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Sacramento, CA
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SwingHard
7/12/2017 7:22am
7/12/2017 7:22am
Edited Date/Time
7/15/2017 6:15pm
Would us Vet riders (52 here),still be riding MX (tracks) if 4 strokes didn't take over? I asked this question of my riding crew,most of who are 50plus,with two youngsters,43 and 42 yrs.old. The guys over 50 said probably not.
I've been riding MX since I was 5 years old and, in the 80's,90's,I don't remember seeing many Vet riders. In my late 20's,early 30's I owned a couple of CR-500's. At 52, I would want nothing to do with a 500 2stroke on a MX track for more than 2 laps!
Hell,at this point I want nothing to do with a 4T 450 .Currently on a 350 and the fun has returned!
I've been riding MX since I was 5 years old and, in the 80's,90's,I don't remember seeing many Vet riders. In my late 20's,early 30's I owned a couple of CR-500's. At 52, I would want nothing to do with a 500 2stroke on a MX track for more than 2 laps!
Hell,at this point I want nothing to do with a 4T 450 .Currently on a 350 and the fun has returned!
Bill is 80 years old.
Rock on Bill!
The Shop
Hell I raced it until I was 56 years old, I might even do it in November at the Rio Bravo AHRMA race.
Shouldn't be that bad in the 60+ class, I hope
But during the 90s groups like Over the Hill Gang out in here in California were huge.
I wouldn't worry as much if there were more natural terrain tracks with safer/more reasonable jumps that I didn't have to huck-n-hope as much on.
Also rode my 07 450 for a few minutes, and it was head and shoulders better than my 96 CR. Looking forward to getting that trans issue straightened out. If you want to go out and just cut laps, and not get tired and frustrated, add 2 strokes.
I'm 49 now and will be 50 this coming January. I have a Husky 125 ( 2017 ) , which is my first tiddler bike in 30 years , and it has been a blast re-learning how to ride one. I totally believe it's re-teching me certain things I have forgot all about. Now my 2006 RM 250.....it really depends on the track. If it's hard packed , blue grooved with big knarly ruts every where....it can be a handful at times. BUT....on good , moist dirt days , on a good track layout where I can open her up and let er' rip.......there isn't a bike on planet earth I would rather ride.
With all that being said......Come later this summer / fall ( or possibly spring ) , I will be getting another Husky. I'm not sure exactly which one I'll get as of right now. Either a TC 250 , or a FC 250. I plan on running quite a few OTMX rounds when I can.....but I need a bike that will let me finish 5 X 25 min motos.
I already have my RM 250 2 stroke , so I'm not sure I'll want another one. But dang it , I love the 125 Husky so much , I'd really like to have the 250 version of that bike.
Side note : I'm done with 450's as well. I just simply can't put in a hard 25 minute moto on those any more , and don't want that type of power under me when I'm tired.
Pit Row
I agree 450s are great bikes for older guys- you don't have to rev them like a madman. I have found that the extra weight on a 450 will pound you if you don't ride fast.
It's got nothing to do with the 2 or 4 stroke thing.
It's the stupid fucking man made jumps that keep a lot away.
As for the bikes, no matter what type of engine, the chassis have gotten sooooooooo much better.
The Thumpers (Namely 350-450) are sooooooooo much easier to maintain (Please, don't go venting about your 2T. Especially when you have neither the number of smokers that I do -nor- the various types that I do: 1979 thru current. Off-Road, Trials and a few Factory Moto bikes).
The bigger four-strokes are EXTREMELY dependable and last forever. I've recently had a Suzuki head checked at 40 hours..valves were PERFECT.
Then, as you noted, let's say they get curious enough to visit a local track and see guys doing 100 foot tables. Honestly, I think both factors are having an effect.
Works for me!
I hope the sport continues to regress at the amateur level with the manmade obstacles. I have two young boys. My oldest is 3.5 and getting quite competent on his oset 12.5r. He just rides at our nearby parks and at our family's ranch. Last time he rode he asked me to build him a supercross track with jumps. He has no idea what he is asking for but it got me thinking about the future or riding and for the first time ever, question my decision to get him into moto.
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