what was raced pre 450's?

[hungus07trx400]

I just got into quads fairly recently and was wondering what machines were being run in motocross before all the 450's came out?

yamaha breeze

[trick450r]

hybrids and before that 250r's

[STEVENJANNA]

Originally posted by thepkrkid
yamaha breeze
STOP IT!!!!! :p

GEEZ ask a simple question right.

High dollar, exotic Honda 250r's, before the factories abandoned us you had Suzuki w/ the Quadracer 250 & 500, Kawasaki w/ the Tecate 250, Honda W/ the 250r, and ocasionally the Yamaha Banshee and before that all the factories had 3 wheelers that basically started it all. Hope that helps.

[hungus07trx400]

It does, thanks a lot.

[bradley300]

250r's dominated from basicly 89 to 99, then 400ex's took over the ameteur ranks basicly over night, then cam the z400's and hybrids. then in 04 the yfz's started coming in followed by the rest of the 450's

[Toadz400]

It'd be nice to see more hybrid racing. I always loved going to the races and every quad was unique down to the frame.

[NeverLiftRacing]

i agree with toad!

[54warrior]

I can remember seeing the first YZ400 hybrid that Kory Ellis had. It was a blue frame with white 250R plastics. It was sex on wheels. Absolutely gorgeous machine.

[jal232]

But didnt the hybrids kinda take it out of the back yard racers hands? I mean say the rider was good, raced all the way up to pretty much pro am or so, but just did not have the money and funds that the pro racers had. What Im tryin to say is, isnt that why its good to now have limts on what all you can do to your machine? (Not going against hybrid at all. In fact they are amazing).

I mean cause lets just say a pro Mxer would probaly have what, 18K to 25K wrapped up in machine easy wouldnt they? With aftermarket frames and such? I know they get up there now, but isnt that kinda why the pro class is limited??

[STEVENJANNA]

Originally posted by jal232
But didnt the hybrids kinda take it out of the back yard racers hands? I mean say the rider was good, raced all the way up to pretty much pro am or so, but just did not have the money and funds that the pro racers had. What Im tryin to say is, isnt that why its good to now have limts on what all you can do to your machine? (Not going against hybrid at all. In fact they are amazing).

I mean cause lets just say a pro Mxer would probaly have what, 18K to 25K wrapped up in machine easy wouldnt they? With aftermarket frames and such? I know they get up there now, but isnt that kinda why the pro class is limited??

The most important thing that you are missing is, that during that time period the "pro" racers weren't making any $ doing this and most of those machines were ridden as part of a sponsorship deal.

[jal232]

I see, that makes sense, I had known that not much money was made. So all the machines were given to the riders for sponsorship pushing? Or product pushing?

[STEVENJANNA]

Originally posted by jal232
I see, that makes sense, I had known that not much money was made. So all the machines were given to the riders for sponsorship pushing? Or product pushing?

I wouldn't say all of them, but most top guys weren't riding there own personal quads. I guess the direction I was trying to steer you in was, that if you moved up in the ranks and were good enough you could find an aftermarket co. who would sign you to ride there machines.

[jal232]

Gotcha,,,makes sense now..Otherwise no one, unless wealthy could afford really to race at that level. Atleast thats the idea im getting..Thanks

[Toadz400]

Originally posted by jal232
Gotcha,,,makes sense now..Otherwise no one, unless wealthy could afford really to race at that level. Atleast thats the idea im getting..Thanks

Well you still need to be wealthy to race at that level. Heck, I'm not wealthy enough to race at the local circuits!

[54warrior]

Yeah, racing of any sorts, MX, CC, dirtbike, quad, drag cars, race cars, dirt, asphalt, go karts, etc.. takes money. If you don't have the money that it takes to be competitive, even in the lower ranks, forget it. Not saying you can't have fun, just that even C class riders now seem to have the best of everything.

[Toadz400]

Originally posted by 54warrior
Yeah, racing of any sorts, MX, CC, dirtbike, quad, drag cars, race cars, dirt, asphalt, go karts, etc.. takes money. If you don't have the money that it takes to be competitive, even in the lower ranks, forget it. Not saying you can't have fun, just that even C class riders now seem to have the best of everything.

I race C class and I usually have the most stock quad. Last year there were a few $15-20K quads in the C Beginner's class and they had 4+ years of experience racing. Nice beginner's class huh? The sad part is I can still beat them on a stock YFZ.

