Posts
365
Joined
9/14/2016
Location
AU
I thought about posting this yesterday after coming home from the track, but I was tired and not ready for the flame wars. This morning I read the thread about Yamaha drastically cutting their budget, and so I decided to post this.
For a while, I thought that I just preferred (LOVED) two strokes like some others on here, but that the vast majority wanted their four strokes. "That's what the market wants". No, I'm sorry, the four stroke racing advantage was a classic "we will tell the market what it wants".
Due to work, a new business and having two young kids, I've been to the track twice this year. Once around March and once yesterday. At the track yesterday I was BLOWN AWAY that on the turn track and vet track, one in three bikes was a smoker. Even on the pro track, it was 1/5 to 1/4. In the pits, it was literally HALF SMOKERS. I sat there and counted between my three motos. At times you would see 3/4 rider trains of 125s dicing with each other. It was great.
That is a HUGE change. When I was on a 250SX through 2014-15, people would look at you funny at the track. You'd almost never see another smoker.
People are definitely wising up to the fact that two strokes are fun AND you can work on them yourself for next to nothing. When I was in my teens in the 90s, MX/SX had a lot more participation than today. We all rode smokers and we frigging loved it. Then when you needed a rebuild, you and dad went to the garage, he had a couple of beers (and later on let me have one now and then) and showed you how to rebuild the engine. Then you started helping. Then you started doing it yourself.
IMHO that's when MX was truly a family sport. Nowadays, mum/mom and dad have to work their asses off just to pay the mortgage/bills. They can't afford a $4k four stroke rebuild.
And I've owned a number of 450s and would probably own a 350 one day just to try it out (as a third bike), so don't flame me as a four stroke hater. For racing the 4Ts make sense - against other four strokes.... I'm not a four stroke hater. I am merely pointing out what I see.
But seriously, NOTHING comes close to the fun of thrashing a 125/150, or the thrill of nailing a fast lap on a fire breathing 250 two stroke. People are quickly catching on.
Edit: phone typos.
For a while, I thought that I just preferred (LOVED) two strokes like some others on here, but that the vast majority wanted their four strokes. "That's what the market wants". No, I'm sorry, the four stroke racing advantage was a classic "we will tell the market what it wants".
Due to work, a new business and having two young kids, I've been to the track twice this year. Once around March and once yesterday. At the track yesterday I was BLOWN AWAY that on the turn track and vet track, one in three bikes was a smoker. Even on the pro track, it was 1/5 to 1/4. In the pits, it was literally HALF SMOKERS. I sat there and counted between my three motos. At times you would see 3/4 rider trains of 125s dicing with each other. It was great.
That is a HUGE change. When I was on a 250SX through 2014-15, people would look at you funny at the track. You'd almost never see another smoker.
People are definitely wising up to the fact that two strokes are fun AND you can work on them yourself for next to nothing. When I was in my teens in the 90s, MX/SX had a lot more participation than today. We all rode smokers and we frigging loved it. Then when you needed a rebuild, you and dad went to the garage, he had a couple of beers (and later on let me have one now and then) and showed you how to rebuild the engine. Then you started helping. Then you started doing it yourself.
IMHO that's when MX was truly a family sport. Nowadays, mum/mom and dad have to work their asses off just to pay the mortgage/bills. They can't afford a $4k four stroke rebuild.
And I've owned a number of 450s and would probably own a 350 one day just to try it out (as a third bike), so don't flame me as a four stroke hater. For racing the 4Ts make sense - against other four strokes.... I'm not a four stroke hater. I am merely pointing out what I see.
But seriously, NOTHING comes close to the fun of thrashing a 125/150, or the thrill of nailing a fast lap on a fire breathing 250 two stroke. People are quickly catching on.
Edit: phone typos.
I truly believe that having a 60hp 450 under you , while your only using 30hp of that motor on majority of the track....kind of defeat's the purpose in a way?
There is some major fun to be had when you can ring out your bike , ride aggressive , and not be intimidated by carefully not hitting the switch to full mach 5 speed , with a little whiskey throttle on a 450. Always in for a hell of a ride when that happen's.
I wish more guy's could / would experience what I have over these past few years. Riding the living shit out of a slower bike , can be extremely gratifying. There is a -re-learning curve to it....but man oh man , it can be so much fun if you are willing to accept the learning process.
Btw.....yes , there are more and more 2 strokes at the track every year!
The Shop
especially the 125's.. people cant get enough of them! i don't think you appreciate the fun factor of them 2 strokes until you race the 250f and 450's and then swing a leg over a 2 stroke and the smile doesn't go away the whole time.
I've just sold my new 250f as i'm stepping away from the race scene and picked up a 93 KX500 to have some fun on. plenty of power but hey!! I'm keen to have some fun in 3rd gear hahaha
Imo and I really think this should have been done a long time ago, is have separate classes, it's more fun to Race people on equal bikes , so
Separate the classes at least that's my opinion 250f's Race other 250f's 125 vs other 125s
2 stroke against 2 stroke
4 stroke against 4 stroke
And when electric gets here electric against electric
,
I think local clubs should have kept a 125 and a 250
2 stroke class all along
At the local level if this had been done I think racing would be healthier. But maybe its not to late .
Note to track owners
It's More fun to race Others on the same Bike.
Best decision I made was selling my 450 to pick a 250 smoker. She’s exactly the way I want her to be and has plenty of power, but nothing too much. And man, it feels like nothing is under me when I ride that 250!
Me personally, I never made the jump to 4 strokes. My brother did so I have ridden them but they just weren't for me. If I was still able to ride I'd be on a newer 2 stroke.
And imo they should limit it to just 125 not 125/150
Because then it pretty much forced everyone to go to 150
Or 144 , wouldn't it ?
I don't mind that it's 125, 134, 144, etc. I've personally ridden both 125's and 144's and honestly it's whatever you prefer. It's similar to the 250 vs 300. There's a difference yes but they each do some things better than the other. I think it pretty much evens out in the end.
I'm just happy that the 125/150 will be making their way back at the races. Hoping it develops into a points series.
I don't know what the big deal is. It's not like the 250 2t is walking away with everything. Kaven Benoit did in 2014 and 2015 but in 2014 when he switched to the 250 4t for some of the races the results were the same.
I know Australia allows them as well.
Kind of quit posting, ordered a pizza and took a nap after that
I employ over 150 people, the writing was on the wall.
4 stroke against for stroke"
yup, especially cuz some of the guys on their brand new $9500.00 4 strokes cry like a baby when i literally "smoke" them on my 38 year old yz250, lol.
Pit Row
Where is the yamaha budget thread?
Post a reply to: The times they are a changin'