Husky should start a small satellite 2 smoke team

Langston_fan 8/14/2017 12:35pm
8/14/2017 12:35pm
Brent wrote:
Almost no one under 30 cares about racing two strokes in pro motocross.

It's all old people with fond memories.
Dude....u just called all people over 30 old..

Im offended! Shocked
Beeby
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Beeby 8/14/2017 1:01pm
8/14/2017 1:01pm
One man put the 2 stroke Husky in the public eye last year at the nationals. Until then I didn't even realize they still made 2 strokes. Unfortunately, after learning they do, I also came to the conclusion said bikes were not very reliable from his experiences.

Before people jump on this and tell me someone messed with the bike or did poor mechanics or something, I'm just talking about my perception of the brand. So, why would they go further to put more 2 strokes in the public eye?

We also talked already about how Gared is probably not a good fit for Husky's corporate brand too.
Dirty Points 8/14/2017 1:14pm
8/14/2017 1:14pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2017 1:14pm
Beeby wrote:
One man put the 2 stroke Husky in the public eye last year at the nationals. Until then I didn't even realize they still made 2...
One man put the 2 stroke Husky in the public eye last year at the nationals. Until then I didn't even realize they still made 2 strokes. Unfortunately, after learning they do, I also came to the conclusion said bikes were not very reliable from his experiences.

Before people jump on this and tell me someone messed with the bike or did poor mechanics or something, I'm just talking about my perception of the brand. So, why would they go further to put more 2 strokes in the public eye?

We also talked already about how Gared is probably not a good fit for Husky's corporate brand too.
A lot of the bikes racing 250 Nationals are not reliable long-term, especially most of the ones running up front. But if you can maintain a proper flow of parts onto the bike, you can create at least an illusion of reliability.
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Rockinar 8/14/2017 2:01pm
8/14/2017 2:01pm
Beeby wrote:
One man put the 2 stroke Husky in the public eye last year at the nationals. Until then I didn't even realize they still made 2...
One man put the 2 stroke Husky in the public eye last year at the nationals. Until then I didn't even realize they still made 2 strokes. Unfortunately, after learning they do, I also came to the conclusion said bikes were not very reliable from his experiences.

Before people jump on this and tell me someone messed with the bike or did poor mechanics or something, I'm just talking about my perception of the brand. So, why would they go further to put more 2 strokes in the public eye?

We also talked already about how Gared is probably not a good fit for Husky's corporate brand too.
You did not know 2 strokes were still being made? Did you just wake up out of a coma?

Honda: NO

Suzuki: NO

Kawasaki: NO

Yamaha: YES

KTM: YES

Husqvarna: YES

TM: YES

Maico: YES

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Beeby
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Beeby 8/14/2017 2:06pm
8/14/2017 2:06pm
Beeby wrote:
One man put the 2 stroke Husky in the public eye last year at the nationals. Until then I didn't even realize they still made 2...
One man put the 2 stroke Husky in the public eye last year at the nationals. Until then I didn't even realize they still made 2 strokes. Unfortunately, after learning they do, I also came to the conclusion said bikes were not very reliable from his experiences.

Before people jump on this and tell me someone messed with the bike or did poor mechanics or something, I'm just talking about my perception of the brand. So, why would they go further to put more 2 strokes in the public eye?

We also talked already about how Gared is probably not a good fit for Husky's corporate brand too.
Rockinar wrote:
You did not know 2 strokes were still being made? Did you just wake up out of a coma? Honda: NO Suzuki: NO Kawasaki: NO Yamaha...
You did not know 2 strokes were still being made? Did you just wake up out of a coma?

Honda: NO

Suzuki: NO

Kawasaki: NO

Yamaha: YES

KTM: YES

Husqvarna: YES

TM: YES

Maico: YES
Blimey you really cannot leave anything to interpretation on here can you!

I meant I didn't know Husky still made them.

I was aware KTM did and TM.

