What Year Were Holeshot Devices First Used?

Grizz
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Edited Date/Time 10/3/2014 5:02pm
I've been looking at buying an older KX and something I noticed is that you can't put a hole shot device on them because of the fork guard guides.



So when did holeshot devices come around? What company started it? Did all the riders immediately start using them?

Inform me, please.
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5/26/2014 8:33am
Grizz wrote:
I've been looking at buying an older KX and something I noticed is that you can't put a hole shot device on them because of the...
I've been looking at buying an older KX and something I noticed is that you can't put a hole shot device on them because of the fork guard guides.



So when did holeshot devices come around? What company started it? Did all the riders immediately start using them?

Inform me, please.
2003, Factory Yamaha
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Travis_Hudson
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5/26/2014 9:01am
I wanna say 2000 or 2001 was the first timemi remember seeing them.
ricko
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5/26/2014 9:08am Edited Date/Time 5/26/2014 9:08am
my 04 kx 250f had fork guides and it still had a holeshot device. you just have to have the one that's made for that bike.
DownSouth
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5/26/2014 9:27am Edited Date/Time 5/26/2014 9:28am
Arlo Englund is credited with pioneering the start device in 1979. From what I recall it was Team Yamaha who resurrected the idea and in 2000 or 2001. I think David Vuillemin was the first guy on board and the rest of team followed shortly after.
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agn5009
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5/26/2014 11:23am
I had one for the first time in 2002 I believe. It was on a yz250f
5/26/2014 11:26am
I was one of the first in my area to equip my bike with a PC holeshot device. That was in 2002. So I suppose Yamaha came out with it in 2001 or 2002.
Grizz
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5/26/2014 12:40pm
Cool. Thanks guys!
newmann
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5/26/2014 12:48pm
Tom Benolkin ran one on his 1979 CR125 designed and built by his brother Steve. Cable and lever operated for conventional forks.
Motodork
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5/26/2014 12:56pm
I was thinking it was kw, he used it for several holeshots in a row and when everyone jumped on board he developed the shift on the heal move to upshift as you bring your boot up to the peg, I may be wrong. But that is what I seem to remember.
smoothies862
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5/26/2014 1:13pm
team yamaha on the device.modern era i should say........ k dub and mc were the first i seen heel shift off the gate.
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5/26/2014 4:18pm
DownSouth wrote:
[url=http://www.vitalmx.com/news/press-release/Legends-Heroes-of-Motocross-Tour-Arlo-Englund-to-be-Honored-Thunder-Valley-National,10451]Arlo Englund[/url] is credited with pioneering the start device in 1979. From what I recall it was Team Yamaha who resurrected the idea and in 2000...
Arlo Englund is credited with pioneering the start device in 1979. From what I recall it was Team Yamaha who resurrected the idea and in 2000 or 2001. I think David Vuillemin was the first guy on board and the rest of team followed shortly after.
Fred Vertucci invented it the late 70's
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tankslap
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5/26/2014 4:34pm
The only holeshot device you need is bolted to the right side of the handle bars!!!
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Grizz
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5/26/2014 6:55pm
tankslap wrote:
The only holeshot device you need is bolted to the right side of the handle bars!!!
Good luck with that.
BobPA
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5/26/2014 6:58pm
tankslap wrote:
The only holeshot device you need is bolted to the right side of the handle bars!!!
Buy a whole shot device and you would understand
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viking24
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5/26/2014 7:14pm
I am thinking it was resurrected in Europe around '00 - '01. Stefan Everts on a Yamaha was using the fork guard hook.
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RMT
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5/26/2014 7:28pm Edited Date/Time 5/26/2014 7:30pm
!
RMT
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5/26/2014 7:29pm
Grizz wrote:
I've been looking at buying an older KX and something I noticed is that you can't put a hole shot device on them because of the...
I've been looking at buying an older KX and something I noticed is that you can't put a hole shot device on them because of the fork guard guides.



So when did holeshot devices come around? What company started it? Did all the riders immediately start using them?

Inform me, please.
I dont ask this with any disrespect, but how old are you? Keep reading and don't fire off a reply just yet. lol. Just to be fair, I'm 48. The reason I ask is that I read posts and naturally form an opinion on who is behind the post. How old they are and what era they grew up watching and racing MX. Your posts seem to have good knowledge and come from a good point of view and then I see a question like this that makes me think you might be a bit younger than I had thought. Again, just curious and I meant nothing negative about it other than Im curious. You could be 60 and were out of the sport when the HS device came along or your 22 and missed its arrival altogether.

