It's the bike

Richy
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Richy
Not aimed at anybody in particular, but just noticing it more often, when did throwing the bike under the bus become the norm? I can remember hearing a passing comment slipping out back in the day, but some guys seem to make a point of it now.

I'm sure sometimes it's warranted, and I'm sure at pro level being a little out on setup makes a big difference, but I'm still amazed the factory teams let it fly.

Just thinking out loud, and probably talking shit, no big deal 👍
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bichwolf
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bichwolf 6/5/2022 3:23am
6/5/2022 3:23am
Agree 100%
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bowl
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bowl 6/5/2022 3:32am
6/5/2022 3:32am
Plessinger was heaps better on the blue pig , then the orange
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DrinkMoreWater 6/5/2022 3:36am
6/5/2022 3:36am Edited Date/Time 6/5/2022 3:40am
I'm not sure I think it comes from people who never raced they seem to blame their issues on the bike, I have a friend who started riding at the age of 27, he was more concerned about getting every single aftermarket part to try improve his riding never blamed himself.

80% of it is upstairs maybe 90%, some people can ride anything given to them some people can lose a mental edge because his graphics aren't lined up perfectly.

The older guys start questioning the bike a lot more when the results don't come as easy than when they were younger, when your young you're full of confidence, you're happy to be riding, riding is all you know and it doesn't matter what color you're on, that confidence can fade quickly after a few injuries.

I think Anderson and Tomac proves that it's not the bike, both scenery changes did wonders for them.


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Lukass59
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Lukass59 6/5/2022 7:24am
6/5/2022 7:24am
DrinkMoreWater wrote:
I'm not sure I think it comes from people who never raced they seem to blame their issues on the bike, I have a friend who...
I'm not sure I think it comes from people who never raced they seem to blame their issues on the bike, I have a friend who started riding at the age of 27, he was more concerned about getting every single aftermarket part to try improve his riding never blamed himself.

80% of it is upstairs maybe 90%, some people can ride anything given to them some people can lose a mental edge because his graphics aren't lined up perfectly.

The older guys start questioning the bike a lot more when the results don't come as easy than when they were younger, when your young you're full of confidence, you're happy to be riding, riding is all you know and it doesn't matter what color you're on, that confidence can fade quickly after a few injuries.

I think Anderson and Tomac proves that it's not the bike, both scenery changes did wonders for them.


Is Jason proof that Kawasaki works better for him?
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Gravel
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Gravel 6/5/2022 7:34am
6/5/2022 7:34am
I remember Hannah calling his bike a tub of $hit a couple times.. it’s not a new thing
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8tensolutions
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8tensolutions 6/5/2022 7:34am
6/5/2022 7:34am
I think the level is so high at the top 10 level now that setup is more important than ever and has been for several years. I also think it is a mental confidence issue in many cases and some riders are going to be more sensitive to it.
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yak651
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yak651 6/5/2022 7:39am
6/5/2022 7:39am
bowl wrote:
Plessinger was heaps better on the blue pig , then the orange
Yeah might be a valid excuse if some retired guy didn’t just come off the couch and beat him on it 2 weeks in a row
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cwel11
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cwel11 6/5/2022 8:40am
6/5/2022 8:40am
I used to think it was 100% in the riders head but I’ve since realized that’s not the case. These guys have put a lifetime of hours on a bike and can feel things us weekend warriors would have no knowledge of. Look at ET. If he’s not 100% confident in his setup he’s not willing to go to that crazy insane warp speed. I’m sure there are guys using it as an excuse but bike and rider need to be in sync for maximum results.
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Ryan625
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Ryan625 6/5/2022 9:48am
6/5/2022 9:48am
At these speeds, I believe them. Tomac and Cooper both looked like completely different riders yesterday. Goes to show you how important testing is, and why guys strive to be on factory equipment with unlimited testing budgets.

Just my thought, but who the fuck am I? lol
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Markus422
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Markus422 6/5/2022 9:55am
6/5/2022 9:55am
DrinkMoreWater wrote:
I'm not sure I think it comes from people who never raced they seem to blame their issues on the bike, I have a friend who...
I'm not sure I think it comes from people who never raced they seem to blame their issues on the bike, I have a friend who started riding at the age of 27, he was more concerned about getting every single aftermarket part to try improve his riding never blamed himself.

80% of it is upstairs maybe 90%, some people can ride anything given to them some people can lose a mental edge because his graphics aren't lined up perfectly.

