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I have read a lot of posts, as well as interviews with different riders over the years, and it got me to thinking: What really constitutes a "Mod" bike vs a stocker? I know what the rules at Lorettas say, and I have my opinions on the matter, but interested to hear what some of you guys think differentiates the two? A pipe, re-valved suspension, A-Kit, internal motor work, bolt on gadgetry, all of the above? Please chime in with your opinions on this matter. Purely something to debate in this MX National downtime.
Story time:
You would think bikes get protested but it's not often. I ran a yz 144 that was completely tricked out except a pipe in the stock class, my bike sounded completely different from every bike on the line (40 "stock" 125's). So different that a dad of another kid came and asked me what I had in the motor. I said it was stock and he didn't believe me, rightfully so. I won that race and was protested of course, and the guy who was supposed to tear down the motor and look at it, (an AMA official mind you) took the spark plug out, checked if the fuel was leaded and called it stock. The guy had no idea what he was looking for. And the protester contested my fuel and my compression. Both passed because they weren't actually checked. The kid to the right of me on the starting line pulled me on straightaways every single lap. His dad claimed it was a stock bike too. (Ended up being an Eric gore motor like mine but he had his bike geared different)
Mod bikes are even better however, a lot of the top guys in the B class had factory bikes from pro circuit or Geico Honda, they had probably spent more on parts building their mod bikes than I paid for a stock one brand new. A normal person can't compete on an equal field with people that can throw money at the sport.
And like you said, in the 250/450 b mod classes, how does the average kid run with those top kids on factory bikes? You're at a disadvantage from the start.
He told me no AMA official could do it or know what to check
He then said you don't win a half million dollar title without being bored and stroked meaning 250s.
He should know .
The Shop
Rules limiting motor work are difficult to monitor even in auto racing, so most dont limit internal work such as porting.
and with oem's making their own upgraded parts, if they dont mark them, to a naked eye how can one know whats what? unless the material is obviously different or if they are a big bore ie bigger piston.
to even do all the inspections would be a challenge to finish it in a week.
but its the same ol' song in any form of motorsports being the have's and have not's. we will never get away from it unless we go to a spec class, where one manufacturer supplies and preps each bike on the line.
And the 450 in the 250 class was really easy. I just took the decals off the stock bike and went up to the line and didn't act any differently. I was top three both motos and no one said a word about it. It was obvious I was on a 450 if you listened to the bike let alone looked at the motor and ama officials should have pulled me from the track but nothing happened because they know absolutely nothing about dirt bikes.
Just a couple weeks ago at Monster we had a yz125 wheelie off the line ride the wheelie 3/4 the way down the start and still pull the holeshot on the 250f's in the class. It was probably a yz144 but still, bad bike and a good rider nonetheless.
Like I said, enjoy that finish, you earned it brother. Congrats on beating a bunch of 250s on a 450.
Pit Row
I think all the Dads in the pits that are competing, newer bike, modded bike, bigger motorhome...
My son wanted a modded bike (everyone gets that Dad...)
I timed his lap, slower pace in the end of a heat.
My son got new running shoes.
Should be easy to protest if indeed a mod bike. Supposed to even run stock hubs.
We run limited class and the only mods made are suspension and cosmetic stuff like bars, sprockets, chain, foot pegs etc... Engine is 100% stock, If you have to cheat to win stay home IMO. I despise cheaters....
One of the kids that trains here did better in 250C than in 250C limited on the same bike. He led 3 laps in the mod class got tired and faded back to 9th. I know you will say C class but some of the laps times of the winner were on par with some of the B class riders. I know for a FACT bike is 100% stock...
Remember what Travis Sewell did on the basically stock KTM during arenacross after the theft? They said over and over it basically was a stock bike with a pipe and suspension and he won some heats and finished well.
Point being, still takes a good rider no matter how good the bike is. I really wish they would start tearing down questionable bikes and police it a little better...
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