Dakar Bike WTF

[roag]

From the Dakar Web Site

"Bikes: Everyone on a 450cc
The reform which began two years ago has reached its conclusion. All the bikes enrolled on the Dakar 2012 will be limited to an engine size of 450cc. In 2010 and 2011, the compulsory switchover to 450cc for the elite riders led to a more intense battle between the constructors: 4 different constructors were represented in the final Top 10 of the last edition."

Why was this decision put in place. I want to see 990 and 1200 twins challenging 800 triples and 690 singles.

[flashpixx]

Dakar 2010: 2010 Edition > Sporting Aspects

Dakar 2010: New Rules For Motorcycles! 450cc Is The Maximum from Bikes in the Fast Lane - Daily Motorcycle News

Organisers say to increase brand involvement and closer racing, competitors say to make it safer...

[agrid]

Seems to go ok.

[flashpixx]

Seems to go ok.

piss weak, he's not trying
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.
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much anyway

[agrid]

Those KTM 450s are way over-square and must need to rev their box off. I was just reading that there a penalties for engine changes so they are "detuning" the KTM to about 62HP in the interests of longevity. Impressive. This will be a very interesting year (not that it ever isn't). I just wish there was a bit longer coverage.

[out_in_front]

The problem was that the KTM 690's pretty much caned everything from memory - since no one else made a 650-700cc bike that could compete they dropped the capacity to something that everyone made - a hence the 450's. The bigger bikes were too heavy and the smaller bikes had reliability issues (usually from revving so high for so long).

[agrid]

As far as I can tell the 450 is only 12kg lighter than the 690. I thought it would have been more but I guess 12kg over a ride that long and through the sort of country would be a Godsend. They only do a little over 160kmh and I think the 690s were way faster than that. I'm surprised its a 5 speed, maybe that lets them keep the engine a little narrower while having reasonably wide and reliable gears.

I vaguely remember a story from quite a few years ago where a racer said he held his 640 wide open all day. It turns out the factory had tested the engine in a jig and ran it at something like 12,000rpm for 24 hours so they increased to 14,000 and it lasted another 6 hours. Not bad for a "thumper"!

[Nero Diablo]

Basically people were getting dead, when the 950's ran free images of them thundering across the dunes at 190km/h plus was mad brilliant but mad. The bikes as withthe trucks are also limited to 160km/h, they have gone from the three engine rule per race (KTM factory with the 640's used to turn them every day or two) to a change the engine as many times as you like but get 40minutes added to your time every time you do it.