The weak support from Honda at RBSR

Tumic
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Edited Date/Time 9/18/2022 6:34pm
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
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hubbardmx50
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9/16/2022 8:55am
I think he just meant its a lot of work for Honda to do it since they don't have any new modern two strokes and have to scrape together old bikes and parts. I wonder what bike we'll see him on
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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 9:14am
Tumic wrote:
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview. One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against...
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
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GrapeApe
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9/16/2022 9:16am
Why single out Honda? None of the Japanese manufacturers spend money on RBSR. It's just a fun event of garage builds vs. the Red Bull (KTM/GASGAS) teams.
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Alex814
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9/16/2022 9:18am
What? What energy drink sponsorships are you talking about? Redbull in 2009? MotoGP?
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nskerb
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9/16/2022 9:21am
GrapeApe wrote:
Why single out Honda? None of the Japanese manufacturers spend money on RBSR. It's just a fun event of garage builds vs. the Red Bull (KTM/GASGAS)...
Why single out Honda? None of the Japanese manufacturers spend money on RBSR. It's just a fun event of garage builds vs. the Red Bull (KTM/GASGAS) teams.
Dude... BluCru.
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Tumic
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9/16/2022 9:32am
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
No they don’t as i said in my first post right?

Suzuki did not make any in 2016 either when Ken won nationals and were going to ride a rm250 the last race until the AMA homo-rule robbed us all of that.

Do anyone here belive that Ken or the Lawrence brothers would have a problem to get hold of some -07 cr125/250’s for Honda to put the old hrc engines in?.

Regarding the other japanese brands, Star racing is a Monster backed brand, and so is Kawasaki making those teams efforts a lot smaller for this event.

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ck95
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9/16/2022 9:33am
Tumic wrote:
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview. One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against...
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
Careful man, this board doesn't accept logic very well!
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9/16/2022 9:35am
If you think everything Ken said in that interview is the truth, I can't help you.

Also, I have a bridge to sell you.
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9/16/2022 9:39am
Tumic wrote:
No they don’t as i said in my first post right? Suzuki did not make any in 2016 either when Ken won nationals and were going...
No they don’t as i said in my first post right?

Suzuki did not make any in 2016 either when Ken won nationals and were going to ride a rm250 the last race until the AMA homo-rule robbed us all of that.

Do anyone here belive that Ken or the Lawrence brothers would have a problem to get hold of some -07 cr125/250’s for Honda to put the old hrc engines in?.

Regarding the other japanese brands, Star racing is a Monster backed brand, and so is Kawasaki making those teams efforts a lot smaller for this event.

Believe it or not Honda can tell the riders they employ "no"
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Tumic
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9/16/2022 9:39am
If you think everything Ken said in that interview is the truth, I can't help you.

Also, I have a bridge to sell you.
That part makes some sense since red bull’s largest poster child in MX aint on the entry list..
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Tumic
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9/16/2022 9:40am
Believe it or not Honda can tell the riders they employ "no"
Belive it or not, that’s my point…
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9/16/2022 9:41am
Tumic wrote:
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview. One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against...
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
Yeah, that’s true.. I do think the riders need to be pretty involved in the build…
But if Chad can build a factory 04, then surely someone can slap together a pretty good honda
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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 9:42am
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
Tumic wrote:
No they don’t as i said in my first post right? Suzuki did not make any in 2016 either when Ken won nationals and were going...
No they don’t as i said in my first post right?

Suzuki did not make any in 2016 either when Ken won nationals and were going to ride a rm250 the last race until the AMA homo-rule robbed us all of that.

Do anyone here belive that Ken or the Lawrence brothers would have a problem to get hold of some -07 cr125/250’s for Honda to put the old hrc engines in?.

Regarding the other japanese brands, Star racing is a Monster backed brand, and so is Kawasaki making those teams efforts a lot smaller for this event.

Your comparing apples to oranges with that one.

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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 9:50am
Tumic wrote:
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview. One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against...
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
ck95 wrote:
Careful man, this board doesn't accept logic very well!
right! Hence my downvotes.

Honda doesn't want to risk a rider getting injured and supporting a race that brings nothing to the table for them other than expenses.

You guys do realize that paying these Pros to ride is all about marketing right? Companies pay riders to increase sales. Kenny's salary and cost is part of a marketing budget. To spend money with no return on investment isn't in the cards for a lot of these manufactures.
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Tumic
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9/16/2022 9:53am
right! Hence my downvotes. Honda doesn't want to risk a rider getting injured and supporting a race that brings nothing to the table for them other...
right! Hence my downvotes.

