There is a lot of buzz about the 2012 KTM two-strokes and it’s not just the sound from the exhaust. The latest news making its way to the talk boards involves Factory FMF/KTM riders Cory Buttrick and Charlie Mullins who will be making the switch to the 250 XC two-stroke motorcycles for the remaining National Enduro rounds.
Cory Buttrick
Three-time National Enduro Champion, Russell Bobbitt, has been a “two-stroker” throughout his career with KTM and has won all three of his championships aboard his 250 XC race machine. After witnessing his success and trying the new 2012 models, Buttrick and Mullins have decided to give it a whirl.
Charlie Mullins
Now all three Factory FMF/KTM Team riders will line up for the next AMA National Enduro round on their two-stroke race bikes. Mullins, the reigning National Enduro Champion, commented, “I can’t wait to race on the new two-stroke. After racing a four-stroke for so long, you forget how much fun the two-strokes can be. I’ve been riding it the past few weeks and can’t believe how easy it is to ride in and out of the tight trees. I feel very confident on the new bike.”
Russell Bobbitt
It’s no wonder the entire team is switching to the two-strokes after KTM has continuously improved the model line over the past few years. For 2012, the two-stroke machines received an abundance of chassis upgrades including a new frame, a new one-piece cast aluminum swingarm and a linkage suspension system.
For more information on the new models, please visit www.ktmusa.com.
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Looks like KTM will be the only “big brand” left that I’d consider supporting soon. Though this may take things off-topic, I just checked out Husquarna’s new website…The only 250 2-stroke they provide is now in the WR range, and they proudly state that it has been refined to a point where no technical upgrades were necessary from last year…period. There’s a larger stroker in the WR lineup, but nowhere else.
No 2-stroke motocross bikes over 125, paired with a proud statement that they’ve stopped R&D on the larger 2-strokes and eliminated availability outside of the WR range means that parent company BMW is buying the hype.
Looks like KTM, TM, GasGas and the niche-builders are all we’re going to have left…unless we can get BRP/Can-Am to port over some of their snowmobile technology to the cycle crowd…pray for the return of Can-Am.
Be patient…I think the tide is very slowly turning….
Danny Ham ex pro now team manager has signed on to race a special vet class at the final round of the Australian Championship on a KTM250sx. Go Danny he will be taking on all the 450s lets hope he comes up with some great results.
Here are the sales results in Australia for anyone whos interested, its the figures from Jan to June and I grabbed them from the cool guys @ motoonline. Some real interesting percentages there and some good ones. YZ 250 sales are very steady and the Kato 300 is right there.
Top 10 Motocross Sales January-June 2011:
1. Yamaha YZ450F, 566, -11.30%
2. Honda CRF250R, 495, -20.70%
3. Yamaha YZ250F, 449, -3.60%
4. Honda CRF450R, 411, -6.80%
5. Suzuki RM-Z250, 320, -4.20%
6. Kawasaki KX250F, 314, -28.60%
7. Suzuki RM-Z450, 256, 13.80%
8. Kawasaki KX450F, 229, -23.70%
9. KTM 350 SX-F, 201, 100.00%
10. Yamaha YZ250, 158 -4.20%
Top 10 Enduro Sales January-June 2011:
1. Suzuki DR-Z400E , 548, -9.90%
2. Yamaha WR450F, 436, 1.90%
3. Honda CRF450X, 278, -26.50%
4. Yamaha TT250, 224, 32.50%
5. KTM 300 EXC, 211, -14.60%
6. Kawasaki KLX250S, 204, 10.30%
7. KTM 530 EXC, 196, -18.00%
8. KTM 450 EXC, 189, -22.90%
9. Yamaha WR250F, 163, -37.50%
10. Husqvarna TE510, 159, 48.60%
Think how much ( and how fast ) things would change if the rules were made fair or fairer at the highest level of AMA racing. More and more people would go back to smokers, as more and more could afford to race again. This would force factories to scramble to keep up and it would truly be a win/win.
