June 2008

Brian Shuckhart

McKeesport, PA

 

 

Brian went to the Loretta Lynn's Northwest Qualifier at Mt. Morris, PA on the weekend of April 19-20.

 

He showed up to qualify for the National event with his RM 250 Two Stroke!

 

What happened? He swept all four A classes using only one bike! He raced the 250F Pro Sport and 450 Pro Sport classes and won all four motos!

 

Congratulations on your win at the Qualifier. We at the TSM wish you all the best in earning two titles this summer at Loretta Lynn's.

 

 

Two Stroke Hero of the Month Archive

 

 

This is a MUST read!

 

"Is the two stroke dead? Not completely. But it's getting hard to find it's pulse. This is a shame, a crying shame, because what this sport needs is a good inexpensive racing motorcycle.

 

And no engine is better suited for motocross than the two stroke. Contrary to popular belief, pound for pound, cubic centimeter for cubic centimeter and head to head, the modern four stroke is an antiquated piece of agricultural equipment when compared to a two stroke.

 

Yes, Virginia, we know that isn't the way it is portrayed in the mass media, but it is true. And we can prove it.

 

As Dragnet's Sergeant Friday would have said during the first four-stroke era, "Just the facts ma'am."

 

Horsepower: A two-stroke engine produces 0.2 horsepower per cubic centimeter (a YZ250 makes 50 horsepower out of its 250cc of displacement). A four-stroke only makes 0.12 horsepower per cubic centimeter.

 

Moving parts: Stripped to it's essence, a two-stroke engine has three moving parts (crank, rod and piston). A four-stroke has five times as many moving parts (and over 100 extra auxiliary parts)

.

Weight: A two-stroke engine weighs 15lbs less than a four-stroke engine.

 

Cost: The rebuild cost of a 250cc two-stroke ($250) is five times less than that of a four-stroke ($1250). And in the case of a major malfunction the rebuild cost of a two-stroke can be as much as 12 times less.

 

Performance: If you compare a 250cc two-stroke to a 250cc four-stroke, the two-stroke is a vastly superior machine, making 33 percent more power (50 horsepower versus 35) with quicker rev, snappier powerband, simpler design and lower cost.

 

Given these facts you might be asking yourself, "If all of this is true, then why is everyone buying four-strokes?" And the answer isn't what you think.

 

First, the four-stroke revolution was not a Japanese manufacturer conspiracy to sell more motorcycles. On the whole the motorcycle manufacturers had little to do with the advent of the racing four-stroke.

 

It was the brainchild of a lone Yamaha engineer. Yoshiharu Nakayama had to fight corporate reluctance to get his single prototype built. Apart from Yamaha, everyone considered Nakayama's YZ400F to be folly (which is why it took them four to six years to respond with their own four-strokes).

 

Second, the EPA had nothing to do with four-stroke motocross bikes. They do not regulate closed-course competition machines.

 

Third, if your looking for someone to blame for the four-stroke migration, blame Roger DeCoster, Keith McCarty, Brue Stjernstrom and Chuck Miller. As team managers and representatives on the AMA Advisory Board, they signed off on allowing Yamaha to race its hand-built, one-off, exotic YZ400 proto.

 

Even worse, they were so sure that it would be a failure that they gave it an upper displacement of 550cc to race in the 250 class. Talk about short sighted! It wasn't until the damage was done that the AMA lowered the displacement to 450cc-which proved in hindsight to be way too much.

 

Finally, all fingers must point at the AMA. The only reason that James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Ryan Villopoto, Chad Reed and Davi Millsaps are racing four-strokes is because four-strokes are allowed to be 100% larger than a 125cc two-stroke and 80% larger than a 250 two-stroke. Take that displacement advantage away and four-strokes would be relegated back to play bike status.

 

For the last three years the MXA wrecking crew has been imploring the AMA powers-that-be to do something to save the two-stroke in racing. Our simple solution was to legalize big-bore 125 and 250 two-strokes to compete against the already big-bore four-strokes.

 

Nothing could be simpler... or fairer. We didn't suggest this because we love the smell of castor oil in the morning, but because the overall health of our sport depends on people being able to afford to pursue it.

 

To say that the AMA turned a deaf ear to our suggestion that they do for the two-stroke exactly what they did for the four-stroke would be an understatement."

 

Exerpt from:

Motocross Action July 2007

WE LOVE THE SPORT OF MOTOCROSS!

WE LOVE TWO STROKES!

 

 

Two stroke powered motocross bikes are light, fast, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain yet they are currently in danger of not making the next double!

 

 

Why would one of the most powerful and light engine designs ever be in danger? Is it because of the EPA? The AMA? The Manufacturers? The Media?

 

The probable truth is that it is a combination of the AMA, the Manufacturers and the Motocross Media.

 

The AMA created a rule that allowed almost a double displacement advantage for four stroke motocross bikes. The manufacturers found that they were not selling new two strokes every year because some riders would use them for more than one year.

 

 

Since this so called Four Stroke Revolution came about the manufacturers put a huge amount of R&D money into the four stroke engines and they did do a great job. Applied lessons learned from F1 racing were utilized in the engines and then the motocross media pushed the new technology as the greatest thing since the 490 Maico.

 

Why would they all do this? Maybe it is in the money plan. Plain and simple economics. If the Manufacturers don't sell bunches of expensive bikes every year they don't have enough money to pay their racers and staff. If they cut their advertising budgets the motocross media makes less money.

 

 

We feel that the AMA (and MX team managers) made a huge mistake in allowing a crazy displacement advantage in motocross for the four stroke machines. Originally thinking no one would be able to build a competitive one, they let the new rules continue even after four stroke technology advanced.

 

 

 A lot of people falsely believe that the EPA is out to get two strokes. It has done that in some circumstances, but in motocross and off-road racing this is not true. The EPA at this time has no regulations on closed course racing. Imagine the EPA attempting to regulate NASCAR and Formula 1 Racing. There would be a tremendous uproar and protesting.

 

But let us imagine that in the future the EPA passes regulations. Currently the technology exists to build fuel injected two strokes that would pollute less than the four strokes! And there would be much less noise. The two stroke engine technology is in prime time for an upgrade. Imagine the money spent on the four stroke put into the simpler two stroke? Can you say the perfect off road racing engine! Super Light, powerful, and reliable!

 

 

Motocross needs to advance in popularity, not advance into a world of extreme expense. In pro racing what about fast privateers, how do they compete with huge engine set-up and maintenance costs?

 

 

Let’s make a fair displacement rule in Pro Motocross to keep the racing more competitive.

 

What is happening to the regular working man/woman and their kids that really are the backbone of motocross racing? They could be priced out of the sport.

 

What has happened to many of the tracks and riding areas? They have been closed down because of the outrageous noise. Imagine quiet four strokes! What a concept.

 

 

What can we do about it?

 

We can band together to ensure that the Two Strokes survive this four banger attack. Keep the enthusiasm going for two stroke technology and racing machines.

 

The Two Stroke Militia (TSM) is dedicated to reporting the real news about Two Strokes by getting the word out about how a lot of riders feel. We need to keep alive a choice for off road machines.

 

For those of you that ride or race, go out and buy Two Strokes to play on and compete with. Your Two Stroke will last a lot more than one year with minor maintenance and you will have a blast riding it! (Plus… you know they sound a whole lot better).

 

Join us at the TSM to support Two Strokes! Be proud to show your TSM colors!

Braaaaapp!

 

 

 

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