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1536
Joined
1/18/2010
Location
Homer, AK
US
Edited Date/Time
7/30/2018 3:44am
Realistically, when do you think there will be a top pro rider that competes on the Alta? I know rules will have to change, but I personally think it would be awesome.
The Shop
Honestly I really didn't get it either until I rode one at the Demo Day during the Full Gas Sprint Enduro held at the Jolly Mine in Wellston, OH. I could have raced that MXR no issues. The AER forks worked great. I can't imagine how good it could be once set up properly for me.
Sure, owning an Alta will likely make you faster on the track; but where is the fun if it takes no skill, just twist the throttle and hold on. To me that changes the whole sport. And ya they'll eliminate sound pollution, but the same people protesting noise will find another way to shut you down (dust, rubber tires, endangering children, etc); people like that, want to control your fun, and I don't buy the argument that eliminate noise and enter utopia.
Sorry for the long morning rant, I think innovation is great, and believe there is a place for the Alta within the sports sector, I just don't think they the greatest thing since slice bread, I'll stick to my two-stroke and garage evenings.
I started Downhill mountain biking which is like a poor mans MX but I ride, stick my bike in the shed, bring it out the following weekend and then ride it again. (i'm lucky I live within an hours drive of 5 sick uplift centres which is rare.)
https://www.revolutionbikepark.co.uk/ having this on my doorstep is insane.
This is how i feel ALTA will make mx! I can't wait the sooner the better and it'll help the sport grow as there will be tracks popping up everywhere as there's is no noise restrictions.
IMO one day there will be a E class outdoors before SX getting them the next year. 1st step being a Alta sponsored B level team.
Pit Row
That said, I also hope to see one competing in AMA Pro Supercross & Motocross in 2 years as well.
Electric bikes are gonna make a lot of people like me able to ride more often and save loads of time. I'll literally only reap benefits from switching to electric.
The Alta will allow folks like me (and many others) to build tracks on our property and ride without pissing off the neighbors. For me this is a huge advantage. If I could get away with riding my 450 on my property I would, but I cant. It has nothing to do with hating 2S or 4S or loving electric bikes..its all about access to riding.
Instead of driving an hour to the local track..I will be able to ride out of my garage.
I am buying a 2019 Alta in the spring.
Modern internally combusted motorcycles are incredibly expensive to own and maintain. The Alta completely changes the economics of owning a dirt bike and that should be celebrated, especially by the legions of people on here complaining about how expensive dirt bikes are.
I have sold my gas powered bikes and only ride my Alta now. I'm definitely in the camp of working on bikes less and riding them more. For those of you that enjoy working on bikes as much as riding them, the Alta would not be a good choice.
As for the thread question. AMA approved the Alta for amateur racing this year. As soon as its approved for pro racing, expect to see an Alta out their immediately. Alta is ready!
Here are a few shots of me at the birth place of where the Americans first beat the Euro's on American soil.
But there's Certainly Rotating mass to it, and any other shafts in the power / gear train up to the chain on the front sprocket.
But there IS a Hell of a lot less Overall rotating mass than a 4t, or any ICE type engine equipped with a crank, clutch and gearbox. And all of those shafts, are spread about, all over the place.
It does Alta no favours to get it wrong. 'Antis' will jump on such f/ups.........
But, I'm No 'anti'.
I think my next Dirt Bike that gets me to release the moths living in my Wallet, will be an Alta, or another companies Real Dirt E bike.
Reading an article about the Mugen Shinden Nana used in the IOM TT, in Augusts Performance Bikes magazine, Colin Whittamore, the head of Mugen's European wing said:
"I'd love to say that ( the project) will lead to an Electric Sports bike, but I can't...... The first spin-off is our Electric Motocross concept, which has turned into a prototype we're developing with Honda, which will be finished this year, and later turn into a production bike".
That's in reference to the bike displayed last year at a / some shows. That, many pilloried, due to it's 'Jurrasic Park / Dinosaur' like livery, and not looking past that. Getting caught up in just slagging a 'show style', is a silly thing to do.
Then there's Yamaha's E Trials bike. I've seen it being used at a recent World Trials round. Not sure if it was in an E Bike class, or in the Trials 2 class.
'Real' E Dirt Bikes, such as the Alta - Not glorified bicycles or half assed 'weirdos' - are coming soon, from the Big Manufacturers. Surely, also, KTM will offer a EXC / XC / SX chassis E Bike soon, to be beside the E Freeride.
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