Posts
1140
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9/15/2008
Location
Shelby, NC
US
Edited Date/Time
1/26/2012 6:37am
the huge increase in the raw fun factor.
I have noticed over the last 5-6 years that a great way to make 90 percent of the tracks I ride boring is to ride them on a 450. Maybe this is because I dont have acces to 2 mile flowing national tracks with hundreds of feet of elevation change, but the truth is most practice tracks and even a great number or race tracks are just plain more fun on a 250F or a two stroke because the big dumb 450's really do take almost all of the challenge out of obstacles...really, the only challenging thing about riding a 450 is cornering since the crank weight and inertia rules the game.
I rode twice in the last week at a local track that was an absolute riot, just a fantastic track. I rode my 250F rather than my 450 and it got me wondering if I would have had such a good time on my 450....sadly, I think the answer is no. The 250 is more of a challenge where conservation of momentum and technique are concerned and it corners so so well...the 450...blah.
I have noticed over the last 5-6 years that a great way to make 90 percent of the tracks I ride boring is to ride them on a 450. Maybe this is because I dont have acces to 2 mile flowing national tracks with hundreds of feet of elevation change, but the truth is most practice tracks and even a great number or race tracks are just plain more fun on a 250F or a two stroke because the big dumb 450's really do take almost all of the challenge out of obstacles...really, the only challenging thing about riding a 450 is cornering since the crank weight and inertia rules the game.
I rode twice in the last week at a local track that was an absolute riot, just a fantastic track. I rode my 250F rather than my 450 and it got me wondering if I would have had such a good time on my 450....sadly, I think the answer is no. The 250 is more of a challenge where conservation of momentum and technique are concerned and it corners so so well...the 450...blah.
Run your last lap faster than your first after 30 minutes, theres the challenge all racers should be thinking about.
I ride a YZ125 right now and it is a blast! I rode my friends 450f the last time we went riding, and, it's an amazing bike and all, but feels like it takes half the skill. I love riding my 125 though. I'm more concerned with just enjoying motocross, than trying to piss the furthest in my state, racing wise. However, it is a great feeling going as fast/or faster than people on thumpers
The Shop
I am too heavy for the 250F to be really competitive on one....yet I love the thing. I ride just as fast after a half hour on it ...the 450 is just not as much fun and does not press my buttons and get me going like wringing out the 250 does...the 350 is going to replace both of my current bikes
But keep in mind they also experimented with the 525, 505 (both Discontinued now) and 144(was/is nothing but problems).
I don’t expect the Japanese manufacturers to follow this any time soon.
To me, if a 450 makes it easier-- then it makes you more competitive. 450s are nice for the start, too.
I love the 450 power, and I love how it makes jumps so much easier than my RM250. I understand the fun factor argument, but clearing jumps easier is not a drawback as far as I'm concerned.
I won races on both bikes. Had more fun on the 250, though. At my weight I could not have won once I moved up to AA, though....so my point is I need more power than a 250 puts out but dislike the 450 for various reasons. The 350 is the obvious answer
the 144/150 has got a tough row to hoe right off the bat...introducing a new 2 stroke at this point is a tough place to be .....wasn't the 144 plagued with mechanicals for a while there too?
I love bikes in general and on some tracks I would want a 450 for sure....it just so happens that none of those tracks are within 200 miles of my residence
A 450 off-road is a handful. I tried some rocky, off-camber trails (for about two minutes before I turned around). It's too heavy and big. I will use the two-stroke for off-road stuff.
Iron City has been a blast.
Pit Row
having said that I know everyoone around here likes it but it is only because they have never been to Miles mountain in PA or area 51 in NY or any of the tracks in that area....they will spoil ya
I like the idea, though. I have a 450 and with the limited time I have to ride, it beats the hell out of me! You need some seattime to ride the 450 well. I can hop on a smaller displaced bike without fearing my life. I can relate to the fun factor, too. The tracks I ride on generally have some gnarly braking bumps before the jumps, because riding a 450 makes the jumps seem smaller all of a sudden. Due to the lower costs I'll keep it another year and try to get 250F + bigbore kit or a 350F.
The chassis is all new (not a 250F chassis) and the design focus was on handling since the power of the 350 engine will be at least 10 ponies more (in stock form) than the 250 engine, But the chassis did not need to rigidity reguired to bolt in a 450 engine. So even with the electric starter, it will weigh more than a 250, but will be considerably less than the 450. So there will be a horsepower to weight advantage over the 450's.
Sounds like the right combination to me!
Picture next post.
See if it works this time.
If the KTM impresses on the track we'll see more. Pretty simple.
Now maybe you should pay more attention to your sig.
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