Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1275440
P116 CN III CROSS-RUTTED BY JEAN TURNER M otocross season is here! (Sort of.) While this sum- mer's delayed and abbre- viated Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is anything but normal, one thing Covid hasn't ruined for us is the arrival of the 2021 class of motocross bikes. The next generation has been revealed (mostly), and the long, hot days at Glen Helen's proving grounds have already begun. It's always an exciting time of year not only to see how the latest in motocross equipment stacks up, but also to see the trends in the technology itself. This year there are a lot of "fi- nallys." The CRF450R finally has a hydraulic clutch, and Honda finally went back to the single exhaust. The KX250 finally has electric start. The KTM finally has tunable mapping (rather than just a handlebar map switch). Su- zuki has yet to reveal their hand for 2021, but I have a feeling there will be another "finally" or two when the latest RM-Zs are unveiled. Once the manufacturers' cards are on the table for the new model year, the question from the keyboard quarterbacks becomes: who is leading R&D? I've noticed a lot of people want to point to KTM as the category leader. Yes, they've been at the pointy end of our shootout field in recent years, and no doubt, the Austrian company moves more quickly than its Japanese counterparts when it comes to evolving product. Just look to their midyear Factory Editions for evidence of that. But does this necessarily mean that Mat- tighofen is leading the way in motocross innovation? After one company takes a step in a new direction, the next thing to watch is who follows suit (if anyone). Air forks, dual exhaust, traction control, map switches… What's the difference between a trend and a gimmick? Is this new feature a genuine technological advancement that is going to set a new industry standard, or is it merely a distinc- tive talking point? You're only leading if someone is following, after all, and by that logic, 2021 might have revealed some new leaders. Kawasaki's new Belleville washer clutch spring is unique in appearance, but similar in con- cept to the damped diaphragm steel (DDS) clutch spring KTM has been running on select mod- els for several years. Coupled with hydraulic actuation, is it the key to that smooth, progressive feel we all covet? Time will tell! As for the Austrians, it appears they took a cue from the tuning- fork playbook with their new WiFi option for 2021, offering wireless connectivity to your smartphone by way of a downloadable app on the 2021 450 SX-F. This is similar to what Yamaha has been offer- ing on its YZs as early as 2018, but unlike the Yamaha, KTM re- WHO'S LEADING? (AND WHERE ARE WE GOING?)