Uneducated question here

Zycki11
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Zycki11 7/10/2025 8:07am
7/10/2025 8:07am
BCEZ$niper wrote:
Please don’t flame me guys. But I’ve been thinking. I see the pro circuit 250’s having some success this year, not a ton, but the bikes are...

Please don’t flame me guys. 

But I’ve been thinking. I see the pro circuit 250’s having some success this year, not a ton, but the bikes are fast and capable. And the riders on them vary in height, weight, etc. 

I know it’s a different team and displacement, etc. but what is holding back the monster kawi 450 program/bike? are the bikes that much different? 

Real answer is operation. The bikes are all capable at that level, the difference is how the team communicates with the riders and adjust accordingly. Kawasaki is notorious for being rigid with setup changes.  Star Yamaha literally took over the Factory 450 program due to their willingness to do put whatever part on the bike to make the riders happy.  Communication literally is everything at that level. 

JJ376
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JJ376 7/10/2025 8:09am
7/10/2025 8:09am
motosmith wrote:

"Beer belly" LMAO.

aeffertz wrote:
There's a photo making its rounds that isn't the most flattering. :lol:

There's a photo making its rounds that isn't the most flattering. Grinning

motoonline 1751976731 3672169440897555802 55965014.jpg?VersionId=q3ng6fy 2L1Cy6H3qfMKs51w5nz0V o

Takes away a bit of my own self-consciouness 😆

EVH4Ever
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EVH4Ever 7/10/2025 8:09am
7/10/2025 8:09am

That photo of Jason could be photochopped 

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Wisco322
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Wisco322 7/10/2025 9:17am
7/10/2025 9:17am
Dirty Points wrote:
CIANCIARULO 2019 IRONMAN MX OCTOPI GM 3475
Wisco322 wrote:
IMG 8699 2
Dirty Points wrote:
That's the black-fendered SX bike that choked away the championship -- in fact, pictured on the very day it torpedoed the title. The outdoor bike that won...

That's the black-fendered SX bike that choked away the championship -- in fact, pictured on the very day it torpedoed the title. 

The outdoor bike that won it all ran a green fender all season.

Yup yup, you’re right! I typed in 2018 on accident and not 2019.  

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aeffertz
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aeffertz 7/10/2025 9:55am
7/10/2025 9:55am
EVH4Ever wrote:

That photo of Jason could be photochopped 

It’s from Octopi Media (Garth Milan and Ryne Swanberg). They certainly would not ruin their reputation by doing something as stupid as that. 

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Dan-The-Man 7/10/2025 9:57am
7/10/2025 9:57am
BCEZ$niper wrote:
Please don’t flame me guys. But I’ve been thinking. I see the pro circuit 250’s having some success this year, not a ton, but the bikes are...

Please don’t flame me guys. 

But I’ve been thinking. I see the pro circuit 250’s having some success this year, not a ton, but the bikes are fast and capable. And the riders on them vary in height, weight, etc. 

I know it’s a different team and displacement, etc. but what is holding back the monster kawi 450 program/bike? are the bikes that much different? 

Zycki11 wrote:
Real answer is operation. The bikes are all capable at that level, the difference is how the team communicates with the riders and adjust accordingly. Kawasaki...

Real answer is operation. The bikes are all capable at that level, the difference is how the team communicates with the riders and adjust accordingly. Kawasaki is notorious for being rigid with setup changes.  Star Yamaha literally took over the Factory 450 program due to their willingness to do put whatever part on the bike to make the riders happy.  Communication literally is everything at that level. 

I agree with this. No it’s not the bike specifically. We do know that the Kawi team is notoriously hard to work with. That’s not saying the crew sucks because they don’t. However of all the factory teams where do they stack up? I think Honda, Yamaha, KTM are all above them. We have seen the lengths at which they will go to make a rider comfortable. Kawi you rarely see drastic changes. Star rents out southwick before the national and they have their own facility.  We heard Honda rented Thunder Valley to test and I think they are constantly testing at the dog pound. Prado is at GH with 65’s trying to test. Obviously that’s changed but you get my point. Anderson I think would ride anything you gave him, he just seems like that kind of guy.  

No it’s not the bike, but I do believe they are behind the other teams.

TAUTOG
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TAUTOG 7/10/2025 10:47am
7/10/2025 10:47am
motosmith wrote:

"Beer belly" LMAO.

aeffertz wrote:
There's a photo making its rounds that isn't the most flattering. :lol:

There's a photo making its rounds that isn't the most flattering. Grinning

motoonline 1751976731 3672169440897555802 55965014.jpg?VersionId=q3ng6fy 2L1Cy6H3qfMKs51w5nz0V o

If you wanna see a beer belly on a factory KX450 go check out the next GNCC race 

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Dirty Points 7/10/2025 12:16pm
7/10/2025 12:16pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2025 12:23pm
Wisco322 wrote:
IMG 8699 2
Dirty Points wrote:
That's the black-fendered SX bike that choked away the championship -- in fact, pictured on the very day it torpedoed the title. The outdoor bike that won...

That's the black-fendered SX bike that choked away the championship -- in fact, pictured on the very day it torpedoed the title. 

The outdoor bike that won it all ran a green fender all season.

Wisco322 wrote:

Yup yup, you’re right! I typed in 2018 on accident and not 2019.  

It's actually properly 2019, but a photo of his championship-losing SX bike taken at Vegas prior to Adam dumping it in the sand and DNFing the final round with a healthy 8 point lead over Ferrandis.

UpTiTe 7/10/2025 12:22pm
7/10/2025 12:22pm Edited Date/Time 7/10/2025 12:24pm
BCEZ$niper wrote:
Please don’t flame me guys. But I’ve been thinking. I see the pro circuit 250’s having some success this year, not a ton, but the bikes are...

Please don’t flame me guys. 

But I’ve been thinking. I see the pro circuit 250’s having some success this year, not a ton, but the bikes are fast and capable. And the riders on them vary in height, weight, etc. 

I know it’s a different team and displacement, etc. but what is holding back the monster kawi 450 program/bike? are the bikes that much different? 

Simple answer, Kawasaki management is very ridged and short sighted. 

 You should at least know how to set up rake and trail if you’re going to go race factory bikes. 

 Things have changed a little with Brocs help, but if they don’t do everything they ask, it’s not going to be good. 

EVH4Ever
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EVH4Ever 7/10/2025 12:38pm
7/10/2025 12:38pm
aeffertz wrote:

It’s from Octopi Media (Garth Milan and Ryne Swanberg). They certainly would not ruin their reputation by doing something as stupid as that. 

Oh, so a second party couldn’t have altered it and posted it?

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umagumadog 7/10/2025 1:12pm
7/10/2025 1:12pm

El’hombre doesn’t have a beer belly, that’s a traction control device with variable positioning. 

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EVH4Ever
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EVH4Ever 7/10/2025 1:25pm
7/10/2025 1:25pm

If that is legit, it is inexcusable. I know he had some personal issues happening, though. Did remind me of Tripes as someone mentioned. lol Tripes was proof that you could be overweight and still win😉

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h20
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h20 7/10/2025 8:58pm
7/10/2025 8:58pm

250 team is separate from 450

 

Jake Weimer even said Mitch could build a better 450 than Factory Kawasaki 

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