Potential new entry level road racing class

[HenryDorsetCase]

Take a 450 MX bike, keep the engine, subframe and swingarm. Add roadbike forks and supermoto wheels, and a race fairing, add gas, go racing.

Its a proposed thing out of the US, but check out how sexy the bikes are, and look at Roland Sands Youtube video. Sure, the PM stuff would be very expensive here, but you wouldnt need to go to that extreme (Its OK for him, his dad OWNS PM).


I really like this idea, though the obvious questions about motor longevity (these are very high maintenance motors) gearbox ratios and such would have to be addressed. [edit: or would they? if its the same for everyone then it comes down to the rider/tuner]

But think of the fun factor!! and the rules could be tailored to suit NZ (along the lines suggested by Gavin Trippe in the article).

For all you F3/Protwins guys: would these be competitive? because they could be cheap enough. Light weight plus single cylinder = MAJOR FUN.

here are the links.

http://www.450moto.com/

http://www.roadracerx.com/article.php?article_id=454

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/08/14/dirt-bike-based-450cc-single-cylinder-road-racer/

[HenryDorsetCase]

just did a search on tardme for 450 CC dirt bikes

Heres a starter:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dirt-bikes/auction-112750536.htm?p=4

a KTM 450EXC with free motard wheels.

sell the plastics, the shock and fork and all the bits you dont need, then buy a second hand set of forks, get them rebuilt and get Robert Taylor to build an Ohlins shock for you (say $3000?)

plastics and bodywork, say $500 - 1000, sundry bits (rearsets etc) say another $500 to 1000: say it owes you (depending on what you get for the bits you sell) between 15 and 17k but remember thats for a brand new motor and frame and such.

With second hand RS250's at or around $10k, a competitive ProTwins ride at, what, $15k? more? then this has to be looking good.

Plus it would have a residual value....

and if you start with a second hand CRF or something you would be out the door ready to rock under $1ok with secondhand parts surely?.

can someone who has more clues than me add anything about the costs?

[k14]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=55426

[HenryDorsetCase]

ah, fuck it. thought i had stumbled on something cool...... thanks though, I hadnt read that thread

[scott411]

i mentioned something simaler here about 6 months ago, sorry can;t be bothererd finding the thread, but keep them standard to keep the price down, put motard wheels on and go,

i can see the benifits in it, however a 450mx bike is always going to struggle for gearing on a long track like pukekohe,

the motard class is very popular for a reason, bikes are easy to get , pretty cheap, and not much damage when you throw them away,

[Sully60]

i can see the benifits in it, however a 450mx bike is always going to struggle for gearing on a long track like pukekohe,


Yeah, Back when I was Tarding Hard I got all geeked out on it and made a gearing chart for a CRF450. To make it go 200 kmh you needed to use something like 17/32 gearing which in reality doesn't even fit.

[scott411]

i ran 16-36 at pearoa on my 06 RMZ450 (4 speed), and i think i was running about 160-170kph,

[Sully60]

i ran 16-36 at pearoa on my 06 RMZ450 (4 speed), and i think i was running about 160-170kph,

That must have been a tight fit Scott, I imagine with a 36 there was not a lot of space between the chain and the rear spocket bolts. Did it feel like it had anything left at the end of the straight? My old WR was pretty much done just after the kink but that was just a trail bike.

[scott411]

it was running right to rev imiter in top, i also had a yoshi cdi box with 1000 extra rpm,

your right the 36 rear did not leave much room,