Posts
4140
Joined
9/7/2017
Location
Palm Coast, FL, USA
After going so many years without a new manufacturer (I don't consider Husky or GasGas new) in SX or MX we have 3 new ones in a short period of time. It's obviously a good proving ground and if you want to sell serious dirt bikes you need to come to SX/MX.
Economic times don't really lend themselves to a new manufacturer joining but it could make sense for some like Polaris or Bombardier to round out their product line or for Chinese manufacturers to push into the market even though they wouldn't make money. China has shown a willingness to flood a market.
Side note worth discussion: If a Chinese brand comes to market with a serious bike can it succeed whith a Chinese brand name like Zongshen or does it have to be something like CFMoto?
Poll
Kove/GPX/Pitster Pro, aka the Chinese manufacture I could see making their way into SX if they are seriously trying to push a motocross bike. If they can afford to race Dakar they can afford to field a regional 250 SX team. I don't think any of the existing manufactures would be too thrilled on that as they have been ripping them off since their inception but if they pay their fees and do all the paperwork not sure they can deny them?
They probably have tons of money with who knows what backers in China but it would certainly be interesting if they decided to enter and throw a bag of cash at a couple guys.
Kove is making some bold claims on the performance of their 250 and 450 mx bikes but I saw a post somewhere from someone who got their hands on a 250 and it didn't sound promising. I doubt we'll see them field a team in the pro ranks .
I'm still recuperating from the onslaught of new manufacturers we're getting/got 🙂
I would really like to know what they spent on Dakar, and where the money came from. I wonder if the Chinese Communist government gave incentives or if the government actually paid for it outright.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
I would have thought Sherco would be watching Beta closely to see how they perform. They have a ready made 450 with a solid chassis that, like the Beta, could be modified for MX/SX. Whether they have the funding and will go chase it though, who knows.
Kove would be the next guess.
Sherco according to owner of a dealership I know fairly well says flat out Sherco’s are solid. I’d guess they are seeing what Beta and Triumph are doing as stated above. I’d like to see Sherco market a 250 MX. I think Triumph was smart to hit the market with 250 cc. My guess they want to sell MX scooters, not all of us are 450 ish.
I have a customer that got a Kove a few months ago He bought 1 for him and 1 for his wife he says his has been bullet proof but his wife's has been a bit more finicky.
Sherco said a few years ago they wanted to join up and race the AMA outdoors by 2024.. I dont know if that is still possible. But i reckon they will be the next to step up.
It may take the importer to fund a racing effort. Factory Beta is not funding Betas effort.
Aprilia, Fantic, TM?
I just have this feeling that BMW wants to make up for the POS that they created the last time they tried.
KTM buys what's left of Maico and re-releases the AW / SideWinder. You heard it here first.
Kove's MX line has an interesting look. It'll probably end up being red/black with black rims like several other brands, but as a 80's/90's kid, I love this initial layout.
Penton says "no tough computers to reprogram," so they should be the quickest effort to spool up.
They're wrapping the factory semi as we speak.
I don't think they will but I have a soft spot in my heart for Can-Am. When I was a wee lad I was a huge fan of Can-Am with Jimmy Ellis and Gary Jones. My favorite t-shirt had the Can-Am logo and my poor mother almost had to wait till I was sleeping to wash it. I wore it everywhere and always.
Terry and his new Penton.
Stark, if only the AMA weren't so afraid.
VICTA make great smokers...............
Pit Row
Fantic effort is huge in Europe in 2024 world championships and european championships...
I would like to see Canam do something. They bought what was left of Alta , I was hoping for a Can am Alta reboot. But so far nothing. Maybe when racing an Electric bike at the AMA pro level is possible they will have something. Would be cool to have the brand come back into MX/SX.
Bultaco
Fantic could do it
Beta USA have the advantage of the factory already having developed the MX model for MXGP. I’m also sure the factory would be providing some technical assistance, maybe just not financial.
I would think Sherco would take a similar approach in doing MXGP first, as it’s close to home.
CanAm is coming back with two wheels in an interesting electric model, I quit that dealership before I learned anymore about it but I don't see them coming back with anything ICE I got ran off most canam forums for thinking that rotax supplies the engines for all the Austrians lol hmmm
TM already has a 250-300-450 4 stroke. I loved riding their 144. I have not heard good or bad on the big bikes.
I know who im pitching to get involved. It would spin a few heads on this board. It makes sense for them but their manged by idiots.
I have seen some of the bikes. What I have seen is more short distance commuter style bikes . I saw pics recently, I think they had some at the AIM show maybe. They looked more like a concept bike than a real bike. I'm still hopeful for an MX bike.
Segway has a pretty legit SXS that is a hybrid that is coming out soon. Built similar to the polaris Pro R. But adds in a 100ish HP electric . And it has paddle shifters , I have not seen what the trans setup is. And somehow they are coming in at 35-$40K while Cam-am's new Maverick R is 10K more. I could see Segway building a bike too. That SXS was a big surprise and looks to be right there with the top sport SXS's and 3/4 of the price. If they could come out with a Segway 450 that was similar to a KTM 450 on paper. But cost $6500-7500 that would be similar to what they did with the SXS.
So, Harley?
Most of these brands should just focus on MXGP instead of the US, since homologation is such a pain.
Aprilia has been relatively interesting to watch in Motogp. They are developing very fast. Plus with their newish middle weight contender.. I could see them reintroducing themselves into mx.
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