The older guys start questioning the bike a lot more when the results don't come as easy than when they were younger, when your young you're full of confidence, you're happy to be riding, riding is all you know and it doesn't matter what color you're on, that confidence can fade quickly after a few injuries.

I think Anderson and Tomac proves that it's not the bike, both scenery changes did wonders for them.


Lukass59 wrote:
Is Jason proof that Kawasaki works better for him?
It’d be hard to argue the Kawi doesn’t work better for Jason specifically. When he kicks out the rear on that thing railing around corners the bike still looks so planted and totally comfortable, just like it did with RV. I really just think he’s a good fit with the characteristics of that bike. Those times when he was able to do those pivots and cut down in corners to pass back Eli were amazing too, I don’t see him being able to pull that move off quite as well on the Austrian bike. Not saying the Kawi is a better bike, but for someone that rides like Hombre I think it is.
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Thisusernameisavailable 6/5/2022 10:46am
6/5/2022 10:46am
For the same reason riders keep their injuries a secret- it shows a ‘weakness’.

Why admit a weakness when you could just blame the bike..
And blaming the bike apportions blame across a number of people, instead of it resting solely on the shoulders of one man: “WE are working on the set-up.”
Rather than “I’M not riding well at the moment.”

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gt80rider
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gt80rider 6/5/2022 11:19am
6/5/2022 11:19am
Became the norm in the 70s... and was really Hannah's go-to in later years
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 6/5/2022 11:21am
6/5/2022 11:21am
bowl wrote:
Plessinger was heaps better on the blue pig , then the orange
He got a podium on his second race on the orange pig right before he got hurt this year.
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Cayden Thompson 6/5/2022 11:26am
6/5/2022 11:26am
The bike is actually a big part of it more than ever. Look at Star vs Factory Yamaha.
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DonM
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DonM 6/5/2022 11:29am
6/5/2022 11:29am
bowl wrote:
Plessinger was heaps better on the blue pig , then the orange
Give him a few races as he is just coming off a pretty bad wrist injury...
Richy
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Richy 6/5/2022 11:31am
6/5/2022 11:31am
I totally get that the elite guys are super sensitive to set-up, when they're that fast and push that hard it does make sense.

This isn't a dig at anybody 👍
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kpiper
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kpiper 6/5/2022 11:39am
6/5/2022 11:39am
gt80rider wrote:
Became the norm in the 70s... and was really Hannah's go-to in later years
When Hannah went to Honda in his later years it was night and day. He immediately became the fastest rider again on the Honda until he broke his wrist.

But that was then. Now all the bikes are very good. I do agree certain bikes fit certain riders better though. No doubt.
Bruce372
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Bruce372 6/5/2022 11:50am
6/5/2022 11:50am
Motocross is a sport where millimeters in setup can mean the difference between winning and horrendous consequences.

I just got back from Hangtown, what a buzz z what amazing things these young athletes are capable off.

Then I got home and watches the TT and it's so scary it makes me nauseous. LOL

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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 6/5/2022 12:07pm
6/5/2022 12:07pm
When people talk about Jason and the KX-SR…

He’s got a Factory Team complete with alllllll the resources of their suspension provider, Showa, totally focused on him and his team-mate Joey, riding in-place of AC. Those resources include Factory Test Rider, Broc Tickle.

Combine this with Jason’s “burning the midnight oil” by testing his ass off since joining the team. Also, he and Broc are working -really well together- even at the races. I witnessed this myself at Arlington: he’s very confident in Broc’s ability to see & suggest things that can help him get a better lap.

On top of all of this, it was time for Jason to change things up & try something new. And…he certainly did that, didn’t he? From an entire pro career of Rockstar to a new gig at Monster. From Steel to Aluminum. From Austria back to Japan. From Oakley to Scott…and so on.

I’m not even going to try and imply that there IS or WAS anything wrong with his Rockstar Husky. Hell, that bike, that team and even Jason’s long-time race wrench-mechanic, C’lo, seem to working out quite nicely for Malcolm…don’t they?

So, sure, it’s the bike.
It’s the change.
It’s the team.

But, more than anything…

It’s The Rider.
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tek14
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tek14 6/5/2022 12:17pm
6/5/2022 12:17pm
"We Put the BFR (Shock) on...and I was a Second a Lap Faster" | Chase Sexton - '22 Hangtown National
MX558
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MX558 6/7/2022 6:52pm
6/7/2022 6:52pm
It's the bike and the team . The teams can wreck the bike , look at factory Yamaha
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