I don't see where the 4-strokes with all their increased complexity have any advantage over the 2-strokes, which have a better power to weight, and have far less maintenance requirements.
Now we are off topic into a 2vs4 stroke thing. The Xlite (310) and Sherco are the only mid size motors built on a light platform, not downsized 450s. For a 4stroke I like it, I think the TXC 310 I rode felt lighter than my '12 GG250 2stroke in every way. I know the GG is a pig, but I was still surprised. I just like 2strokes better for a number of reasons. To me the biggest PIA of a 2stroke is the pipe hanging down up front asking to be smashed. If someone could pull off engineering that Ossa design correctly, it would be a killer.
I think a GG with a 310 Husky engine would be sweet! I have two X-lite Huskys and ZERO problems. Since we won't be able to buy a new Husky after they are sold out (Italian) the GG with the X-lite may be a great choice for some.
I tend to agree with that statement in general but until a 2T platform can take me 100 plus miles on 2.25 gallons of fuel, the 4 strokes will rule. Maybe a direct injected 2T will be able to do just that one day. The outboard marine industry has already proven the technology so I am not sure why we aren't seeing it emerge in our sport yet.
Lectron users get some excellent 2T bike mileage figures. I'm waiting to see how the cast Smart Carb works out.
They tried that smart carb stuff with snowmobiles back in the '90's. I had a Polaris XLT SKS with the Altitude Compensating Carburetor System (ACCS) in it. It sucked at all altitudes.
I had a cast Smartcarb on order and canceled it after the first ride on the Beta 300. Jetting on the 36mm PWK is just about perfect and the correction table they provide has been just as accurate. None of the 300 jetting issues you tend to find on KTM and GGs. Fitting the larger(longer) SC would mean a hack job on the airboot and possible shock clearance issues, not to mention teething problems, so why bother? Lectron is shorter and would fit better but it still would be a solution in search of a problem in the case of the Beta for my application anyway. Out west with big elevation changes and distances sure why not try it.
Bring that beast to the TriState Hare Scrambles at Tuxedo Ridge ski slopes this spring and let me ride it. Come by the Fun Mover or catch me sweeping the course. Interesting scooter.
Hey Steve, I'll probably be there. Chasing ECEA points again this year. Don't think there is a conflict. It is a great bike.
It overlaps with the Delaware State Enduro, which is a shame. Not sure if you're chasing enduro points or just hare scramble, though.
Just hare scrambles this year. Finished 2nd BSSR last year, and with a little luck can make A at the end of this year. Next year probably do something different. Tuxedo is fun, like most NETRA events its rocky and tough, especially if it rains. I live only about a half hour away so the terrain is a lot like my local stuff. I set my bike up stiffer this year for the faster ECEA races, it was pretty stiff at Tri County, hope I didn't go too far! Sucks not being able to practice and test stuff yet with snow still in the woods. Are you going to Irish Valley? Look us up, Beta #142, Husky #189, GG #484.
I am a manfacturing transition engineer for one of this countries premier research and development companies. I routinely travel to China and we routinely outsource production to China. I can find a contract manufacture with a fully costed labor rate of $9.00 per hour in China. In the U.S. I would be paying a local CM $45.00 per hour! My Chinese CM has quick access to molders and vendors with billions in equipment all within 30 min of them. It's very difficult to justify to your boss why China is a bad idea these days. For GG the tooling is most likely a loss and will be very expensive since I bet all the local vendors are claiming Husky didn't own the tooling and that it is there's in a last ditch effort to hang on to the business. Best of luck but I would bet if the tooling and fixturing wasn't in had at the time of purchase it's gonna be hard to get. Also allot of vendors aren't going to want to work with someone else's molds and tools so the likely hood of interchangeable parts might be wishful thinking if it needs to be remade.
in the motorcycle industry, in most cases the motorcycle company owns the tooling. pierer is basically "outsourcing" the duty to provide spare parts for the years to come. this means same tooling, same suppliers, same quality. a win-win situation for pierer as well as shineray and gas gas. r
I have been involved in many deals where we owned the tooling and the Intellectual Property and for what ever reason had difficulties with the original molder who made the tooling. We pulled the tool and it has never gone easy. I would guess you have north of $500,000 in tooling, molds and fixtures for a bike. Lots of it would be reusable model to model it's gonna be real interesting to see how this plays out because I would guess Gas Gas would want to reuse a lot of parts but can't see them purchasing from Pierer. That would mean your gonna need new tooling which is where Shineray could come in. BTW my experience with Italian supplies has always been to over promise and under deliver. Hopefully Gas Gas has better luck!
Funny guy I sold my Yamaha too so I could buy this husky is still running while my TE310 is dead once again. I would take a Yamaha any day over an Italian Husky. Once Beta has figure out how to fuel inject a 4 stroke I am pretty sure I know what my next bike will be!
