My take on the SSE is that’s intended for top level SKUSA competition with no plans beyond that at this point or beyond. By virtue of that, the class should have some element of exclusivity and differentiation between that of it’s peers. With the Spec Honda packages trickling down to other classes and series.
Of course that comes with it’s own risks if it doesn’t gain enough adoption.
KTM have always sparked my curiosity, especially the 250 you’re talking about.
I believe MRC (and others) have pursued discussions with KTM and the bottom line is that KTM won’t supply motors on their own. So we’d need someone willing to buy full bikes, strip them down and attempt to supply the karting market.
I honestly think development and testing of the KTM for kart application (At protour\supernats level) would be an even bigger undertaking than this 175. It’s easy to forget how much the Spec Honda has evolved over 10-20 years. Moto engines do not do well in karting competition without a lot of trial and error.
The KTM would be fine for hobbyists and track warriors (I’d be totally down to trying one), but getting it up to par in every way needed for the likes of the ProTour is something else.
Plus, for hobbyists we already have the CR125, CR80 and even the CR250. So that leaves the KTM kinda out in the weeds. Except maybe on superkarts.
I thought the F series had shifter grids in the 20s-30s? Or do you just mean stock moto shifters?
That is a very interesting point.
I can’t recall the rationale, but Tom did talk about reasons for going with a diaphragm carm it on the Winternats “tomversation”