Why do we want MX to be"easier"?

Racer142
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9/21/2017 2:44pm Edited Date/Time 11/20/2017 5:15pm
Serious question. The argument against two stroke making a comeback for years has been, "four strokes are easier to ride fast because of the torque and traction they make" and bikes come with efi now and even KTM has DI two strokes because, "they are easier to tune and you don't have to adjust for elevation". I was just reading the e start thread and there is a consensus e start is better because it's easier than kicking a bike when your tired, and the next big thing everybody seems to be looking forward to is e bikes because there is no clutch or shifting and it's "easier" to go fast. What's with the desire to make MX easy? I have a yz450f and a kx250 so I'm not just pushing the two stroke agenda I'm just genuinely curious.
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GrapeApe
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9/21/2017 2:52pm
Not "easier", "better". We've come a long way since twin shocks and drum brakes.
mikec265
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9/21/2017 3:03pm
Ask anyone who owns a business, and they will tell you most employees will take the path of least resistance to get payed on Friday.

My point is most people don't want to do more than they have to in any situation.

Also we live in the "microwave generation" which has killed a lot of brick and mortar shops via online shopping with better prices, delivered to the door step.
9/21/2017 3:09pm
If were talking easier how about smaller jumps instead of huge gaps or gigantic tabletops where you're gonna mangle yourself if you mess up once.
-MAVERICK-
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9/21/2017 3:10pm Edited Date/Time 9/21/2017 3:11pm
^^^ So you're saying that people are getting lazier and lazier? Lol.

Edit: post was in reference to what mikec265 said.

The Shop

Johnny Depp
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9/21/2017 3:27pm
Feel free to do it the hard way if you prefer.
Turbojez
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9/22/2017 12:16am Edited Date/Time 9/22/2017 2:11am
I think it's a matter of professional vs recreational riding/racing.

Race teams strive to have the best, fastest and most efficient equipment.
Ask any fast rider if 2 strokes are more fun then 4 strokes. 9 out of 10 will tell you they definitely are.
Are they faster (more like easier to go fast on/forgiving)? No way.
You can make up your mistakes on a 4 stroke easier. You can find traction where you would only get wheelspin on a smoker. It has more torque and more usable powerband which equals faster bike overall.

E-bikes are a new thing now, but they're probably the next step to going faster. No clutching and shifting reduces the space for human error even more, therefore leads to a generally faster and more consistent laptimes, which is what racing is about.

On the other hand, if you've already realized that you won't be the next GOAT, and like to challenge yourself, smoker will do you good and keep you happy. It's a bit harder to make it go, but it also feels more rewarding.
A matter of character I guess, the willingness to challenge yourself that tiny bit more, just to get that tiny bit more fun out of it and have a tiny bit bigger smile at the end of a day.
colintrax
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9/22/2017 1:38am
Easier=faster. How's this even a thread?
Motofinne
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9/22/2017 2:19am Edited Date/Time 9/22/2017 3:10am
Go and buy a 70s or 80s bike if you feel things are too easy.

Motocross has never been easy and motocross will never be easy.
VxeR
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9/22/2017 2:22am
Why do you want it to be harder?
flymoto
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9/22/2017 2:57am
Natural progression. People always want to go faster.

Why don't we weld up our linkages and swap back to drum brakes?
Turbojez
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9/22/2017 3:03am
VxeR wrote:
Why do you want it to be harder?
Challenge!
Crush
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9/22/2017 3:24am
Not easier, safer & cheaper would be the aim to me. Participation in moto is going to be the biggest hurdle now, but four strokes have really made the mistake factor in racing so much less than it used to be.

Increased speed dramatically increases risk, especially indoors... and no doubt four strokes go faster, easier, which you could argue makes for "closer" racing sometimes, but watching the guys follow each other with minimal passing, due to high speed or the bike's ability to recover from a mistake isn't that exciting either.

