As far as vinduro's I totally agree...keep it simple. One thing that has bothered me a little is the all encompassing pre 85 cutoff. As with my VMX and VDT, I have a leaning towards the older classes so I'd like to see some sort of place for older short travel (pre 75-78) bikes to be used, whether it be separate events for short travel bikes or simplified sections for the simpler bikes.
Has there been much attention given to the older enduro bike? Because vinduro's are non competitive events it probably isn't a priority but because of the pre 85 cutoff I presume that most vinduro punters would err towards the newer and more off-road friendly bikes, I'm just as guilty, my own under (slow) construction Vinduro bike is an IT250H with upgraded 43mm forks and 2ls front brake. I'd love a simpler course to ride my DT1 too but I wouldn't like to ride it on the same course designed for long travel bikes (sound familiar
).
That’s a bit of a furphy, we’re talking about trails here not endlessly whooped out tracks.
Vinduro’s I have ridden so far have suited any age bike, they are not designed for 84 model MXers.
There is often talk about what constitutes a Vinduro bike, personally I believe it should be pre88 but others disagree and majority rules.
I don’t believe though that most people are looking for the latest possible bike to ride.
I know of one 85 KTM500 that gets ridden at some events, he doesn’t choose to ride it because he wants to be the fastest out there or have the most advanced bike, he rides it because he has owned it for at least 2 decades and he has an emotional attachment to it.
Does he have more fun than anyone else? I doubt it as I saw him pushing it back from checkpoint one.
2013 Harrow statistics at hand
By year…
1 x 63
1 x 70
2 x 72
5 x 73
2 x 74
4 x 75
5 x 75
5 x 76
7 x 77
7 x 78
18 x 79
13 x 80
18 x 81
26 x 82
32 x 83
45 x 84 (which will include some 85 models listed as 84)
By brand…
3 x Bultaco
3 x Canam
1 x CZ
1 x DKW
1 x Hodaka
49 x Honda
15 x Husqvarna
2 x Jawa
11 x Kawasaki
7 x KTM
7 x Maico
1 x Montesa
1 x Ossa (thanks Paul)
1 x Rokon
27 x Suzuki
1 x SWM
1 x Triumph
54 x Yamaha
1 x Hybrid
Models…
I can only count 12 MX models (one has owned his since 77)
32 x IT (from 77 to 84 and from 175’s to 490’s)
5 x XT
10 x KDX
17 x PE
6 x TS
6 x XL
37 x XR
plus others includinga KLX, 2 x TL’s, 2 x CT’s, 4 x DT’s, an ER & 2 x DR & a Matador etc.
Clearly guys don’t choose the latest most advanced bike they can.
My theory is that old enduro riders choose race bikes they owned or wanted to own.
Trail riders choose bikes they can ride all day without giving them any grief ( 7 x XR 200’s for example)
Guys that still also race MX may seek out faster bikes like converted MXers
And a chief organizer may choose a bike that will drown easily or have failing electrics.