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I'll get some photos of what the top guys are running.
The Shop
Nvm, you caught that, ha.
What you're seeing is actually a carbon fiber sideplate on top of a a carbon fiber subframe. That's probably a CRM part, I'm 99.9% sure there won't be one on the production bike. The quality of materials in this aftermarket unit is great but the production Husky unit isn't that light...as the Husky actually weighs more than it's KTM counterpart.
As for the engine cases, I think that's going to be a works only case. I was told that the 18 will come stock with electric start stock, but will keep the kickstart in stock trim. I would be really surprised if it went electric start only considering Honda's stance towards needing a back up to start the bike for the consumer.
Also interesting...he's on KYB now...after a few years on Showa spring forks.
I am not so sure on the frame and the engine cases. The Japan manufacturers often do their prototype testing mid-week in Japan when there are very few people around at the Japan tracks, so I used to take one Wednesday a month off to go to the track to see what interesting things I wound see, as well many Japan nationals of course. You could often tell the difference between the one-off trick parts and pre-production parts by the quality of the finish/ welding/ casting. Did that for 15 years. Unless it was a prototype of a new model or pre-production being raced by the factory. For the last few decades, there were a lot of trick bolts such as the suspension, pegs, pipes, triple clamps, hubs, titanium, engine cylinders/ heads, engine covers. You saw modified/ strengthened frames, not completely different frames. There has even been a trend towards use of more aftermarket parts such as the exhausts. We have not seen one-off frames with major changes or one-off trick engine cases. Those parts on Narita's bike this year look like something they could be considering for production. If they went with those engine cases, I would assume they are considering making electric start standard. You never know.
When I saw those changes on the Honda I felt that something has changed at Honda. It is clear they are again becoming more aggressive in wanting to win races/ championships, but that is not their main goal. Their ultimate goal is to sell more production bikes at a time when KTM is starting to embarrass them in many ways. Even if it has little effect on lap times, the average buyer loves new and redesigned parts. It sells bikes. Honda has been selling a lot of 2017 CRF450's with the new design and maybe that has sparked something. Did anyone anticipate that KTM would have CRM mass produce CF subframes for their Husky's? It may not be next year (or not), but I would think that frame and engine cases have a good chance of being production in the not too distant future.
Pit Row
Yamaha has had a test frame on a YZ450F race bike there for two years that didn't make it to production and didn't end up being the new one that is being debuted either. Not everything we see there will make production.
Back to what I was saying about Honda and electric start, 18 should have it standard from what I was told...but once again I don't think it'll remove the kickstarter-boss area like Narita's bike. The Japanese engineers from multiple manufacturers I've spoken to are too worried about the implications of going electric start only on their dirtbikes. It's more of they received so much backlash over the electric start kit and the installation headaches, that they will just make that part standard next year but leave the kickstart on. If a consumer wants to, they can easily remove the kickstart lever, actuation shaft, return spring, gear, etc. to save weight. Lastly, that looks like sand-cast cases to me (just my opinion) on Narita's bike, not a mass-production cast/mold.
Added note: I think it's even more likely the whole set of cases is sand-casted considering the built in slave unit for the hydraulic clutch on the right side case.
Generally, the good Japanese riders can have an extended career over here. The pace and competition isn't on the same level as the USA or Europe. A mid pack rider in the US could run away with the Japanese national series.
He's probably got another season or two in him in guessing.
I'm now heading out to HSR, and it's raining pretty heavily...mudder...
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