LL 30+ vet bike questions

Pnwride
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Virginia Beach, VA US
2/4/2018 11:38am
Is a 450 needed? What mods are “needed” besides getting suspension dialed in. Would like to try to make the area qualifier next year as I won’t be able to make it this year.
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yz133rider
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Avondale, PA US
2/4/2018 11:40am
I say a 350 and a few riding classes and practice starts. Many local Guys on 450s dont carry speed in corners and get tired after two laps so i feel a 350 is a good advantage honestly.

If you nail your start the rest of the race the bike is an advantage.
yak651
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Appleton, WI US
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2/4/2018 11:42am
Needed? No - see Robbie Reynard a couple years back, and before that when there was Vet B/C guy won it on a KX125. Horsepower helps but riding ability is the difference maker in vet classes...
Paw Paw 271
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Benton, LA US
2/4/2018 11:45am Edited Date/Time 2/4/2018 11:49am
In the past I rode a 125, 250 and a 500 cc two strokes in those +30 and +45 classes. I did the best on the 125, starts and all. Of course, that was well before the 4 stroke came along.

Paw Paw
TeamGreen
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Thru-out, CA US
2/4/2018 11:52am
I’m doing the old guy thing on all sorts of bikes...from TE150s to RMZ450s and everything in-between. I’d figure out what bike will get you to the 1st turn in the best shape combined with how well you can get it around the track. If I go to LL’s, it’ll be on a Husky FC450RE or an RMZ450/YZ450F. That way I’ve got an easy bike to get a good start on, a bike that’ll be good at Mammoth (another summer awesome race...at 7,500 foot altitude...that’s a good place for a 450) and most of all...it’s real easy to maintain...which is nice because I’m LAZY!

The Shop

hillbilly
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Afton, TN US
2/4/2018 12:00pm
450 unless you like eating roost . the start gets plowed deep ever moto. A 450 walks away from anything else.
Meister
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Canton, OH US
2/4/2018 12:05pm
The way I looked at it, if I was going to spend the cash to try and go to the ranch again, I wanted no disadvantage. I sold my incredible 15 Ktm 250sx to buy a 16 Ktm 450. I was close, only a couple positions away from a ticket at Baja. The 4cs on my 450 made it a rough go for me in that department. I say that if your gonna try, ride a 450. Run the absolute to suspension you can afford. My plan was that if I made it, I was gonna buy a Ktm 150 to ride at the ranch. Or a cr500af just to try to rip a holeshot. Lol.

Unless your Robbie Reynard or close to that caliber of rider, then yes, you need a 450. However, once youre at the ranch, ride literally whatever you want.

TeamGreen
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2/4/2018 12:10pm
Meister wrote:
The way I looked at it, if I was going to spend the cash to try and go to the ranch again, I wanted no disadvantage...
The way I looked at it, if I was going to spend the cash to try and go to the ranch again, I wanted no disadvantage. I sold my incredible 15 Ktm 250sx to buy a 16 Ktm 450. I was close, only a couple positions away from a ticket at Baja. The 4cs on my 450 made it a rough go for me in that department. I say that if your gonna try, ride a 450. Run the absolute to suspension you can afford. My plan was that if I made it, I was gonna buy a Ktm 150 to ride at the ranch. Or a cr500af just to try to rip a holeshot. Lol.

Unless your Robbie Reynard or close to that caliber of rider, then yes, you need a 450. However, once youre at the ranch, ride literally whatever you want.

Get those forks dialed and just keep rippin that SXF.
imoto34
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TN US
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2/4/2018 12:10pm
If you can't make the ranch this year you could still hit all the qualifiers you can this year to get an idea for next.
Shawn142
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Burleson, TX US
2/4/2018 12:28pm
A couple years ago Ricky Renner won the +25 on a 350. Also Robbie Reynard ran a YZ 125 in the +35. He was running up front until funny enough it blew up on him. The track is really tight so big horsepower really doesn't come in to play. Being good at deep ruts will get you way further up the ladder than big hp numbers.
Meister
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Canton, OH US
2/4/2018 12:34pm
The national is the easy part. Getting there is a different story.

