Ken Roczen's Pro Circuit YZ250 Straight Rhythm Bike Test

We ride the 2022 YZ250 smoker custom built by Mitch Payton at Pro Circuit for Ken Roczen to compete in the 2022 2-stroke only Red Bull Straight Rhythm.
Hear what Ping thinks about the build, suspension, and motor in this full bike test and review at Fox Raceway in Pala, Ca.
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[@LastMountainMotorsports]

That thing sounds unbelievably crisp 👌

[@aaronanderson7619]

That was my first thought. Damn that bike sounds sharp

[@2216sammy]

The way he explained the throttle response is EXACTLY the same way people describe the throttle response on the new YZ450F . There's zero lag, it's instant power and it pulls forever . You don't even have to shift . The # 1 complaint with the new YZ450F is it's front wheel is hard to keep on the ground.

[@mikebrown41182]

Absolutely unbelivable meaty sound. I could only say that by the borderline lean jetting and racegas and Mitch’s pipe and silencer you simply almost feel like it is déjà vu to 2005 supecross when Ricky, James, Chad , Mcgrath , Larroco etc rode the living death out of these machines. I simply dont think anything sounds better than a perfectly tuned 250 two stroke is on the pipe. If i had two pick engine builders to do my bike, i would have Mitch , Rick Ash and Ian Harrisson merge. Solid as usual Ping’ and the theme of the bike is really cool. If i recall it also reminds me a bit of the retro theme Factory Yamaha used at Unadilla in 2005. 👍🏼

[@elcincero321]

Excellent comment

[@russellhelms2835]

Well written, well stated👌

[@craighelgerson2698]

I just realized that I became that generation saying "when I was young" when I heard you say that those harsh forks made your wrists ache. My last ride was a 1979 YZ 250. It did everything extremely well, though "back in the day," it was common to land so hard you briefly lost focus of your eyes at times. Wrists always ached in those days thus, staying on the bike throughout the week (and winter months) kept adrenaline levels high enough to fight back the hurt that riding those bikes hard always caused. I'm sure you can look at the generations coming up behind you and see things that you just lived with that younger ones tend to avoid or have no idea of.

[@jordanonofer3886]

Bike is great. Thanks Ping. Someone needs to do a throwback YZ from 94 with the white and purple !

[@whiskeythrottlemedia]

That would be cool!

[@jordanonofer3886]

@@whiskeythrottlemedia Could be nostalgia because that was my first dirt bike a 94 YZ 80. But to me they have always looked great through the years with the cool factor. Screams the 90's era to me. Your the man Ping make it happen man !

[@jeffro5032]

Thanks for this Ping. Beautiful bike , and it sounds so dang crisp! It definitely looked stiff as hell though.

[@55tmilam]

Man that thing sounds incredible! Damn it barks!

[@martinhubacek972]

Best bike !!!🦾🦾👏👏🤟

[@Kawiboy]

That Bike is Spot On 👏👌✌️😉

[@chriscardoza9785]

Awesome bike just smashed it

[@whiskeythrottlemedia]

Thanks Chris!

[@mxcollin95]

That bike wins on sound alone. I got a chance to ride Michael Pichone’s Pro Circuit Kawi 125 back in the day and I remember being blown away with how that bike felt. I remember telling people that it felt “electric” in terms of its perfectly crisp, instantaneous throttle response. It also felt electric in that the motor’s powerband felt extremely smooth and it pulled hard everywhere regardless of where you were in the RPM range (although me being a 135 pound sophomore in high school may have had something to do with my impressions of the motor. Lol) Another weird thing tho was that it felt like it had maybe half the vibration of a stock Kawi and way, way, way more power than any other 125 I’d ever ridden. Ping - do you know if Mitch ever ran special higher quality, more precise main bearings in his engines because I’ve always wondered how that bike had so little vibration??? Would love to know and please keep up the awesome channel! ✊🤙

[@jethroboorer2860]

Blue printing everything that turns. Balance everything

[@russellhelms2835]

THAT is one hell of a nice MX bike🔥👌

[@Douger318]

So set it up for you as I’m sure your keeping the a kit suspension just have Mitch tune it for you. Cool as parts

[@matevasas]

Hey Ping! Amazing riding you style is so smooth i could watch it all day. Don't you mind if i ask how tall are you? All these bikes look kinda big underneath you

[@whiskeythrottlemedia]

Thank you! 5' 7"

[@KingArthurreturns]

Ping u leg end 🙌🏼🇬🇧

[@vwgtdturbo]

is this bike running very lean because it sounds so crisp?

[@KING-ko9ls]

ping has better technique than half the pros...

[@jpesicka999]

Yes the rain beat Roczen, not MM. 🤣

[@jpesicka999]

@@aaronanderson7619 ya I believe MM is undefeated in str8 rhythym too

[@davidpingree9254]

Ken was faster in qualifying and in every single run than Marv… until it rained.

[@Jbrady911]

If pro circuit is keeping the bike for their showroom, does this mean ping is getting a new 2 stroke?

[@davidpingree9254]

Yessir

[@traxxasrc10]

@@davidpingree9254 have Mitch build you another version of this !

[@barkeep25]

So wait, if you're not keeping this bike you're just gonna have to get another yz250, just that simple man.... its ok, ill wait for the next build... side note, just heard keefer raving about how good the chad reed yz was, wonder what kind of secrets are in that bad mammajamma?!?!

[@henricusrealms8411]

I take that you can reset the cockpit and suspension for you guys and real motocross tracks.

[@Andingo86]

Between the bike and listening to you talk we really dont need music in the background....

[@whiskeythrottlemedia]

Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@russellhelms2835]

Truth…👌

[@paddymc6078]

Basically shorter silencer will give more bottom end longer gives more top no science to it just them making it sound more complicated

[@tythomps]

And Ken didn’t even say “thanks”. 😢

[@robmanzanares]

"Keeps it from " [PRE] "detonating"... C'mon Ping, get it right.

[@whiskeythrottlemedia]

I got it right. If you have a different definition of detonation you should tell Mitch Payton about it.