Japanese OEM’s - build us 350cc MX bikes…

Chris99Flannery
Pretty Please?


Don’t want the Austrian or Euro ones. I want a KX350, CRF350 or YZ350f in no particular order.
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GD350
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GD350 8/9/2022 5:56pm
8/9/2022 5:56pm
Support the companies that listen to what the customers want instead, which is 350s and fuel injected 2 strokes.
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UGOTBIT
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UGOTBIT 8/9/2022 5:58pm
8/9/2022 5:58pm
YZ350F would be the Holy Grail
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 8/9/2022 6:41pm
8/9/2022 6:41pm
A 350-400 two stroke would be amazing.

Lighter than a 450 with all the power you could ask for...
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McG194
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McG194 8/9/2022 6:42pm
8/9/2022 6:42pm
UGOTBIT wrote:
YZ350F would be the Holy Grail
You spelled YZ350FX wrong.

What a weapon that would be.
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 8/9/2022 6:48pm
8/9/2022 6:48pm
I like that idea actually. To me , the 450's are just a new generation of what the 500cc class was back in the day. Basically an open bike. And back then I always considered the 250 class as THE superior/main class. Kind of came full circle with these four strokes.

And with that........you have to ask , what the hell happened to the 125 class? You know , the Barnett's , Omara's , Wards , Dymond , RC , Stewart , ect....??

Sport has definitely evolved into making an open bike as the premier class , while throwing the tiddler class into the trashcan. And yeah , it effing sucks!
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AH387
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AH387 8/9/2022 6:49pm
8/9/2022 6:49pm
A Yamaha or Honda would be awesome. Seems unlikely with electric technology R&D on the horizon though, unfortunately. I give KTM credit for always having such a deep line-up of options. But as we know there is a different view of how the money is spent, with Japanese brands.
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 8/9/2022 7:10pm
8/9/2022 7:10pm
I think that the OEMs have likely done their homework and does not see the commercial viability of producing them, otherwise we would of had them by now
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LouisianaMotocross 8/9/2022 7:16pm
8/9/2022 7:16pm
I would love a jap 350 but the 450s are really easy to ride now days. My kx450 power feels like a 350. I’ve ridden the new generation ktm350, kx450, yz450, 22.5 fc450 and crf450. The only one that I didn’t like was the Honda. It would take significantly more work to set up the Honda for a smooth power delivery. Imo
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cable
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cable 8/9/2022 7:31pm
8/9/2022 7:31pm
nobody makes big bores?
McG194
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McG194 8/9/2022 7:34pm
8/9/2022 7:34pm
kiwifan wrote:
I think that the OEMs have likely done their homework and does not see the commercial viability of producing them, otherwise we would of had them...
I think that the OEMs have likely done their homework and does not see the commercial viability of producing them, otherwise we would of had them by now
Funny thing is I remember listening to Travis Preston (Yamaha development test rider) answering a question about a 350 and he was pretty much dumbfounded why anyone would want one. That shocked me. Granted we all live in our own little bubbles but the vet classes at an FTR Hare Scramble are dominated by 350cc Austrian bikes.
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mikie44
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mikie44 8/9/2022 7:52pm
8/9/2022 7:52pm
UGOTBIT wrote:
YZ350F would be the Holy Grail
I second that. Having owned a '22 YZ250F, I just wanted a little more punch for deeper tracks. 350F in the YZF chassis would be $$$
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dinger212
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dinger212 8/9/2022 7:57pm
8/9/2022 7:57pm
Couldn’t agree more. Sadly, I assume all the future R&D is going into electric.
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b_kowalsk
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b_kowalsk 8/9/2022 8:27pm
8/9/2022 8:27pm
Brand loyalty sure is real....
People love to hate on KTM but the fact is they are building the bikes people are asking for, in three different flavors.
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PTshox
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PTshox 8/10/2022 2:24am
8/10/2022 2:24am
kiwifan wrote:
I think that the OEMs have likely done their homework and does not see the commercial viability of producing them, otherwise we would of had them...
I think that the OEMs have likely done their homework and does not see the commercial viability of producing them, otherwise we would of had them by now
If you've ever worked in corp america... well you would have had experience with totally clueless management. I mean... folks I wouldn't let baby sit a hamster. Really dumb people that got the job because they were so and so's buddy....