The SXF is long gone. On to the next. Probably won't do the Loretta's stuff this year. Will try again in 19.
Pnwride
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Virginia Beach, VA US
2/4/2018 12:37pm
Currently have YZ125 with cylinder work and pipe. I am not interested in a 350, just doesn’t appeal to me. I have had 125/250 two strokes and 250/450 four strokes previously. I won’t be in the U.S. for the area qualifiers, that is why I am looking at next years.
Pnwride
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Virginia Beach, VA US
2/4/2018 12:45pm
Forgot to say but, I’m 5’10” about 175lbs
2/4/2018 1:12pm
Depends how fast you are and where you race the regional at.

If you can’t make it out of the area to the regional on a 125 don’t waste the time showing up to the regional...

But the “big race” is the regional, lorettas is the reward
1
TJMX947
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Indian Trail, NC US
2/5/2018 5:49am
IMO optimal is a 350 or a 450 at the regional then a 125/150/250F at the Ranch. (This is the worthless analysis of someone who has never raced an area).

In a 5 lap race the start is more important than a 20 minute +1 race. Most guys can hold on to a 450 for 5 laps. 20+1 is a different story. I believe David Jones won Vet B/C in 2010 on 125 with consistent motos, not blazing lap times but I heard he even used a 250 two stroke at the regional.

A local kid, TJ snow, won the +25 Mid East regional last year on a 250 two stroke and went on to put in impressive rides at the Ranch last year. Also in 2016 Josh Thomas, another local NC guy, got a 3rd in +25 with the likes of Sebastian Tortelli, Reynard, and Renner I believe...he basically rode the best he could have ever ridden. I'm too lazy to look all of the years/dates and moto scores up.

I think having the right mix of power, skill, and fitness is more important than having a fire breathing 450.
2/5/2018 8:38am
Sprint speed is the most important thing at the AQ and regional races, and depending on the class entry, not having a 450 could be a disadvantage on the start.

I would look at the tracks you're trying to qualify at, as well. Obviously any track with major elevation change, you're going to be at a disadvantage on the smaller bike.

The actual race at Loretta's itself, you know what you're getting; beat up, rutty and something where being able to carry momentum and ride smooth is more advantageous than just beating yourself to death.

Training is also difficult; you need the sprint speed to qualify, but also need to survive 20 min at a consistent pace for 3 motos, all in massive heat and humidity. I decided to give it a go at one AQ, just to measure my sprint speed, but know I won't get be able to go further until I develop that end of my game.

Until next year, I'll stick to training at moto, racing a few HS/enduros, and keep pounding the miles on my roadbike with the hope I can pick up the necessary speed to stay near the front for 5-6 laps.
2/5/2018 8:41am Edited Date/Time 2/5/2018 8:43am
450 at area/regional. You need a holeshot and ride a wide bike if you’re not fast. That could squeeze a ticket. Then something more manageable for longer duration at the ranch.... if you can’t ride a 450 longer than 3-5 laps don’t take one to the ranch. being physically fit gonna be your best weapon.
Shawn142
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Burleson, TX US
2/5/2018 9:41am
Here's Robbie from 2016 on a YZ125 in the +25. He slices though a pack of 450s to get up front. Like I said, you'll get way more out of practicing in deep ruts like you're a slot car over pumping horsepower into your bike.

CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
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2/5/2018 9:47am
I’ve never been to LL, but if I was gonna spend money on a KTM it’s all in the forks. Get some cone valves and that bike will be top notch.
brocsdad
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Thompsons Station, TN US
2/5/2018 11:28am
Pnwride wrote:
Is a 450 needed? What mods are “needed” besides getting suspension dialed in. Would like to try to make the area qualifier next year as I...
Is a 450 needed? What mods are “needed” besides getting suspension dialed in. Would like to try to make the area qualifier next year as I won’t be able to make it this year.
A few years back some guy won the Vet Class on a 10 year old KX 125. 2 years ago Reynard was picking off 450's like they were glued to a tree.

You will suffer on the starts for sure but the track gets really rough so it makes it hard to utilize the power of a 450. But to answer your question it's not needed but as with anything it depends on the rider.

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