Hi how to contact MXA

[meger z]

Hi if we all contact them and ask the for a 250 2 stroke test with the likes of ktm gas gas tm yamaha suzuki as they are still made for the Ero market . Well id buy a copy lets see what we can do .

[coblefutch]

Or how bout a real 250 cc test that includes all the 250 2t along with the 250f, including lap times, straight up, nose to nose.
let the best bike win.

[Shawn36]

I think the dispute and problem is that the 250 2-stroke is considered an advantage over the 4-stroke isn't it?  I don't think I've heard anyone claim the 4-stroke was a better bike, it (the 2-stroke) would win probably pretty easily.  And that would just be more ammunition on why they shouldn't be put in the Lites class at the pro level.

[EJ]

In other words;
they cannot write the truth??? (Wich many people would be reading...)

[miedosoracing]

Remember, the amateur races almost everyone in the US are or have gone to 250cc 2 or 4 stroke. So it is only right for magazines to do shootouts with bikes that most people can ride, buy and race against eachother. No? 

[bearorso]

Remember, the amateur races almost everyone in the US are or have gone to 250cc 2 or 4 stroke. So it is only right for magazines to do shootouts with bikes that most people can ride, buy and race against eachother. No? 

How could anyone argue with that?

Perfectly put Miedo!

They've had the guts to do the YZ / YZF comparison a few times. I think I , and , perhaps others, might just start to think it's not just crocodile tears that MXA are shedding, when , and if, they do full tests of all available models. It might not be easy to set up, but that's their job and they think of themselves as The definitive MX magazine. So they should be doing this.

Dirt Rider compared the 011 250XC against an FX450 Husaberg. It came out very well indeed. What I would have liked to see was the 300 put in as well, for it to be only a 3rd down in capacity. Finally , with KTM giving the 6 spd GB to the 2ts,  they've minimized the advantage a lot of OR 4ts have in the extra gear. Frankly, If I were racing MX on a current model KTM, I'd be using a XC (both the 2ts and the new 250 / 350XCFs) to get the extra gear, and the drop tanks that would be even better for MX, as you would add to the natural advantage of a 2t by being able to carry MX quantities of fuel , so much lower than the SX low. My alloy drop tanks I make for steel framed CR500s makes the bike feel like a 200.
 
Here's pics of one of my tanks ( a roughie, before final finishing, to check for fitment - alloy tanks this complex, wrapping around the barrel, between the pipe etc, distort a hell of a lot during the welding, even with multi point jigs, so I check them on my bike) , for those that might find it  interesting:

[EJ]

I think some companies like TM and GasGas would like it if they would get a fair chance
in comparison tests. And some well deserved worldwide attention.
I hope they can get all the bikes (in stock condition) and just DO this test!  

*EDIT:
MXA has just put an article on TM bikes on their main front page!
Seems like someone is watching us over here... I hope MXA answers all our questions!
Look on the main homepage of MXA, or click here for the article;
http://www.motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/TM-MOTORCYCLES-GETS-A-NEW-US-IMPORTER-144-250-300-7691.aspx

[meger z]

well done   i think it is good to rase the profile of all bikes it makes good reading, people need to see more than just the big 5 . Here in the uk gas gas beta sherco + other bikes are popular.

[Coop]

bearorso that is awesome! Really reminds of the works Honda's in the 80's that had custom aluminum tanks. very cool stuff  .

[hack-man162]

Bearorso, how about doing a 1.7 gallon aluminum tank for the aluminum framed YZs that accepts the shrouds from the '08-'09, or even the '10+ YZFs?

[bearorso]

Bearorso, how about doing a 1.7 gallon aluminum tank for the aluminum framed YZs that accepts the shrouds from the '08-'09, or even the '10+ YZFs?

A South African company does that - I fairly sure you can find the posting about it on this site.

 I already do a few types for Ducatis. And I get 'persuaded' every now and then to do one offs. But, when people can get plastic tanks for $150 /$250, they won't come at the price that needs to be payed for a skilled artisan to do an alloy tank, out of high quality materials.

The last, very trick tank I did was for an AF, I built for a mate, using a 450X chassis. But, it was a totally different thing. The tank was down at the airbox area, the airbox in the 'tank' area. I used a CF tank cover  made for OEM tanks to make it look less obvious. The welding beads on the AF conversions (these are very easy to do - which begs the question, "why don't the OEM companies just flip current 125 / 250 2ts into 4t chassis?")  amounts to approximately 24 to 32", welding of an alloy tank can be more than a couple of hundred inches.

For example, just the machined and threaded alloy inserts, for fuel outlets, rad shroud mounts,seat and tank strap mounts, fuel sight level tubing spigots, fuel pump mounts, and hose 'P' clip mounts, add up to 28  on that CR500 tank pictured - about 4 would be deleted on a tank for other 500s. Then , I machine 10 stainless fittings to go into the tank and onto the Mikuni fuel pump. As a side note, I made all of the radiator shroud bolt fittings from alloy, as I don't particularly like the std Honda ones, that you can buy.

There's a Lot of time in making alloy tanks, but few would appreciate that. They have to cost a fair bit of money, that few are willing to pay. Road guys are the ones that seem to be prepared to pay the necessary amount - dirt guys, mostly, just don't get it.

[hack-man162]

I couldn't find any info in a search other than the VDLaar kit.

[Super Trucker]

bearorso that is awesome! Really reminds of the works Honda's in the 80's that had custom aluminum tanks. very cool stuff  .

  I agree very CooL Bearorso, you must be a very tallented welder. When you write mxa tell them to do a mod 125 shootout, including all the makes. I would like to see a HUSKY 125 test and a TM 125 test.

[bearorso]

I couldn't find any info in a search other than the VDLaar kit.

That sounds familiar - I think that's the one I thought of, but it doesn't use 10/11 450 stuff - the earlier 4t stuff?

There was a Dutch (?) shop that put LM plastics on a 125, I think it was here under the heading of 2010 prototype?

[bearorso]

bearorso that is awesome! Really reminds of the works Honda's in the 80's that had custom aluminum tanks. very cool stuff  .

  I agree very CooL Bearorso, you must be a very tallented welder. When you write mxa tell them to do a mod 125 shootout, including all the makes. I would like to see a HUSKY 125 test and a TM 125 test.

 Not a particularly talented welder anymore - I'm a 50yr old whose eyesight is shot and am a bit shaky - my days of perfect work were some 20/30 years ago. But I know a hell of a lot more now, so it, evens out, I'd say.

I'm much more of a frame and suspension bloke than a sheet metal guy, but because of that, I do enjoy doing tanks every now and then. I find it challenging, and fun, in a, "it will feel better when it stops" sort of way, because I never really did much of it years ago.