UPDATED! 11/23/13 2014 Rule and Class Structure changes

[Tim Johnson]

Finally, someone hit the nail. RZ's and RD's. They were all street production bikes when introduced. Yo, John there's your 2-T's that will really compete with the new KTM and a finely tuned CBR 500 that has gone on a major diet.

[Scott McDermott]

[Please pretend this is written with a John Black level of light-hearted cool. I'm coming up short]

Jesse, I think you're a wee bit off on the current F4s winning the over all against 250s (too few good riders on them[ouch]). Alan's TWS fastest on our bike, a full 100cc, is a 23.9 with a tail wind. What's his fastest on yours? If it's a 23.9 that would put him 3 seconds slower that Ryan with no tail wind. Is Andrews that much faster than Alan? :D I know TWS is the biggest and the fastest and we'll have a better chance on the tighter tracks but wide open the 100 can't quite run with the 250. That said, I don't really care to run with the 250s. I want a 2stroke that can run for overall. I don't like being passed by lesser racers on faster bikes. 125mx 2strokes can bore close to 170 I believe. That leaves a lot of room to start with water cooled stock displacement 125mx motors in gp chassis and add higher displacement limits if Walter sees proof the 125 is too small (ie. some lead rider can't run with the lead group) without having to buy new motors.

PS, love where this is all going. I know there won't be a lot of people racing 2 strokes. I'm not looking for a class win in a small class. Overall is really all that matters.

[Tim Johnson]

Mr. Joe. This is Kevin Johnson. We used the KX 85/100 mini motard in the mini endurances a few years ago. At TWS we had the power valve wired wide open because we were on the pipe so long it didn't make sense to have any low end power. However at the shorter tracks we did have the power valve operational. This power valve on the 2009 MX motor we had was production based. Just like the RZ 350's. Having a power valve in a two stroke doesn't matter if you take into account the torque of the 500's, 400's, and 250s'. which are all 4-t's. I personally have ridden both and the 250 had a lot of low end power. So I think it would be nice to ride a screaming 2 stroke in a field of 4 strokes. I believe in the phrase: If it don't breath pre-mix, than it ain't a true racer.

[Keith Hertell]

Forget about the RZ's I am serious about the RD platform though.

Walter?

[Bill Klindworth]

I was looking at a cbr500 or a 390 duke as commuter bikes, now I will want to race it.

I bought a CBR500R for a commuter.
Has enough power to be interesting but still gets 60-70 MPG
Smooth power curve that picks up over 4500RPM. Red line -8500

Honda got the geometry right on the bike - the bike feels & turns well (if a bit heavy at 428 lbs wet)
Seating position is pretty low

Unfortunately, the forks & shock are not race (or sport riding) ready - very poor for a 175lb rider (and that's being kind)
Expect to spend $1500 - $2000 on upgraded suspension.
Roger put springs & emulators in my forks & the front end was greatly improved & confidence inspiring ($460)
OEM shock is trash. :(
JRI is working on building a double clicker & triple clicker shock for the bike.
Ohlins makes a shock - a double clicker altho is is not listed on their web site
Supposedly you can get Andreani 20mm cartridge units thru Ohlins - don't know much about them except they are around a grand installed by Ohlins

Rear sets will bring up the pegs & give GP shift. No easy way to GP shift OEM shift linkage
Gilles and Moth Racing (Thailand) are only manufactures offering them now - Vortex says 6 weeks before they offer theirs
The Moth rear-sets flex more than normal Vortex - they are pretty lightweight
And who knows if you can get replacement parts
May be better to stock a couple of spare sets

Clip-ons are suggested because the OEM bars are very high.
Unfortunately there is not much space to work with in that area - again Moth Racing offers clamps & bars that work
(any 7/8" replacement bar would work with their clamps)

Race body work ? ...Haven't seen anyone making anything yet that you can get in the US
Looks like you're gotta have to build a fiberglass belly pan to catch fluids

Several exhausts are available - take your pick

Not much in the way of performance upgrades - maybe 1 or 2 HP with full exhaust & Power commander on pump gas

Sub frame is bolted on so it's replaceable for crash repairs

Gas cap is not hinged like a standard Honda cap.
The whole cap comes off tank for fueling

Engine case protectors are made by Moth Racing
Have not seen any one else making any for the bike

That's what I've learned, so far, about the CBR500R in the few months I've owned one

Oh - link to CBR500 European Junior cup bike
http://www.europeanjuniorcup.com/ejc/cbr500r/
They claim 54 bhp at the wheel on race gas


-BK

Update:

Sharkskinz now offering CBR500R race bodywork

link:
http://sharkskinz.com/cbr500.aspx

[Ty Howard]

I did find out last week that it would be next fall, at the earliest, before the KTM 390 makes it to the United States.

[Bill Klindworth]

I did find out last week that it would be next fall, at the earliest, before the KTM 390 makes it to the United States.

I would like to test ride one !

[Scott McDermott]

You might start a list now, Ty. ;)

[Ty Howard]

If they send me a demo everyone can take a turn.

[Heinz Roy]

If they send me a demo everyone can take a turn.

1. Moi!