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