Posts
365
Joined
9/14/2016
Location
AU
Barry_Smith
7/26/2017 4:17pm
7/26/2017 4:17pm
Edited Date/Time
9/7/2017 11:38am
Could you pleeeeeeeaaaaase include the 250 smokers in this year's shootout? I think the 250 smokers are the most relevant they have been in a long time. A lot of amateur racing org's (and even AUS MX Nationals) now allow 250 4T vs 250 2T, so it would be interesting to see an all-in-one comparison with novice, intermediate and pro test riders.
I have no doubt that overall the four strokes are hands-down outselling the two strokes, but I have seen a real, persistent resurgence in two strokes, particularly at the race track. They seem to be multiplying year on year over the last 4 years. Guys buying MX bikes for woods or private property use are a different story and in my opinion make up a large number of new bike sales down here.
And selfishly, I am back on a '17 125 this year and want to buy an '18 250 next season, so there's always that.
I have no doubt that overall the four strokes are hands-down outselling the two strokes, but I have seen a real, persistent resurgence in two strokes, particularly at the race track. They seem to be multiplying year on year over the last 4 years. Guys buying MX bikes for woods or private property use are a different story and in my opinion make up a large number of new bike sales down here.
And selfishly, I am back on a '17 125 this year and want to buy an '18 250 next season, so there's always that.
The Shop
There is no point.
In Australia though you can race smokers right up to the top level. Do the local mags include the smokers in their 250 shootouts?
Pit Row
Keep in mind, every rider age 18 and under has grown up only knowing that 4t mx bikes are what the pros ride and win races on. That to them 2t MX bikes hold the same novelty as a race bike, that the old XR series of 4t bikes did in the 80's and 90's when we all bought real motocross bikes with 2t engines.
The industry and the "cling on's" does its best to perceive a novelty image to the two stroke unfortunately.
It's true that most manufacturers wouldn't support the test.
1. I personally don't view it as a heads up test. That's my own opinion...
2. As someone else pointed out, quite a few of the riders in our test are products of the four-stroke generation and I could see there being some huge disparity based off personal opinions/preference on what you like to ride. Personally for instance, I'd rate any of the current 250 two-strokes below at least four...maybe five of the 250Fs in my final rankings. I can already hear the mob with their pitch forks, and I doubt I'd be the only one.
3. Too many bikes to test. Seriously, adding in four 250 two-strokes (KTM, TM, Yamaha, and Husky) brings our total up from six to ten bikes to compare. We already struggle to get all the guys through each bike on tests days, and I keep a strict schedule of start and stop times on most of the days. Bringing in that many bikes would really mess with our testing schedule and hamper the time we can spend with each model at each track. Also, the overall article ends up becoming around 60 plus extra paragraphs when I add in each testers thoughts...beyond that it adds to shooting photos and video of each model. Just adding the 350 to my 450 shootout last year caused a lot of headaches...
4. Also mentioned above is the lack of support we'd get from manufacturers towards the tests. Our test bikes are loan units from the OEMs and there would be an issue...oddly to say, some of the companies that make two-strokes aren't even really for it as they consider them a separate class of bike as well. I don't have the budget to go out and buy six 250 four-strokes and three to four 250 two-strokes.
In the end, the two main reasons we choose not to add them in are related to time/the ability to properly test each bike and my own opinion of it not being a straight up shootout as personal preference will play too big of a part on the results of two-strokes in the final score.
I didn't want everyone to think I don't consider advice or criticism on our Shootouts by ignoring this thread, so I decided to drop this response here.
I completely understand the problems you would face convincing OEM's you want to add 2strokes.. You're kinda stuck in the middle between the manufactures and the public.
It's an unfortunate situation, but I do really enjoy your shootouts, they are well put together.
Post a reply to: Dear Vital, RE: 2018 250 shootout