Honda doesn't want to risk a rider getting injured and supporting a race that brings nothing to the table for them other than expenses.

You guys do realize that paying these Pros to ride is all about marketing right? Companies pay riders to increase sales. Kenny's salary and cost is part of a marketing budget. To spend money with no return on investment isn't in the cards for a lot of these manufactures.
So why send riders to off season races like Bercy?
1
1
9/16/2022 10:48am
Tumic wrote:
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview. One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against...
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
Kenny should hit up profeshenal125. I’m sure he has bikes for them.
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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 10:52am Edited Date/Time 9/16/2022 10:53am
right! Hence my downvotes. Honda doesn't want to risk a rider getting injured and supporting a race that brings nothing to the table for them other...
right! Hence my downvotes.

Honda doesn't want to risk a rider getting injured and supporting a race that brings nothing to the table for them other than expenses.

You guys do realize that paying these Pros to ride is all about marketing right? Companies pay riders to increase sales. Kenny's salary and cost is part of a marketing budget. To spend money with no return on investment isn't in the cards for a lot of these manufactures.
Tumic wrote:
So why send riders to off season races like Bercy?
Who has Honda or another US Factory team sent over to Race Bercy?
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Richy
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Kenny should hit up profeshenal125. I’m sure he has bikes for them.
KR94 'professional use only' porting job and KX pipe fitment in progress 👌
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Tumic
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Who has Honda or another US Factory team sent over to Race Bercy?
Sent / let race. Jett and Hunter are doing it this year right?

It’s not like Honda said: You can’t go to them. Sure, they will not be on HRC spec bikes, just stock with suspension, pipe and clutch probably as usual over there. But still you would get the point that Bercy is just for the riders own interest and wallet and not American Hondas, Just like you say that Rbsr are.
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9/16/2022 11:08am
It really just comes down to how much they want is.. shit, Travis showed up on an RMZ framed 500cc 2 stroke. You can’t tell me Kenny can’t get a good 06 Honda engine. Mitch could build one in his sleep..
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snillum
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right! Hence my downvotes. Honda doesn't want to risk a rider getting injured and supporting a race that brings nothing to the table for them other...
right! Hence my downvotes.

Honda doesn't want to risk a rider getting injured and supporting a race that brings nothing to the table for them other than expenses.

You guys do realize that paying these Pros to ride is all about marketing right? Companies pay riders to increase sales. Kenny's salary and cost is part of a marketing budget. To spend money with no return on investment isn't in the cards for a lot of these manufactures.
Tumic wrote:
So why send riders to off season races like Bercy?
They race modern bikes at Bercy. Not 20 year old discontinued models. Bercy can also be looked at as pre season practice to help develop the modern race bike which they are using as advertising to sell to regular consumers.
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C.Worthy
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9/16/2022 11:12am
Tumic wrote:
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview. One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against...
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
Or it does bring something to the table like marketing and branding. Why would Honda sponsor the Honda Classic golf event? They don’t make golf clubs. Red Bull doesn’t make motorcycles so why would they put on a motorcycle event? Marketing and branding.
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1
9/16/2022 11:43am Edited Date/Time 9/18/2022 6:48am
Tumic wrote:
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview. One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against...
By now we have all seen the JS / Roczen interview.

One thing that hit me was when Ken talked about how ”negative” Honda were against the event, and the mentioning about if he wanted to do it, the Lawrence brothers would to.

HOW can this be a bad thing? With all the PR that Honda got from Ken’s win the last time? And we all remember the publicity that Lamson got at Hangtown when he rode the old factory cr125 for like 15 years ago.

We all know Honda has the 125 engines and parts laying around and the cost / work to put togeather 3-4 bikes, one each for the HRC riders would not be at any larger expence than a regular test weekend.

I just wish that Honda would embrace things like this more like the Austrian three headed bastard brand that puts all their riders on race built 150’s/300’s.

And even if Honda still don’t sell the bikes, you get a huge amount of PR.
Honda doesn't make 2 strokes any more and its a 2 stroke only contest. Supporting a rider for this brings nothing to the table for Honda.
C.Worthy wrote:
Or it does bring something to the table like marketing and branding. Why would Honda sponsor the Honda Classic golf event? They don’t make golf clubs...
Or it does bring something to the table like marketing and branding. Why would Honda sponsor the Honda Classic golf event? They don’t make golf clubs. Red Bull doesn’t make motorcycles so why would they put on a motorcycle event? Marketing and branding.
I bet the type of vet dudes who dutifully buy expensive Works Editions and Africa Twins are long-time Honda guys who are still in reverence to the legacy of Big Red's factory MX glory days in the 80s/90s. Playing to that identity seems probably as valuable to marketing the brand as their current race operations, which -- let's face it -- have been very far from dominant in the US in the four stroke era
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ML512
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While I love Straight Rhythm, I totally understand why Honda isn't into this year.

