Ben
Is it just me or does "the greatest season in supercross" seem like they just had a crowd of 2nd rate guys racing eachother and James Stewart crashing? Stewart is way faster than any of the other riders out there. I am so tired of the AMA and the sissie riders that refuse to go to motorcycle dealerships to sign posters for kids.
Maybe it's just me but when I was a kid Jeff Stanton, Jeremy McGrath, Larry Ward, Steve Lamson, Ezra Lusk, Damon Huffman, Damon Bradshaw, Mike Keidrowski, Robbie Reynard, Jeff Emig, John Dowd, Greg Albertin, Doug Henry, Mike Metzger, Jimmy Gaddis, Mike Jones, and all those other riders that I can't think of weren't as arrogant as the riders of today. They used to give their helmets, jerseys, goggles and all kinds of stuff away after finishing a race, even if they lost.
Today a "rider" walks out of the semi just to go strait to the track and right back. There is no Hi-5ing the crowd or tossing your helmet in the stands anymore. What happened to Supercross and Motocross being a family sport?
I still have Jimmy Gaddis's goggles and a signed poster from Ezra Lusk...
John Ramos #127?
Answer
The sport is definitely different.
I was never a national champion, but I gave a way jerseys, stickers and autographs to anyone who asked.
When I was racing 1980-1983, Hannah, Sun, Glover, Breaker, LaPorte, Howerton were better than the rest of the field, but they weren't arrogant. They would talk to the fans, sign autographs and were nice guys (except on the track...Howerton and Hannah, really didn't get along...lol...and still don't)
Now Supercross is all about "show". The racing has been cut down dramatically. Now it's all about theatrics. It's cheap and glitzy now, It's sad. The sport is about riding fast over difficult terrain, not about fireworks. They are treating motocross racing like wrestling events. All show, no go.
The other problem I now have with pro motocross is the 4-stroke rule. A privateer doesn't have a chance now, unless he is rich. Titanium and carbon fiber are nothing for a pro team, but a privateer can't afford the prices they are getting for that technology. It has become a race of the wallets. On a 2-stroke you could get a half of season out of a set of piston rings and piston. The price was usually under $200.00 for the season. On a 4-stroke your top end rebuild is going to cost you a grand and most top pro racers rebuild 4 times a year minimum. Not to mention the cost of the bike. The average open class 4-stroke is gonna cost you $8,000 - not pro race ready. You are going to need to spend another $4,000 to $10,000 to get the bikes power to weight ratio close to the top fours pro bikes. The way this was taken care of in the past was the "claiming rule". The claiming rule needs to be brought back. (the younger people won't remember, but a privateer won Marty
Tripes's factory Honda. The claiming rule allowed another competeror to put in a bid on the winner's motorcycle. This kept the factories from getting carried away with exotic materials. A guy put in for Tripe's factory Honda. The rest of the teams also put in for the bike. The AMA drew the name of the winner out of a hat and the privateer won. He had to pay $3,500 cash for the bike back then-average motocross bike prices were around $1,200, but it was to keep the guys with the fat wallets in check)
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-811503.html
I paid $10,500 for the new Chevy car I drive to work with! The AMA also needs to change back to the rules for a higher minimum weight limit and allow 2-strokes of the same engine size to compete against the 4-strokes. This would give privateers a fighting chance. The major four threatened the AMA and the AMA knuckled under. The AMA needs to get some balls and a backbone and stand up to the major four. The AMA needs to put racing first and not cater to the top four's bottom line.
Here is Supercross the way it used to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Sgof7j8YM
The sport is definitely different.
I was never a national champion, but I gave a way jerseys, stickers and autographs to anyone who asked.
When I was racing 1980-1983, Hannah, Sun, Glover, Breaker, LaPorte, Howerton were better than the rest of the field, but they weren't arrogant. They would talk to the fans, sign autographs and were nice guys (except on the track...Howerton and Hannah, really didn't get along...lol...and still don't)
Now Supercross is all about "show". The racing has been cut down dramatically. Now it's all about theatrics. It's cheap and glitzy now, It's sad. The sport is about riding fast over difficult terrain, not about fireworks. They are treating motocross racing like wrestling events. All show, no go.
