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Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
That said , my current MX bike is a CRF250.. just what came at the right money
For the AMA amateur nationals you can claim a bike for 2X the MSRP
The claiming rule has not been in place for years at the pro level after Mickey Boone almost got a hold of Bob Hannahs works OW27
http://www.mxworksbike.com/Claiming_rule.htm
The Shop
then gave it to cycle world magazine to test and take apart....
they found it to be a slightly modded stocker....
http://www.mxworksbike.com/Tripes_1979_RC250.htm
Mickey Boone tried to claim Hanna's bike in 1976 (?), he lost the draw but scared the factory teams. (link
Back to the topic - at the national level there should be a 250 and Open class. Make one production based and let one be "open". Any builder (you in your garage) could race whatever you come up with, yes there could still rules to define the open class.
Depending on the track and rider, there will always be something/somebody faster that something/somebody else. That's why the have race's.
A guy wants to go do Track-Days (Say...50) and some races (Say 20) in a year: What Bike is he gonna do that with for the least amount of money? (70 days on the bike...at the track).
(New Bike, Right Now)
My answer:
1. 2013 KX450F at $1000/1500 "Off" ($7000 same as '14 for A LOT LESS. That's in CA with all the Reg & Title crap)
2. Good Oil bought 5 liters at a time (20 Filters/30 Oil Changes/1 R& R filter cover: $400/U CAN get REALLY GOOD oil cheap!)
3. 4-5 Air-Filters via DT or NoToil ($200 Oil and Cleaner included)
4. Good Renthal/DID Chains + Sprockets (Twin Ring 3 sets w/ Good Spocket Bolts $500)
5. "Smart" Tire choices/purchases (Lets say: 8 fronts/12 rears for $1700).
6. Learns to Adjust Valves (REALLY easy! $100 Shim Kit)
7. Has Enzo do his stuff ($600 Initial/$300 rebuild. They make those Forks WORK!...really nice!)
8. Maybe a Pipe & Map (As much as...oh...$900 Total)
9. Clutches (Hinson Basket/4 kits: $950)
10. Piston Kit ($200 complete)
11. Valve-Springs ($220 w/ keepers)
12. Head Rebuild ($600 w/ shipping via Fastheads. Done at sametime as Piston)
13. 2 sets Bodywork $240
14. 2 sets Graphics $200
15 Seat Cover/Foam: $130 Guts
15. Bars & Grips (2 sets Bars $180 /4 sets Grips $80: $260 total)
16. Wheel Set from RAD Mfg. Made in USA. DID LTX/Eagle hubs $1100 (A spare set of tires/wheels is just smart)
17. Tubes, etc. $500
18. Misc Oil/Lubes $250
(All of this is Delivered to your Door if ya know how to do it smartly)
Been there. Done that: X-Games Silver Medal for Todd Thompson in Moto-X Adaptive.
$15,400 for the year.
It's actually best/cheaper to have 2 bikes; but, that's a different discussion.
Heres the thing: Pump Fuel or VP T4/U4.4
NO Oil in my Fuel...which cost more than a lot of us would like to admit.
On your beloved 2T? Go put your time in on one. And add-up all your Rings, Pistons, Clutches, Replacement/Smashed Pipes, Clutches...and more clutches, Reeds...& more Reeds, Porting, New Cylinders, New Heads...those are the "Direct Replecement" parts your going to be competing with that 4T...that you hate soooo much. EVERY gallon of gas has $2 worth of OIL in it. Oh, and, add in your Ratio Right and your cool "Mixer" gas-can if you've got 1...or 2. Really want your 2T to go at the 4Ts With MAXIMUM Effect? ...gonna have to run some GOOD GAS: VP C-12. What's that cost?
Let's say a KTM 250SX (Saw one for $7200 Out The Door on Saturday. Me? I'd go with a 300XC for the same money/better bike)...you do the math on the parts for those 7 Track/Racing days; and, be honest. The math is gonna be the same or...
More.
Look, I know Kenny Mutha-F'n Powers is gonna get all up in my grill...Newmann, too; but, I'm out there payin' bills and bending wheels...it's all good...
And, it's all not necessarily the way we tell it...
Four-Strokes are cheap to run...IF you take care of'em. And, they're REALLLY easy to ride on an "Outdoor" track....fast, too.
