With rumors that the new kx 2 smoker will be a “race bike” somewhere from the 125 to 150 or 250 to 300 range I think this should be the time the ama finally gets with the program and allows 250 2 strokes in the 250 class. Its beyond time. For a while there hasnt been a lot of push since most manufacturers werent making 2 strokes anymore, but now that kawi has joined the fray this should be revisited. Its allowed in most other places now.
MXA did a comparison of how much it would cost to get a yz250 and a yz250f up to 50hp and its pretty telling. They took a brand new 2019 yz250f and went up against a 12 year old yz250. To get the brand new yz250f up to 49hp cost $9,050. To get the 2007 yz250 up to 49hp was $2,200. Thats a massive difference, especially considering the cost savings of a used 12 year old yz250 vs a brand new yz250f.
We always talk about how expensive the sport is these days, well this is the low hanging fruit. Just a simple rule change could save people massive amounts of money and make them competitive vs extremely tricked out 250 screamers. Making the sport cheaper makes it accessible for lots more people and also making competetive bikes much cheaper gives privateers a much better shot vs the factorys. Its time to get with the times. I hope kawi can give them the push.
https://motocrossactionmag.com/two-vs-four-shootout-yz250-two-stroke-vs-yz250f-four-stroke/
I would like to see that change too. I think the ama has a rule regarding how old a bike can be to compete. Maybe someone will know how many years back a bike can be used. Would a 300 2stroke be allowed in the 450 class? I think only up to 250. Let a 300 race against the big bikes. For that matter, why not a 450 2stroke. Man up boys.
Santa clause is going to be a real life person before any of this happens….
I think that we should simply have a:
Open Class (ride whatever you like, up to 500cc combustion only)
250 4 stroke Pro Class (with 250 2 stroke allowed, no motor work (or simple mods only), privateers only.
125 2 stroke development class
Electric only class, no limits
That would be an amazing day at the races to watch that.
Is there evidence in other motorsports that the sport went 20 years backwards to old tech just to please the middle class? Could be, I don't know?
My guess is we will see all electric mx sx within 10years but no two strokes. There might be in 3rd world countries but not in North America and Europe. Could even be we see a new Sur-ron size e bike supercross to 'make the sport bigger and accessible' for gen Z.
You know, I also wish things were like the were 15 years ago when I could afford more toys, but that's me, no manufacturers care about how I feel.The show must go on.
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Just make the premier class open to any production bike….more hp than what they already have is useless.
Why does it need to be production bike?
Because motogp style bikes on the start line would make being a privateer in the main event impossible. We can’t do that in our sport.
In a perfect world we’d go back to the 125, 250, and 500 classes. Make 4 strokes limited to 175, 350, and 550cc in those classes.
It’s obviously too late to go backwards towards something like that, but a guy can dream!!!!
Rule was changed about 10 years ago in AMA Amateur racing. When that rule was changed, several riders tried the 250 2-stroke and still the wins were dominated by 4-strokes. Just sayin'...
While true, we have to keep in mind that the best amateur riders receive significant support from the manufacturers. The manufacturers want to push 4 strokes.
Equal displacement and let the chips fall where they may. What is everybody so worried about?
It worked with some success in Canada, Jimmy D raced up north for a season and yamaha 250f was obviously slower than the ktm two stroke ridden by benoit, very track dependant.
They changed the rules to limit mods on the two strokes after that. It did seem to help some guys without support, but nobody was riding a factory yz250.
It could be a brand new KX500 and it would get smoked in the lites class. There’s no “RACE” 2 stroke coming 😂😂
Don't know... but there's plenty of evidence of people not buying things when they get too expensive (or aren't what they want). And companies that sell things that aren't being bought don't tend to stay in business.
The ones who make mega-bucks off the F1 4T market are worried their cash cow could go teats-up.
I LOVE when people speak of how great 4 strokes are, yet after 23ish years, they still won't even allow 150cc and 300cc bikes in classes. That pretty much settles all fact knowledge needed.
Define: Privateer
Pit Row
As much as I agree, that ship has sailed. And sunk.
For nearly all of us, AMA Pro rules are irrelevant anyway. Buy what you want to ride and have fun while you still can!
The 2 stroke will never die as a fact of law, it will only die due to companies not making them. The EPA and CARB have zero influence on offroad race only vehicles. It's only the ProAma rules that hinder the production numbers of 2 strokes. You are right that they won't change rules, but it's what makes the 2 stroke less popular. If they would allow 350cc 2 strokes or 400cc 2 strokes race in the 450 class, you'd see a whole different scenario. Thus they won't and can't. Not even 150cc and 300cc.
DC down voting every post.
😄
I honestly don't think a 250 2 stroke would be preferred to a 250f regardless of how many mods you do to it when it comes to supercross. Its not like with enough power these guys are going to start sending entire rythm lanes in 2 jumps.
I am going to disagree with your opinion regarding supercross going all electric. Feld will not let that happen. They understand that electric supercross will be the end of the golden goose for them.
and now they are having to fight off the Ebikes too ...
It's going to be a 300 off-road bike.
This is great, you have now forced $$$$ across the board in tooling by other manufacturers to fit this Class.
I am willing to bet we are going to see a modern kdx platform out of Kawi before we see a kx 2 stroke re appear.
The last year works bikes were allowed was 1985, Rick Johnson won the championship on a production based YZ250...
racing against Honda's $100,000 works RC250RC...
Privateers raced the main events in 1985, it's not the bike, it's the rider.
Wouldn't it make more sense to do classes based on horsepower, not displacement?
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