Gentlemen, very much appreciate how your show us actual, real-time experiences. You don't curate away the bumps, bruises or missteps: the Old Man struggling with the start up over and over and all of that after getting banged up by the dentist... pure authenticity. Raising a pint to the both of you!
Back in the day, my dad brought my one year old “new to me” GT250X7 home from where we bought it, in his works van, and left me to it. 18 years old and completely clueless. I spent a half hour knocking my pan in kicking it, before noticing there was a bizarre rocker switch on the right bar, commonly known as a kill switch…
In the early 80’s in the US, mid 70’s two strokes could be had for a couple hundred bucks. In ‘81 I bought a ‘74 yam RD-350 for $200.00. Purple metal flake paint. A stunningly capable bike. The reed valves really helped the bottom end. A couple years later I stripped it down and turned into club road racer. Over the next 5 or so years i cannibalised many innocent RD Yamahas to support my road racing habit. Suzuki 2-strokes were essentially nonexistent at club races and on the road by the mid ‘80’s. The 500 cc Titan Suzuki was the most common Suzuki 2-stroke. By the late 80’s, 70’s 2-strokes had all but vanished from the roads.
Started my biking life on a Honda CB 250 Dream( NOT a super dream) then on to a 1975 Suzuki GT 750M, never forgot either!!! great era, missed by many i"m sure!!
That was a brilliant trip down memory lane. I had this bike's bigger brother, the GT 250m and a mate had the 185 which had an electric starter which you didn't mention. All that kicking for nothing. Yamaha fitted an electric starter to their RD 200 as well. The rev needle you mentioned had a direct connection through a cable to the oil pump which makes the reading instant while today's bikes the reading is done electronically. I agree that this was the golden age of motorcycling. Very little, if any plastic involved and so easy to work on. I wish they could bring them back. I can smell the two stroke now.
My first bike was a '75 GT550 triple that I drug home from a barn and got back on the road. Black with gold pinstripes. Sounded great, generally worked pretty well, but I always kept a spare set of plugs or two with me. The front disk was absolutely useless in the rain until a few revolutions with brake applied, then it would grab if you weren't careful. Fuel consumption was abysmal. The pegs were rigidly mounted, so I'd hang my boots off so they rubbed the ground first. If you were cornering near the limit, the rear would develop a weird oscillation, letting you know that you were about to stuff it. Still, as a first bike I'll always have a soft spot for it, though I wouldn't have another. Thanks for the nostalgia trip.
Marvellous video chaps! I owned a red one from new in 1977, after serving my crashing apprenticeship on a FS1E DX. Spent most of the summer weekends riding from Enfield (North London) to my parents caravan at Mill Beach near Maldon (close to the Old Man's old haunt I believe). Also took it down to Cornwall for a couple of weeks, touring the north coast. Brilliant little bike. Unfortunately it was stolen a couple of years later, but the insurance paid out enough (eventually) for a second hand 400/4. Working part time on vintage motorcycles for Cheffins Auctioneers, I was lucky enough to ride a blue one one round the yard a couple of years ago. Happy days.
At 16 years old I had an Suzuki AP50, at 17 I traded it in for a Gold Suzuki GT185 (similar to the one in your video) which basically gave me my first taste of real freedom. I'm not a 2 stroke fan despite owning them back in the day, for me they were never as reliable as a good old 4 stroke, as in my case the 2 stroke pump always packed up and ended up seizing the engine. Once I passed my test (which consisted of basically riding around in a circle and managing to stay on when asked to perform an emergency stop) I then traded my GT185 for a Honda CX500. Now this is a classic you need to try. The CX500 was brilliant, 50bhp, which was as much as was needed for the handling capability of motorcycles of this era, it was incredibly reliable and dependable. It was the dispatch riders bike of choice and as such they clocked up big miles. The CX500 also has the advantage of being a physically big motorcycle, so unlike most of the classic bikes that now seem very small, the cx doesn't make us look like we are sat on a mini moto. I currently use my cx as my daily transport and absolutely love it, it's not as old as the GT185 in your video being a 1978 but at 47 years old it still holds it's own on any road and has no problem when you want to get a move on. Even on these cold winter days it always starts (full choke) and with the water-cooled radiator and v twin cylinders it also offers a little bit of warm air around your legs and body. Yes the brakes and tyres aren't up to modern bike standards but still acceptable for the bikes performance. Find yourself a nice CX to review, you wont regret it.
