>Having not owned a Scorpa, I was curious about the degree of latitude
(no pun intended) available 
>for timing adjustments on the Rotax motor.

Jon:

Seems to be as much as 8 degrees band allowed by the width of the slots
in the stator plate.

>Modifying timing from stock position is an option that is not considered
by
>the majority of riders, but can make a tremendous difference in power 
>delivery for various competition conditions.  Smooth power delivery will
be a 
>major benefit in riding sections no-stop, which we will most certainly
be 
>doing next year. 

What's odd is how much better feeling the bike became.  Sorta luscious. 
I rode again just to confirm I wasn't dreaming.  I tried some of the
bigger stuff on my property, including:  a jap zap on 3-ft. suspended log
followed by three foot step that required a launch to clear a gap, then
full bore power up a rocky, loose hill immediately afterward.  I
mistakenly put it in 3rd and landed almost completely stopped after the
step and gap.  The motor lugged to 1/2 rpm, pulled out of the brutal
attempt at a stall with a gutzy throb, then shot up the loose hill with a
quick burst of power revving to high rpm.  Amazing.

>Designing competition motorcycles for sale to the public presents an
>interesting marketing problem.  Everyone wants the 
>"latest-and-greatest, most radical, super-trick World Round factory
equipment," whether it makes 
>sense for their level of riding or not.  How do you design a motorcycle 
>suited for everyone from World Round competitors down to the local
Novice Class 
>rider? Clearly, it can't be done.  

True.  My style is to be very smooth and really push the motor around
with the throttle.  I do not rev to the moon as Ryan Young does when he
comes to put on the schools on my property.

>However, if the manufacturers DON'T market the motorcycle in it's
"hottest" form, it will be perceived as a 
>watered-down pretender to it's World Round counterpart.  In short, it
won't sell.  The reason the Scorpa comes timed so "hot" is most 
>likely that if they offered it stock in "mellow" form, it would be
accused of being low on
>power.

I don't know.  Most riders I know want that user friendly power, and
bitch if the power is abrupt and harsh.  On local expert used to complain
about stock Fantics being "way too quick for me", and he rode a big bore
Gas-Gas!  Clearly not a low ppower machine...but smooth.

As with the `97 Fantic, my Scorpa, with retarded timing, still allows me
to have the smoothness with what I think is plenty of top end poop.  I am
still puzzled the manufacturers would opt for the advanced timing. 
Consider too, that the Scorpa I ride is the 250 Fun Easy model and not
the Top, more top rider oriented model or the 280cc model (are they the
same?).

Actually, I think timing that's retarded more than the norm down low,
while still allowing the full blast top end is what would be best. 
Perhaps that is what some of the new advance curves do?  The 270 Gas-Gas
I rode this year sure felt as though it had a curve like that.  The `97
Montesa I rode felt really gutzy and smooth, as though it were set up
similarly, or at least had a bunch of flywheel mass.  It did not seem a
revver though.

Whatever.  Again, experimentation into retarding the timing is fairly
easy and should be tried.  I think I'm really going to enjoy the event
this weekend!

Chris (CJ) Johnson, Engineering Director
College Park Industries, Inc. (http://www.college-park.com)
Home Office (616) 664-4173 at CPI (810) 294-7950
papazit "at" juno.com
Scorpa 250/Fantic 305/Gas-Gas 160/Three Yamaha 650s/BMW R75/6