Remember when your teacher taught us to right a letter to your store or product manufacturer to make a suggestion. At age 48, I've been very fortunate to have a handful of different motorcycles in my lifetime. But something that is becoming fatiguing is after I get a new motorcycle, I end up spending the next 1-3 months putting on all the items I will need for my riding style and terrain. ( For backcountry riding and enduro, -> Bark buster bars, different exhaust system, tubliss tire system, bike armor protection pieces.. etc.) I realize the specific of items is pretty specialized. That use to be fun to build your bike, but I had a ah-ha moment. I know some manufacturers make a specific special model for this and can buy what they suggest as a single package..
But what if I could go onto say KTM or Kawasaki, "think car configurator" and pick from a few options or packages of what I would like my bike to come with from the start. They do it with cars.. 2-3 different graphics/plastics kits, "poser bling package", "premium package", "track rat package", "high performance ", "race ready" options ( FMF or Pro Circuit Exhaust system ), what tire do you want Dunlop or Bridgestones.
I know we are the low end of the totem pole as some of this is available for street bike. But it sure would be nice if even for just a couple options we could select.
I also know that to keep cost low, they bulk build these machines in a factory with probably dinosaur logistics tracking equipment. But what an opportunity for a manufacturer to be a differentiator right now in this digital world.
Signed "Old Guy Building Next Steel Horse"
I think yup can do some of this on the Beta website, can’t you?
I would think the volume numbers are too low on dirt bikes to justify a custom ordering program like that.
Get a Beta, you can do it right on their website. In 10 minutes, have a bike built the exact way you want it!
Well there you go making me look like it doesn't exist.. hahaha.. Thanks for the info.. That is pretty much exactly what I was looking for.. I was just so brand loyal to the bigger companies..
Definitely has all the above I mentioned. I will give it a whirl. I know Beta's have come a long ways!
ttps://betausa.com/build-your-own-beta/
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I remember seeing something like that years ago but it never really took off . I think the bike went under the name REV . It was powered by a TM 250 2 stroke engine and you could get all kinds of different chassis options . At least that's what I remember being proposed. I don't know if any were actually sold .
Dear Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki..... bring back the inexpensive 2-strokes. See: Yamaha.
The problem Is, the Yamaha , (and other manufacturers bikes, ) are not that inexpensive.
The msrp on a yz250 is $7900. You can get a brand new Kx450 out the door for the same price or less right now. A KTM 250sx will cost you just as much or MORE as ANY of the new 450s. The cost of ownership on a modern 450 is actually cheaper than a 250 two stroke. The engine lasts twice as long, you dont have to buy premix or race gas, no transmission oil. They are also a ton more reliable.
The old tale of the trusty reliable cheap two stroke doesnt really hold up anymore.
The YZ's are still decent prices. Then take servicing/maintenance into the factoring.
It's a cool idea for some but I love putting on my own parts after I get the bike.
^^^^ THIS.
It's a must, part of the experience.
Just owned both. Oil changes are far more expensive for a 450.
I do a top end once a season regardless of hours. A 450 is far more expensive, especially if adding in a cam chain and tensioner.
Could I just push the 450 to 100 hours instead of the ~50 that I do for a season? Probably, but that's not how I roll. On the flip side, if we all went by the service manual intervals we would be spending even more on 4 strokes.
Your first couple sentences are also completely disingenuous. Comparing MSRP to a sale price? I bought my '23 YZ250 for 7800 OTD. Apples to apples the 450 is always more. Funny thing is the guy jacked up my paperwork at first and put me down for a YZ250F, which had a manufacturer rebate to get rid of the rest of their '23s. After the correction I still saved $200 over that bike.
A $25 bottle of premix (1 liter of Maxima K2) lasts me 2-3 months. You can run pump or race gas in either bike, so that is a moot point. I ran straight T4 in my CRF and a blend in the YZ250, so the YZ is still cheaper for me, but that's just my method.
I don't think we need to even discuss the astronomical differences there are should a catastrophic failure occur.