The other problem I now have with pro motocross is the 4-stroke rule. A privateer doesn't have a chance now, unless he is rich. Titanium and carbon fiber are nothing for a pro team, but a privateer can't afford the prices they are getting for that technology. It has become a race of the wallets. On a 2-stroke you could get a half of season out of a set of piston rings and piston. The price was usually under $200.00 for the season. On a 4-stroke your top end rebuild is going to cost you a grand and most top pro racers rebuild 4 times a year minimum. Not to mention the cost of the bike. The average open class 4-stroke is gonna cost you $8,000 - not pro race ready. You are going to need to spend another $4,000 to $10,000 to get the bikes power to weight ratio close to the top fours pro bikes. The way this was taken care of in the past was the "claiming rule". The claiming rule needs to be brought back. (the younger people won't remember, but a privateer won Marty
Tripes's factory Honda. The claiming rule allowed another competeror to put in a bid on the winner's motorcycle. This kept the factories from getting carried away with exotic materials. A guy put in for Tripe's factory Honda. The rest of the teams also put in for the bike. The AMA drew the name of the winner out of a hat and the privateer won. He had to pay $3,500 cash for the bike back then-average motocross bike prices were around $1,200, but it was to keep the guys with the fat wallets in check)
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-811503.html
I paid $10,500 for the new Chevy car I drive to work with! The AMA also needs to change back to the rules for a higher minimum weight limit and allow 2-strokes of the same engine size to compete against the 4-strokes. This would give privateers a fighting chance. The major four threatened the AMA and the AMA knuckled under. The AMA needs to get some balls and a backbone and stand up to the major four. The AMA needs to put racing first and not cater to the top four's bottom line.
Here is Supercross the way it used to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9Sgof7j8YM
What type of motorcycle should I start out with?
Tanner
I am wanting to get a motorcycle this summer and I don't know what would be best for me. I haven't ridden an actual motorcycle before (but have with my dad on his with him controlling it). I can see myself on various kinds of motorcycles and enjoying them. I can see myself on cafe racers, sporty motorcycles, enduros, rat bikes, and also standard motorcycles. The reason i think I would like a cafe racer is because they have that history with them that I find amazing and I like the look of them too, I can see myself on a sport motorcycle like a cbr 250 or a ninja 250 because I have heard that they are really fun to ride. I like how enduros can go off road but they tend to be expensive (or at least that I don't find any decent priced ones). Rat bikes(: I love how they have personality but they tend to be hard to come by that I actually like. I'm only 17 and I would like to point out that I do not like the idea of american chopper looking motorcycles or touring motorcycles. I want a motorcycle that won't make me look like another kid on a motorcycle. I'm thinking about racing some friends on it and I would like to add in a possibility of doing it off road too. I think I would be using it for some fun in lively towns most but not stunts. I wish to learn how to drift on a motorcycle too like in supermoto or moto rally kinds of ways but I want to avoid enduros as much as possible. I will also be using this for my primary commuting vehicle too. If you have any suggestions please help me out on this because I need an expert of some level of help deciding.
Answer
The first thing you have to do is make up your mind. Do you want to drag race? track race? go off road? race off road? commute? Each of these forms of riding require a different style of motorcycle. No one bike will do them all.
If you are thinking of "racing your friends" on public roads, just stop now and never get on a bike. Not only is street racing quite illegal (you tend to lose your license when the police catch you), but you give respectful riders a bad name, and your crashes cause OUR insurance rates to increase. Buying a race class bike, Like a CBR600, r6, etc makes you what we in the motorcycle community call a squid, which is not a compliment. It means you are just a child on a motorcycle, who is on WAY more bike than they can safely handle, and who also tends to ride like a jackass and get hurt or killed.
That being said...
The best bikes for beginners, and especially younger riders, are sub 600cc single or twin engine motorcycles.
