race bikes vs friendly race bikes

velosapiens said:

and lastly (and most importantly), i just like to make fun of people and things. 250 4-strokes are an easy target.

i do agree with your point about some smaller lighter people being a good market for a 250-300 4-stroke. it seems like the bikes are roughly the same physical size and weight as their grownup cousins tho. if they made one closer to the size of a ktm200, and more like 225-230 lbs wet, that would make more sense to me. actual smaller and lighter mean more to me than some semi-imaginary gyroscopic effect that i'm too insensitive to even feel.

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heheh. You should pick on people your own size or bigger than you, instead of getting your jollies persecuting poor munchkins on 250 4-strokes. 250 4-strokers are people too, and are just out there trying to ride and make trail ends meet.

I forgot about the altitude power loss. When I was on the Bobzilla ride, it felt like I was dragging a lead sled behind me when we reached peak elevation. I was sucking wind, and the bike was too. If I rode a lot in those conditions, I would probably have to get something bigger.

The gyroscopic distortion field is real! Believe the spin. Handling wise, it was a night and day difference between my 501, and my 250. You would have to be a complete vegetable not to feel it.

Bobzilla said:

When we rode together last he was commenting that I weigh more than my bike and there fore it was easy for me to man handle and my retort was that I am so fat and out of shape that even tho he weighs 1/2 of his bike he was ahead of me :twisted:

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Now, now, I never said you weighed more than your bike. I said when you are close in weight to your bike, not past it. You are creating an untrue image that you are like Fat B@st*rd from Austin Powers. You are not being fair or nice to yourself. :lol:

I still stand by my argument about rider strength/weight to bike weight ratios. In order for you guys to understand what effort I have to expend, most of you would have to ride 400-500 lb. dirt bikes with matching HP increase. For me to experience what you guys feel, I would have to ride an 80cc mx'er. I think I deserve some type of medal of valor for riding these things.

Come on Brendan,
Dynamite comes in a small package!

All else remaining equal being small in stature should prove to your advantage.

HP / Weight Ratio, Aerodynamics, Cardiovascular, etc.

Dale

velosapiens said:

i only weigh 165, i would guess you were 130-140 at least.

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Holy cow!! You only weigh 165 at your height? You need to start hitting those casino buffets that you have over there in Neveda, every day! You are going to shove that Olson twin ****, Kate Moss, Ally McBeal, and the whole super model industry out of the limelight.

LINEAWEAVER said:

A heavily modified Honda 230 makes for a great bike, however, the total price tag lives in the new Husaberg neighborhood.

Dale

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I have been wanting a smaller in size bike, but yet matching modern adult bikes in performance, for some time. Since the manufacturers won't make one, and are sticking to the one size fits all model, I think I will have to make one myself. I have encountered a number of people who are wanting the same thing as myself. I think there would be a respectable market out there for such a machine, as long as they did not charge BBR motorsports prices.

Brendan said:

The gyroscopic distortion field is real! Believe the spin. Handling wise, it was a night and day difference between my 501, and my 250. You would have to be a complete vegetable not to feel it.

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Thank you Brendan!

I think the reason for people not thinking about this or even believing it, is that once you move up to "full size" you tend to never look back. And it´s natural to think that the extra couple of pounds is the whole reason why the bigger bike feels heavier. (In some cases there isn´t even any weight difference at all!)
This is probably the main reason for the popularity of 250 4-stroke enduros over here.

/Peter

One of the best trail bikes I ever owned was a Honda TLR 200. It was for the way I ride small sized enough that I could handle it good. My bike if it was phyically smaller would be perfect. The TLR was good for lots of things but speed wasn`t one of them. I wouldn`t mind something like a KTM 200. When I was at the Hatfield McCoy last year I was really inpressed by the Honda 230 that was brought there. It looked to me that it would be easier to manage.

LINEAWEAVER said:

A heavily modified Honda 230 makes for a great bike, however, the total price tag lives in the new Husaberg neighborhood.

Dale

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Brendan
I have riden with a guy on a CRF 230 that was about 180 lbs from Stonyford to Ft Bragg. The bike was stock except for a dual sport kit and protection. He did very well and I would think that after your experience on the ttr a crf 230 would be the perfect bike for you and with a little work would make you hard to keep up with........ Until we get to that big long loose uphill......... remember the one??????? :twisted:

I bet you can find a used one cheap that some one bought for their wife and then decided she did not want to ride. :shock:

Brendan said:

and lastly (and mostThe gyroscopic distortion field is real! Believe the spin. Handling wise, it was a night and day difference between my 501, and my 250. You would have to be a complete vegetable not to feel it.

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i haven't ridden a ktm250 on any serious offroad. perhaps they feel significantly lighter than the wrf or crf's. i might just be a vegetable tho. all 4-strokes feel heavier than all 2-strokes to me. or maybe i'm just such a terminator-muscled power lifter that it's easy for me to fling my 550 around. lol.

one thing i like about brendan (besides that he's an excellent rider who likes to ride gnarly all-day rides) is that he usually just sticks to the "i like a 250 better" argument, and doesn't get involved in all the overcompensation and denial that some 250 riders resort to when responding to the attacks on their manliness, skill and character from all us big fat mooing big-bike riders. heh heh.

Hi Brendan,
For what it may be worth:
I am 47 years old, 6'1" tall and currently weigh 155 pounds.

I like em in all sizes, however, some of my fondest memories are aboard modified XR 100's.

I currently own six in various states of tune.

Kind Regards,
Dale

PS
Properly upgrade the suspension, brakes and engine of the CRF 230 and I believe you will indeed have your dream bike.

Brendan, my turn to jump in here; Dale has a good point about fun on the XR100's, but even the XR230 is a bit of a pig. Too much suspension work and still underpowered. I have ridden it and it makes a good trail bike. Period. Anything more aggressive and you will want a modified 250 4T, such as an RMZ250, which when modified for a bit more grunt, will pull your 140 lbs around like nobodies business. I currently maintain two such machines, one heavily modified, (315cc) and they need attention more often, but not overly so, and wow, the power to weight is great! They are MX bikes, but can be made very trail reliable. The power band is smooth and very user friendly. I can zip through the tight stuff faster than when on my FE400. They just feel smaller, lighter, and quicker. Sounds like that is what you are looking for. I don't work for Suzuki or Kawasaki, I just like their 250 four strokes. Mucho fun in a nice package, and that's what it's all about, for me. The big bikes have their place, so it really comes down to your own comfort level. I kinda wish Husaberg built a 250/300 as well. I think there is a significant market for that size bike, and it would give shoppers one more flavor, which I think is one of the unspoken reasons why alot of Berg owners chose their bike; it's "different". Also try the CRF250X if you want a tame version of a good 250 4T. Best of luck in your search. BD

:idea:

Turn your pre 2001 450 Husaberg engine into a 350. Since said engine is quite compact place it in the chassis of your particular liking.

Dale

PS
450 to 350 is quite easy as such is by bore reduction only.

Dale, great idea. Something like a kx250 roller minus engine should work, but would necessitate a right side sprocket rear wheel, no? BD

BD said:

Dale, great idea. Something like a kx250 roller minus engine should work, but would necessitate a right side sprocket rear wheel, no? BD

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Hi BD,
Brendan has so many options it is truly staggering.

Given careful chassiss selection converting to right side drive should prove of little difficulty . I have transplanted a few Husaberg engines, albeit, for road and / or race application.

Best Regards,
Dale