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aroark247
12/24/2015 3:22pm
12/24/2015 3:22pm
Edited Date/Time
12/26/2015 3:50pm
When I was 14 yrs old about 5 foot 4 in. and 125 lbs, for about half a year I raced local races on a supermini, 250f, and 450f and won. If you are 14 and are fast enough to qualify for Lorettas on a 450 then you should be applauded not denied the chance to race. Same goes for any 12 or 13 year old on a 250f. We're supposed to believe these restrictions were made to keep kids safe? I call B.S.
My cynical mind tells me this is more to do with a marketing ploy, forcing kids into the the 2-stroke classes. Kick-backs from KTM? Maybe. Forcing American amateurs to stay off of certain sized bikes is slap in the face to talented riders and is kind of similar to the idea of Big Brother knows what's best for you. Which is exactly what I hate about my own Government telling me I cant buy a certain sized soft drink, or hold too many guns( I don't have any)....
Anyway.. thoughts, comments, concerns?
My cynical mind tells me this is more to do with a marketing ploy, forcing kids into the the 2-stroke classes. Kick-backs from KTM? Maybe. Forcing American amateurs to stay off of certain sized bikes is slap in the face to talented riders and is kind of similar to the idea of Big Brother knows what's best for you. Which is exactly what I hate about my own Government telling me I cant buy a certain sized soft drink, or hold too many guns( I don't have any)....
Anyway.. thoughts, comments, concerns?
Sincerely,
2 liter buying shot gun toting redneck.
The Shop
Guess if you grew up racing a go-kart we shouldn't make you wait until you're 16 for a drivers license either?
Call BS all you want; this is a great move for the sport. People will become better riders in the end, and families will stay in the sport. I see a lot of families at the shop that bail out once their kids hit the big bikes due to dollars and cents. It didn't used to be that way. Don't be so short sighted and think only of yourself and your (limited?) experience. To not see this as a good move is asinine at best.
Shane
In the UK , guys who are especially, talented, or too tall for the little bikes can get moved up , but i think 250f limit is 14 , 450 is 16 .
Also , once you go up off an 85 , there is no going back.
A KTM Kickback is one of those trick scooters, right? When do I get it? I can use it in the parking lot at Anaheim! No more walking for me -- I'm getting a KTM Kickback Deluxe Scooter!
Thanks aroark247, I'm with you: God, Guns, Big Gulps and Even Bigger Dirt Bikes. Merry Christmas bro.
Kidding.
DC
And lately, the European's haven't been doing so shabby in the off-road segment.
Shane
Merry Christmas to you and yours. GNCC banquet was grand too. Looking forward to 2016!
People are scared of change and look back on the races they won at chicken finger raceway and think it applies to the amateur championships.
Keep the tin foil on your ham and off your head this holiday season.
In the 90's it wasn't uncommon for racing families to buy a 125 and a 250 to race all year. And buy two more bikes the following year. Now for the same money, you get one four stroke and try to keep it going. KTM has market share not because of kickbacks, but because they make a product line that families can follow. Start on a 50, 65, 85/105, 125 and beyond. The steps are smaller (financially) and more tangible. This keeps a family on a brand and allows them to always take that "little bit more" in the next step. When the leap gets big, it's more difficult and scares families out of the sport.
Glad your ass isn't only a nine and it's a ten. You must work out. Good for you.
Merry Christmas.
Shane
And next time I'm in Dallas let's go check out the grassy knoll, love that place and the museum in the old Book Depository. My son is begging me to take him next time!
DC
Pit Row
I wouldn't say KTM is taking advantage. They simply recognized a need in the market and filled it. Any other manufacturer is welcome to create a competing product and compete. Instead they choose not to and allow KTM to monopolize the segment.
KTM's msrp is $6799 for a 125. I wouldn't think that's astronomical. Putting in perspective, in the 90's/00's a 125 ran approximately $5600-5800. Fifteen years and $1,000 is probably less than the rate of inflation. $6799 seems like a bargain compared to the $8000+ msrp of four strokes. It's all relative!
Shane
Instead we have men in suits who either A: don't ride, or B: have never been close to being actually fast. Therefore neither of these people have the knowledge or insight to be making these type of decisions. Sure any outsider to the sport can say "OMFG How dangerous it must be for a small child to ride a powerful motorcycle SAVE THE CHILDREN" but until you have been in that position of having the capacity to ride a fast bike fast, you have no idea. Food for though...
It's this Nanny state we live in that wants to tell us what's best for us and not let responsible adults make their own decisions. If a dad knows that his son is capable of riding a 450 well, then that's his decision to make. We don't need control freak moralists/money grubbing government officials to tell us what bikes to ride, what foods to eat, what medicines to take, what activities to participate in, etc.
However I think the "KTM kickbacks" part or whatever conspiracy theory you're developing is a little far out. I think it's ridiculous.
First of all, non of us were in suits. Most of the guys were in jeans and t-shirts. Secondly, though there were some extremely fast former pros on the committee, that is certainly not a pre requisite for making decisions. I have never fired an M60 machine gun, but I don't need a special forces soldier to tell me it is probably not a good fit for a 14 year old.
The bottom line is the decision was not made for the 4 or 5 kids a year who may someday be professionals, it was made for the other 25,000+ AMA motocross racers.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103272
I love it... what a great Christmas present... Honda dropped the ball.. The 150f getting smoked in the supermini
(except for Cooper Webb), now they don't have a 125... LMAO...
Let Honda run that 150f motor in a full sized frame & lets see how many they sell...
Finally got my boy interested in racing just 3 years ago. Started on a 85, went to Supermini, 125, 250F...
Yes it happened fast but watching him progress through the process was enjoyable and informative...
IMO each step was crucial...
I saw several kids jump from 85's to 250fs. Did it work, for some yes. However I saw several that were pretty quick on 85's got on the 250f and never got better....
I'd make him practice on the 125 all week long, which he hated, and then he'd kill that supermini come raceday!
Rode the spring season on the 125 and won Schoolboy 1 overall... We switched to the 250f for the fall season. He did well on the bike but our yz250f had so many problems we raced most of the series on his 125 and finished 2nd in 250C!
I feel sure if I would have jumped the 125 stage he would have never learned some of the basic fundamentals I wanted him to learn... He has much better throttle control as a result....
He just turned 16 a few weeks ago, he is 5"10 175-180 geared up. So not a small kid, especially for MX...
He was riding my 450 at 15 and could have raced it. Ran several 450c events but choose to run his 250 in the class. He is still faster on the 250 than the 450. A kid that kind ride can ride any bike, not matter what size. There is a video of Cooper Webb riding one of our local tracks on his 150f. For the day is over he hopes on a 450F and absolutely killed it lol!!
Bottom line, unless you have the next pro in your house I don't see how the rule is bad news... Safety, seat time, and proper training is never a bad thing IMO which this should promote...
There are 12-14 year old kids that get a growth spurt and are large coming off a super mini that are the perfect size for a 450
Forcing them on a 125 will run them out of the sport.
Keep your government out of the parents and Childs class choice.
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