I stopped riding two strokes in 2004 so I've hardly kept an eye on the market and it's not like you see them on tv at the nationals every day
Ransom_Bennett 8/14/2017 2:06pm
8/14/2017 2:06pm Edited Date/Time 8/17/2017 7:16pm
Teams don't exist solely to win, they exist to sell motorcycles. Winning does a good job of accomplishing that. So does any form of positive attention.
Dirty Points 8/14/2017 5:13pm
8/14/2017 5:13pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2017 5:17pm
Sully wrote:
Husky already has a full fledged factory 2 stroke effort...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnIJd4EPVGc
All the more reason for them to be able to cheaply kick a little support to a hugely popular privateer in a different series on the same bike: the knowledge and racing infrastructure is already built.
Radical
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Radical 8/14/2017 5:21pm
8/14/2017 5:21pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2017 5:22pm
Dmcc wrote:
Was at unadilla yesterday haven t gone in a couple years. My first race there was 1986 at the usgp .What made my whole day was...
Was at unadilla yesterday haven t gone in a couple years. My first race there was 1986 at the usgp .What made my whole day was hearing and seeing stankdog on that husky 125. Miss the old days a lot of people my age don t go anymore because they miss the two strokes.
OneWordResponseGuy wrote:
"... a lot of people my age don t go anymore because they miss the two strokes."

Sure.
526 wrote:
I assume all those people are buying new 2 strokes every year? because what I see is 2 stroke die hards LOVE riding old 2 strokes...
I assume all those people are buying new 2 strokes every year? because what I see is 2 stroke die hards LOVE riding old 2 strokes not buying new ones every year isn't helping their cause. Show the factories that's what you want buying spending your money with them, if they see a market they will build a race team. 10 guys waving over a fence at a national isn't going to build a race team or get them to build more 2 strokes.
I have a 2005 YZ125 I purchased new in August 2004, that I've upgraded to SSS (2012) and the latest shock (2009). Apart from minor modifications along the way, my bike is EXACTLY the same as the 2018 model.

When they refresh the line, I'll buy a new bike. I'll be glad to.
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Bearuno 8/14/2017 5:37pm
8/14/2017 5:37pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2017 5:41pm
Dirty Points wrote:
I'm not sure about starting up a team, but they should at least be getting Stankdog some parts. That seems like a no-brainer.
Stankdog seems very popular.

He gets a very high amount of attention - far more than other riders with his sort of results.

But, he seems to have a fair few mechanical issues. He's caning the arse out of a 125, and, it's probably not getting the maintenance it needs to hold together under said caning. This is not a criticism of him or his Mechanic(s).

Husky / KTM could probably benefit from giving him a block of pre-paid shipping tickets, a couple of engine boxes / suspension boxes, and a few, say 3 engines, 3 sets of suspension, to use in rotation. Sending them back to Husky / KTM for consistent, full rebuilds. And, other parts allocations.

That would go a long way to him having reliable bikes, ease his and his helpers load, whilst he can still find most of his own way through racing. It would be a relatively cheap way for them to continue to get exposure from Stanks efforts, and give him a better chance at better, more consistent results.

A Win , Win for both parties, I'd say.
Dirty Points 8/14/2017 6:17pm
8/14/2017 6:17pm Edited Date/Time 8/14/2017 6:21pm
Bearuno wrote:
Stankdog seems very popular. He gets a very high amount of attention - far more than other riders with his sort of results. But, he seems...
Stankdog seems very popular.

He gets a very high amount of attention - far more than other riders with his sort of results.

But, he seems to have a fair few mechanical issues. He's caning the arse out of a 125, and, it's probably not getting the maintenance it needs to hold together under said caning. This is not a criticism of him or his Mechanic(s).

Husky / KTM could probably benefit from giving him a block of pre-paid shipping tickets, a couple of engine boxes / suspension boxes, and a few, say 3 engines, 3 sets of suspension, to use in rotation. Sending them back to Husky / KTM for consistent, full rebuilds. And, other parts allocations.

That would go a long way to him having reliable bikes, ease his and his helpers load, whilst he can still find most of his own way through racing. It would be a relatively cheap way for them to continue to get exposure from Stanks efforts, and give him a better chance at better, more consistent results.

A Win , Win for both parties, I'd say.
He was the television track preview and got at least 3 mentions in the television coverage this week. He got more viewer impressions than several full factory guys.
305FC250
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305FC250 8/14/2017 6:20pm
8/14/2017 6:20pm
Sully wrote:
Husky already has a full fledged factory 2 stroke effort...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnIJd4EPVGc
I see Colton riding an FC450 often as well, so that's kind of detracts from the 2 stroke effort in my opinion.


