Modified Machine Works Dry-Break Cap

What it is

• Aluminum dry-break receiver cap.
• O-ring maintains a tight fit.

Modified Machine Works is a relatively new company to the moto industry, though its owner is not. Run by Jay Hopkins, the Hopkins family has raced desert for decades, including the two Hopkins brothers racing the Baja 1000 with my dad back in their glory days. Modified Machine Works is a fab, welding, and machining company capable of doing just about anything, but their passion for motorcycles has led them to creating unique dirt bike related products. Their Dry-Break Cap is machined out of aluminum and fits inside the dry-break receiver. Other caps are made of plastic and succumb to swelling, shrinking, and deformation over time; however, this cap is designed and claimed to maintain its shape and size at all times, with a replaceable o-ring that supports a tight fit. This cap also features a built in grab handle to easily pull the cap out of the receiver and a tether that attaches to the bike to prevent you from losing it. This cap has been used by the SLR Honda team down in Baja all year and just wrapped up the Baja 1000 victory and 1x plate. You can order the cap for $65 shipped through modifiedmachineworks@gmail.com or through Instagram @modifiedmachineworks. MMW also builds race light frames for Baja Designs lights.

How it works

• Tight fit is maintained.
• Clean look.
• Simple to use with the grab handle.

Dry-break caps are a simple, yet complicated ordeal. Plastic ones don’t typically last all that long as they are prone to swelling and shrinking over time. As a result, they can often be found flopping around while riding/racing. Aluminum ones can get costly and bulky in an area where a flush mount can be needed depending on the bike it is going on. 

We’ve been using the MMW cap for a few months now, and its fit is as good as ever, maybe even better than new. It still maintains that precise fit and has yet to show any play in the receiver. The o-ring looks brand new still and once/if it wears out, we’ll be able to pop a new one in and have a like-new cap. For styling, the caps come in a variety of colors with the base and the rubber hose loops all prepared to change colors. The grab handle is strong and effective making the cap easy to use, especially when in a rushed pit stop. Likewise, the safety tether is very effective as we can pop the cap off worry free knowing it won’t get lost or fall in the dirt. Finally, and most importantly, it does a very good job of keeping dirt out of the receiver. Post race or post cleaning, there have been very minimal, if any, amounts of dirt in the receiver.  

In conclusion, the MMW cap is a quality product at an affordable price. It’s pricier than the standard IMS Dust Cap or other plastic versions, but cheaper than some of the other aluminum offerings on the market. Additionally, it looks and works like a works part right out of Factory Honda's machine room. We’ve had success with the cap maintaining its functionality, and we feel confident that we’ll be using it for years to come.