| Yep, you're correct, it's more like 8-12 lbs (whatever 4% works out to) if you're comparing 250 2 stroke with a 450 4 stroke. But you need to keep in mind there are many more rotating parts in the 4 stroke which lends itself (this is basic physics) to want to keep moving in a straight line; therefore, the bike will not want to change direction as easily as something with less moving parts (again basic physics and if you don't believe me go play with a toy gyro for a while).
It's not all about weight, but the physics behind what that 4% will do when it's rotating at a high rpm.
I love 4 strokes too, I've owned many of them, but when the 2 strokes came out they were a technological leap. The first MX bike were 4 strokes but the newer and 2 stokes with their weight advantages and less inertia won out over the 4 strokes. So, we are now attempting to build a light and powerful 4 stroke and with that comes using lighter parts, making it rotate at high rpm and losing reliablity (unfotunately).
This isn't a bad thing, it's technology attempting to make something better and in a few more years maybe we can get more life out of our 4 strokes as we did with our 3 strokes (keeping in mind someone that does scheduled maintenance when specified).
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Thompson Racing Suspension |