame? Aaaa, so we’re comparing apples to oranges of TEAM bikes…. Could this be a contributing factor to one racer’s better results?

[@pedrogunner9750]

The first shot of Steve on a bike on the track tripped my brain up, because I’m not used to seeing a guy that size on a dirt bike

[@MarcSherwood]

He looks like a fitness model compared to when us old guys up here try to put in a lap - note that is lap singular. LapS are are a distant memory 🙂

[@motosaki404]

I agree. very rare where I'm from. cool to see

[@greggory448]

😂😂😂😂😂😮 Definitely turned up the suspension.😢😅😅😅

[@DonnyBerger]

STEVE SHOULD BE SPONSORED BY MICHILIN , HE COULD LITERALLY BE THE MICHILIN MAN!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@MarcSherwood]

@@DonnyBerger seems like he is living a pretty good life.

[@duzz9539]

Talking about Jetts clutch/front brake positioning and saying it isn't about technique. I've watched videos where Jett specifically says to do that to assist in getting elbows up and gripping with the outside of your hand? That sounds like technique to me lol

[@Isenseven1080]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always pushed my levers inward to take advantage of the lever leverage ratio, making it less fatiguing to pull levers. Closer you pull the lever in by the pivot, the harder it pulls.

[@leonardwashington710]

"Vet B rider"

[@upside721]

Keefer, Are those Redbull cans full of water? No one with sane mind drinks that stuff right? And wow, Jet's bike suspension rides the same with you on it? Not joking, it rides and looks front to rear level and smooth.

[@mxcollin95]

You missed your opportunity to ask Lars the million dollar question: how did they get rid of the rigid feel without giving up the bikes’ ability to carve like a Honda???

[@jarredtremain4644]

Nice of you too break in suspension for Sexton. Still won't help against Jett and Hunter(if he stays uninjured for a while so he can race his bro as not many other have speed.

[@chasecarter2803]

Boycott Steve

[@Joe-pb3lx]

wouldnt you think chase should try jetts bike and jett ride chases........they both would have good value opinions?

[@thehunt3652]

Steve Mathis making a 250 look like a 80 lol 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@spottedmarley]

Jett could win on Canondale

[@seanhaberman4619]

I can't believe Steve would let anyone film him ride..... that was painful to watch..

[@Thepianobird]

they should have rode them without knowing who's bike is who's....

[@anyajackson4723]

...jumping out of the ocean like a swordfish..!!!....🤣🤣🤣

[@oldmadandkiwi]

Ford truck springs required 🎉he can still ham it up though we'll done

[@burrofilemon1823]

Do you really think they'll give you the same settings

[@PinkuStyle]

Dont wanna come on my show boys??? Ok!! Ill ride your bikes!! -Steve 😂

[@BigCat5]

Lol steeeeeeve

[@rdy553]

Sorry but lever its about technique Also , they say it in AJ Channel

[@Skylerc24]

Sooooo jealous. Best bikes in the paddock!