Posts
2295
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Clovis, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 12:24pm
This is not about two vs four, its about what riders really need...
Q. How come there seems to be no push to improve the mini's?
A. Why bother no one wants it and because the racing doesn't need it and isn't improved by it.
Seems these size bikes are all about the $$$ or lack there of , which could be what saves this sport. Good news is there seems to be no shortage of competition or fun in the 50 through supermini and Schoolboy racing and yet its all low tech and by in large "old" designs. No FI, and pretty low tech. In some cases, I won't mention any companies by name (KMC) are running a twenty year old product, yet it seems the racing is as good as ever. The biggest loser I see is Honda. Hello... I think this sport could benefit from just rolling out the 2005's models again in all cc sizes and strokes...
Whatever keeps the purchase price down to get more people into the sport. No complaint however if the OEM's don't join in. In fact I don't think it matters if the Japanese OEM's get it or not. I was noticing today at my local MX track people are riding just about anything they want these days with very little concern for having the "it" bike and for the first time in my memory KTM's were the most popular bike at the MX track today. Note to the Japanese OEM's (in case you haven't noticed) the sport and the customers are leaving you.
Now if we could just get these guys to start racing instead of practice riding that be a really cool thing.
Q. How come there seems to be no push to improve the mini's?
A. Why bother no one wants it and because the racing doesn't need it and isn't improved by it.
Seems these size bikes are all about the $$$ or lack there of , which could be what saves this sport. Good news is there seems to be no shortage of competition or fun in the 50 through supermini and Schoolboy racing and yet its all low tech and by in large "old" designs. No FI, and pretty low tech. In some cases, I won't mention any companies by name (KMC) are running a twenty year old product, yet it seems the racing is as good as ever. The biggest loser I see is Honda. Hello... I think this sport could benefit from just rolling out the 2005's models again in all cc sizes and strokes...
Whatever keeps the purchase price down to get more people into the sport. No complaint however if the OEM's don't join in. In fact I don't think it matters if the Japanese OEM's get it or not. I was noticing today at my local MX track people are riding just about anything they want these days with very little concern for having the "it" bike and for the first time in my memory KTM's were the most popular bike at the MX track today. Note to the Japanese OEM's (in case you haven't noticed) the sport and the customers are leaving you.
Now if we could just get these guys to start racing instead of practice riding that be a really cool thing.
the best way to get more people into the sport is having more places to ride.
if you want more people racing, it might be worth simplifying the classes so you dont spend 12 hours at the track to ride 2 x 3 lap motos.
The Shop
http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/How-is-the-pit-bike-marke…
The modern mx bike is great but it's developed into something the average Joe can't afford. The sanctioning bodies need to put a lid on it. Outlawing fuel injection would be a good start.
Its the rider at every level below the top 40 AMA Pro's
The big issue is cost we need 5 to 6K bikes. If that means two strokes then so be it if they can do it with an oh five spec fourstroke that is just dandy with me too. I want to see more racers and more racing. As pointed out above simpler formating and longer motos are needed to pull people back to the races. People love to bag on REM Sat MX but that is how MX should be.
I have not raced MX in years because I was sick of spending an entire day sitting on my ass for 8 laps. I race off road now, ride practice tracks and open practice days for my moto fix
as far as having more places to ride goes....that is a no brainer. hate to say it but noise kiled many long time ride spots i used to have.....this happened (coincidentally) roughly about the same time loud four strokes took over.... so now I have a bad ass 55 HP fuel injected 450 that in my opinion kicks ass in every way.....and nowhere to ride it
I'm now 44 and have just recently figured out that more HP or a certain model of bike isn't going to make me any faster. All my buddies and myself in the past have thought we could get the advantage over each other if we had this bike or that bike, but it never seems to make much difference, our riding ability always trumps the bike.
I also think that the Japs have painted themselves into a corner with the "high tech" 4-stroke bikes. They have advertised the technology as the greatest thing in the world, now it would be hard for them to go back to a simple, cheaper, low tech bike.
You should be able to buy a new 125 for roughly $5000. Especially a YZ which hasn't changed in years. I don't think Suzuki would have a hard time bringing the RM125 back either. Simplified classes with longer moto's woud also help.
Track design (and I think this has gotten better lately) would also help. New riders don't want to show up somewhere and see an 85 foot triple. I know people say.. "Well you don't have to jump it".. but I think it still gets in their heads.
Last point, I really like racing on Saturdays. I realize this may not be feasible for everyone but I love coming home from a race on a Satuday night, knowing that I have all day Sunday to recover before starting the work week.
Granted, it is easier to ride a four stroke faster, but when everyone has the same equipment, there is no advantage.
If you built a "KD" type bike (From the Kawi nomenclature system"...)
KDX 220 motor (Torquey, Dependable, CHEAP!)
KX125 chassis (Cicrca 2006-2009. Better than the last KDX chassis; yet, identical build cost)
Suspension Components: Forks and Shock from KLX250 (2011) 9-10" of travel.
Body-work: Mix of current KX/KLX
Add-ons: Kick-Stand, KDX type lighting, Spark Arrestor (KD & KE variant would make sense. Like KTM's XC v. EXC)
Price: $3999 ALL-DAY.
All the Toolings paid for!
Make it in Thailand.
The Build cost would be LESS than a KLX140L ($3249).
Caveats: California Green Sticker v. Red Sticker...gonna have to give them a version with the boat-anchor KLX250/300 motor. C.A.R.B. killed the 2T!
Btw, KLX250S already cert'd in Cali and sells for $4999 w/all the electronics and liabilities (An assigned "charge-off" to the fckn lawyers!)
Pit Row
Layoff the promoters dude! They just put on the races people want. Do you actually think they want to put on races no one wants to race?? You want to why there are thirty classes and a lack of even displacement racing? It's because of contingency!! Now that the OEM's have dropped almost all contingency screw it pair the classes down and let's have longer Motos. Just don't complain that you have to race against twenty five other guys and it's harder to win...
Finally if the OEM's pull out don't worry so much. it will simply expand what going on now, people riding what they already have and figuring out it is not the bike holding them back...
Thousands and thousands of those jobs are gone and with the jobs go the money and with the money goes the toys.
I cant help but laugh when i hear Americans complain about wanting more Low Tech bikes. America is the land of the aftermarket MX accesory. Nearly every bike i've ever seen on US forums and at US tracks is done up to the nines with aftermarket pipes, clamps, rims, graphics etc. etc. How many weekend warriors need all of these things?
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