The components of two stroke racing made for a lot more excitement to me, they had to work so hard to really rip, but didn't always mean it was close racing... It was generally slower, more technical, less crazy risk, and a reason to take different lines because you had to go wide to go big.
roninho
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9/22/2017 3:55am
I don't want it easier. Just wish i was better.
reded
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9/22/2017 4:02am
roninho wrote:
I don't want it easier. Just wish i was better.
.....and every dumb bastard that plucks down his hard earned bucks on the latest/greatest is confident that it will make him better, myself included.
mingham97
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9/22/2017 4:32am
The easiest bike to ride is the one that sells? Is it that hard to work out?
Bramlett321
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9/22/2017 4:58am
"It's in our nature to destroy ourselves"
Terminator 2
Turbojez
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9/22/2017 5:11am
"It's in our nature to destroy ourselves"
Terminator 2
Papa roach. Blood brothers. THPS2
Bultaco
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9/22/2017 5:20am
Why do we want MX to be"easier"?.....in general we don't. But we do want to be faster than the guy lining up next to us. And we want to have the illusion we belong in the group of Ryan, Eli, Jeff and Tony.
mikec265
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9/22/2017 6:00am
-MAVERICK- wrote:
^^^ So you're saying that people are getting lazier and lazier? Lol.

Edit: post was in reference to what mikec265 said.
Yes. Society as whole is lazier every day. If you don't see it then you probably never ran a business as an owner or manager.

My last race was 10 years ago and I had a pair of four strokes. If I was serious about racing then I would still have a pair of 4 strokes for easier/ better results. I have more fun on my 250 and 500 2 strokes these days.
JAFO92
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9/22/2017 6:01am

Racer142 wrote: What's with the desire to make MX easy??






"They're all looking for the 'sugar packet' solution. "
ToolMaker
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9/22/2017 6:02am
mingham97 wrote:
The easiest bike to ride is the one that sells? Is it that hard to work out?
Not to worry, as soon as our gvmnt passed $15 minimum wage, everyone can buy what ever they want. Laughing
seth505
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9/22/2017 7:02am
It can be interesting to hear peoples definition of "better". To most, if they go 1-2 seconds a lap faster then a heavier, more complex, more expensive bike is a small price to pay.
kkawboy14
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9/22/2017 7:45am
Guys don't even want to lift their bikes up onto a bike stand anymore.
JAFO92
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9/22/2017 7:58am
seth505 wrote:
It can be interesting to hear peoples definition of "better". To most, if they go 1-2 seconds a lap faster then a heavier, more complex, more...
It can be interesting to hear peoples definition of "better". To most, if they go 1-2 seconds a lap faster then a heavier, more complex, more expensive bike is a small price to pay.
Yep, and if they'd train, lose a few pounds and work on cornering more than stupid scrubs/whips, they'd get those few seconds for free.
9/22/2017 8:16am
4 strokes are better for the sport. Yes more expensive but how much money do you put into fixing it? Since 2013 I’ve owned nothing but Honda 450s putting 150+ hours on each bike and not once I’ve put a dime into the motor. Just normal maintenance. My buddy with his 125 has to do top end and bottom end all the time and is always working on it. In the long run 4 strokes save money especially for the new rider that is cruising around in 2nd gear
Zaugg
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9/22/2017 9:29am Edited Date/Time 9/22/2017 9:30am
mingham97 wrote:
The easiest bike to ride is the one that sells? Is it that hard to work out?
ToolMaker wrote:
Not to worry, as soon as our gvmnt passed $15 minimum wage, everyone can buy what ever they want. Laughing
That would be awesome because then people could afford to get into this "easy" sport. HAHAHA
500 Mike
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9/22/2017 7:24pm
4 strokes are better for the sport. Yes more expensive but how much money do you put into fixing it? Since 2013 I’ve owned nothing but...
4 strokes are better for the sport. Yes more expensive but how much money do you put into fixing it? Since 2013 I’ve owned nothing but Honda 450s putting 150+ hours on each bike and not once I’ve put a dime into the motor. Just normal maintenance. My buddy with his 125 has to do top end and bottom end all the time and is always working on it. In the long run 4 strokes save money especially for the new rider that is cruising around in 2nd gear
You can't compare maintenance on a 450 vs. a 125. You might try comparing a 500 2 stroke vs a 450.
Jamal#440
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9/22/2017 7:46pm
Answer: Because life has gotten that much more difficult.
9/22/2017 8:46pm
Holy Cow I feel like I'm stuck in Groundhog Day. every other post it 2 vs 4 strokes

jeffro503
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9/22/2017 10:23pm
I guess I go against the grain on this. I went back to riding 2 strokes because I started to feel like a lazy bastard doing the whole track in 3rd gear on my 450's. I " wanted " more busy.

I can also say that even at my age....3 yrs back on 2 strokes and my corner speed has gotten a lot better. Nothing against 4 strokes...as I'm picking up a new 350 before next season. But I'm keeping my 2 strokes because they are the best damn training a dude can do!!

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