@Dingerjunkie, Husqvarna nor GasGas produce MX 2 strokes with the exception of Husky’s CR125, if you want that to change simply get the AMA to change their homogilation rules for MX eligibility, I’m sure if they allowed them to run they would offer lighter flywheels…. or you can always do it yourself…. But don’t knock Husqvarna, they are responsible for making motocross the great sport it once was (before the four strokes ruined it)
If I’m not mistaken FMF head honcho Donny Elmer rides a smoker.
Hey there Rodd. I won’t knock Husqvarna…I just won’t purchase from them, nor from their parent company, until I see a larger-displacement bike supported. If any of the remaining “big builders” has the capital and weight to challenge the Japanese-four and buck AMA rules, it is BMW/Husky.
Husky has a great heritage and lineage in the sport, and I’d love to own some vintage Husky iron. I hope they use their pedigree to openly challenge the AMA rules as I believe they can, now that they have a large-cap parent company.
The Husqvarna WR 250-300 are an awesome bike, ive got a 09 250 and they lug better than a friends Ktm 300 xcw and will rip like a 450 motocrosser. They have the close ratio tranny like on their 00-07 CR motocrosser( so they can be used as a moto bike) and the husky 250-300 is the most bullet proof bike in my book (I also have a 2000 wr250 that never has trouble unlike friends KTM 300′s 98 and 08). so don’t count out the German Italian Husqvarna’s until you ride 1.
we need to have one big two stroke only event , with a big purse
Mike:
First Annual North American Two Stroke Championships (NATS)
Sleepy Hollow Motocross Park
3044 William Penn Hwy
Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania
Stay tuned for more info.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=210615845640798
Hey KTM boys, do something for the MX/SX fan(s) who’ve been faithful to 2 strokes for the entire 2/4 stroke debacle and put someone on a 250 smoker at the highest level of AMA MX/SX.
If we are asking for “wishes” in regards to the 2 stroke, try doing something really, really great. I am referring to the ruling at the AMA racing side, we “little guys” have ZERO effect in not only not being able to change the rules, but we’re not even allowed to be heard. You have the panache, the money and maybe the weight to get something done. Don’t abandon us mx’ers as EVERYONE else has. Remember, it’s the MX guys who are helping to keep mighty orange alive also!
speaking of the tide turning. who else noticed that M. Horban on a YZ 250 qualified for the washougal national this past weekend?!
@09husky250smoker,I do agree with you about the Husqvarna WR-250-300 being bullet proof & ultra reliable bikes & I also know for a fact that the “09″ & “11″ Husky-300wr’s run like they’re on nitrous and will without a doubt keep most any 450 4-smoke in check no problem! There is however a few things I disagree with and the 1st thing I noticed & disagree with is that the Husky WR models have close ratio transmissions!? I always thought that the WR stood for “wide ratio” & I would bet money on that for sure!
The second issue is I vehemently disagree when you say that your 2000 WR-250 never has trouble unlike your friends “98″ & “08″ KTM’s! I owned a 2008 KTM-300xc & that bike served me quite well as a matter of fact I liked my “08″ KTM-300 so much that I ended up buying a 2011 KTM-300xc & that bike really kicks a$$!As far as the 1998 KTM’s if I’m not mistaken I think that year they made the KTM-380sx as well as the 380 in a couple other configurations & from what I read about the 380 is that the worst problem they had was jetting issues which can be easily corrected with the right carburetor guru to jet it properly.
The 00-04 wr’s have wide ratio and the 05-11 wr’s have the close ratio like the cr’s my 2000 model you can be pegged in 4th and hit 5th it’s like it drops 5000 rpm and starts climbing again and at that time the speedo on says 101 mph its crazy, but my 09 will never do that because of the close gearbox, Wyatt Seals which works for husky and has tuned both my bike says the 00 has a wide ratio and the 09 has the close ratio of the cr.