Shane McElrath confirmed in a YouTube video that his 450 for the Millville race today is 100% stock off the showroom floor. He said he kept the sag where it's at and only changed a couple clickers. In the first qualifying session he ran. 2:07 lap time and the leaders are running a 2:04-2:06 range. Jetts of course running a 2:00. But the fact that McElrath is running that kind of pace on a bone stock bike makes me think if we really need all these aftermarket parts and suspension done on our bikes. Especially suspension. He's on stock springs and able to run that pace is impressive. He's running a faster lap time than Aaron plessinger on a full factory KTM.
I've been debating getting my suspension done but this is comforting know it's not necessary cause if top pros can run it stock so can I
The new Yamaha is badass! I m sure he’s on revalved suspension.
Hope he has a good day.
He is running A kit internals on his forks...but other than that bone stock
You sure? His comment about a kit internals was for his WSX bike.
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Speed capability of modern mx bikes has never been a real question. However the ability to use that speed for an entire race is the an important component.
Stock suspension is great, let me know how it is at the end on the moto.
The only thing really worth actually doing to your bike is the suspension and a slip on if you need to have a spark arrestor. Everything else is just wants.
"the fact that McElrath is running a bone stock bike makes me think"... how life gets better for racers since WSX entered their lives.
(Relax, it's a joke.)
Rooting for a good race for Shane....
weight...
Lower center of gravity
Less of a matter of importance on a 450. Kenny’s factory RMZ probably weighs the same as a stock Austrian 450 off the showroom.
And if you’re an amateur you are better off just dieting and losing weight yourself than looking to shed it on your bike.
RC said the bars were even stock. I’d guess a good setup/suspension guy can do a lot more with stock suspension than us mere mortals.
Losing weight off the body is more important than dropping the bikes weight.
Whatever he is riding he will have a excuse for his results.
If I went on a diet my bike would be 20 pounds lighter !!!
While losing weight off your body is no doubt way more important in many ways, it doesn’t equate to making the bike handle differently. The weight of the bike will not do much for most of us, but at the Pro level, it’s definitely an advantage to them, IMO.
Can a top pro race a bone stock bike without any modifications ? Of course they can and Shane is going to do it today, but a fine tuned race bike would benefit him in several ways.
For the rest of us hobbyists, there are many things, besides suspension that can help keep us safer on the bike. Along with every rider being different in size, triple clamps for bar position and pegs for opening up the cockpit are huge for bigger guys.
As far as engine mods, most of us do not need more power, but some want less and remapping the ECU can make the bike more rideable. Todays bikes are so good, the majority of people do not need much to get the bikes set up for them and lots of us, including me, spend unnecessary money on them. But for those of us who can afford it, that’s just what we do, because we can
Why would he not set the sag?
Exactly. And if aftermarket stuff isnt bought, it would not exist.
Pit Row
Vital riders? Yea we don’t need any of the fancy stuff. Top guys? Sure..they USE it. But the guys dropping $$ into their bikes won’t like this comment!!
Vital. , Cool we support the sport buying stuff, other vital members. Its a waste of $. Lol. Make up you're mind. Needs wants, 2 different things. Let people spend their money the way they want.
Yeah tell me how the stock shock is holding up after the first 30+2.
Compression and rebound damping? hell we don't need that shit!
For those who can afford to drop $$ into their bikes don’t care if the ones who can’t afford it do care… To be clear here, I can afford it and don’t give two shits what anyone else thinks about what I spend my money on. It’s the only hobby that I have and I don’t mind doing it the way I want to do it. Need ?? Nope, but I enjoy it and that’s all that really matters to me.
To add to that, if the aftermarket parts were FREE, would the people that can’t afford them put them on their bikes ? I think so
Oh I definitely don’t disagree with you and Shane and anyone else at the pro level would benefit from suspension, ecu, lighter bike, etc. I was just saying for most of us suspension is really the only thing absolutely necessary. I’m not against aftermarket parts or guys going out and spending thousands on parts to make them more comfortable, feel safer or to even look cooler. My opinion of what’s needed on my bikes is completely different than your opinion of what’s needed on your bikes and probably different from the majority even. That’s the cool thing about this sport you can deck your bike out completely, not at all or even somewhere in the middle.
What was it McElrath said he changed in his YouTube video the other day?
It was like two tiny things, otherwise a straight up stocker 😂
What a badass haha, up to 10th now 🤘
*Edit. Just checked the video again, holeshot device off his 250 and grip donuts lol, what a legend
I can afford it. But don’t..I’m not hating on the guys that do it. I think it’s silly when they say they “need” it.
I have several friends that ride bone stock bikes and definitely don’t need to change anything to go faster. They have lots of money, but choose to do the smart thing and invest instead of blowing it on their hobby. I get that too, I guess I just can’t help myself to be honest.
My son raced for 15 years and had really good bikes. I’d never had a really good bike or even had my suspension set up properly when I raced growing up.
Once he quit racing, I started building bitchen bikes and riding again, not looking back now, there’s only so much time left and I’m going to keep it going until I can’t get my leg over the seat.
What happened to Shane in the second moto?
He said he liked where the sag was off the showroom so he left it. If you're comfy right away then why change it ya know
Crashed big time on lap two or three and the bike was mangled.
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