I know they have been scarce for some years now at big events, as Austria has overtaken these ranks. But, on Kaw's website, all the 26 bikes are ready to see, except for the 85, 112..... I would think Lorettas would be the place to unveil something new. The 65 hasn't changed (shocker....), just wondering if someone has heard anything? Or is this another Kaw 2T mystery...... Usually if you see a kid on a Kaw mini, at a big event, he is damn fast.
Lastly, great job on the little man keeping the lone RM 85 near the front this week! Little dude rips on that thing!!!!
The Suzuki kids dad must be a die hard Suzuki guy lol
Do fast kids on RM85s still have problems with the frames cracking? I remember that being a pretty big issue back in the day for faster kids, but that data is probably hard to compile nowadays given there aren’t many faster kids still choosing to ride an RM. Seeing that one up front this week is probably going to be one of the highlights of the week for me.
Ill be getting my boy a KX85 i reckon, they look good too me, he isnt the fastest rider but can make it look better than KTMs etc plus he'll be easy to find on the track.
In stock trim the performance gap is much smaller between the Austrian bikes and the Kawasaki’s. Once you bore and stroke them into Superminis you can make the Austrian engines into absolute rocket ships. Being able to put the big bike brakes on the Austrian bikes is a big advantage too IMO.
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Chase Brennan, he is an RMArmy kid. He's making the bike look plenty capable at any races he shows up to. I believe he won at least one class overall in Mammoth.
back in about 97 my CR80 broke down the first day of a 2 day event. my buddies dad let me ride their spare RM85. that thing ripped but was way too small for me and i cracked the frame.
long story short that 97 RM80 is the exact same bike they are selling today. BNG and call it an 85.
Yeah, it was funny. He won the 65 SMX race on a KTM and was wearing a Suzuki shirt and RMArmy hat during the press conference. That kid rips!
Hey they got upside down forks in ‘02, easy with that BNG claim buddy 😁😁😁
That’s awesome 😂😂😂
Isn't that when he signed with Suzuki?
Well, not a single MFG other than Austrian in the Supermini 2 class that just ran. We had a Kawi 105 we built (PC suspension and a solid mod motor) and it wasn't enough against the KTMs.
There will be a possibility the new Kawasaki minis will be announced in August, larger two stroke news September or October.
You really notice it on the starts, the RM, KX, YZ seem to get absolutely wrecked on the starts. Something like LL the start is pretty important. You aren’t just ripping through all the top kids in the country to get to first.
No, it isn’t.
Forks are different
Shock is different
Swing arm is different
Cylinder is different
Brakes F & R are different.
Plastics are different.
Ping did a video recently on the YZ85 and got R&D to do the motor. Very interesting video on how he claims people thnk they need all top end.
But you are correct the Austrian bikes get off the gate better. They are deadly from 2nd to 3rd gear.
A one man RMarmy.
The Vatican has more soldiers.
😉
I got off superminis in 2016, but even then the KTM was a much better package than the KX. Like you said the brakes were a pretty big advantage, 270mm front rotor and big bike caliper in the rear. The lynk’s engine was absolutely insane, wheelied out of every corner, pulled hard, and hit hard. I rode his Kawi and could tell a huge difference in the engine. Can’t imagine how much better the Austrian superminis are now. Couldn’t believe that team green didn’t have any mini riders. Seems like orange brigade has thinned out their rider support as well. Seems like most the guys winning in minis are privateers.
when did Kawi drop mini support completely, it seemed there was a few in the Mini SNr and Superminis last year,
Pit Row
270 on a 19" wheel?
Cripes, that's near on the same ratio as a 300 on a 21"
When I went to a 270 and a Brembo set up on my old beastie, it took a deft hand not to over brake for a while.
I’m pretty sure the new KTM is putting out quite a bit more power. You don’t see anything but KTM now. Other than Brennan on the RM and Smart on the YZ. Smart had 40th gate pick at LL and got absolutely swallowed up on the start. If you watched moto dads at all you can see him get yanked 2nd-3rd gear. It would be cool if the Japanese would update their bikes.
Yup, Austria definitely has the best small bikes (and big bikes).
KTM 112 with cone valves and trax shock set up is a huge advantage, legal cheating relative to the other colors.
Amazing how in the late 80s-2010ish Kawi was in the place KTM was when it came to minicycle racing. I thought the Japanese were prideful, you think they would want that status back
Last year they had Carson wood on a supermini. As of now I think their only mini rider is Ryder Ellis on superminis, but he’s out with an injury. As far as I know that’s their only mini rider, but I’m not as tapped into the am scene as I used to be. Seems all the manufactures have cut WAY back on factory amateur rides.
Yea that thing stopped on a dime. Also something about the reservoirs on the minis at the time allowed the brake to be insanely hard, absolutely no mush at all. I’ve never had a front brake feel as good as the ones on my 85/superminis.
Yep, I run one on my kids 85 it's insanely good!
MotoMaster make them and the caliper bracket
The RM Army soldier passed 36…
I think the Japanese care more about the balance sheet now..
I’m sure they do want to relive their glory years, but they also don’t want to go bankrupt and get bought out by the Indians.
This
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