[Mean250r]

back when the hybrids and the 250r's were around, that was ATV MX racing at its prime. EVERY single quad wwas diffrent. It was actually intresting. The 450's ruined the sport. Im sorry but its true.

[SRH]

Originally posted by Mean250r
back when the hybrids and the 250r's were around, that was ATV MX racing at its prime. EVERY single quad wwas diffrent. It was actually intresting. The 450's ruined the sport. Im sorry but its true.

lol what

the sport before was no more known then go kart racing,it was a hillbilly sideshow to dirtbike racing, with the wpsa, the 450s and factory backing and events like atv open quads are beginning to become respected and more mainstream, and to be honest after spending a few seasons on a 450, im glad the 250r geometry and 400ex days are over, the new quads are so much better, and anyone can buy one

[mineralgrey01gt]

dude no quad to this day can outhandle the 250r stock for stock, im sorry, maybe its just me but i dont see it and ive rode a few different 450's in my life, then when you start putting money into both of them, i couldnt imagine how the 250r handles with the protrax front end. If honda was smart they would have kept the 250r frame and threw the 450 engine in it and had the sickest 450 on the market, simple as that

[Mean250r]

Originally posted by mineralgrey01gt
dude no quad to this day can outhandle the 250r stock for stock, im sorry, maybe its just me but i dont see it and ive rode a few different 450's in my life, then when you start putting money into both of them, i couldnt imagine how the 250r handles with the protrax front end. If honda was smart they would have kept the 250r frame and threw the 450 engine in it and had the sickest 450 on the market, simple as that

I know this is gunna turn into a 450 vs 250r thread, I had a Fully modded 250r, and a fully modded yfz. I will take a 250r over any 4 stroke to this day. Take it to the bank sucka

[mineralgrey01gt]

Originally posted by Mean250r
I know this is gunna turn into a 450 vs 250r thread, I had a Fully modded 250r, and a fully modded yfz. I will take a 250r over any 4 stroke to this day. Take it to the bank sucka

it probably will lol but oh well, just stating my opinion :) I do like 450's as I plan to buy a ltr-450 as soon as I get out of school and get settled with a job, but my 250r will always be my "better" bike in my eyes, again just personal preference

[440bigborekit]

the funny thnig is that no matter how much money you put into a quad it still will never handle as good as a dirtbike........:p :D

[250rmike]

you guys forgot about the cannondale bikes they were the first to factory back anyone in how many years you gotta give it to them for trying

[cletusEX]

I got into GNCC racing at the tale end of the aftermarket 250r days. It was nothing to see a $20,000 250r in the back of a $1,000 truck. The fast guys found a way to get a high dollar machine and be competitive. At most local races the 400ex was the choice for 90% of racers.

[400exstud]

Hybrids are cool and all but look at what the 450s have done for consumer quads. The new 450s are awsome and without the pro production class we wouldn't have the nice selection that we have today.

[Mean250r]

Originally posted by 400exstud
Hybrids are cool and all but look at what the 450s have done for consumer quads. The new 450s are awsome and without the pro production class we wouldn't have the nice selection that we have today.

Yeah your right, but go to a pro race. Every single bike is the same! Factory plastics with factory colors, back int he 250r/hybrid days. everybike had sweet color combos. Those were the days! I love to watch huevos 6, and see JJ rockin that sick LRD250r and all thr bros on hybrids.

[the Z Man]

I started racing a TRX350RX it was a built 350x 3 wheeler engine stuffed into a 250r chassis,
This was actually one of the long standing fastest quads til the 400ex came out.... other than the 400 hybrids of course.

[bradley300]

Originally posted by the Z Man
I started racing a TRX350RX it was a built 350x 3 wheeler engine stuffed into a 250r chassis,
This was actually one of the long standing fastest quads til the 400ex came out.... other than the 400 hybrids of course.

yeah, that combo was pretty much your only option if you wanted a fourstroke

[Toadz400]

The Suzuki LT-185 folks.
This is what they raced pre-450 era. Estimated at a mind-boggling 5 HP and 0-60 in..well, never. 3 inches of travel up front and 0 inches in the rear due to a super-strong solid rear end. Quite possibly the best machine ever made. Ever. And yes, this thing has been jumped.