Sport / standards include the ninja 250 ,cbr250, ninja 500, gs500.
Cruisers include the Shadow 600, shadow 750, vulcan 900
Dual sports / enduros are not as popular these days, but a street legal honda xr250, klr250, or classic enduros make great learning tools. Their insurance is the cheapest of the bunch too, which is something you should check before buying any bike.
About your age, keep in mind that until you are 18, you cannot legally own or insure a motorcycle, or any vehicle for that matter, it will have to be your parents bike with you being insured on their policy until you are 18. Just food for thought.
If you are serious about a motorcycle being your primary means of transportation, you should consider what kind of storage comes on the motorcycle you choose. You will need a place to store your helmet, armor jacket, cloves, some basic tools, and any odds and ends you pick up while running errands and such. This is where bikes like the klr250, or klr650 shine. Many second hand ones can be found with weatherproof storage in the form of saddlebags and top cases. I recommend locking luggage, so that your things can be secure when you are away from your bike. Keep in mind you will need a full set of quality rain gear for inclement weather, and you will be caught in inclement weather. Rain hurts above 40mph and I will leave it at that.
Based on what you mentioned, I would recommend a dual sport for your first bike. They are relatively cheap to buy, maintain, insure, and are quite durable. The capability to go on and off road keeps you from getting bored too.
If that isnt your style, a ninja 250 is the most proven starter bike in the united states. Tens of thousands of riders have learned to ride on them and the are one of the most economical bikes on the road.
For your commuting purpose, a cruiser is hard to beat. I used my cruiser with a windshield and saddlebags for 1 year in college and can attest to the practicality of them as your main method of transportation.
The first thing you have to do is make up your mind. Do you want to drag race? track race? go off road? race off road? commute? Each of these forms of riding require a different style of motorcycle. No one bike will do them all.
If you are thinking of "racing your friends" on public roads, just stop now and never get on a bike. Not only is street racing quite illegal (you tend to lose your license when the police catch you), but you give respectful riders a bad name, and your crashes cause OUR insurance rates to increase. Buying a race class bike, Like a CBR600, r6, etc makes you what we in the motorcycle community call a squid, which is not a compliment. It means you are just a child on a motorcycle, who is on WAY more bike than they can safely handle, and who also tends to ride like a jackass and get hurt or killed.
That being said...
The best bikes for beginners, and especially younger riders, are sub 600cc single or twin engine motorcycles.
Sport / standards include the ninja 250 ,cbr250, ninja 500, gs500.
Cruisers include the Shadow 600, shadow 750, vulcan 900
Dual sports / enduros are not as popular these days, but a street legal honda xr250, klr250, or classic enduros make great learning tools. Their insurance is the cheapest of the bunch too, which is something you should check before buying any bike.
About your age, keep in mind that until you are 18, you cannot legally own or insure a motorcycle, or any vehicle for that matter, it will have to be your parents bike with you being insured on their policy until you are 18. Just food for thought.
If you are serious about a motorcycle being your primary means of transportation, you should consider what kind of storage comes on the motorcycle you choose. You will need a place to store your helmet, armor jacket, cloves, some basic tools, and any odds and ends you pick up while running errands and such. This is where bikes like the klr250, or klr650 shine. Many second hand ones can be found with weatherproof storage in the form of saddlebags and top cases. I recommend locking luggage, so that your things can be secure when you are away from your bike. Keep in mind you will need a full set of quality rain gear for inclement weather, and you will be caught in inclement weather. Rain hurts above 40mph and I will leave it at that.
Based on what you mentioned, I would recommend a dual sport for your first bike. They are relatively cheap to buy, maintain, insure, and are quite durable. The capability to go on and off road keeps you from getting bored too.
If that isnt your style, a ninja 250 is the most proven starter bike in the united states. Tens of thousands of riders have learned to ride on them and the are one of the most economical bikes on the road.
For your commuting purpose, a cruiser is hard to beat. I used my cruiser with a windshield and saddlebags for 1 year in college and can attest to the practicality of them as your main method of transportation.
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