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As to whether or not pro riders would ride a 2t 500 against a 4t 450 in a fair and level playing field with either bike being being built to modern spec of course they would choose the 2t over the 4t because the 2t would be an advantage in HP and weight. Your example is nothing like that though. Your example is would a pro rider choose 30 year old bike vs a new bike. No doubt they would choose the newer bike in that case as its a silly comparison. If your example included the hypothetical what if Japan and the AMA didn't force big bore 2ts out of production and out of racing and instead continued to evolve, develop and sell them its pretty obvious no pro rider in their right mind would choose a 4t as they would be at a disadvantage. The only reason 4t bikes currently dominate racing is because they are allowed to based on AMA rules and because Japan wants it that way because selling 4t bikes and parts is more profitable for the corporations.
Would also like to point out thinking that a 500cc 2t is only capable of 5hp more then a 450 4t is flat out ludicrous. Such a statement betrays a lack of understanding in not only engine tuning but basic engine design as well. Do the research and you'll understand soon enough cc for cc 2t is capable of creating more HP then a couple percentage points over a 4t every time.
A lot of times guys make changes and swear by them without ever doing a side by side comparison, or a long time goes by where they can't precisely remember how it used to handle. I have a buddy who has a stock 15' and i've ridden mine and his back to back and the changes I've made are so much better.
Pit Row
I'm a big 2 stroke fan, but 500s died for a reason.
Saying 2ts lack traction is silly considering a majority of trials bikes are 2t. Arguably 4ts do offer an easier ride with the smoother torque response for recreational riders. The traction control issue on 2ts isn't an issue though for riders who develop clutch control skills including understanding that the clutch is for more then taking off and shifting gears. 500s went out of production because the average rider does not have the inclination or motivation to practice and learn to ride bikes that powerful. This is also why auto clutches and flywheel weights are popular these days. The average rider needs all the help they can get gaining traction because they barely have the skills and physical strength to handle anything beyond 25hp.
If anything 500s died because older generations like the Baby Boomers are the biggest market slice of dirt bike buyers these days. Of course that generation wants to make up excuses as to why 500s went out of production and be sure everyone else is on board with the idea. They are the riders who decided they were too weak and unskilled to handle big bore 2ts let alone spend the time to actually understand how to tune a 2t to desired spec.
This brings up the elephant in the room that no one seems to want to talk about concerning 2ts and that is engine tuning. There is this myth that 2ts can only produce tractionless higher rpm screaming HP. This simply isn't true. 2ts can be tuned for smooth power most anywhere in the rpm spectrum. Its true historically a majority of 2ts were tuned too peaky straight from the factory. That doesn't mean they can't be tuned for lower rpm HP/torque. There are plenty of 2ts that have been produced with power curves similar to 4ts including a majority of modern 2t enduros. Here is a dyno chart showing a YZ250 compared to 4ts. Note there isn't any glaring differences between the engines.
The example that a modernized KX500 would get lapped by a 250f on a track that favors the 250f means that a 250f is a faster bike is silly. Take those two bikes and put them on a track that favors the KX500 and the 250f would eat the KX500s dust all day long. The same could be said of comparing modern 250f and 450f. Just because a track can favor the 250f doesn't mean the 250f is a faster bike, its just being favored due to track design.
How a good chunk of the motorcycle community can think 2ts aren't the faster form of MX bike is great indication just how well marketing and flat out lies coming from the motorcycle industry sways not only opinions but reality for some people. The AMA banned most 2ts and crippled the few 2ts still allowed to race because 2ts are flat out faster then 4ts. 2ts had to be gotten rid of and pushed out of the public eye so 4ts could be sold. If 2ts were actually slower then the motorcycle industry would have no qualms about allowing 2t and 4t compete on a straight cc to cc basis. If they did this however 4ts would lose almost every time on the professional level simply because power to weight ratio plus clutch control with a 2t has considerable potential to beat out 4t when the same engine cc are allowed to compete against each other. There are numerous instances over the past 20 years of pros not wanting to give up 2t bikes and/or asking for 2ts to be allowed back into completion on a cc for cc basis. That alone is a good indicator of just how much potential there is for 2ts to win in modern completions if they hadn't been crippled by the AMA.
But go ahead. Post more opinions contrary to fact. Its what consumers have been trained to except. Its what the corporations want. Its what the AMA demands. I'll even help you out by leaving this video here. Its the typical video demonstrating just how poorly suspended, horrible handling and overpowered KX500s are. Its a wonder Sean even made it around the track on the pile of crap. Good thing for him no 250fs were racing this heat r-right guys?
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