Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
For many many outdoorsy-sporty people with money to spend live in urban areas where there is no way to have a 'race shop' in the garage and also they have limited time to do rebuilds and similar work. They have the money but not the time and the garage.
Personally, I love MX but I have see no joy in all the maintenance, all the hours in the garage, I do it just so I can ride. What a wonderful world it would be with e-Moto to just focus on riding, training etc and not do another oil change or top-end re-build.
The donut glam we see around Jett, it doesn't resonate with a grease garage, but it does resonate with preppy sporty people.
Generally, it's not the oil/grease/garage, but I think 'modern people' have limited time for everything surrounding a hobby/sport, they can do the sport but not put triple the time on just 'running the show'.
I think the future will bring the mountainbikers with their $10k machines, they have no problem paying 5-15k for a bicycle now, so it's fine to pay 10k for a new MXer. But they still don't have a garage not the time for a new top-end build.
BTW. regarding the above, the fantastic AJ Catanzaro, doesn't he live in a townhouse? Doesn't seem his riding is very much garage related, he spends time on riding, not doing top-end re-builds.
MX will have a good future, but it will attract a new crowd...
Lots of city folks moving to small towns in places like Cali (housing costs) and commuting long distances to work every day. Noise complaints out the Wazooo now. I'd need a dead silent bike nowdays to ride on all the properties where I used to, growing up. At the same time though, I could totally see a warehouse track for electric MX being a hit in that area.
Less money available for young people and those who have money are not willing to invest the time.
Very far from MX, namely sailing! is running into the same problem, mostly 'old farts' who dream about what once was, young people not investing into boats and 30-somethings not spending time on sailing, competing as it requires way too much time. Sailing is not about noise complaints as we all know
Personally I think JamesReeds 'preppy MTB:s' are the answer, they got the resources and willing to spend a few hours on a Saturday riding and back home by the afternoon for a cocktail BBQ with wifey.
Do I support the energy drink brands investing in SX/MX...hell, yes!
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
3 years back a weekends practice £40 now looking at double that. Bike prices doubled in 10 years, and that's not talking changing from 2 stroke to 4 stroke.
So yes, Motocross is still one of the cheapest forms of Motorsport, but it has got to the point or getting to a point where a lot of enthusiasts cannot afford it, and/or
see it as expensive in terms of the return. Maybe one says it is becoming elitist sport.
To the general forum, in my opinion, cost is the biggest prohibiter, which will only get worse as numbers reduce. Secondly, I do think there is truth in the reason that track design is contributing to reduced numbers. I recall when I was a teenager and wanted more and bigger jumps, yet the senior generation wanted 'old school'. Today I hate going to a track where my head challenges me with respect to clearing a jump, admittedly not to the point where I am considering giving up the sport, but I think it goes to validate point.
Enjoy the sport while you can, because one day you won't be able to. To me, it's it's the best sport out there, it's good healthy fun. the prime reason I do it.
Yamaha and Honda didn’t realize X versions of their bikes for no reason. 5 years ago off-road races were a sea of orange, and we’re talking hundreds of bikes at an event. For those who have not raced a local XC event, give it a shot. You’ll leave tired, but with a huge smile.
As shown above the cost for entry isn’t the issue. Ppl drop 15k for a mountain bike. 8500 for a new 250f seems a bargain next to that.
I don't want to race against 250f's or 450f's on an old 125
But I would want to race others on 125's of all ages.
New iPhones in their pockets, 2-3 brand new cars in the driveway, 60 inch TVs in multiple rooms, destination weddings, destination vacations, houses that are 2-3x the size of the average in the 50s, etc etc etc.
If you spend and pretend to be upper class while middle class, yes no money for your actual passions.
If you take a step back and look at this sport even at the local level it's not beginner friendly.
If your a 15 year old kid that finally talked your parents into getting you a bike to race and you go to a local track and look at super mini or 250c and see what these kids are doing I would guess there would be shock 😲
But was that the case in 1975, 1985, 1995, ??
Or your 25-30 and can finally afford a bike but have no experience. It's to advanced for a Newby.
That's why it's all second and third generation riders at the local tracks!
Pit Row
A expert/pro
B Intermediate
C Beginner/novice
That would be a good start a class where you don't look stupid riding a 15 year old bike while learning.
That opens up a $3000 to $5000 class that lowers the barrier of entry.
I know Ping has talked about this several times.
And keep separate 250f classes just as they are which should have been done from the beginning but its not to late.
A lot of people could and would buy a 125, even as a Second bike for some if they new that class was gonna be there every time.
Not sure those pushing electric products have figured this out yet. You only have to observe 2-stroke culture to see how important sound/smell/culture really are. Once you have silent bikes who is going to fill the stadiums? The party leaves town.
Electric propulsion is grey utilitarianism.
F1 manufacturers, for example, are petrified by all this, hence why there's talk of sustainable fuels and all that kind of thing.
Practice costs are on the rise there’s tracks here that are charging between $55-80 per day which soon adds up with fuel costs bike parts etc.
I think motocross needs a massive shake up to make it more accessible.
There’s nothing wrong with making 40k a year, you’re working which is all that really matters. But living WAY beyond your means will always come back to bite you in the ass.
But grown people can make their own decisions.
To get back on topic. Yes motocross will continue to decline, it’s a different time and most kids today just sit inside playing video games. It’s not hard to see that it won’t be sustainable.
Is it expensive? Yes, it always has been. 2002 YZ250 sold for right around $6,000USD. Today they go for around $7,500USD. That’s not a crazy price increase that everyone keeps mentioning, 20 years later.
Price isn’t the driving force, it’s kids being raised in a different environment than we were. Ride around neighborhoods and let me know how many kids you see hanging out together riding their bicycles around.
Post a reply to: Pulp MX comments right now- is MX croaking?