I have no idea as I've never ridden one and I don't know where and how they ride. Might be interesting to ask one of them as it could be a different reason like maybe they don't want a higher top gear just smaller gaps between the gears? Or you could be right about wide open desert sections where they run out of rpms.
A lot 2t are road legal/plated here in Michigan. And wide ratio 6 speeds are nice for when you hit a road or two track section.
Marketing. Customers asked for a 6 speed and got it. Lots of off road bike are 6 speeds to keep the bike in the fat part of the power band at all times (no big gaps in gearing). Lots of people feel a 6 speed bike is more versatile. On a 300 with lots of power it seems more marketing than anything.
Yep- a 6-speed KTM 300 EXC with a plate is about as versital as it gets! less you are doing miles and miles of pavement but thank goodness for forest roads and tying those to gether to avoid pavement I like my 09TE450's trany- always in the right gear! right in the meat... sometimes I wish 6th was an overdrive but the need or desire is rare for me. if a 5 speed has the same gearing range as a 6 speed it has larger gaps- (obviously) so therefore I'd be more excited if the 2011 came with a 6 speed. I know Dirtrider wrote a scathing review on the 450x but they also said the gaps in the trany were spread out pretty far... I wonder- how spread they are... But the 450x motor and fuel delivery sounds very good and the power is very usable- so maybe it will make up for the gaps a bit.
With Akra full exhaust and a power commander, there were no gaps in power with stock 15/48 gearing. I bumped up to a 15/47 for a little better tarmac speeds and no holes, but killed the snap and 1st was too high for any technical work as anything less then 14mph was clutch time. I'd like to be able to have the same 1-3 gears of a 14/48 but a 4-6 of a 15/48 gearing as 5th is too high to even sustain 50mph without down shifting, but at 68mph it's in over-rev territory for sustained speeds even though it will hit 105mph
Was just at a BMW shop and looked at a G450X, not to bad. Motor looks good and compact / well built. The muffler is HUGE and looks like it is off a Dodge truck. The Plastic looks old school and the front fender is a little scary.
I hear the stock muffler for the new bike will also be pretty big. No doubt there will be a smaller/lighter one as an option, though I gather the stock one can be used for racing - maybe there's some sort of insert you can remove (that won't make it any smaller or much lighter though).
As an owner of a '09 BMW G450X I can tell you the least of your worries is the BMW motor.I don't even have mine powered up and it rocks.I can't imagine what'd it be like powered up and with a non-cat muffler. It is super smooth and strong with no vibes like your typical thumper and the FI is spot on. I've ridden current model TE450s & TXC450s and trust me you're getting a nice upgrade in the motor dept..
"Positive debut for BMW/Husqvarna prototype 450cc enduro bike at Enduro World Championship GP of Italy Wolfgang Fischer – Team manager: ‘It’s been a very encouraging weekend for the new Husqvarna bike. Although it’s not a completely new bike as the engine is the BMW motor that we have used for several years now, everything else is new so to have both riders finish the event with no technical issues is great" http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/en/...sports/enduro/news_reports/news.jsp¬rack=1
Sounds Like Juha might make the Poland race in June. Wonder if the bike is going to be used @ Erzberg? Good eye on the post!
IMO, Husky should go back to the 6 speed in the WR250 / 300. I love my 6 speed conversion, and I use 6th gear a lot more than you might think.
The 450x I rode last fall had a pretty wide spacing on the gears. IIRC WOT in 3rd was something like 60-65mph or so. Never had enough room to see how fast it actually went, but I'm sure with stock gearing 90+mph would be well within reach. A 6 speed is still a better option for most people though, not necessarily for higher speed, but for better gear selection options & versatility.
On the other hand I have ridden several 250/300's with 6 speeds and hated that i have to shift so much. they would pull the gear fine so in that situation wider spacing would actually be better for me. I like to not have to shift between corners in the tighter stuff if i do not have to. I rode a KTM 300 6 speed back to back with my WR125 and hated having to shift it all the time. I like 6 speeds but still need to space them right.
somebody with a close ratio box will allways out drag you... and, Yes the new Te250 has high first and low 6th. A bit of a pain but like my mountain bike you always have the perfect gear ratio (execpt 1st) PS You have a 125 and you complain about changing gear on a KTM300!
In tighter woods and with the good bottom and over rev you would be surprised how little you have to shift. Additionally reving it around is fine on a 125 where a 300 you want to always shift it into the bottom end. 125, notice not much shifting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjo9iSgYQ6s
Really would prefer 6 speed it is more versatile esp in the tight ST. Much nicer on this page versus the TT page regarding the new bike, it feels over there if you disagree you are in for a knee capping