Hell, I'm so stupid that I've got a collection of CRF250X's...&...they're looking to be the cheapest dirt-bike to run. Period. I do a little bit of motor-work...via FastHeads...FMF Pipe...Hot-Cam...Carb-Mods/Updates...Hinson-ize the Clutch...put Renthal Twin-Ring/SL/O-Ring on'em...and stuff lasts FOREVER! TIRES! They last Soooo Much longer than my 450s do. Oh, did I mention the Electric Start? I buy'em for $2500 and build a GO Any-Where bike that'll do 70 miles off-road and then go around the Glen Helen track. On ONE tank of Pump Gas (2.6 IMS Tank or Stock '04-'07). PUMP Gas. I usually end up with something that anyone can do in there garge w/ around $5K, total.
But, in the End...it's the good'ol Twin Cam 450 motors...we're talking "Motors" here...that're just cheap to run for most folks. Besides, most guys in here are Waaaay Toooo Cool to ride a 250X.
i dont even care, and i think the price would be a lot closer than people make it out to be, but certainly think youre reaching a little here just like the 2 stroke guys do...
Not being "Real"
Also, it takes A Lot of money to keep things Fresh & Fast.
A 250 requires a lot of help to make the power needed to run against even a good 250 4T.
I've done it.
A KTM 300 motor is the place to start. That needs to be my next project.
again...why are you replacing multiple cylinders and heads during a season? are we blowing these things up as a normal course of action?
maybe i dont get it because im not a pro level rider, but im having a hard time wrapping my head around it.
Also, really solid 250 2Ts can require a bit of crank work/maint.
I think going with a 300 could answer some of those problems, tho (& is almost "fair").
2013 KX450F $7230 OTD in Redding, CA...all taxes & title w/ registration included.
Stock Dyno #'s on Pump, VP T4 & Pro-5 (their AMA Pro-Spec fuel) will follow.
We'll start building & testing this theory from there.
I think I might have to challenge Newmann to a 4T v. 2T "Walk-Off".
Someone call David Bowie...
Pit Row
The TRUE "Does ALL Things Moto" bike.
I call it the "Lightest Off-Road 450"...
my old man rode it the last time we went to the desert, he had his CRF450X up for sale a month later. i know i've pimped this KTM on here like crazy, but it really is the "do it all" bike. thing rips on the track, lugs up the steep rocky bastards, and does endless wheelies over the sand whoops. i've yet to find something that it doesn't do better than any other bike i've ever ridden
Good to go.
Right outta the bottle.
Let me get a few things in order. I can't wait to hear your opinion of it. It's a product for Home Depot/Lowes & it's better than Pump Gas and most of the oils people use. And, get this, it stores well!
Kinda nice to have someone in here that actually rides. Kinda bummed to not meet ya at MMP. You goin' to A1?
The 250fs that run up front,tomac and pro c are using 50k powerplants and skews your perception of the comparison of
250. 450.
Those few bikes like ken,s ktm are pulling numbers like a 450 stock
You just cant compare those.
The day we ride bikes that will not break traction above 3rd gear is the day life sucks.
Imo,the class should be open,open to whatever you think you can handle.
The husky 610 i raced in early 2000,s was the most fun i had since the 1st watercool ktm 500 i raced in 85,86.
.i get wood just thinking about those 2.
When I rode all the new '14 KTMs at the 3 Bros Demo, the new 350 felt almost EXACTLY like a "Factory-esque" 250.
As a B Vet rider, I personally don't go any faster on a 450, but the guys who remember the 125A class being cheap to run are mistaken. I was there and I watched the fastest guys burn a set of clutches every weekend. So add another $50 to the $2.00 a gallon worth of oil. I do love the 250 2 strokes and will buy another soon, but I'd rather see a modern 175cc two stroke class and a 300cc for the fast guys.
Although I actually think that if cc for cc racing were permitted, the 4 strokes would still rule the 450/open class.
Your example of the KX450 cost was enlightening, thank you. I wonder what a modern 450 2-stroke would cost for maintenance... Maybe I'm wrong, but wouldn't a 250F cost substantially more than a 250T to race for a year at the pro level?
A 250 2T is cheaper than a 250F when you get to run'em at this level, yes.
Post a reply to: What's the point with the 450 class?