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Raleigh, NC
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flatout111
9/4/2018 6:48pm
9/4/2018 6:48pm
Edited Date/Time
9/5/2018 12:44pm
I know MX/SX is what is popular here but man, there are a ton of 2 strokes being sold in Europe. At extreme events alone there are over 1800 entries at Erzberg, 1000 at 111 Megawatt and a ton at Romaniacs. Mainly 300cc 2 strokes.
And that's not counting the casual trail rider sales. Of course there's a chance they are all the same people but I kinda doubt it.
I can't help but think that someone one like Honda or especially Yamaha wouldn't like to dip into that market. At least in Europe at least. I know Honda swore off the two stroke but you can't tell me that if one of the big four made a competitive 300cc two stroke that people, especially in Europe, wouldn't look there way.
I may be way off but just wanted to see what others thought. I'd love to see the numbers of say Yamaha YZ450s sold worldwide in comparison to say KTM EXC/XC-W 300s worldwide.
And that's not counting the casual trail rider sales. Of course there's a chance they are all the same people but I kinda doubt it.
I can't help but think that someone one like Honda or especially Yamaha wouldn't like to dip into that market. At least in Europe at least. I know Honda swore off the two stroke but you can't tell me that if one of the big four made a competitive 300cc two stroke that people, especially in Europe, wouldn't look there way.
I may be way off but just wanted to see what others thought. I'd love to see the numbers of say Yamaha YZ450s sold worldwide in comparison to say KTM EXC/XC-W 300s worldwide.
My ktm was nice, light and nimble for trails but the Yamaha's suspension and all round package are perfect for a kick and go ride.
You would just think they would look at all those 300s being sold and want some of that market.
The Shop
so im hardly poorly informed as some bozos here think.
the 2 groups basically run with their heads in the sand as far as what western consumers want, they offer products but products that are either long in the tooth or arent as good as what comes out of europe or the usa....
thats not to say they are bad just not the best anymore...and their handling of customer issues and problems is quite terrible, seems they frankly dont give a flying fck what we think..
I would also put my money on Yamaha coming out with a 300. The YZ250X was a good start.
But as someone said, they kinda got their own ways and seem a bit oblivious to consumers at times.
Kawasaki should bring this back. Fun, easy to ride, easy to work on and tons o' fun. Just the thing for weekend fun-seekers, beginners and not-too-serious enduro riders.
In both cases, it seems that an electric bike could be "tuned" to be the best option. As battery weights continue to come down and life continues to increase, it only makes sense we will see more and more electric stuff.
I think too that electric dirt bikes are the next really new bikes coming from Japan, with Yamaha and Honda first.
Last October I picked up a true "barn find" 1987 model. It had the original tires! I rode it last winter and spring on the 1000 or so acres of BLM land behind my house. And over the past few months that's it's been too damn hot to ride here in Southern, Utah, I've gone all through it; new tires & tubes, new piston & rings (bore looked great!), new rear brake shoes (whoever owned it seemingly never used the front brake!), new fork boots, new chain, new bigger footpegs, new fork oil, new Boyesen Reeds. I've given it a thorough cleaning, wire-brushed most of the oxidized fasteners and replaced some too and touched up the paint.
One more month and it will be riding weather here, so I'm going to use that time to finish installing a Tusk Dual Sport Light kit...yup, it'll have turn signals, brake light, horn AND a license plate before I next ride it so that I can buzz over to the rest of the 1000's of acres of BLM land around here.
o
Pit Row
Then again, Yamaha COULD clean up in the 2 stroke market if they wanted. Just drop the price on that YZ250 that has barely changed in a decade, to reflect the paid for tooling and R&D, and watch as they gobble up market share from KTM/Husky.
Be glad for what we do have, Yamaha, KTM, Husky, Beta, Sherco, Gas Gas and TM all continue to bring new 2t models to the market.
What the Japanese and (Austria) bring to the market is overproduction resulting in fire sale prices and ruining the dealer's profitability and the used bike market. That is a good thing for many, pushing the used bike market to even greater opportunities in 2t Enduro's.
But as stated, I'm glad we have what we have as I think it is superior machinery. Just curious why they ignore that market.
Post a reply to: Will/should the Japanese ever enter the 2t enduro market?