I think that's why we haven't seen any major brands build a 350. But that's just me! )
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Gravel
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Gravel 8/10/2022 2:28am
8/10/2022 2:28am
How deep is the market for 350s? I’m sure more would sell if all the OEMs made them, but would they sell enough to support 3 models vs 2? And without a pro class to showcase the latest 350, do you guys think the OEMs would develop 350s on the same schedule as the bikes they’re racing?
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NP301
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NP301 8/10/2022 3:17am
8/10/2022 3:17am
cable wrote:
nobody makes big bores?
Yeah I feel as boring out a 250 would be viable. Can you stroke 4 strokes like you can 2 strokes? I was never a mechanical guy.

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Jeff_Crutcher 8/10/2022 3:45am
8/10/2022 3:45am
I’ve heard the KTM 350 engine is their number 1 selling 4 stroke engine. Not sure if it’s number 1 over the 300 two stroke?

Either way.. their top two engines are “classless”.

As for the other manufacturers- I don’t see it happening because the odds of Japanese saying “those Germans were right after all, we should follow suit” are very marginal.
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Motogoof
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Motogoof 8/10/2022 4:07am
8/10/2022 4:07am
dinger212 wrote:
Couldn’t agree more. Sadly, I assume all the future R&D is going into electric.
This
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Cgrade4life 8/10/2022 4:21am
8/10/2022 4:21am
I have a red Moto 300 kit in my 2020 CRF250r. But a 350 out of the box from Honda would be awesome. A 350f from any of the Japanese OEM's would get my money (E-start caveat, sorry Suzuki).
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user760a
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user760a 8/10/2022 4:35am
8/10/2022 4:35am
Everyone who has an interest in dirtbikes should be on a KTM brand.

They are the only major manufacturer who cares what the people actually want, and innovates to supply the market with awesome new stuff. The Japanese are experts at thinking "inside the box" and seem to be in a little game of follow the leader with each other.

"we cannot produce a 350 because it will take away from our 450 sales" - what an absolutely idiotic position to take. The KTM brass must laugh out loud at that one on a daily basis
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ElliotB16
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ElliotB16 8/10/2022 5:07am
8/10/2022 5:07am
They’ll make an electric bike before they make a 350
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VicDaMoan03
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VicDaMoan03 8/10/2022 5:08am
8/10/2022 5:08am
The thing is I don't see a huge market for 350s. Also if you sell CRF350r, you're probably taking away a sale from a CRF450r or CRF250r, so no net gain. Therefore why spend the R&D?
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 8/10/2022 5:42am
8/10/2022 5:42am
VicDaMoan03 wrote:
The thing is I don't see a huge market for 350s. Also if you sell CRF350r, you're probably taking away a sale from a CRF450r or...
The thing is I don't see a huge market for 350s. Also if you sell CRF350r, you're probably taking away a sale from a CRF450r or CRF250r, so no net gain. Therefore why spend the R&D?
Well, you might sell a crf350r instead of someone buying a gasgas mc350f...so there’s the net gain.
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sandman768
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sandman768 8/10/2022 6:31am
8/10/2022 6:31am
So… KtM group makes the exact bike you are wanting, in 3 different flavors, but you won’t but their products? I don’t understand loyalty to the Japanese manufacturers….or any manufacturer really….I buy whatever I feel is the best product for my intended use….. in the 90”s I felt that was the Honda CR series… 2000”s the Yamaha YZ”s were great…I never thought I would even own a KTM…. After owning and putting hundreds of hr”s on my 350”s …they are one of the best bikes I have ever owned….performance and reliability…
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BikePilot
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BikePilot 8/10/2022 6:41am
8/10/2022 6:41am
I agree that the Japanese should expand their offerings. KTM gives them a layup on price and suspension competition. Seems crazy not to compete by offering 350s and 300s.
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soggy
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soggy 8/10/2022 6:46am
8/10/2022 6:46am
VicDaMoan03 wrote:
The thing is I don't see a huge market for 350s. Also if you sell CRF350r, you're probably taking away a sale from a CRF450r or...
The thing is I don't see a huge market for 350s. Also if you sell CRF350r, you're probably taking away a sale from a CRF450r or CRF250r, so no net gain. Therefore why spend the R&D?
Ktm sells more 350’s then anything else in the 4 stroke range.
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jbonemalone
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jbonemalone 8/10/2022 6:52am
8/10/2022 6:52am
Honestly I kinda miss the chugging lugging xr600r style power.
If I could get that lazy power in a 240lb bike then yeah boiii.
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Mxpilot20
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Mxpilot20 8/10/2022 7:00am
8/10/2022 7:00am
if the YZ250f and 450F have the same chassis does anyone make a small bore 350cc - 400cc kit for the 450?

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