id like to see more shootouts - like was done with evo 250s a while back, with modern interpretations on the bikes - ie updated shocks /pipes or whatever, so say pre 78 open or 250 shootout, pre 75,85 or 90 all interesting.
I was going to post a similar reply to this one , Sean. VMX issue number 31 was the one with the 250 Evo shootout and a nice Maico AW440 on the cover. It was a good read and probably one of my favourite editions. I would like to see an open class Evo shootout, with possibly riders of the calibre of James Deakin, Dean Burt, Geoff Ballard doing the testing and offering their opinions. Maybe a Classic Dirt event would be the best time to do something like this, when all these riders and a range of bikes would all be together in a non racing, no pressure environment. There is always a bit of banter on this forum about YZ465s supposedly being better than Maico 490s and this would be a good opportunity to get unbiased views from good riders about this. It would also be good to have some other bikes in the comparison, like some RM400s, Huskys (maybe even a 510 fourstroke),some KTMs and maybe even some dark horses like a Can Am MX6 400 or a big bore A5 Kawasaki. Any Evo shootout would be different from magazine tests done back in the day, because you are in some cases comparing different year model bikes and also with modern technology component improvements. Pre "75, Pre '78, Pre '85 and Pre '90 shootouts would also be great reading, but obviously not all in the same issue.
I was very interested to watch and listen to James Deakin at CD10, where he rode a range of bikes, including a CCM, some Husky fourstrokes and a HL500. He gave ride impressions after each bike, tips on setup and seemed to be enthusiastic and enjoying himself.
