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I agree the difference in cost is not stopping new folks from getting in the sport. Its just a cumulative cost of everything that is just to much for most middle class families to indulge.
I see great bikes for 2-3 grand all over 2 and 4 stroke.
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(2) Two strokes may not be the answer some old timers like to pleasantly remember. Our KX85 parts bills were over twice the costs of our CRF150r bills. Hands down the 150r was more reliable in every respect. All our parts are sourced though ATVs and More and anyone there can back this up. A properly maintained four stroke motor will simply last longer. In one season we bent two valves. On the KX250f changing pistons at 25-35 hours, valves at 50-60 and cranks at 80-100. Considering what these engines are put through, it's hard to complain. We change oil daily and our filters are clean with outer filters as well. Your results may vary depending on maintenance practices.
(3) Lowering the cost of the sport is simple. First, increase track time. A and B should be at least 15 minutes plus a lap. All others, except 50s, 12 minutes plus a lap. In the midwest we've timed races at 7-8 minutes. It's hard not to feel ripped off. Race turnout is down. Practice turnout is not. Some classes may have to be cancelled to increase race track time. Promoters have increased classes and decreased track time. This has harmed the sport. Second. Credit the racer's gate fee towards the first entry fee. Third, lower the ridiculous gate fees and cap them. Think about the cost of a family of 5 or more? Or a grandma or grandpa? Why not allow a whole family in, a carload for a flat fee? It's supposed to be a family sport. Next knock off the high pit bike charges. What's next a "foot traffic fee?" In Ohio we were charged $15 each time we used the hydrant pump for non potable water for a 35 gallon container. There are two theories: one is what is seemingly being practiced, to take a small market and bleed it to death; the second theory is to lower costs, provide a better service and increase the market and in the end increase revenue.
or this? http://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/4188328163.html
or this? http://reno.craigslist.org/mcy/4143684967.html
There are a ton of decent smokers in the Norcal northwestern Nevada area from a low $1K's to mid $2ks from mid 90 CR's to late 2000 YZ's.
i guess it depends on where you live but ive been to tracks here in texas, the north west and northeast and concluded thats its mostly the same types wherever you go.
im sure CA is the exception though, serious $$$ in SoCal
Living that way, a guy can save up ahead of time and pay cash for a new or used bike. That still doesn't change the cost of a weekend racing.
The track time issue you raise is the reason many SoCal racers have turned to SRA GPs to get more seat time. They also don't have to be at the track/desert all day as they show up, race and go home. When I was racing big amateur races in CA and the days would be LONG and the motos SHORT I always wondered why they didn't split the classes in two and have a AM program and a PM program.
Fortunately for me 90 percent of the racing I did in SoCal was with REM and track time is never an issue with them. Multiple gates on the track at once allows for long motos and still get done in time....and in their case by 3 PM at the latest usually.
Hopefully other promoters will get it they need to deliver longer motos to keep racers spending 100 bucks plus a race day to ride.
It's funny someone considers MX "poor people activities". That's ridiculous. Soccer is a "poor people sport" (no offense to soccer fans), that's why it is so popular around the world in many 3rd world countries. All you need is a round ball to play it (don't even need shoes to be honest). Goals can be made from just about anything.
what i meant was, uneducated, unsophisticated types. this is part of the problem IMO, next to astronomical costs, is the type of people who are into MX
I appreciate your numbers and extremely well thought out answer, but I have a hard time buying into this one. I raced and practiced on a number of two-stroke bikes from 87-95. They were ridden almost every day. In that time I replaced zero cranks and had zero crank failures. We replaced piston/rings only at specified intervals. And of course zero replacement valves/cams/valve springs or head recuts. I haven't looked at the prices for the 85 vs 150, but I can tell you for sure that 250F vs 250T is no comparison when it comes to maintenance costs. You also don't even have to consider changing the oil every ride (but yes you do have the added expense of buying premix). There's a reason that hour meters weren't common on dirt bikes until the high performance four strokers became common.
Two strokes may or may not be the answer, but IMHO not because of maintenance costs.
And I'd like to buy any of the
But i would prefer to race others on similar bikes personally
That last rm125 looks really sweet
And a whole lotta truth here..
Pit Row
Couple that with the very REAL problem that banks never "loan" you anything... from "Modern Money Mechanics" published by the "Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago":
" ...the banks with excess reserves probably will have opportunities to loan the $9,000. Of course, they do not really pay out loans from the money they receive as deposits. If they did this, no additional money would be created. What they do when they make loans is to accept promissory notes in exchange for credits to the borrowers' transaction accounts. Loans (assets) and deposits (liabilities) both rise by $9,000(the amount of the "loan"). Reserves are unchanged by the loan transactions. But the deposit credits constitute new additions to the total deposits of the banking system."
I ask, when is the last time you "lent" someone money, and instantly you had MORE money than you began with? AND... they "owed" you that money back... WITH interests! This is typically called counterfeiting, and is a criminal act for you and I.
Once you fully understand this, then you'll understand that the underlying problem is Americans need monetary reform MORE than any other issue discussed, or not discussed as it may be! After all, it's what July FOURTH stands for! The founding fathers standing up to the King of England and not serving under the rule of a Central Bank!
I know this is to "messy" for Moto, my apologies. I just felt a need to type it up, carry on
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