Will PC drop the 16' models for the 17's ?

Superdave19
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Superdave19
Edited Date/Time 5/24/2016 8:17pm
..I understand there's tons of testing that go into getting the bikes as perfect as possible to the guys, and it's rarely worth it to start from scratch.

That being said, back in 2011, Villopoto swapped mid season for the 2012 bike with improved results.

Think they'll switch this season?
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Justin345
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Justin345 5/23/2016 8:18am
5/23/2016 8:18am
I don't think they can due to the homologation rule. That's the reason KTM sells the 16.5 factory edition, so they can run next years bike this season.
c0ncEpT
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c0ncEpT 5/23/2016 8:21am
5/23/2016 8:21am
^ This. You can go back in models because they have already been approved.
ML512
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ML512 5/23/2016 8:21am
5/23/2016 8:21am
Superdave19 wrote:
..I understand there's tons of testing that go into getting the bikes as perfect as possible to the guys, and it's rarely worth it to start...
..I understand there's tons of testing that go into getting the bikes as perfect as possible to the guys, and it's rarely worth it to start from scratch.

That being said, back in 2011, Villopoto swapped mid season for the 2012 bike with improved results.

Think they'll switch this season?
I asked, it sounds like they're staying on the 16 all season. The 2012 450 was a little bit different case, as the engine and suspension components they had on their 11 went right into the 12 chassis. The engines from the 2016 KX250F won't directly work in the 2017 model, as the airbox/intake angle into the cylinder head and through it are different. While the cases are the same and would bolt up, the head wouldn't work.

There's a lot of R&D effort that goes into how the head, cams, piston, and valve-train all work together... So it's not quite as simple as throwing the new head on the old engine, either.
ML512
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ML512 5/23/2016 8:23am
5/23/2016 8:23am
Justin345 wrote:
I don't think they can due to the homologation rule. That's the reason KTM sells the 16.5 factory edition, so they can run next years bike...
I don't think they can due to the homologation rule. That's the reason KTM sells the 16.5 factory edition, so they can run next years bike this season.
Kawasaki can do the proper paperwork right now and race them if they'd like... They did it in 2011 to race the 2012 model, and Yamaha did it with Grant Langston early into the 2007 outdoor season so he could race the 2008 model.

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Justin345
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Justin345 5/23/2016 9:11am
5/23/2016 9:11am
Justin345 wrote:
I don't think they can due to the homologation rule. That's the reason KTM sells the 16.5 factory edition, so they can run next years bike...
I don't think they can due to the homologation rule. That's the reason KTM sells the 16.5 factory edition, so they can run next years bike this season.
ML512 wrote:
Kawasaki can do the proper paperwork right now and race them if they'd like... They did it in 2011 to race the 2012 model, and Yamaha...
Kawasaki can do the proper paperwork right now and race them if they'd like... They did it in 2011 to race the 2012 model, and Yamaha did it with Grant Langston early into the 2007 outdoor season so he could race the 2008 model.
Interesting. Is there a limit to the # of times a manufacturer can do that? If they could do it every year by submitting paperwork, what's the incentive for KTM to create the factory edition every year so they can race it? Is it a timing thing, so the next model years bike is ready to race at A1 vice ~ round 1 of outdoors?
ML512
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ML512 5/24/2016 8:17pm
5/24/2016 8:17pm
Justin345 wrote:
Interesting. Is there a limit to the # of times a manufacturer can do that? If they could do it every year by submitting paperwork, what's...
Interesting. Is there a limit to the # of times a manufacturer can do that? If they could do it every year by submitting paperwork, what's the incentive for KTM to create the factory edition every year so they can race it? Is it a timing thing, so the next model years bike is ready to race at A1 vice ~ round 1 of outdoors?
It's so they can race the bike for SX instead of Outdoors. It has nothing to do with the model year listed on the bike (well, until it becomes to old). It just has to do with doing the paperwork and having the minimum number of bikes needed in the states.

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