As far as Stankdog goes, the fact that Husky (or anyone else for that matter) hasn't stepped up to offer him some support to get that 125 going reliably and consistently and get him up higher in the rankings should make it clear that unfortunately no one is interested in a legitimate 2 stroke effort in motocross. If anyone was going to get it I feel like it would be him considering is already well established and large fan base. And I feel like something should have happened already if any manufacturers were indeed interested...
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mxb2 8/14/2017 8:33pm
8/14/2017 8:33pm
Why is everyone so quick to spend other people's money, you want two strokes out there , start a team. Donate, email ama, husky etc. Complaining on vital is not working. If it was worth it to the factory, they would do it.
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MohMoto14 8/14/2017 9:11pm
8/14/2017 9:11pm
Bearuno wrote:
Stankdog seems very popular. He gets a very high amount of attention - far more than other riders with his sort of results. But, he seems...
Stankdog seems very popular.

He gets a very high amount of attention - far more than other riders with his sort of results.

But, he seems to have a fair few mechanical issues. He's caning the arse out of a 125, and, it's probably not getting the maintenance it needs to hold together under said caning. This is not a criticism of him or his Mechanic(s).

Husky / KTM could probably benefit from giving him a block of pre-paid shipping tickets, a couple of engine boxes / suspension boxes, and a few, say 3 engines, 3 sets of suspension, to use in rotation. Sending them back to Husky / KTM for consistent, full rebuilds. And, other parts allocations.

That would go a long way to him having reliable bikes, ease his and his helpers load, whilst he can still find most of his own way through racing. It would be a relatively cheap way for them to continue to get exposure from Stanks efforts, and give him a better chance at better, more consistent results.

A Win , Win for both parties, I'd say.
Dirty Points wrote:
He was the television track preview and got at least 3 mentions in the television coverage this week. He got more viewer impressions than several full...
He was the television track preview and got at least 3 mentions in the television coverage this week. He got more viewer impressions than several full factory guys.
And I certainly notice it Everytime you can hear it on TV coverage.
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Dmcc 8/15/2017 8:46am
8/15/2017 8:46am
mxb2 wrote:
Why is everyone so quick to spend other people's money, you want two strokes out there , start a team. Donate, email ama, husky etc. Complaining...
Why is everyone so quick to spend other people's money, you want two strokes out there , start a team. Donate, email ama, husky etc. Complaining on vital is not working. If it was worth it to the factory, they would do it.
It s about bike sales. If I m not mistaken Ktm is number one in bike sales and it s because of diversity of their lineup and 2 stroke line helped push them there. So they could afford to spend a little on the 2 stroke line a couple riders and a little support. 4 strokes are killing the sport rch gone for next year how many teams in four stroke era have folded up? A lot.
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mxb2 8/15/2017 8:56am
8/15/2017 8:56am
mxb2 wrote:
Why is everyone so quick to spend other people's money, you want two strokes out there , start a team. Donate, email ama, husky etc. Complaining...
Why is everyone so quick to spend other people's money, you want two strokes out there , start a team. Donate, email ama, husky etc. Complaining on vital is not working. If it was worth it to the factory, they would do it.
Dmcc wrote:
It s about bike sales. If I m not mistaken Ktm is number one in bike sales and it s because of diversity of their lineup...
It s about bike sales. If I m not mistaken Ktm is number one in bike sales and it s because of diversity of their lineup and 2 stroke line helped push them there. So they could afford to spend a little on the 2 stroke line a couple riders and a little support. 4 strokes are killing the sport rch gone for next year how many teams in four stroke era have folded up? A lot.
I guess they feel it's not worth it , their $$ their decision. Like I 've said before , what's stopping the 2 stroke die hard fan from putting a small team together?
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TXDirt 8/15/2017 9:10am
8/15/2017 9:10am
mxb2 wrote:
Why is everyone so quick to spend other people's money, you want two strokes out there , start a team. Donate, email ama, husky etc. Complaining...
Why is everyone so quick to spend other people's money, you want two strokes out there , start a team. Donate, email ama, husky etc. Complaining on vital is not working. If it was worth it to the factory, they would do it.
Dmcc wrote:
It s about bike sales. If I m not mistaken Ktm is number one in bike sales and it s because of diversity of their lineup...
It s about bike sales. If I m not mistaken Ktm is number one in bike sales and it s because of diversity of their lineup and 2 stroke line helped push them there. So they could afford to spend a little on the 2 stroke line a couple riders and a little support. 4 strokes are killing the sport rch gone for next year how many teams in four stroke era have folded up? A lot.
mxb2 wrote:
I guess they feel it's not worth it , their $$ their decision. Like I 've said before , what's stopping the 2 stroke die hard...
I guess they feel it's not worth it , their $$ their decision. Like I 've said before , what's stopping the 2 stroke die hard fan from putting a small team together?
Husky makes a two stroke and with minimal investment they could have a decent gorilla marketing campaign with a few privateers shredding laps on a two stroke bike on the U.S. circuit.

