How much bike swapping and testing for other teams actually goes on?

blockhead17
Edited Date/Time 10/6/2021 8:23pm
I know no one can answer officially, but you would have to imagine Eli rode a 22 Yam quite a while ago.
I wonder how many other riders have ridden other bikes, and do pros swap bikes from time to time when they train together.
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MyBobbym
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MyBobbym 10/2/2021 2:17am
10/2/2021 2:17am
All of em... Duh.
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CPR
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CPR 10/2/2021 5:03am
10/2/2021 5:03am
As long as there’s no cameras around, I’m sure it happens a lot.
I remember RC saying once he rode the factory Yamaha and wished he didn’t, because it was better than where his bike was at.
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davis224
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davis224 10/2/2021 5:03am
10/2/2021 5:03am
That's what I've most enjoyed about listening to RV in podcasts, he's pretty open and detailed about him and Kenny swapping bikes in 2014 and how different they were from each other, he was major boner air on the KTM and Kenny was almost endo-ing off the jumps.
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Aus_Rider_22 10/2/2021 5:05am
10/2/2021 5:05am
davis224 wrote:
That's what I've most enjoyed about listening to RV in podcasts, he's pretty open and detailed about him and Kenny swapping bikes in 2014 and how...
That's what I've most enjoyed about listening to RV in podcasts, he's pretty open and detailed about him and Kenny swapping bikes in 2014 and how different they were from each other, he was major boner air on the KTM and Kenny was almost endo-ing off the jumps.
Which podcast was this? Thank you!
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GaryC1
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GaryC1 10/2/2021 5:18am
10/2/2021 5:18am
Aus_Rider_22 wrote:
Which podcast was this? Thank you!
It was in Ryan Dungeys Whiskey Throttle Show if I remember correctly!
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davis224
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davis224 10/2/2021 5:40am
10/2/2021 5:40am
Aus_Rider_22 wrote:
Which podcast was this? Thank you!
GaryC1 wrote:
It was in Ryan Dungeys Whiskey Throttle Show if I remember correctly!
He talked about in at least one other one as well that I can't remember, might have been his own WTS, but he went pretty far into detail on the Dungey episode
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Kelz87
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Kelz87 10/2/2021 9:50am
10/2/2021 9:50am
CPR wrote:
As long as there’s no cameras around, I’m sure it happens a lot. I remember RC saying once he rode the factory Yamaha and wished he...
As long as there’s no cameras around, I’m sure it happens a lot.
I remember RC saying once he rode the factory Yamaha and wished he didn’t, because it was better than where his bike was at.
Which bike was RC on at that time?
Bidirella
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Bidirella 10/2/2021 10:08am
10/2/2021 10:08am
There is no prove and might never been, but i think there is a good chance Eli rode the blue one on his property in Colorado.
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MX Guy
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MX Guy 10/2/2021 10:26am
10/2/2021 10:26am
You won't see a top level rider sign a new contract without riding the bike first. In some (maybe even all) cases riders will try the new bike on both MX and SX in private with the new team to confirm that they want to work together. It's a completely necessary step to take, they all do it.
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Money
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Money 10/2/2021 10:30am
10/2/2021 10:30am
Just think of all the test at the private facilities. I bet reed stewart n rc all rode all kinds of bikes during contract seasons.
murph783
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murph783 10/2/2021 12:15pm
10/2/2021 12:15pm
CPR wrote:
As long as there’s no cameras around, I’m sure it happens a lot. I remember RC saying once he rode the factory Yamaha and wished he...
As long as there’s no cameras around, I’m sure it happens a lot.
I remember RC saying once he rode the factory Yamaha and wished he didn’t, because it was better than where his bike was at.
Kelz87 wrote:
Which bike was RC on at that time?
Presumably the Honda 2 stroke. The YZ’s blew those things outta the water at the time apparently
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M-M
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M-M 10/2/2021 1:17pm
10/2/2021 1:17pm
MX Guy wrote:
You won't see a top level rider sign a new contract without riding the bike first. In some (maybe even all) cases riders will try the...
You won't see a top level rider sign a new contract without riding the bike first. In some (maybe even all) cases riders will try the new bike on both MX and SX in private with the new team to confirm that they want to work together. It's a completely necessary step to take, they all do it.
Mcgrath tried the rm250 and ktmsx250....not sure on that.
CPR
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CPR 10/2/2021 4:09pm
10/2/2021 4:09pm
CPR wrote:
As long as there’s no cameras around, I’m sure it happens a lot. I remember RC saying once he rode the factory Yamaha and wished he...
As long as there’s no cameras around, I’m sure it happens a lot.
I remember RC saying once he rode the factory Yamaha and wished he didn’t, because it was better than where his bike was at.
Kelz87 wrote:
Which bike was RC on at that time?
Yeah it was the Honda. Then Suzuki copied the Yamaha’s engine and RC jumped ship, no coincidence I think.
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rhargrave431
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rhargrave431 10/2/2021 4:26pm
10/2/2021 4:26pm
Steve has mentioned on Pulp that all the manufacturers have all of the other manufacturers bikes in the back. Maybe ML can answer this, but do the race teams ever fully race build the other bikes to test apples to apples against their race bike, or do they just keep them stock and learn from there???
Kawboy14!
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Kawboy14! 10/2/2021 7:13pm
10/2/2021 7:13pm
RC was proof you should be able to win on anything
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mxtech1
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mxtech1 10/2/2021 7:47pm
10/2/2021 7:47pm
rhargrave431 wrote:
Steve has mentioned on Pulp that all the manufacturers have all of the other manufacturers bikes in the back. Maybe ML can answer this, but do...
Steve has mentioned on Pulp that all the manufacturers have all of the other manufacturers bikes in the back. Maybe ML can answer this, but do the race teams ever fully race build the other bikes to test apples to apples against their race bike, or do they just keep them stock and learn from there???
The race teams don’t, but all of the OEMs purchase every competitive model to use as part of their R&D testing processes.

