450GP bike based on MXer

[Jack_Brock]

Have you guys seen this concept?  http://www.450moto.com/

There has been a lot of discussion about this on the wera board recently.  I personally think these bikes would be a blast and I am seriously considering it for my next bike.  What do you guys think, anybody else have interest in it?

Jack

[Burt Munro]

Looks great!

I can see this as a good way to get people initiated into roadracing.

[mikendzel]

I think the AMA may be considering adding it to the bill in 2009 as a development race series (kinda like the Red Bull Rookies Cup).  At least I think I read that somewhere in the hundreds of posts about it.  I COULD BE MISTAKEN!

I really want to do it, and I'm going to try and get a KTM 450 SMR made into one of these.  Bob at B&E Motorsports in Queenstown, MD is a KTM dealerraces expert in CCS, and his shop is only 15 minutes from my house.  Works for me!!!!

[Super Dave]

I haven't decided on this.

250's were great, and you could replace pretty much everything about these 450's and put in 250's and it would all sound the same.

In ways, it feels expensive.  An SV based series would be exciting and less expensive and attainable.

[Jack_Brock]

In ways, it feels expensive.  An SV based series would be exciting and less expensive and attainable.

That would be awesome.

I think there are far too many racers that have only tried 600s, and have no idea what they are missing with some of the LW bikes.  I rode an SV for awhile and it was a blast, I just wish the participation was better.  If there was a LW class with strong fields, it would be a no brainer for me on what to run.

Dave, how did that SV1000 work out?  Was it a fun bike at the track?

[tzracer]

I think it will end up being rather expensive. The engines are not made for roadracing. Will probably need reguar major servicing to keep it running reliably. In Japan they are racing 250s using the motocross engines. They are replacing pistons every race weekend.

[Jack_Brock]

So Brian, what do you think the weight limit is for a rider to be competitive on a 125?

[Super Dave]

So Brian, what do you think the weight limit is for a rider to be competitive on a 125?

One of my instructors was racing a 125 at Blackhawk winning races.  He weighed 210#.   He's not going to beat PJ Jacobsen or anything, but...

[Super Dave]

Dave, how did that SV1000 work out?  Was it a fun bike at the track?

Fun?  Yeah, a good Supertwins bike.  Slow against 600's though.  Slower against 750's and 1000/4's.  I'm going to the Suzuki Cup Final though, so that was my goal.  Been invited several times with my first invitation in 1989, but I never made it.

[resurection]

Do you guys think 2 stroke 500 cc would race in this new class?

[ecumike]

... I rode an SV for awhile and it was a blast, I just wish the participation was better.  If there was a LW class with strong fields, it would be a no brainer for me on what to run....

Where are you?  there are LOTS of SVs here in MA/SE region... 3/4 of the GTL races are stupid SVs.

Competitive on a 125?... I've seen 175lb guys in the top 3.

[Burt Munro]

Do you guys think 2 stroke 500 cc would race in this new class?

Although nothing is in stone yet, everything I've been reading is that the class specs will be very narrow. 

The class demo bikes were based off of 4 stroke 450's from Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki.  One of the requirements discussed was that the donor front end would have to be from the same manufacturer as the frame, motor and swingarm.  How this requirement plays out for other makes like KTM, TM, etc, remains to be seen.

So no, a 500 2 stroke would not fit this class as it's being portrayed.