So the question really is why won't Husky or another 2T maker take this low hanging fruit. I'm sure they spend lots of money looking at metrics of the potential customer base vs effectiveness of ad-dollar spend.

Perhaps they have determined even spending one dollar on an effort described in this thread doesn't make sense.

If 250 2T's were able to compete in the 250 class I believe you would see more privateers on the 250 2T and thus might open up more marketing/advertising opportunities. Just an opinion and I have no facts to back that up with.



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dirtdog36 8/15/2017 9:33am
8/15/2017 9:33am
Brent wrote:
teams are still racing to win, right?
mxb2 wrote:
That's what I thought. Maybe the vital 2 stroke fans can make an account, donate and start their own team? Donate a couple grand apiece.
and pay to send mechanics riders support staff to MXoN while they are at it

its always a good idea when its someone else money

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Dmcc
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Dmcc 8/15/2017 10:39am
8/15/2017 10:39am
Brent wrote:
teams are still racing to win, right?
mxb2 wrote:
That's what I thought. Maybe the vital 2 stroke fans can make an account, donate and start their own team? Donate a couple grand apiece.
dirtdog36 wrote:
and pay to send mechanics riders support staff to MXoN while they are at it

its always a good idea when its someone else money
Well as the old saying goes you gotta spend money to make money. That s how a business works Husky had a second semi at the races for just promotional stuff. Why not put a couple more riders on the track on 2t to promote that line.
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Beeby 8/15/2017 11:52am
8/15/2017 11:52am
Dmcc wrote:
It s about bike sales. If I m not mistaken Ktm is number one in bike sales and it s because of diversity of their lineup...
It s about bike sales. If I m not mistaken Ktm is number one in bike sales and it s because of diversity of their lineup and 2 stroke line helped push them there. So they could afford to spend a little on the 2 stroke line a couple riders and a little support. 4 strokes are killing the sport rch gone for next year how many teams in four stroke era have folded up? A lot.
Is there any evidence to suggest more teams have stopped operating in the 4 stroke era than 2 stroke?

I don't mean that to be argumentative, I just truly wonder. Do teams just lose sponsors and budget and have to call it a day and was it the same back in the 2 stroke days?

I.e. Is there any direct relation between 4 strokes and more teams folding. I understand the bikes might cost more to run, but the whole operation these days is probably a lot more expensive.
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dboivin 8/15/2017 12:00pm
8/15/2017 12:00pm
Dmcc wrote:
Was at unadilla yesterday haven t gone in a couple years. My first race there was 1986 at the usgp .What made my whole day was...
Was at unadilla yesterday haven t gone in a couple years. My first race there was 1986 at the usgp .What made my whole day was hearing and seeing stankdog on that husky 125. Miss the old days a lot of people my age don t go anymore because they miss the two strokes.
OneWordResponseGuy wrote:
"... a lot of people my age don t go anymore because they miss the two strokes."

