OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[Blaster Babe]

I have heard it said in the 2-wheeled world that 4 strokes accomodate for riders that would otherwise not make it into the competition were it 2-stroke-only still.

And i look around our MX races and all i see is YFZ's and 450R's. They are a great all-rounder, dont get me wrong, and in the 'States there are major players who squeeze every amp out of their 450's. But are we really in the same league?

I admit i moved up from my Blaster to a 450R simply because i dont have the skills to really work a 2-stroke efficiently. And i am much faster on it. Not because of the extra CC's, but because i dont have to work the clutch in corners, i can tractor thru anything, and i can make up time on the straights. Young Natalie Ross however, beat quite a few of the 450 girls on her STOCK blaster!

So be honest - do you think we all have 450's because we "need" them, or because they make us look good?
_________________
(PeteW's missus)

Semi-retired while playing mummy to two

[OZ_450]

IMO
i think the 450 is easier to ride/race compared to a 2 stroke coming from a tricked up banshee to the yfz i found i had more low end torque so more traction so didnt have to ride it like a stole it as much pardon the pun

i also think with the 4 strokes it is an advantage but like anything if someone gets something then other have to either follow suit or get left behind which basically happened in the 2 wheeler ama series look at bubbba stewart on a 450 this season and is close to untouchable but last year on the 250 he was way down the ranks

just my IMO
_________________
black covered in 5.7 powered oversize quad
model vx ss 350 hahaha
enough bass to compensate for lack of skills
Empty Wallet Racing proudly on track for GM Motorsport

[Linc]

I have a 450 because it was the only thing available for me to buy; I wouldn't have chosen a 2T if I could have, but still, I had no choice.

As for "because they make us look good"......not really. I really like my TRX and the way it looks; I feel good standing next to it, and I'm proud to own it...........but riding it, I just look like some bloke with too much money. I don't care. I like it.

Linc

[PeteW]

Linc wrote:

but riding it, I just look like some bloke with too much money. I don't care. I like it. Linc

PSML, you may be onto something there Linc.
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[ozquad44]

I really don't know what the deal is, Ive ridden both banshees and 450s on MX tracks. So what if someone thinks your not the full deal just cause you ride a four stroke? Most motorbike riders think that just because you ride a quad anyway. (They obviously haven't tried to race a quad, but I digress)
I suspect If you just blew them away on your four stroke, It may just be a case of sour grapes.
I currently own a 250 two stroke that I take to the sand dunes when I can, and absolutly I love it, but as for racing. The tracton you can get comming out of a corner on a four is pretty awsome and these modern 4strokes absolutley rip up top as well. Best of both worlds
I ask, what the hell is wrong with riding a machine that is easier to use anyway? You could look at it another way. A 4 stroke will actually allow you to ride more to your potential than a two, if that means blowing the doors off a two stroke rider come lap 5 then so be it!
_________________
State governments give us REC rego + area to ride ATVs legaly! State Status: VIC-No (Nazi's) QLD-Yes(no place to ride tho) NT-? NSW-Yes, Stockton. TAS-Yes, Areas for ATVs + ATV rego, Go Tazzie . WA-Yes, 2 top places within 1hr of Perth. ACT-? SA-No

[truk'n 450]

I would have to agree with brad BB they are easier to ride ,and you dont have to be very experienced to start off on one either, as compared to say, learning to ride a 2T ,but the sport quads are easier compared with mx models.you still have to have a bit of an idea of how to ride to look good as well

[mouffa]

i dont have a 450 i have a raptor 350 06 model and well i was looking at a banshee but this being the first time i have ridden anything with power other than a postie bike and a honda four trax i didnt want to get a bike that i cant use all the power 100% and the 350 is good for just cruising round on without worrying bout the plugs gummin up and it does what i want but would like somemore power tho

[Blaster Babe]

truk'n 450 wrote:

...they are easier to ride ,and you dont have to be very experienced to start off on one either, as compared to say, learning to ride a 2T...

But this is my point exactly! They ARE easier to ride and you dont need to be very experienced to ride/race one. And is that killing the "competition"? Racing is supposed to be about the fastest most skilled rider (Valentino springs to mind) but now any squid (like me) can get out there and get up to the front of the pack. Maybe i'm getting too phylosophical about this, but I just wonder if the advancements in motorcycle technology are holding us back from our own personal skills evolution. The "Bubba-scrub" is the biggest skills breakthrough to come out in years, but it was well over a decade since anything like that, yet back in the 70's & 80's when 2T's ruled, "big things" were discovered in racing every week. Like "clutching-it" out of corners. That was the last big advancement to come out of that era.