It’s called competitive benchmarking and is a normal part of the process in bringing new products to the market.
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Boomslang 10/2/2021 8:41pm
10/2/2021 8:41pm Edited Date/Time 10/2/2021 8:43pm
MX Guy wrote:
You won't see a top level rider sign a new contract without riding the bike first. In some (maybe even all) cases riders will try the...
You won't see a top level rider sign a new contract without riding the bike first. In some (maybe even all) cases riders will try the new bike on both MX and SX in private with the new team to confirm that they want to work together. It's a completely necessary step to take, they all do it.
For sure it happens all the time...MX Guy gave correct reasons.


Slightly off topic, back in 1999 I picked up the very first two 2000 Hondas, a 125 and 250 that landed on US soil They were sent in from Japan, collected and assemble by, then handed over to me. I loaded them in the box van in a dark parking lot somewhere close to Loretta Lynns.

I wrenched for James at LL and was ordered to take the two bikes straight to Honda in LA after his last moto.

I got pulled aside by Donny and Varner and was instructed me to bring the bikes to FMF in Rancho Domingo first.

I drove straight from LL and arrived Monday as the guys where finishing work.

Rual and Donny had the bikes on the dyno before I could even eat something, next Graeme Brough took the suspension and Varner had the motors opened up.

The bikes where delivered to Honda on Tuesday morning as arranged and nothing was more was said.

Strange story....but understandable.


