I put most 450 and 490cc two-strokes in the first category , along with early CR500s . Both Honda and Husky models , and even the old TM400 could be quite nasty with a highly unpredictable power band . For NZ Enduros the old Yamaha IT465 had a sweet motor and most of the IT250s were great . The Husky 430 was a beauty as well , when jetted correctly , and then the later 400 liquid-cooled engine was magic . Then Honda made the 1988 CR250R that was SO much better in every way than all the other bikes ... that it felt very much like cheating . They were light , steered beautifully and were fast with huge torque – just so easy to ride fast in a cross country / enduro setting .

In a long winded way , this brings me back to the 2018 300 TPI . It is is just like the Honda CR250 ; ahead of its time , steers beautifully , is light and just so easy to ride . It ’ s also fast and smooth with no vibration and covers ground almost effortlessly . It ’ s the type of bike which encourages you to push on because everything comes so easily ... obstacles are defeated without a hint of sweat , or barely any conscious thought – yes , it ’ s kinda like cheating . It has a best of both world ’ s power delivery . By that I mean it ’ s fast and responsive in the open – it really does haul , but does so in a relaxed manner for the rider . In the tight , it ’ s a reasonably mellow tractor that will pull a high gear or idle up a steep pinch with ease . But the real beauty for me is that it does all this without that dead-feeling , overly heavy flywheel weight and high inertia delivery that takes the fun out of an engine . Heavy flywheel weight engines can only be ridden one way ... that ’ s using the torque and short-shifting because once you spin them up you can ’ t get traction back again without killing the throttle dead . However , with less inertia just the slightest chop of the throttle has that rear tyre biting again and you ’ re back on the gas .

KIWI RIDER 41