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Good point, the US surrendered Vietnam after 58,281 casualties.
Sexton didn't complain, but I doubt he rode with a duct for no reason 😅
I wonder if Budgets were tight with the KTM financial saga going on? Stuck with what they had…
1) The Revolutionary War
2) The only time they they quickly waved the white flag in modern history is WW2. The last time would be 1870
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Anyone else think this thread took a weird turn?
Vietnam and Afghanistan were a shit show. Both of them eerily similar. The US' only military defeats.
We did not surrender, we left.
Korea, Iraq……regardless, belongs in non-moto.
Don't you mean retreated?
The term is withdrawal, thank you
Several..
Just enjoy the history lesson(s). I'm hoping to learn more about France's involvement in the US civil war.
Yes, I just scroll past the politics but having to scroll longer each page.
MY question with this setup is, the air has gone through the radiator and would not necessarily be cooler air. But i guess its cooler than a hot shock?
Don't you mean pulled out😉
Yeah... This is a terrible design if they are looking to cool the shock. This would technically add heat to it. That radiator "air" is prob 150-180 degrees.
They have a Gazzillion acre 40 Million dollar race shop full of smart people and they bring shocks that are blowing up already three times? For gods sake just put the stock one on as it has proven to work for many customers in some prob pretty gnarly situations.
This is a self inflicted wound.
Hahaha yes
This is the part I don't get either. This style of shock has been around forever. I just can't fathom how it hasn't been more or less perfected by now? At least to the point where there's a few options that you know may not be the exact feel you want but they've been so refined that they are at least predictable, reliable, and without significant issues? How does every team not have some baseline like that that they can fall back to on something as classic as a shock when they're having issues like this?
Pit Row
Unless they have new technology that we mortals can’t afford yet..
whatever it is, it was probably invented by the French, because it keeps giving up..
I mean... What would they be doing to a shock to kill its reliability? New coatings? Internal machining? Shaft geometry changes? Stupid high pressures or progressive linkages???
I'm genuinely curious. Anyone got any idears?
Sounds like maybe heat related fade? But that's a problem that I remember from the early 80s - one that I thought had long ago been resolved.
In the history of MX I don't recall shocks being a major issue. The odd failure, sure (see Kenny), but not a repeated issue. Are they just now collecting data they never have before and are seeing it, or is there a major issue where the shock is failing?
Wonder what they are doing differently now?
I’d have to look back, but why did Cooper Webb sit out?
But is the air lead to the shock or passed it, meaning the hot air from passing cooler passes the shock instead of hitting it?
Shocks can get around 100-120 Celsius, that is above boiling point of water. I doubt the air coming through is that hot.
Quinn Amyott blew out a shock or 2 in Canada this year.
I don't know how long that shock has been around, but in the 250 class the production rule mandates it's use. They've been making a lot of frame changes over the last several years. My guess it that when the shock is dialed in for the best performance, it's really close to cavitation. Once it gets hot, it cavitates.
As I type this it occurs to me that I read somewhere Tom is still on an older frame which doesn't support my postulate very well. I'd also expect nitrogen pressure to be able to prevent the cavitation, unless pressure that high causes ride issues or makes the shock do a Roczen impersonation and explode.
I was not happy with Vialle when I heard this originally... I really like the kid. But with a little more context now, I can see how we got where we are. There have been numerous comments about the WP shocks over the last year and now this with Tom.
Of all things, I think this is a bad look for WP. Combined with Chase's need to get KYB internals, etc. They got some serious work to do this offseason...
https://racerxonline.com/2025/07/09/yamaha-cooper-webb-set-for-minor-procedure-on-knee-following-redbud-injury
They have been able to go around the production rule before with the 52mm forks. WP offers it to others but must sign service agreement and buy minimum 3. No one uses that, but remember a wealthy privater exercised it if I remember correctly?
My exact post from page 3...
They've had rear shock issues ever since Sexton had them build Temu KYB suspension from WP. They've been trying to cool down the rear shock since last summer. Remember the weird 3d printed rear shock cooling duct they used a few times on Sexton's bike?
Post a reply to: Vialle Chooses to sit out 2nd moto