Team Green just gave the axe to its Off-Road Program

[TemecuCoastie]

Kawasaki just dropped its off-road program.

The question now becomes, what to do with all of that talent out there?

Where are they gonna end up? Where "should" they end up.

There are a lot of talented riders out of work now.

What are the odds (rhetorical question) any of them end up on a Husky?

 

[ray_ray]

There are a lot of talented riders out of work now.

What are the odds (rhetorical question) any of them end up on a Husky?

Its BMW time!

 

[mnb]

for MX and SX, Husky just doesn't have a competitive bike right now. The current TC models are just trail bikes without a starter and a stiffer suspension, among a couple other minor modifications. They need to put more effort into designing a bike FOR MX/SX use and then they'll have a chance at being competitive.

They can do that after they provide a wide ratio tranny option for the TE (and maybe the TXC as well).

 

[Joe Chod]

off road generally means non MX SX

 

[mnb]

off road generally means non MX SX

To me it means dirt, but ok. Other comments I've heard about this move make more sense in that perspective.

Husky does well, sometimes great in non MX/SX. I'd rather see them do well against all brands than do better because the competition dropped out... kinda like Dungey did this year in MX.

 

[TemecuCoastie]

To me it means dirt, but ok. Other comments I've heard about this move make more sense in that perspective.

Husky does well, sometimes great in non MX/SX. I'd rather see them do well against all brands than do better because the competition dropped out... kinda like Dungey did this year in MX.

Which is why I threw it out there. Husky does fair pretty well when in an "open air" environment.

 

[PC.]

I guess Villopoto is more important than their entire off road team. $7.5m is what i read they're paying him for 3 years. That is putting all your eggs in one basket to sell some kxf's

 

[Motosportz]

I guess Villopoto is more important than their entire off road team. $7.5m is what i read they're paying him for 3 years. That is putting all your eggs in one basket to sell some kxf's

thats a very good basket though.

 

[PC.]

no argument here. that dude is a beast on a motorcycle.

 

[ray_ray]

no argument here. that dude is a beast on a motorcycle.

Beast yep and he's still growing hair ... He's really a scary beast ...

Have you noticed the success kaw has had in recent years with 250 & 450 SX/MX racing? Ever heard of a ninja on the street side? KAW is producing some top results here ...

They are probably looking at where they are making the most money and pointing the majority of their advertising $ there ... If they change their minds in a year or two, they go back to the off road stuff ....

 

[ray_ray]

for MX and SX, Husky just doesn't have a competitive bike right now. The current TC models are just trail bikes without a starter and a stiffer suspension, among a couple other minor modifications. They need to put more effort into designing a bike FOR MX/SX use and then they'll have a chance at being competitive.

TCs are just a trail bike without a starter? So a bike needs an Estarter to be a trail bike now? I must be old ... and stuck in my ways .. Because I'm not buying that. Its nice to have but it does not make a bike. And if you have to have an estart ...that's understandable ... We all need help in some ways ...

Yep, the stock Husky TC model can't race against the other models because the guys racing and winning on the other models in the sx\mx races are not even close to stock bikes. That TC bike just finished 11th in EU MX2 racing after a horrible yr ... The rider never hardly started a race in the top 10 (usually top 15) and always hard an uphill battle ...Its easily a top 10 bike and with a top rider, should push into the top 5 maybe ... Top 10, top 5, top 3, all these finishing places are a success to me ... Top 11 is OK with me also ... The Husky beat several bikes, right? Or was there only 11 bikes out there and the Husky ran dead last?

So when someone, anyone, spends the money to put the TC bike and rider on the same level as the other brands ... The bike you are calling 'just a trail bike', will maybe, just maybe, be included in what most people might call a real MX racer ... I believe it is already is a racer (MX2 racing is the only real insight we have) and I certainly hope I live long enough to see that day Husky gets the recognition the current bikes warrants...

 

[mnb]

So a bike needs an Estarter to be a trail bike now?

I did not say a bike required a starter to be a trail bike.

Compare the TC with the TXC in specs and features. 98% of it is exactly the same. The TC is NOT a purpose designed MX/SX bike.

 

[ray_ray]

I did not say a bike required a starter to be a trail bike.

Compare the TC with the TXC in specs and features. 98% of it is exactly the same. The TC is NOT a purpose designed MX/SX bike.

Maybe ... .. Maybe the TXC is a real racer also? ... But, again it is just a trail bike(with the estart) that the EU guys rode to World Championships ... I've always said Huskies are thoroughbreds ...A.K.A bred to race at the core and professional level ..

I'll say that TC is a crap racer when a top notch racer rides it and finishes last in his racing on a regular basis ... Until then, feel free to down-grade the Huskies as it is all just opinions that can't be proven ... But, currently, the bike is a 11th place finisher in its 2nd yr (and maybe last) in MX2 racing. That's a success.

 

[SanDHusky]

I don't think the green bikes are going away any time soon from off road racing. I am assuming that Kawasaki will continue to support off road through its contingency program. In off road the only true factory programs left were KTM and Kawi. All the other teams are support teams or programs with factory support but run through another entity. So the guys that were true factory team green will either sign with a different brand or stay green, but on a satellite type program, hopefully with factory support, as in Kawi gives them the bikes and then your team and sponsors provide everything else.

 

[SanDHusky]

I think Cody Webb is factory Beta, but that's a very small program. Kawi and Kato were bigger programs that covered a wide variety of off road disciplines

 

[Darkside]

I've always said Huskies are thoroughbreds ...A.K.A bred to race at the core and professional level ..

I must be old ... and stuck in my ways

Yes, you're old. Husky can't compete with the top mx privateers let alone factory bikes.

 

[mnb]

Maybe ... .. Maybe the TXC is a real racer also?

Trail bike to me = not MX/SX. ie: Cross Country, enduro, etc. Which you ride on trails, not tracks.

There are races that are held on trails instead of tracks. You race a course instead of a track. But this isn't really news to anyone. I think we're just having a miscommunication in the use of terminology here...

 

[robertaccio]

KHI aint hurtin at all. Bike/recreational division (18% of total) makes money every year. Combined with the entire portfolio KHI is doing just fine with or without the expensive MX rider.

http://www.khi.co.jp/english/ir/library/annual/index.html

 

[ray_ray]

KHI aint hurtin at all. Bike/recreational division (18% of total) makes money every year. Combined with the entire portfolio KHI is doing just fine with or without the expensive MX rider.

http://www.khi.co.jp/english/ir/library/annual/index.html

Cool but boring link ... I'll read more of it later ...

This pic says alot on what KAW is about and how wide spread they reach ... Its a wonder they even bother with bikes ... Not sure if it is same KAW or not, but there is a KAW oil refinery out there ... Please, no tears here for the green team, OK?

I really feel these 4 japan bike companies have a pretty much locked in base of riders (and sales numbers) and that is about all the meat on that bone ... Why not just keep trimming costs and if the profits are the same, why not just keep trimming? ...



Funny they referenced this event ... I certainly remember it and still have some $ figures that reflect it also ...

Since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, the Motorcycle & Engine Company has done its utmost to improve its business structure.


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And thanks for helping educate all the grasshoppers here ...Many might think KAW is only a green colored, motorcycle company ...