Sure.
526 wrote:
I assume all those people are buying new 2 strokes every year? because what I see is 2 stroke die hards LOVE riding old 2 strokes...
I assume all those people are buying new 2 strokes every year? because what I see is 2 stroke die hards LOVE riding old 2 strokes not buying new ones every year isn't helping their cause. Show the factories that's what you want buying spending your money with them, if they see a market they will build a race team. 10 guys waving over a fence at a national isn't going to build a race team or get them to build more 2 strokes.
you should show up at an enduro once...you would think otherwise. every other bike is a ktm/husky 2 stroke it seems like. and those guys buy bikes... Smile
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Brent 8/15/2017 3:32pm
8/15/2017 3:32pm
dboivin wrote:
you should show up at an enduro once...you would think otherwise. every other bike is a ktm/husky 2 stroke it seems like. and those guys buy...
you should show up at an enduro once...you would think otherwise. every other bike is a ktm/husky 2 stroke it seems like. and those guys buy bikes... Smile
Yes but we are talking about National pro motocross.
The 125 is a great play bike and off road machine, but it's time for being competitive for MX at the national professional level has been gone for 14 years.
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GrapeApe 8/15/2017 9:04pm
8/15/2017 9:04pm
Jalek Swoll is Husky's factory 125 rider. He would have won 2 classes at LL's this year, but they couldn't keep his bike running for 3 motos in either class.

Regardless, I think 125s are great transition bikes at the amateur level. They have no place in professional racing, though.

Dmcc
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Dmcc 8/15/2017 11:11pm
8/15/2017 11:11pm
Everybody says the 2 strokes are so unreliable how did james stewart win the title on his kx 125 and beat the rest of the field. If they were so unreliable. If you put him on a factory 125 next year in shape he would win the title or put the fear of God in those guys.
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FWYT 8/16/2017 12:02am
8/16/2017 12:02am
Prediction:
The 125 Dream Race series will be THE place to see ultra trick and custom stuff.
Bike builders and smaller hop up shops will use the races as a cheap way to showcase work.
They don't have to pay riders as there are riders just looking to borrow a bike and have
a good time for a few laps and they know that the races get lots of press.
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kzizok 8/16/2017 12:06am
8/16/2017 12:06am Edited Date/Time 8/16/2017 12:10am
Dmcc wrote:
Everybody says the 2 strokes are so unreliable how did james stewart win the title on his kx 125 and beat the rest of the field...
Everybody says the 2 strokes are so unreliable how did james stewart win the title on his kx 125 and beat the rest of the field. If they were so unreliable. If you put him on a factory 125 next year in shape he would win the title or put the fear of God in those guys.
Who's everybody? Where did they say 2 strokes (as you generalized) are so unreliable? JS waxed the field because he could.

Lastly, just to make sure I understand your last sentence. Are you saying that if JS gets in shape, currently, he would immediately win a title on a 125 or put the fear of God in his competition? Are we talking about the same Stewart of today that has to have a works ECU to line up in the 450 class (the closest competitive power class)?

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APLMAN99 8/16/2017 7:41am
8/16/2017 7:41am
With the current displacement rules, all Husky would be doing is showing how uncompetitive 125s are in that class, and perhaps how good they sound. Anyone truly willing to race a 125 in that class is likely not a threat for top 10s already, and likely not consistent top 20s either.

Now if we could modify the rules a big, we'd ideally move the 4 stroke displacements down a little. I think that 200cc 4 strokes for the old "125 class", and 350cc for the old "250 class". That'd make things just a bit more interesting.......
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mxb2 8/16/2017 8:12am
8/16/2017 8:12am
Dmcc wrote:
Everybody says the 2 strokes are so unreliable how did james stewart win the title on his kx 125 and beat the rest of the field...
Everybody says the 2 strokes are so unreliable how did james stewart win the title on his kx 125 and beat the rest of the field. If they were so unreliable. If you put him on a factory 125 next year in shape he would win the title or put the fear of God in those guys.
The current bubba wdnt top ten in the 250f class on a 125, and that's if he finished.
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Dmcc 8/16/2017 8:13am
8/16/2017 8:13am
Steinke finished 27 -27 at unadilla the rest behind him were four strokes. And I think he s coming off a injury or surgery. If he was 100 percent healthy and had a factory bike I could see him top 20 top 15 on a good day. I don t think the bikes are uncompetitive. Comes down to talent level ,support, and fitness imo. Both 2t and 4t have advantages and disadvantages.

Post a reply to: Husky should start a small satellite 2 smoke team