Posts
59
Joined
8/14/2023
Location
Chesterfield, NC, USA
Is a factory bike really that much of an edge on a bike you can build with obtainable consumer parts ?
or is it the dollars the factories throw at the bike which is more viable ?
I think it depends on which class you are racing.
For 250's, yes absolutely a factory bike is going to outgun any bike built with obtainable consumer parts. The engines, transmissions, and other black magic they pump into those things to make them fast is leaps and bounds above what the average joe is going to have access to or build. But then again it depends on how deep your pockets are and how much you're willing to spend. A factory 250 is a big deal in that class. HP is king in 250's.
For 450's, its probably a toss-up. A stock 450 is not lacking in power and in most cases when you watch in-depth bike overviews with the mechanics, most of the time they are de-tuning the 450 to get it rideable or more manageable. A 450 with A-kit suspension, ECU, and good wheels is a pretty competitive bike for racing. There are probably some really nice things on a factory 450 that might make a difference such as custom leverage ratio clutch levers, polished/custom transmissions, access to different linkages and clamp options to make you comfortable, custom sub-frames, but overall I don't think those things are going to keep you from winning. Shane McElrath raced supercross on a stock 450 so there's that...
Factories have engineers that can design and build their own components out of raw materials. They can literally make parts that no one can buy. Also the ECU tuning and mapping, those factories will never let those secrets get out.
Didn't Andrew Short win a supercross on a fairly stock Honda after his chaparral team folded? Also Masterpool blowing by factory dudes last year outdoors.
It's not about the parts. It's about having a team around you to look at every possible way to make you more comfortable. Man hours testing and collecting data equals performance.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Lightweight wheels were mentioned, but don't forget "works" TIRES. They are so much lighter, it's "unsprung weight", and different compounds. The good guys would still be top 5 on production bikes, but tires are the only thing touching the ground. Hopefully.
250s - Yes not even comparable.
450s - No. Stock motor 450 w/ A kit can take a good rider as far as their ability will let them, as we have seen time and time again.
Remember a few years ago john short racing a BONE stock honda 450 with suspension and got like 8th outdoors.
Factory teams have a large team of specialists and $$$$$$ that they can fine tune every piece of the bike to the rider’s liking. And that fine tuning is non stop all year.
IMO ... it used to be a huge advantage. By used to, I mean 1974-2003 ish. Now - I don't think so.
As mentioned above, it’s the testing that makes the biggest difference at the 450 level vs. buying high end parts and putting them on your bike
THIS ^^^^
Many non-factory teams could achieve the same level (even on 250's) with the same budget factory teams have. It's all about the money and attracting the best in every aspect (mechanic, drivers, suspension techs, coaches, and of course riders) to be on the team.
Max Anstie has won two 250 supercross races on a non-factory CRF250R.
Yep. Coty Schock has done incredibly well on Club, Martin's in the past indoor/out and many more.
The biggest difference on a factory 450 is the team, and their ability to fine tune the entire motorcycle.
Everything from offset triple clamp bearings back is adjustable for a factory rider.
It was already mentioned, but spec tires are a big deal. At least they used to be back in the 2000's. I think Reed said in an interview a spec tire in supercross was one of THE biggest differentiators.
For me a factory by is just what the name is, bike built by the factory.
PC and Star are in US considered ”factory” teams but they make their tuning in house.
Today the big difference is the time and money that the teams put in to the bikes, not the knowlege. There is plenty of tuners out there that has the know-how but lack the time and money for testing that the big teams do.
Just think about how many different pistons, cam’s etc that a factory team test compared to a regular tuner just because of budget.
Throw the same engine budget at a company like twisted that HRC have and i promise that you would see a simular result.
Post a reply to: Factory bike vs production part bike