Innovative Moto Developments IMD250. Now you can help!

**steveyb** · 27th July 2012, 13:17

Now you can all help in a small way each and make a difference.

Please vist:

https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/Crowd/Details/328

And put your hands in your pockets to make a difference to a whole bunch of people.

Cheers!

Steve
Moto Academy NZ
Innovative Moto Developments

**gammaguy** · 28th July 2012, 15:59

I had a real good look thru your websites and still have a few questions.

Is the bike you are building up designed to be shipped overseas and ridden by our next world champion,or is it just to give the rider the feel of What he can expect in the class?

Also if this is the case what is the cost of mounting a realistic assault.on the title?

**steveyb** · 28th July 2012, 21:11

The plan, as ambitious as it may seem, is to compete with Moriwaki and their MD250H in the GPMono space.
Moriwaki is the only company operating in that space (level below Moto3) in the global market. The price point of the MD250H is half of that of the NSF250 and 1/4 that of the proposed KTM customer bike. So, for national level racing, there is a place in the market for riders who have no budget for a Moto3 bike, but still want a bike that is competitive against 125GP bikes. We, well I, believe that our design will be superior to the MD250H in several areas.

In the USA, where the MD250H has been sold in the largest numbers (outside Japan anyway), they are competitive with most RS125/TZ125's and with the hop-up kit (CRF250R cam and high comp piston) they are competitive with hotter 125's. They are not competitive against Aprilia RS and RSW125s they have over there.

So, in the longer term we hope to be able to build a manufacturing industry building complete bikes and also kits to allow customers to retro-fit their own cycle parts. The longer term may well include using Moto3 engines, but their price is still too high (USD$16200 for the KTM). We hope our whole bike will come in around there.

We are not looking to compete either in a sporting sense, or in the marketplace, against Moto3 bikes from Honda and KTM. Our bike is not strictly a Moto3 bike as it uses an existing MX-based engine, this is against the Moto3 rules, so our bike is a GPMono machine. But Moto3 is a better label for people to hold onto.

The mid-term plan therefore is for Innovative Moto Developments to build at least two IMD250 bikes for Moto Academy NZ to be able to offer local and international riders the opportunity to race the 4-stoke style bike and develop skills for international competition, which around the world will be all 4-stroke before too long.

Clearly this is not the only route that is possible, look at Jake Lewis and his success. But he did start off on 2-strokes with the Aprilia RS125 and Honda RS125 bikes. But in the not so distant future, like it or not (and I don't particularly), young riders who know nothing about 125GP bikes, never heard of them, will be demanding 4-stroke Moto3 style bikes to race, alongside of the production style bikes that will be available in whatever guises. That time is not yet, but it is a challenge to stay ahead of the curve, not chasing it. We are already somewhat behind in that Spain and Italy already have a full Moto3 national championship and several bikes are racing in the ASBK.

At this stage I/we have no plans to go racing internationally, but it is a dream. It would be great to take the bike to Oz to see how it can go against the Moto3 bikes and young riders that are running in ASBK at the moment. One of them has two NSF250s!!!

At this early stage therefore, we are looking to build a prototype machine, tune, test and refine it. We will then look to go racing this summer in the Tri-Series and NZSBK 125GP class. Moto Academy NZ will have two RS125 bikes also available as back up and possibly for a novice nationals rider. We have no riders lined up as yet. Unfortunately, as with most bike racing, riders need to bring a budget to the table.

Be a shame to have three bikes sitting there doing nothing eh? CV's and expressions of interest for summer 2012/13 welcome!!

Hope that answers your questions.

Cheers
Steve
Moto Academy NZ
Innovative Moto Developments

**Shaun** · 29th July 2012, 01:07

Good luck with this idea Steve

Have you plans for the chassis kit yet? What suspension brakesfairings electrics etc to be used? Do you have one or more frame designs to suit different engines or just one brand

**steveyb** · 29th July 2012, 21:59

Originally Posted by Shaun

Good luck with this idea Steve

Have you plans for the chassis kit yet? What suspension brakesfairings electrics etc to be used? Do you have one or more frame designs to suit different engines or just one brand

Cheers Shaun.

We have chosen the Griffith Engineering GRP v2 frame. This base design works very well and has been adapted to quite a wide range of different engines now, all maintaining geometry close to the RS125. Other chassis suppliers are around, but we have chosen them to be our design partners.

Ohlins suspension courtesy of Kiwi Suspension Solutions. KSS will be building suspension units that will be unique to this bike and developed in partnership with Ohlins.

Honda RS125 Movistar fairings supplied by Just Fairings. Will try and do Carbon Fibre, but we'll have to see about that.

Standard Brembo brakes off RS125 with radial master and ductile iron disc.