They would have three Red Bull-backed riders who would need bikes to attend. The team has had an insane and over-time filled year trying to chase down four titles, won two and were close on a third. The team has a ton of work to do getting Jett 450 ready, getting Hymas pro ready and their guys are wiped out. Trying to dig up, test, and properly prepare three dinosaur bikes and get them prime so their top riders can be top riders is a lot of work.

It's a cool event but sometimes the team has to worry and care for their staff as much as their riders.
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Darrin Willis
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9/16/2022 1:33pm
ML512 wrote:
While I love Straight Rhythm, I totally understand why Honda isn't into this year. They would have three Red Bull-backed riders who would need bikes to...
While I love Straight Rhythm, I totally understand why Honda isn't into this year.

They would have three Red Bull-backed riders who would need bikes to attend. The team has had an insane and over-time filled year trying to chase down four titles, won two and were close on a third. The team has a ton of work to do getting Jett 450 ready, getting Hymas pro ready and their guys are wiped out. Trying to dig up, test, and properly prepare three dinosaur bikes and get them prime so their top riders can be top riders is a lot of work.

It's a cool event but sometimes the team has to worry and care for their staff as much as their riders.
Respectfully said from a 2stroke hater
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fourfourone
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9/16/2022 1:44pm
Who has Honda or another US Factory team sent over to Race Bercy?
Tumic wrote:
Sent / let race. Jett and Hunter are doing it this year right? It’s not like Honda said: You can’t go to them. Sure, they will...
Sent / let race. Jett and Hunter are doing it this year right?

It’s not like Honda said: You can’t go to them. Sure, they will not be on HRC spec bikes, just stock with suspension, pipe and clutch probably as usual over there. But still you would get the point that Bercy is just for the riders own interest and wallet and not American Hondas, Just like you say that Rbsr are.
You would be surprised how many top riders have clauses in their contracts saying they cant do other races. It's pretty common. Even if the rider puts up all the money, they still can't contractually.

Jett and hunter are going over for testing purposes.





SEE ARE125
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9/16/2022 2:23pm
Kenny should hit up profeshenal125. I’m sure he has bikes for them.
Richy wrote:
KR94 'professional use only' porting job and KX pipe fitment in progress 👌
*Profeshenal use only

Fixed it. Wink
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ML512
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ML512 wrote:
While I love Straight Rhythm, I totally understand why Honda isn't into this year. They would have three Red Bull-backed riders who would need bikes to...
While I love Straight Rhythm, I totally understand why Honda isn't into this year.

They would have three Red Bull-backed riders who would need bikes to attend. The team has had an insane and over-time filled year trying to chase down four titles, won two and were close on a third. The team has a ton of work to do getting Jett 450 ready, getting Hymas pro ready and their guys are wiped out. Trying to dig up, test, and properly prepare three dinosaur bikes and get them prime so their top riders can be top riders is a lot of work.

It's a cool event but sometimes the team has to worry and care for their staff as much as their riders.
Respectfully said from a 2stroke hater
Love 125s, don't like riding 250s though.

I've been to the event every year and am beyond excited to go again.
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ML512
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9/16/2022 3:49pm
ML512 wrote:
While I love Straight Rhythm, I totally understand why Honda isn't into this year. They would have three Red Bull-backed riders who would need bikes to...
While I love Straight Rhythm, I totally understand why Honda isn't into this year.

They would have three Red Bull-backed riders who would need bikes to attend. The team has had an insane and over-time filled year trying to chase down four titles, won two and were close on a third. The team has a ton of work to do getting Jett 450 ready, getting Hymas pro ready and their guys are wiped out. Trying to dig up, test, and properly prepare three dinosaur bikes and get them prime so their top riders can be top riders is a lot of work.

It's a cool event but sometimes the team has to worry and care for their staff as much as their riders.
Respectfully said from a 2stroke hater
And just to clarify, my dinosaur comment wasn't against two strokes. It was against the fact that any CRs they would be digging up are nearly 15 years old and trying to find enough old works parts to slap together three well prepped bikes. It's one thing to do one bike...but doing three would be a bit much. Especially since they wouldn't want to half-ass it. They'd have to be cream of the crop.
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AS64
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9/16/2022 3:56pm
ML512 wrote:
Love 125s, don't like riding 250s though.

I've been to the event every year and am beyond excited to go again.
What don't you like about 250? Genuinely curious!

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