Is it time to accept that bike setup matters at the very top more now than ever? Are the days of just saying “winners find a way to win” or “it’s pretty good, just learn to ride it” over? Maybe for 3rd place and beyond.
Last year Honda made the switch to the new bike early and everyone questioned it because they look dialed on the bike they were on. At the start of the year in SX, they said the bike wasn’t where it needed to be. At the start of mx they said the same thing but they have been grinding setup week after week claiming it’s a little better each week. Every week the margin of victory seems to be increasing for the Honda boys. These guys are ripping holeshots every moto with authority. Nicoletti has an opinion on that as well.
Jett landed next to Eli off that uphill triple today and the bike just hooked up and yarded him. If you spend any time analyzing the bikes during the race you can see the traction and torque being put to the ground by the Honda. They changed a shock again this week and engine hangers last week. The suspension even looks slow and predictable through the roughest parts of the track. Most teams/riders would have left the bike alone after the first win.
Jett and Hunter are elite riders but I think Honda and the boys have taken bike setup to another level. Just my opinion. Share yours.
The Honda certainly gets the power to the ground. Not just the start, everywhere. The starts are next level. Not just acceleration, but the consistency. The rear suspension looks incredible.
I’m pretty confident you’re spot on. Jett and Hunter are the two best riders in the world right now. With that said, the Honda is dialed and “good enough” does not exist in their vocabulary. I think one of the significant changes is being willing to take big swings throughout a season and continuously evolve. It’s getting to a point where chasing a setup is becoming necessary.
I’ve been wondering what the next step was to advance the sport (technique, line choice, mental/emotional development, chassis/suspension) looks like it’s a combination of everything that’s allowing these men to consistently, section after section, lap after lap dominate. Others can match the pace temporarily, but their consistency is deadly.
There is no doubt that the HRC Hondas are pretty dialed right now. It’s been a process I think that started in 2023 MX with Jett. The 25 chassis appears to be even better when set up correctly.
I remember seeing the vid where Kris Keefer test rode Jett’s 23 model after the Washington Washougal race & stated that it was the best 450 he had ever ridden.
It’s good to see Honda back like the glory years of the 80’s & 90’s..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NkHLLoHF9b8
6:48-6:58
Despite somewhat similar roll speed in the previous corner and taking the inside line, Jett’s Honda closes on Prado’s Kawi hard. Yes, George is having some difficulty this season but this is nuts.
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I hv a odd one for ya . Same co same yr bike. My old bikes revalved 4.8 spring , fork 45. Newer revalve 5.0 spring fork 44. Revalved for same rider weight. I set the sag linkage is greased . I took the frontend off & checked head stem bearing & compared it too another . T clamp is usually tight where you hv to push on the bars . It worked its self loose a bit. So I don’t hv to hang on tight nerve surgery ruined a couple fingers. Massive head shake the bike never had it . Stock suspension works better forks to soft to push hard tho. I think I,m going to run the stock spring on shock to get the low end back feeling I like. The 5.0 is too stiff gets the fork which is too soft way down .the rear too high . Rear end kicks up in rollers .
Honda has always been there, if they have a potentially dominate rider they will make the effort to produce a dominate bike for him to win on. Jett's bike looks absolutely perfect.
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