Ignitech ignition along with Wobbly Pipes exhaust design manufactured by Cycleworks.

**Shaun** · 29th July 2012, 23:10

Originally Posted by steveyb

Cheers Shaun.

We have chosen the Griffith Engineering GRP v2 frame. This base design works very well and has been adapted to quite a wide range of different engines now, all maintaining geometry close to the RS125. Other chassis suppliers are around, but we have chosen them to be our design partners.

Ohlins suspension courtesy of Kiwi Suspension Solutions. KSS will be building suspension units that will be unique to this bike and developed in partnership with Ohlins.

Honda RS125 Movistar fairings supplied by Just Fairings. Will try and do Carbon Fibre, but we'll have to see about that.

Standard Brembo brakes off RS125 with radial master and ductile iron disc.

Ignitech ignition along with Wobbly Pipes exhaust design manufactured by Cycleworks.

sweet, the more info you can release about the project the better results you will get I think Steve. Moto acadamy is Not a big name in the race scene as such, so any extra doors you can open may be the ones you need to make this project kick off.

best of luck

How much of a grant have you been given for small buisness enterprises through the goverment Steve, like John Britten had

**gammaguy** · 30th July 2012, 01:05

Originally Posted by Shaun

sweet, the more info you can release about the project the better results you will get I think Steve. Moto acadamy is Not a big name in the race scene as such, so any extra doors you can open may be the ones you need to make this project kick off.

best of luck

How much of a grant have you been given for small buisness enterprises through the goverment Steve, like John Britten had

oh god

it had to happen,comparisons to the bike that was knocked up in a garden shed.even after a small business grant.

some of us know better

shh.

best of luck taking on the world Mr B.

**steveyb** · 30th July 2012, 09:39

Originally Posted by Shaun

sweet, the more info you can release about the project the better results you will get I think Steve. Moto acadamy is Not a big name in the race scene as such, so any extra doors you can open may be the ones you need to make this project kick off.

best of luck

How much of a grant have you been given for small buisness enterprises through the goverment Steve, like John Britten had

We have managed to secure a TechNZ Getting Started R&D grant, the value of which I am not at liberty to divulge, but really is only enough to 'Get us started' i.e. to tip us over the start line and given that Moto Academy NZ does not make any money, I have been steadfastly unsuccessful in attracting a cash sponsor and I don't have a real job, it is really really difficult to try and make something new happen to actually get ahead and the TechNZ grant and the PledgeMe project are really the only ways.

These grants are 50% reimbursable meaning, you spend the money first, then we will give you half of it back. These are not 'business as usual' grants but are for businesses looking to make a real difference to their business by creating a new product or process or improve one, such as prototyping like we are doing. The money is also not for capital expenditure, unless it is for the expert to make stuff for the prototype. The money is spent on 'experts' which often means scientists, but in our case means experts in frame, suspension, engine, exhaust etc work.

**bogan** · 30th July 2012, 12:23

I'm confused, so it isn't a Moto3 bike? but a GPMono machine instead?

**Mental Trousers** · 30th July 2012, 14:28

It's a Moto3 type bike but it won't qualify to compete in Moto3 because the engine is based on a motocrosser. So it's a GPMono - technically identical to Moto3.

**bogan** · 30th July 2012, 14:36

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

It's a Moto3 type bike but it won't qualify to compete in Moto3 because the engine is based on a motocrosser. So it's a GPMono - technically identical to Moto3.

So what classes is it eligible for? Or is it more of a Moto3 training/practice bike?

**Mental Trousers** · 30th July 2012, 17:31

Here in NZ I believe it can go head to head with the 125GP's, which normally run with F3/Pro Twins. Spain and Italy have a Moto3 National class that it could compete in. I don't know what other countries have though.

**Kevin G** · 30th July 2012, 21:03

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

Here in NZ I believe it can go head to head with the 125GP's, which normally run with F3/Pro Twins. Spain and Italy have a Moto3 National class that it could compete in. I don't know what other countries have though.

Maybe in your world but 125 GP is its own national level class, it is only run with F3 tractors at club level.
Interesting to see if an MX engined machine will cut it against real race bikes, I doubt it to be honest but happy to be wrong (not really just an expression) Moto 3 is a Brand and class that is owned and trademarked by the FIM/Dorna and Steve should be careful what he calls things as he has misguided a few on his video that he is in fact building a Moto 3 bike which he is not.
Do not get me wrong, I wish Steve all the best and I hope he can build a great race bike.
My opinion is that with the International move to embracing the Moto 3 format the days are over for the bikes like the MD250 (250 mono) as it is no longer competitive and does not really have a class. I am not aware of any MD250 that can match a good 125 with equal ability riders...I could be wrong of course...