Taking the position that 4 strokes are more expensive to maintain because you choose to spend much more on them than you have to is very disingenuous too.
100 hours out of a 450 top end shouldn’t even cause you to bat your eye. Check valve clearance and let it rip
Ok, so every 2 years and spend double for the parts needed. A wash at best in that case.
Also who is to say what is needed? Don't the service manuals say something ridiculous like change the piston every 15 hours? I'm sure there's a huge range of opinions from the weekend warrior, to local pro, to privateer team, to a factory team... Regardless, 100 hours on a race bike DOES make me blink haha.
Yeah I have owned 4 different 450s (3 diff brands) and 2 Yz250s within the past 7 or so years and I don't think I have had to put as many parts on all the 450s combined as I did into both the 2 strokes. Obviously, this is all dependent on how you ride and what you are actually using the bikes for. Yz250 top ends do not last long and they eat shift forks like breakfast. Clutches last half the time as a 450 clutch, the list goes on. Its 1999 technology that mostly has not been updated or beefed up in 20+ years.
It sounds like you want to buy a Stark!
Let me put the clutch on the right side and the front brake on the left cuz I'm dyslexic
Pit Row
For an over 15 year old platform. Any costs associated with bringing the YZ250 to development were amortized long, long ago.
I own a 250sx. You are dead on.
Funny I was just thinking about this exact thing as I am building out 2 bikes for the rest of the 23 racing season and 2024. I spend so much time and extra money taking off perfectly good parts for most folks just not top end for competitive racing. Hell, just look at EBay and all the new "take offs" that guys are selling for 10-25% below RMATVMC or local dealer and they have never seen dirt. To do this OEM direct would be tough, but no reason the OEM can't work with a handful of aftermarket folks and distributors to offer discounts for the dealers to offer specialized packages per OEM spec. It would cut down on inventory and create a consistent "made to order" system that drives efficiency. As well for certain dealers say in UT or ID probably gonna be more desert trails riding vs. SoCal moto bling or NW tight trees needed stuff. Good letter!
Yup, the Japanese (and most, if not all, of the Austrian) manufacturers have never offered options and never will. They, due to massive production lines for other models, do a run on their allocated build numbers for their MX bikes and thats it, They do not have the luxury of niche brands, such as Beta, who have the ability to more personalize what you want to buy due to their limited/much much smaller amount of bike models.
I've thought for a long time they should offer a bike that is actually MISSING PARTS that are commonly replaced by more serious rides such as:
Tires (or wheels), bars, grips, fork/shock springs (complete components?), chain, rear sprocket, exhaust system, seat/cover, foot pegs, bla bla bla.
I would buy this "bike" every time over a complete bike.
This is about dirt bikes, not plug-in toasters.
A little competition in the market would peobably change that
This man speaks the truth, not to mention weak 3rd gear on the smoker.
Scale is the problem.
That being said, a close example is the Mountain Bike industry.
If anything i wonder about having two frame sizes? Reach on mtb is so important.
On the other hand, when a pedal bike costs as much as one with a high performance engine maybe we don’t want build options and frame size options like mtb.
If I owned a dealership, I'd have my sales guys upselling a program like this all day every day...hook the customer with a 10%-15% discount on parts, and customizing the bike. Let the customer keep all the stock parts.
I'd offer it on used inventory as well...just seems like a great opportunity for a dealer to move some inventory and make some additional cash when a customer is pumped about their new bike.
Also, by doing it at the time of purchase, the customer could "finance" the cost of the parts...
I'd have each sales guy bring out a paper with a checklist of all the parts they want, and the cost...and give it to each customer to fill out before signing final paperwork.
I think it is a cool idea and a way to save some bucks. The thing with factory editions is you only pay for the upgraded part. You don't have to pay for a stock shock then an "A Kit" shock. just a bit more for the A Kit. same with triple clamps etc. I think the world has the tech for this to be a thing now. IMO
This is why most people hate buying new cars at dealers, the salesmen are always trying to up-sell you.
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