Hobby Starter,

In my travels I now have three options. An 08 Honda CRF450 new, engine never run from a dealer $4599, a 05 KTM 450EXC one year by a dealer sponsored and supported rider $2700, or a 09 Husqvarna TC450 one rider sponsored and supported $3250. Leaning towards the new Honda. Will be riding/racing NLT July 17 B'day. MSC Gold Plate (Super Senior)12T, based on my old results and international results card from time I rode in Germany. I also qualify for AMA Pro-Am Regionals (Unadilla) starting this year, no way will I attempt that at my age. Just planning on 'casual' racing.

Husky


KTM


Honda


Course You-Tube Helmet Cams
ACE Motocross
http://images.motorsportdealers.com/common/MediaLibrary/Units/31955/images/250/1748778a9b4.jpg

Walden Playboys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlYIiEVO0OE

Broome-Tioga
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhF0kKYQyM8

Unadilla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5aApULKDxo&feature=related

stratoaxe wrote: It's become painfully apparent that many on this forum live a much more exciting life than myself.

Seriously, OS is like three times my age and still having more fun than me.

4 speed standard gearbox on the Husky. I do remmember the old late 70's ROKON automatic motocrossers, rode one once, and yes throttle control was more like flight/flip control.

Actually had a pull cord 'lawn mower' type starter.
More interesting pics and info:
http://www.rokonron.com/

So far the Honda is in the lead, but still has the standard Honda front end 'mush' problems in corners, dampers help, but in my dive in, front brake, compress front end to dig and control, pivot rear to berm, pivot to course, and go style of turning, I need the heavier Euro bike front ends.

I woulkd love a classic aircooled, drum brake, non linkage suspention motocrosser (puts me into the classic class, even fewer riders)I found a few on E-bay and Craigslist, but parts and such are an issue. Actually found a Maico 490 Spyder like I rode in Europe, but Maico still does not have a US Distributor, so parts will be an issue.

One of the reasons I like the KTM EXC's is for the dual purpose, pull or tape lights, remove kickstand and run motocross, put them back on and can run streets or trails. Open class is more easier to do both since good power for both, can not run 100% power on tracks due to the actual track setups, but you have the excess power when you need it, and trail bashing or street the powerband is well within what you need. 250's and 125's are too tempermental.

Had an old Yamaha IT490 (Trail bike based on the motocross YZ490, many a motocross trophy won on it, and then ran it back and forth to work on weekdays), best of both worlds, till parts became real scarce.

Few people run open class, the 125 and 250s are the most popular anymore because of powerband and weight for all the 'tricks'. I just keep rear on the ground powering, and usually run under, out and in front of Joe Astronaut flying over the step jumps, I am accelerating he is slowing in flight.

Edited by oldsoldier - 03 June 2010 at 2:09pm

Hope you can make it, took awhile to get where I can spend outragous amounts on hobbies. I missed a lot of youth, and reliving it can ba expensive. And physically I do push the envelope most times, but can't have fun when your dead.

Done airsofting, went the way of paintball, spray and pray hicap magazines, and non hit callers. I do do historical airsoft events now and then, doing one in CT end of June as a 1SG or LRRP Team Leader (avoiding contact and keeping CO informed on enemy movements and deployment, the old days relived) The TOP 68special internal airsoft M-60 project worked well but too tempermental, velocity was all over map. .68 power tube firing a 6mm .25BB. Sounded great though, the thumping of the air. Project componants and M-60 was sold on e-bay

I still remmember all the 'scooters' and cheap japanese bikes all over. Seeing a local with a 50cc scooter loaded down with cases of whatever, and a few chickens dangling off, puttering down a muddy 'road' (more of a trail) was a sight too.

I am shopping for a 'pit bike' to do all the racetrack puttering around. One of these old scooters or pocket bikes may be the answer.