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2421
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8/5/2015
Location
PL
Edited Date/Time
11/10/2018 7:57am
Something that was quite surprising to me, I saw a video on youtube, where Travis was testing the RM that was built on a 2016 RMZ chassis. He was about to choose between the steel frame, classic RM and an AF one.
Did anyone get a chance to speak to him or somebody in the know about the bikes?
Does his choice of weapon for the MXdN prove, that the steel framed smoker is more capable than AF conversions?
I have to admit I always wanted to have an AF conversion with RM 250 motor, makes you think twice about the amount of effort to build one, if they do not handle as well as a steel framed RM.
Might have a lot to do with how much time Travis spent on his Steely Suzuki, but I will leave some room for conversation and your thoughts.
Did anyone get a chance to speak to him or somebody in the know about the bikes?
Does his choice of weapon for the MXdN prove, that the steel framed smoker is more capable than AF conversions?
I have to admit I always wanted to have an AF conversion with RM 250 motor, makes you think twice about the amount of effort to build one, if they do not handle as well as a steel framed RM.
Might have a lot to do with how much time Travis spent on his Steely Suzuki, but I will leave some room for conversation and your thoughts.
Might have been a comfort thing as well since he's been riding the steel frame bikes since he turned pro.
The Shop
Have only seen a couple built in my area. Below is one for sale at the moment on CL.
https://sacramento.craigslist.org/mcy/d/rm250-2stroke-aluminum-framed/6…
The other one I was going to test ride at the Hangtown track a few yrs. back, but it sold before I was able to make arrangements with the seller. I did speak to the owner about it after it was sold & said he had it custom built. If I recall it had a 14 RMZ250 chassis with an 06 RM250 engine. He told me it didn't handle as well as the steel frame version & also felt awkward off jumps. He didn't like the feel of the AF in comparison to the steel frame so that was his reason for selling it.
The chassis has more more power?
No wonder KTM and Husky is dominating!
They are a cool novelty but nothing more than that in my opinion.
Anyone able to even make around Red Bud through that stuff has got to be respected.
Don't like AF converstions myself though but what do I know. ...Just the stuff you read about it all- Ally welding horror stories n' all.
Pit Row
A few people might not understand this or call bullshit.. but after doing my own AF builds and putting a lot of time into research in to doing so...
A lot of people prefer the original frame over the AF builds due to vibrations and handling.
When bolting a two stroke into them builds everything becomes ridged and them AF frames have a huge amount of vibrations sent through. it would be fine for short timed rides, but riding them AF's are not ideal for racing. there more of a show piece then a weapon of choice.
Same with handling, there designed for them 4 stroke motors and weight distributions comes into play. even though you weld your own engine mounts on, the design of the chassi is all different. front head tube rake, swing arm length, rear sock dimensions ect...
Yes, the CR125/250's had the alloy frame but the whole geometry comes into play.
Pastrana's AF shown how cool they are by racing that RM500AF at RBSR, he was swinging off that thing!!! but it was only short races and power was a key thing through them final whoops he was destroying. and you cant exactly scrub one of those old chassis hahaha
The AF builds are awesome and I did one with a KX500 motor into a newer KXF. was a form of art and was happy with the outcome. but the Original 1993 chassi was just as good and was honestly easier to ride. I've now gone back to the original frame now, and most likely wont go the AF build again. Was good to tick the FA build of the bucket list though.
Again, if you seen Sean Collier swing off his KX500 or Mike Alessi's RM250... Them old things can get around a track just fine.
To me that sounds like you'd have a very stiff chassis that is unforgiving and has a narrower margin of error with tuning.
Would I sign up for doing it again? Nope. I wouldn't.
It does work fairly well... but it likes to steer with the rear wheel more than I like. The YZ motor with the cylinder base machined 30 thou and the head work rips. Tons of low end, you can grunt it like a trials bike (13 oz fly wheel too). I use it off road only.
Side note: please show me where I stated that Travis going with a steely was a proof of anything. Just opened up a subject to talk about. Pay attention to the question marks please.
Post a reply to: Did Travis show that AF builds are not the way to go?