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Edited Date/Time
4/18/2015 12:57am
So I'm wondering....air suspension, reverse engines, mass centralization... what's the next big step and then I saw on MXA a photo of the old BMW Huskys and as crappy as they were they had some cool ideas.
One that always makes me wonder is the countershaft pivot point. ATK had a system to avoid the torque created from the chain and everyone deemed it a success and it vanished. BMW had an even cooler idea (IMHO) and it was considered a success and again....gone. See photo below
One that always makes me wonder is the countershaft pivot point. ATK had a system to avoid the torque created from the chain and everyone deemed it a success and it vanished. BMW had an even cooler idea (IMHO) and it was considered a success and again....gone. See photo below
The Shop
HRC Honda changed everything in the 80's and since then, aside from the road race frames and a few not-so-interesting things, we've just been refining HRC's advancements for the last 30 years.
Daring designers hate refinements. They go for it.
So please Japanese mfgs, hire some real design talent, go ballistic on concept (works) machines, that look and operate totally different, then build it and sell it. RISK something. even Kawasaki could have made the 250/450 look like the 85/100, but they even dropped the ball on that! see, a great designer designed the KX 85/100, look at the bike and it's obvious.
It's a staffing/team building issue. there hasn't been any morale in the design departments for dirtbikes, and that is what has to change. KTM gets that in the biggest way since HRC's '82-85 glory days.
Want to sell? Design!
(Kind of like the GM where you needed to lift the engine to change a spark plug. Oops!)
either way, dirtbikes should look LIGHT YEARS ahead of where we're at now.
the mfg's don't think our demographic, which, let's face it, is often guilty of trying to dumb down "look and feel" of the gear and machinery, presumably in an effort to seem "tough" (yawn). however the same guys in MX who dumb down design -- these are the "just give me something that works and i don't care how it looks" bullshitters -- these same "dudes" also turn to Ferrari, Tesla, Porche, and others in awe of their design!
it doesn't equal on the scales does it.
we need better better "look and feel" design. period, end of story.
MX sales are a pimple on the ass of Japan for the most part. Most of the dollars have gone into street bike innovation, but some of that trickles over to MX over time.
It makes you wonder how a person would do on the torque-eliminating designs if they never rode a traditional bike - if it's just a matter of familiarity.
Hannah obviously loved it but said it was best on rough, square-edged stuff and not well suited to SX where you need to preload the suspension a lot.
Pit Row
I'll put an old Briggs in a frame and run it on K1 before I'll go the silent route.
Besides, how are PC, FMF, etc, supposed to sell overpriced pieces of bent and twisted metal made by illegals so they can become bajillionaires if they go electric? Are they going to push $10,000 armatures with Ti bolt kits and CF covers?
and yes, that's the only way to fly.
The ladies all like the Bean oil.
I have never ridden a works bike so can't comment on your 1st paragraph.
On the plus side, it could really increase the popularity of dirt bikes since so many more riding areas could be opened up because noise wouldn't be an issue. Think 1970's were people sometimes had riding areas literally in the city limits.
And the 4 stroke haters would have to find something new to bitch about.
I'd say something like this is probably 15-20 years out though.....to the point where the foundation of the sport buys into it. In the RC world the electric cars can actually be faster than the nitro.
and magnetic suspension will follow..
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