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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 10/3/2021 7:29am
10/3/2021 7:29am
I would guess Star sent a 450 race bike and small crew to Cortez, CO, to do some testing with Jeremy Martin. wink, wink.
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Mr. Info
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Mr. Info 10/3/2021 9:50am
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I know someone who worked for a manufacturer and they bought every other brand to compare with their bikes during development. Owning them allows them to tear down and measure everything and test it against what they have developed so far. So my long answer is they can.
WTaylor733
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WTaylor733 10/5/2021 7:13pm
10/5/2021 7:13pm
rhargrave431 wrote:
Steve has mentioned on Pulp that all the manufacturers have all of the other manufacturers bikes in the back. Maybe ML can answer this, but do...
Steve has mentioned on Pulp that all the manufacturers have all of the other manufacturers bikes in the back. Maybe ML can answer this, but do the race teams ever fully race build the other bikes to test apples to apples against their race bike, or do they just keep them stock and learn from there???
Factory teams might, but satellite teams definitely don't. The budget isn't there.
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UpTiTe 10/5/2021 8:01pm
10/5/2021 8:01pm
While Stewy was on factory Kawasaki, I saw him testing an L&M Yamaha at a private supercross track near Bakersfield.
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-MAVERICK-
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-MAVERICK- 10/5/2021 8:12pm
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UpTiTe wrote:
While Stewy was on factory Kawasaki, I saw him testing an L&M Yamaha at a private supercross track near Bakersfield.
So, not so private...
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Jason XCmtb 10/6/2021 1:16am
10/6/2021 1:16am
Mr. Info wrote:
I know someone who worked for a manufacturer and they bought every other brand to compare with their bikes during development. Owning them allows them to...
I know someone who worked for a manufacturer and they bought every other brand to compare with their bikes during development. Owning them allows them to tear down and measure everything and test it against what they have developed so far. So my long answer is they can.
I remember reading about when KTM were building their first 80cc (1985?). A journalist visited the factory about another subject, and saw a KX80 propped against a wall ready to be torn down and measured.
4DAIVIPAI2K5
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4DAIVIPAI2K5 10/6/2021 5:11am
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rhargrave431 wrote:
Steve has mentioned on Pulp that all the manufacturers have all of the other manufacturers bikes in the back. Maybe ML can answer this, but do...
Steve has mentioned on Pulp that all the manufacturers have all of the other manufacturers bikes in the back. Maybe ML can answer this, but do the race teams ever fully race build the other bikes to test apples to apples against their race bike, or do they just keep them stock and learn from there???
WTaylor733 wrote:
Factory teams might, but satellite teams definitely don't. The budget isn't there.
I'm Mumfords latest video he had a garage full on new Hondas. Whether they came from Honda geico days or not I have no idea, but they looked fresh
4DAIVIPAI2K5
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4DAIVIPAI2K5 10/6/2021 5:14am
10/6/2021 5:14am Edited Date/Time 10/6/2021 5:15am
Screen grabs, I guess only three new ones. Two team bikes and Davi's bike



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AHarmon237
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AHarmon237 10/6/2021 6:05am
10/6/2021 6:05am Edited Date/Time 10/6/2021 6:05am
UpTiTe wrote:
While Stewy was on factory Kawasaki, I saw him testing an L&M Yamaha at a private supercross track near Bakersfield.
-MAVERICK- wrote:
So, not so private...
It was right along the main highway through town. Although, there was a more private outdoor track behind it that was epic.
UpTiTe 10/6/2021 6:23am
10/6/2021 6:23am
UpTiTe wrote:
While Stewy was on factory Kawasaki, I saw him testing an L&M Yamaha at a private supercross track near Bakersfield.
-MAVERICK- wrote:
So, not so private...
If you knew where to look, not really. I had permission to be there, the rule was no camera’s, and absolutely no posting about it.
FGR01
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FGR01 10/6/2021 7:28am
10/6/2021 7:28am
RC stated that when he signed with Suzuki he never even tested the bike beforehand. Went in blind, so to speak.
RichieW13
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RichieW13 10/6/2021 4:29pm
10/6/2021 4:29pm
UpTiTe wrote:
While Stewy was on factory Kawasaki, I saw him testing an L&M Yamaha at a private supercross track near Bakersfield.
-MAVERICK- wrote:
So, not so private...
I think Maverick is having a bad week. Smile Laughing
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bigk218
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bigk218 10/6/2021 8:12pm
10/6/2021 8:12pm
I’m here for someone to post those pics of stew on a cr125
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