Maybe I should have just PM'd you, but I don't post that much or try to be a known person on these forums, so you might have found it weird to have a PM from someone you didn't know asking your age (I would). Laughing
Grizz
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5/26/2014 8:33pm Edited Date/Time 5/26/2014 8:33pm
RMT wrote:
I dont ask this with any disrespect, but how old are you? Keep reading and don't fire off a reply just yet. lol. Just to be...
I dont ask this with any disrespect, but how old are you? Keep reading and don't fire off a reply just yet. lol. Just to be fair, I'm 48. The reason I ask is that I read posts and naturally form an opinion on who is behind the post. How old they are and what era they grew up watching and racing MX. Your posts seem to have good knowledge and come from a good point of view and then I see a question like this that makes me think you might be a bit younger than I had thought. Again, just curious and I meant nothing negative about it other than Im curious. You could be 60 and were out of the sport when the HS device came along or your 22 and missed its arrival altogether.

Maybe I should have just PM'd you, but I don't post that much or try to be a known person on these forums, so you might have found it weird to have a PM from someone you didn't know asking your age (I would). Laughing
Fair enough question Laughing I'm only 20, so I would have just been on 65's when holeshot devices came around and my dad was never that serious into racing so he didn't know either!
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RMT
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5/26/2014 9:32pm
Grizz wrote:
Fair enough question :laugh: I'm only 20, so I would have just been on 65's when holeshot devices came around and my dad was never that...
Fair enough question Laughing I'm only 20, so I would have just been on 65's when holeshot devices came around and my dad was never that serious into racing so he didn't know either!
Thanks for not taking that wrong. Keep it upright my brother.
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Spydee
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10/2/2014 2:50am
I remember buying one for my brand new RM125 2003 back in 2002. So surely the pros were using it no later than 2001?
Bressler11
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10/2/2014 8:52am
The ama magazine just had an article that came out about Ricky Carmichael's 2003 Cr 250, It discussed redesigned ignition or something for starts along with a holeshot device


bvm111
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10/2/2014 10:05am Edited Date/Time 10/2/2014 10:05am
I have always had them on all my motorcycles.... the clutch and throttle TongueWhistling
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krooner33
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10/2/2014 10:22am
I seem to remember McGrath (I think) showing up to the line on his yamaha with a handkerchief wrapped around the fork leg to keep their holeshot device "hidden." Must've been 2000-2001 somewhere in there. Anybody else remember that?
O___o
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10/2/2014 10:26am
the correct answer is 98-00, Yamaha, McGrath.

This actually type of device is STILL the best and you can get it at www.mxbonz.com it uses the forkguard itself as the "spring".

when everyone elses push-button type device lets loose coming out of the hole and up and over the gate, these hold solid all the way to the first corner every time. simplicity rules in this application.

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usp4u
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10/2/2014 12:53pm
O___o wrote:
the correct answer is 98-00, Yamaha, McGrath. This actually type of device is STILL the best and you can get it at www.mxbonz.com it uses the...
the correct answer is 98-00, Yamaha, McGrath.

This actually type of device is STILL the best and you can get it at www.mxbonz.com it uses the forkguard itself as the "spring".

when everyone elses push-button type device lets loose coming out of the hole and up and over the gate, these hold solid all the way to the first corner every time. simplicity rules in this application.

I would be worried about that style "grabbing" the fork at the wrong time.
1
MarkF
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10/2/2014 1:24pm
DownSouth wrote:
[url=http://www.vitalmx.com/news/press-release/Legends-Heroes-of-Motocross-Tour-Arlo-Englund-to-be-Honored-Thunder-Valley-National,10451]Arlo Englund[/url] is credited with pioneering the start device in 1979. From what I recall it was Team Yamaha who resurrected the idea and in 2000...
Arlo Englund is credited with pioneering the start device in 1979. From what I recall it was Team Yamaha who resurrected the idea and in 2000 or 2001. I think David Vuillemin was the first guy on board and the rest of team followed shortly after.
Arlo made a cable and pin holeshot device in the late 70's. Obviously, Arlo was a great racer, but he also was/is a great inventor.
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10/2/2014 5:07pm Edited Date/Time 10/2/2014 5:07pm
For the KX 2 strokes, 03 and older had the wrap-around style guide, while 04+ had the behind style guide. I believe for 03 and back, you can either take off that side guide all together, or you can cut a chunk out of the front piece for the button to slide through.
O___o
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10/2/2014 5:53pm
O___o wrote:
the correct answer is 98-00, Yamaha, McGrath. This actually type of device is STILL the best and you can get it at www.mxbonz.com it uses the...
the correct answer is 98-00, Yamaha, McGrath.

This actually type of device is STILL the best and you can get it at www.mxbonz.com it uses the forkguard itself as the "spring".

when everyone elses push-button type device lets loose coming out of the hole and up and over the gate, these hold solid all the way to the first corner every time. simplicity rules in this application.

usp4u wrote:
I would be worried about that style "grabbing" the fork at the wrong time.
Doesn't come close with Suzuki or Yamaha guards, Hondas run on the backside, kawi is screwed.
docweedon
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10/2/2014 9:07pm
Unless you are racing at a top intermediate/pro level, all an holeshot device is is a mental device. It makes you think you will get the holeshot, but in actuality it does very little for you.

Learn proper start technique, that's your holeshot device!
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