Frankly, I couldn't afford two sports any more. Daily driving an Evo is a sad state of affairs. I'm not one to break laws (most of the time) on the road. Up until this year, I haven't had a ticket in 14+ years (speed trap camera got me going down a hill this year). So the only enjoyment I was getting out of the Evo was going to the track. That adds up quickly with tires, gas, insurance, track fee, etc.

So I have gone back to MX 100%. I only have a little bit of time left to do it until I get too old (already there honestly, but not admitting it)

I have two bikes. One is my dedicated race bike, one is my play bike.



2015 Yamaha YZ450f (race bike)

Nothing I love more than my 2015 YZ450f.

Full Ti FMF Exhaust
FMF Carbon heat shields
JMR Suspension
JGR Graphics
Factory Effex FP1 Seat Cover
Full Cycra plastic set with Cycra Shrouds
Ride Engineering Triple Clamps
Ride Engineering lowering link
Braking Batfly oversized 270mm rotor
Braking Batfly rear rotor
Braking racing pads
Works Connection Titanium Foot pegs
Works Connection Brake Reservoir Blue Caps
Works Connection Pro Perch
Works Connection Rear Brake Reservoir Guard
Works Connection Steering Stem Nut safety wired
Pro Taper Fuzion Bars (Reed/Henry bend)
Pro Taper Hand Guards
Pro Taper Twister Throttle Tube
Pro Taper Carmichael grips
GYTR Brake Clevis
GYTR Front Brake Line Clamp
GYTR Axle Blocks (Blue)
Pirelli Scorpion MX 32 front and back

2015 Yamaha YZ250f (play bike / practice bike)

My little ripper for carrying momentum!

Full Ti FMF Exhaust
FMF Carbon heat shields
JMR Suspension
JGR Graphics
Factory Effex FP1 Seat Cover
Full Cycra plastic set with Cycra Shrouds
Ride Engineering Triple Clamps
Ride Engineering lowering link
Works Connection Titanium Foot pegs
Works Connection Brake Reservoir Blue Caps
Works Connection Pro Perch
Works Connection Rear Brake Reservoir Guard
Works Connection Axle Blocks (blue)
Pro Taper Evo Bars (Reed/Henry bend)
Pro Taper Twister Throttle Tube
Pro Taper Blue Neon Grips
Pirelli Scorpion MX 32 front and back


This is a shot with a bike I won in the '94 Albany MX Series with my dad and Jeff Emig. I rode for NCY that year.

I'll miss the tarmac. But I just can't justify the amount of time, money and energy between two sports. MX keeps me staying fit and healthy. It's a fun community, and I have an excuse to play in the dirt . Onto my 26th year of racing!

 

I know what you're saying. Similar reasons why I gave up street bikes, the only way I was having fun was breaking the law and I just dont like risking tickets and injuries on the street. Luckily I'm in the position to have an autox/track only car and not worry about driving on the street and soon the wife will be driving the Touareg tow vehicle so I can just drive a less crazy fun car (S4 or something).

Rode dirt bikes for the first time last summer in hood river with a buddy and it was definitely a blast. Those 450s have so much acceleration and are so easy to power slide on dirt or gravel. If my summers werent consumed with auto-x, Id def want to get into dirt bikes.

 

Good luck with the sport, hope you don't miss the Evo too soon lol.

 

I too love MX, i have a 2008 Honda CRF450R black edition. I just don't think I could ever give up either of my Evo's solely for MX though

 

Yah I'll definitely miss our Evos. Owned 4 since 2005. I'll definitely miss the IX MR we just sold. Sold it with 26k miles, nearly 100% stock minus coilovers, intake, 3port and HFC. Would have been a great AX car.

 

You'll be back later, MX while your younger and fitter with good knees and back, then you'll be wanting that speed and adren thrill later in life, trust me I know

 

I agree. I have tried to hang up MX a few times already. Got into sky diving (almost didn't make one of my jumps), got into mountain biking (did a 30ft drop onto my head, kissed a few trees), got into Evos and track days (no bad stories there except spending $$$ and missing MX).

26 years, I'm getting close to hanging it up. I've had reconstructed knee surgery, broken collar bone, broken wrist, bruised kidneys. But really, that's small compared to what others have gone through.

What I worry about is when I do come back, that I won't want an Evo at that point. Probably want some sort of dedicated track car.

 

Life is short, rip it up while you still can,my track days are full of old silver foxes like me talking about the good old days and the coolest silver foxes are the ones with the dedicated track cars or even better the cars they drive to the track with full roll cages, with harness wearing racing suit and their cars pump flames 3 feet out the back down the main straight lol

 

I feel you, that's why I ride a street bike.

I daily drive the Evo by the way...

 

Man do I miss the days of 2 strokes ripping around the track......

 

RM370's v MX400B v CR250 ? The good old days, one of my mates had an RM370B and I used to blow him in my YZ125, that Suzy was like lighting a rocket up your butt, I used to be scared just holding on down the straights, it would be trying to throw you off at every woopdy, to see an A grader ride one flat out was mystical

 

My heart shed a little tear reading this, but I completely understand the cost of truly running an Evo at the track. Be safe playing in the dirt, & make sure you post up what you buy for dedicated track use when you come back to four wheels.

 

I was just a wee lad back when I was at the track often, so I was in the 80 cc class but I would often watch the 125/250cc bikes too. I just miss the sound of nothing but zingers on the track, now you might hear one or two but its mostly braapers (4 strokes). I did have the pleasure of being next to a KX 500 one time....man was that bike sketchy looking lol. The owner said it was unreal the power it belted out.

 

I raced Motocross for a little over 6 years, and as an older guy (much older than you, I'm pretty sure), driving an Evo is less wear and tare on the knees, and other bones, lol! Not hating, I wish you the best!

 

I know bud . Wish we could do some drives still.

I'll be done racing sooner than I like I'm sure. My goal is to do as much as I can this year. Not worry about results, just go there, have fun. Then I'm sure I'll be back on the road course again. 26 years, my body is wearing out for sure.