Getting back to quads, i think its been really interesting watching the Production class this year. With such a wide mix of riders all on limited machines it really shows the advancement of "the rider". Ok, here's another question for ya. With the introduction of the 500+ class in the Vic series, are we nearing the time to look at capping the Pro class like they do in America? Should we get that serious about our competition? Level the playing field?
_________________
(PeteW's missus)

Semi-retired while playing mummy to two

[OZ_450]

honestly yeah should be capped only class by ma that isnt really size classed is it but not just pro class should be across board

but the other prob is there isnt enough quads at this time to be done fairly

just IMO
_________________
black covered in 5.7 powered oversize quad
model vx ss 350 hahaha
enough bass to compensate for lack of skills
Empty Wallet Racing proudly on track for GM Motorsport

[Blaster Babe]

Yeah not enough yet to do it "across the board". The USA's AMA have the fine luxury of splitting all their classes by capacity but when you've go 700+ riders what else can you do fairly? But then again, if you isolate just their womens riders (about 30, if that) and apply their stucture to our series then i think you've got something there. They have so few women that they haven't been able to discriminate with CC capacity. For years the girls have been classified as A, B or C grade (much like our own series). But this year, in an effort to further develope the A grade women, the AMA have applied the same Pro Production rules as they have for the mens Pro class. The B & C classes remain open CC. The benefit of this is that it levels the Womens Pro class and allows them to build the skills to cross over into the mens classes (or in our case, cross over to the American classes). But it also allows the rest of the women the opportunity to ride whatever they have or can afford, so they are not excluded. Remember also, that generally the guys in our Pro class are mostly sponsored riders who can afford to comply with stricter rules. Where our amature classes need to be more leanient to allow all riders.
_________________
(PeteW's missus)

Semi-retired while playing mummy to two

[ATV PRO]

Blaster Babe wrote:

I have heard it said in the 2-wheeled world that 4 strokes accomodate for riders that would otherwise not make it into the competition were it 2-stroke-only still. And i look around our MX races and all i see is YFZ's and 450R's. They are a great all-rounder, dont get me wrong, and in the 'States there are major players who squeeze every amp out of their 450's. But are we really in the same league? I admit i moved up from my Blaster to a 450R simply because i dont have the skills to really work a 2-stroke efficiently. And i am much faster on it. Not because of the extra CC's, but because i dont have to work the clutch in corners, i can tractor thru anything, and i can make up time on the straights. Young Natalie Ross however, beat quite a few of the 450 girls on her STOCK blaster! So be honest - do you think we all have 450's because we "need" them, or because they make us look good?

I just rode a blaster on the weekend and was very impressed!I think the Bigger 4 strokes are harder to muscle around ,especially on a tight track the Blaster would be a good option.Although the 4 stroke power is everywhere,you need to be stronger and fitter to ride the bigger and heavier 450 quad,just my 2 cents
Cheers GNB

[47industries]

"profanity removed" Lenny, you found us!
Now you behave yourself on this forum and don't go upsetting anyone......not that I think you will??????????
Mick@47
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The way to this man's heart is through his esky

[OZ_450]

have to agree with len there
i rode Tanias day i blew mine up and wasnt that far behind a stock yfz450
but then again Tania's isnt really a stock blaster either

but yeah was impressed how well the little thing went
_________________
black covered in 5.7 powered oversize quad
model vx ss 350 hahaha
enough bass to compensate for lack of skills
Empty Wallet Racing proudly on track for GM Motorsport

[ATV PRO]

47industries wrote:

"profanity removed" Lenny, you found us! Now you behave yourself on this forum and don't go upsetting anyone......not that I think you will?????????? Mick@47

Who is Lenny or Len? Im alover not a fighter
Cheers GNB
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Cheers
Len

ATV PRO Pty Ltd

[greenhuman]

Shouldn't that read tugger, not lover?

[PeteW]

Goodnbad wrote:

I just rode a blaster on the weekend and was very impressed!I think the Bigger 4 strokes are harder to muscle around ,especially on a tight track the Blaster would be a good option.Although the 4 stroke power is everywhere,you need to be stronger and fitter to ride the bigger and heavier 450 quad,just my 2 cents Cheers GNB

Just for one Len I agree with you. we should oragnize a Blaster Vs 450 shootout on a suitable circuit of course.

BB's old Blaster was great fun to ride, good for play racing hey Smitty
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www.dirtcomp.com.au

[cowchaser]

PeteW wrote:

Goodnbad wrote: I just rode a blaster on the weekend and was very impressed!I think the Bigger 4 strokes are harder to muscle around ,especially on a tight track the Blaster would be a good option.Although the 4 stroke power is everywhere,you need to be stronger and fitter to ride the bigger and heavier 450 quad,just my 2 cents Cheers GNB Just for one Len I agree with you. we should oragnize a Blaster Vs 450 shootout on a suitable circuit of course. BB's old Blaster was great fun to ride, good for play racing hey Smitty

Ummmmm I don't remember for some reason. Ha ha ha ha

[Blaster Babe]

lol yeah and they're hardy too! (luckily)

Aahh...i'm still a Blaster devotee. If i could have afforded to have both the blaster AND the Honda, there's no way in hell i would have sold it. If only i was born rich instead of beautiful... ( )
_________________
(PeteW's missus)

Semi-retired while playing mummy to two

[gatesy]

I dont think that 4 strokes subtitute skills. I ride a banshee, sure it is hard to ride, but I seem to find the 4 strokes more difficult to ride in other ways. I believe that people get used to the bike they ride and make the most of the situation. And there are some great riders on both types of quad. I like to think that the 4 strokes are a part of the evolution process of bike/quad racing, so if someone on a 2 stroke thought they were worse off than other riders they could always swap over to a 4 stroke. With that said I dont know if I would give up my banshee for a 4 stroke, they might be out dated but they are fun to ride.

[azza450]

I'm with you Gatesy, banshees aren't the quickest bike out there but I still find mine more fun to ride than any 4 stroke. Maybe its the noise they make or the fact that you have to ride a banshee like you stole it in order to get the best out of it.

A good banshee with the right rider is a weapon on a hard packed track but the two strokes struggle on a heavy or muddy track.