I went ice racing yesterday. I should have taken some pics, but I didn't. Let me tell you... That is some FUN SHIT...
I've ice raced on quads before, but never on bikes. I was warned that the $480 studded tires would hook up like my racebike on pavement.
First round out, on a Husky 250 (2-stroke). Ripping through the gears in a 4 gear wheelie, I realized that they weren't bullshitting about grip. The layout of the track had some nice sweeping corners along with 4 really tight ones.
I didn't quite have the sack to get on it on my first outing. I just went around and tried to gain confidence.
Next up, YZ-125. I could really get moving on this bike, but it didn't have the nuts to slide out like the 250 did. Watching some of these guys on 500 2 strokes, or 450 4-strokes, they were just amazing me. Down with the handlebar about 12" off the ice. Totally insane.
After about 10 rounds, I determined that the 250 was definitely better than the 125. It had the nuts to power out of any corner I put it in, and would slide around perfectly. And it didn't out weight the 125 by much. Just out-powered it 10 fold...
By the end of the day, I was dropping the bike down quite low, and dirt tracking the ass of it everywhere. It was a GREAT time....
If you're in an area that has ice, I'd HIGHLY recommend this... I'll be going back...
You need to show up at the Sunset Tavern in Jan. and Feb.
They will have ice short track Sat. nites, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31. And new for '04 Sunday afternoons, Super Ice Moto Jan, 11, 18, 25, Feb. 8, 15 and 22.
For more info call 920-563-5702. I will put up another post with more info also.
I gotta beg/borrow/steal a bike and I'll be there.
BTW, what separates the novice from pro classes there? I mean, I am DEFINITELY a novice here... ;D
QuoteFirst round out, on a Husky 250 (2-stroke). Ripping through the gears in a 4 gear wheelie
After about 10 rounds, I determined that the 250 was definitely better than the 125. It had the nuts to power out of any corner I put it in, and would slide around perfectly. And it didn't out weight the 125 by much. Just out-powered it 10 fold...
Hey Kufalk!
Good to see you out there representin' on a Husky! Brian has an '02 Husky 125 and 250 that we trail ride with. It took awhile, but I am in LOVE with the 250. Brian calls it the 'Devil Bike' and does not ride it much any more because it keeps spittin' him off.
Maybe after he reads that I am not the only one that is man enough to ride that thing he will suck it up and get back on it. ;)
...after all, how could you not love a bike with 75% more power and only ten extra pounds? ;D
PS - Maybe I will get out my '72 Husky 450 2-stroke. (Talk about a tourqe-monster) The only bad part about it is the suspension, and who needs 12 inches of travel on the ice? :D
Hey Bill, I gotta tell you, the reason we had the 125 out there is because I was adamant that I did NOT want to go out on the 250.
See, Anthony Connor bought an RM250 from the shop (Lake Country Powersports) this last summer and brought it out to my house where it promptly tried to kill me (over and over)... I'm still pretty scared of it... But on the ice, everything just clicked...
Quotewho needs 12 inches of travel on the ice? :D
Oh man, let me tell you... You've never felt suspension action and feedback like you have on a newer dirtbike on the ice. The way the rear end sucks up and pushes back down on the slides, and the front end soaking up the bumps all over the place is incredible. I've never had so much feeling from suspension...
And to top everything off, I threw my back out picking up my gear bag... And today, I'm sore in spots I didn't know existed ;D This is definitely something worth doing again...
QuotePS - Maybe I will get out my '72 Husky 450 2-stroke. (Talk about a tourqe-monster) The only bad part about it is the suspension, and who needs 12 inches of travel on the ice? :D
12 inches only helps when you run over Brian and then again on the landing cuz he is a huge launch ramp!