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In this thread though people are all nostalgic about two strokes and act like they are dirt cheap and never have issues. If all the manufacturers were making two strokes today they would be just as expensive, and the parts and gear you wear just as expensive as well. Pro teams like PC and Geico would still have unobtainable and expensive upgrades that regular Joe privateers couldn't get. It would still be crazy expensive to race professionally. A brand new 2015 Yamaha 250 costs the same as a new 250F. And if Yamaha was still developing its two strokes and they had all the other new stuff that the new four strokes come with, the price would probably be just as high as 4 strokes across the board. I love two strokes and have a 04 RM125, but people need to quit acting like two strokes would cost the same as they did in the 90s.
This was not a 450 vs 250 vs 144 vs 125 thread.
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The POINT IS......only Yamaha and KTM are making a 125.....the other Jap bikes companies abandoned them. They are fewer to choose from , and companies like Honda , Suzuki and Kawasaki have dropped the 125 2 stroke and replaced it with a 250F.
That is only one part of it. They also killed off the class in the pro racing. Which killed it for everyone else. I'll state this again......the 125 class is the most important development class on the planet........and they fucking killed it!
The 125's aren't just for the kids moving up from the 85cc class.....it for anyone and everyone who enjoys riding them. Anyone will tell you , that if you throw a leg over on for a whole practice day , they usually come back and say " I haven't had that much fun in 20yrs! ".
There is a reason for that!
2nd is the first place loser!
Just from my experience , I run the Bridgestone 403 / 404 and sometimes the 203 up front. But I can get two huge ride days out of those suckers ( about 7- 9 gallons of fuel ) and those things still have the damn nubs sticking off of them. Square edges still intact and good to go. I'm not some Chad Reed or anything , but ran INT for many , many years and can still mix it up in the aged " A " classes when I'm in shape , so not really a slouch on the throttle. Of course I guess it all depends on what you ride on. " Most " tracks around here have some really good dirt , but we do have one track locally ( Riverdale ) that will ruin a set of tires in one day. Like a belt grinder , with Sand / silt on top of a very hard base and sketchy as hell sometimes.
450 has to be a safer ride with new rubber doesn't it?
I had pro sponsorship. Funny storey. We had a team of 14 riders. All sponsored. We had 4 pro's on the team. I used to work at the bike shop, take all the gear to the races and set the pits up, packing up, prepping the bikes, coaching etc.
I herd the Reps were coming in to take our orders. Go out the front, one of the boyz had just finished putting in his order. I start mine. The chick behind the counter gives the boss a funny look. He smiles and says, OK, go on.
Only the pro's were getting "full" sponsorship. I was a charity case but I'll take it
As it turned out. Was my first yr of racing the regional series and I was the only rider who won a race out of the 14. Also the oldest by far. I finished 2nd in the championships. Both of my bikes were on TV at the Invitation of the shows host. The boss ended up getting pretty good value for his money from me.
Michelin was one of the sponsors so new rubber every time the bike hit the track. first 3 race meets I got 9 from 9 hole shots. Got the first hole shot at the following rnd as well. first 10 in a row. Got the last hole shot from last out of the gate (The bike stalled) and a flat rear tire. In Mud. Dead last half way down the straight. First out of the first turn.
Even if the tires weren't free, they would have been OK for practice, Not for a 2nd race meet.
I would have been one of the slowest riders out of 42. Didn't even try to clear the larger jumps, was the only time I was passed all yr. My corner speed was good. But no one could match my race craft. I'd come from Karts.
Thanks for coming
Doe's he pay for his tires?
Again. I came back to MX from Karts. In Karts, we're the same weight, same engine restrictions, same tires, same fuel etc, etc, etc. It's controlled class racing.
It's in my blood to look for anything I think is going to be an advantage. I consider a tire with a fresh edge to be an advantage.
You'd be amazed what people will pay in Karts to pick up a tenth of a second.
450 tire has no edge after a days use. Turn it, fresh edge, one more days use for practice. Bin it.
If you're not doing that It's for financial reasons. You would if your tires were free. Don't even bother telling me you wouldn't.
I'm not going to blow my $$, pay entry and all the associated costs to race unless, I know I'll be starting the day with the bike in the best possible condition and at It's optimum. In turn, giving myself the best possible chance of doing well and winning.
If you're not doing that, then pissing your $$ up the wall. You're not going to ride at your best if the bike Isn't at It's best. You'll be making up the numbers. That's logic.
"A tradesman is only as good as the tools he uses".
You all know I'm right. Now man up and admit it. If ya don't wanna do that then pull your heads in and get back on topic.
Pit Row
Don't got the answer, but last year I just decided to go for it myself. I race 50+ and was a top NW Old Timers competitor for several years on my Lazy Boy 450. Winning is fun, but back of the pack on this thing is more fun. Is it safer? Probably. Whiskey throttle on this makes you laugh vs white knuckling the 450- Thought it would be cool to see if we could put together a 125 Old timer class, but there are way too many classes already- So, I'm headed to the NW PRO Series event at the Horn Rapids Moto Complex this weekend and riding 40+ and 50+ on this thing (2014 HUSKY TC 125) and I'll be giggling my ass off the whole time! And eatin some roost for sure! :-)
Yep. I know of people who got themselves killed with the 450 whiskey throttle. My old and out of shape self seems to be able to recover and save it when shit goes sideways on my tiddlers. I remember my 90 model YZ250 pounding me into the ground way back when. You could almost hear it laughing when it did it! It would do it with such authority too, lol. I have a lot of respect for pros and amateurs alike who can ride the shit out of a big bore.
That's a sweet looking bike. Love that big hole right in the middle where you can stick your hands in and tinker and clean.
To even go fast enough to crash at 50mph on a 125, you have to have skill and do things properly.
To crash at 50mph on a 250F you simply need $7000 MSRP.
Give your 2T love. And your 2T will love you in return. It's all about TLC lol
Pauls Jonass and Tim Gajser came through that system and now are at factory KTM and Factory Honda respectively and some top kids like Mewse, Prado, Natze etc are all on factory KTMs already in the 125 class for this season.
Plus the racing is great to watch (and hear).. it's like old school GP racing 20 years ago and you still get the modern day racing too!
Post a reply to: Everybody agree the 125 class is badly needed?