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I have a friend who's son tries to qualify for pro MX at area nationals, and they have $15,000 invested in the motor, but when they go to tracks like Southwick, with deep loam, he switches to 450 since his 250 is severely handicapped when compared to factory and factory supported teams. How much can be dumped into a 250 2T. Just curious if anyone knows an average cost to get serious power from a current 2T.
IMO, what I would love to see:
- 125 class reinstated for the above reasons.
- Emissions improved through cleaner burning oils and new technologies/fueling systems. This is needed to effectively kill the environmental argument that 2 strokes are dirty.
- Big bore 2 strokes which are tuned for torque and traction. This type of engine has very low maintenance costs - just look how many CR/KX 500 engines are still knocking about after decades of abuse.
Add in that 2 strokes are quieter, and we can therefore keep tracks that are nearer to housing (this is a big issue in the UK and has forced many track closures due to the lack of space). Moreover, we need to make the sport accessible to all. At the moment it is not.
A couple decades of evolution and we worked out 500s were too much bike. Now we're there again.
Pit Row
We're probably at a point where we could simply switch to a 125 and a 250 class, and it would be good for the sport.
2T or 4T, same displacement, or even give the 4T a bit extra against the 125, but not double.
Maybe 165.
Performance - 4ts have come so far from XR etc levels, through the sheltered workshop rules of Double or 1.75 x capacity, and then the arms race between manufacturers. They no longer need Any capacity advantage, and there's a Lot more to come for the 4T.
You don't see 4ts being slaughtered in racing that allows equivalency. What you see, and hear, is great, fair racing.
That there are far more manufacturers making competitive 4ts (and the perception of so many that Four Strokes are so much better / faster - just listen to any SX Broadcast, where commentators rave about 4ts, with never, ever mentioning the capacity advantage they are allowed) as against 2 manufacturers, means that for the foreseeable future, even when / if Equivalency is in place, there will be far more 4ts out on the tracks.
2 Manufacturers : Yamaha with essentially, 13 year old bikes and KTM. I count KTM / KTHusky as the same manufacturer, as that's exactly what it is - just different 'specs', I like the White ones myself. And a Magnificent Minnow , in TM. I'm talking MX - we've seen 2 small manufacturers, Beta and Sherco, take advantage of a market essentially left to KTM, and doing new 250 / 300 2ts, with a 125 coming from Sherco, soon, getting great sales in the Off Road / Enduro segment.
The Euros / FIM have helped - the 65 / 85 and 125 EMX, and, this year, 250 2Ts allowed in EMX250. We didn't see 'slaughter' of the 250Fs over the weekend. Only a few out there, and just 2 in the top 10 in the second Moto. I missed what happened to Kras in the first Moto - missed what he may have said during his guest commentary with Malin. And, MK is a very good rider, but he was up against a swarm of Very good riders in EMX250. And, he has the EMX300 series as importance to him, so, one would assume, he might have been a bit cautious.
I do hope the EMX250 Equivalency will be transferred to MX2 - but there will be a pitched battle against that from a few Manufacturers. One in particular.
DC has Equivalency in XC2 in GNCC. It hasn't resulted in a 'slaughter' of the 4ts. Last year, Honda - they that are "All Four Stroke, All The Time", won the class. DC has the power to set Equivalency in the US MX Nationals. He's run that GNCC class with Equivalency for a fair few years now, that belies any thought that 2ts would dominate.
In SX, FELD could do any Damned thing they want - Sanctioning / Sport Governing bodies, Manufacturers would have to 'deal' with it.
This year in the Enduro World Championships, there's Equivalency. Enduro GP for over 250 to 450(?), and Enduro 2 for up to 250. 2T or 4T. . Hell has finally started to defrost in EWC.
125, 250s then up to 450 - with Equivalency. That's how it should be. Every Bloody Where.
I've no time for wankers that rave on about the superiority of either ICE power plant. They are, Wankers whichever side they are on .
Both 'Ts' types are great.
But, One type has been suppressed by Piss Poor, Ill Thought Out, Incredibly Loaded rules, for far too long.
PS :
One thing that just pisses me off immensely, is how many 2T 'fans' are squealing (and not in delight) over the coming introduction of the KTM / KTHusky 'TPI'.
If you've half a brain, you'd realize that for 2ts to continue to exist (hell, 4ts too) they have to become cleaner, full stop. Even 'Competition / Off Highway' vehicles will be further targeted by the Enviros / Governments, in the years to come. 'Clean(er)' 2Ts have to be developed, for them to continue to exist - and, indeed, be expanded in their usage, in many forms of ICE powered vehicles / fitments.
Would be huge if this becomes reality! 2018 RM-250
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