I used to have a 250 ram air and all ways wanted a 380 but the new GS 550 came out and I got one of them instead….and yes I agree it was a great time to be riding motorcycles 😁👍🏻
The 380 was pretty great, I had one a few years. Nice and torqy for a two stroke. A mate has the 250 and I couldn't believe the sharp kick from gutless to full power, caught me out on a corner once.
What a wonderful bike, one that evokes fond memories. My first motorcycle was the big brother of this one, a Suzuki GT250 that I bought used in 1980 as soon as I had my license. It was a great bike to start on, I managed not to kill myself or anyone else on it, and I have been riding ever since. After a couple of years we went our separate ways, but as they say, you never forget the first one.
I've been riding for over 60 years. Personally I think the golden era of motorcycles is right now. There are more models in more categories than ever before with better engines, brakes and suspensions.
My Gt380 was a gorgeous awesome fun machine which Ive missed for 35 years! Can't afford one these days but proud to have it when I did. Comfy, surprisingly torque and quick enough for back road fun!!
Had the single-cylinder GT 125 version - good for 80, as long as you had a spare piston. Went through a lot of lightbulbs too - 6V electrics. Lots of fun, even after it lost the gear-lever just before a bypass roundabout! Didn’t know about Loc-tite back then.
When I moved house I stupidly threw out my collection of Used Motorcycle guides. They were small 1980's (A5 ?) booklets printed on cheapest newsprint which gave a brief summary and values for motorcycles. What I remember most was the long lists of the most common faults and low life-expectancy for most bikes. I always remember this when I get the feeling that I am becoming too nostalgic about bikes from the past. Bikes of today, as with cars, are vastly better than those of the past.
I remember those mags🤣 There was only a couple of old Hondas that got decent reliability reviews CX, CD s. All sorted by the 1990s with the Japanese bikes👍
Back in the mid 70's a friend of mine at Guildford Tech had a newish 250cc version of this Suzuki. At the time I had a Yamaha DT 175. I will never forget the day he had a race down the A3 towards Portsmouth with a Porsche 911 of the same era. I didn't have a chance at keeping up with them but they were very evenly matched. The Suzuki would accelerate faster than the Porsche but the car would catch up on the straights. Amazing and very happy days in our late teens. This video has brought back a lot of memories !!!!!
I had a blue GT185 as my first bike after a Suzuki AP50 moped. I loved that bike and wish I'd never sold it! Great video Mr Darcey. I'm entering the competition!!
Sub 200cc bikes not only bought excitement into commuting, they were also better affordable for youngsters especially when it came to insuring them in their day. Please remember everyone that the two-stroke oil supply volume is throttle controlled which means; Closed throttle = sufficient oil supply for tick-over So, for the sake of your wallets and to prevent seizures "DO" think about this when riding with a closed throttle at 5000Rpm or whatever. I grew up on two-strokes in London and they require a different approach to riding than 4 strokes. Thanks for an awesome review, was like a time-machine, Best wishes from Düsseldorf Sher 🏁
Fantastic clip and thanks for sharing . I’ve been asking and waiting for something like this for a while . Extremely amusing watching the old man trying to kickstart with the fuel off 😀 I have a newer bike …. a 1981 Suzuki Gs850g with only 30,000 miles on the clock ,I’m coming up for 62 years old and my bike was made when I was courting with my girl friend (now my lovely wife and grandmother ). Mot and tax exempt ,just jump on anytime …..a real time machine 😊 Cheers Dave from Scotland
My 1st bike was a GT125, absolutely brilliant bit of kit. That's over 50 years ago 😁, it was a blue one and I loved it. The start of a long relationship with bikes 😊.
I also was made in 1974..the best things where made in 1974. I'm in Canada where speed limits are really just a gentle suggestion and therefore you generally need to be way up in displacement just to survive but it is very entertaining to see you try out a quality machine like that old zuki.
My first bike brand new in 1976 good memories of this great bike.twin contact breaker points where a pain to set up.seperate oil tank so no need to mix your fuel brilliant.
2:29 It's like seeing your old love after 30 years of Marriage. It was wonderful but No matter how much you try now, you can't make it work. Go stong GranGran 💪🏻
When bikes were bikes no fancy electronics, however I think the Old Man doesn’t need to go to the gym for the rest of the month. It sounded great once he started love that two stroke exhaust.
My first motorcycle was a Suzuki 80cc "Hillbilly" ring dinger two stroke in Nov. 1964. I only had one other two stroke, a 1972 Yamaha 175 Enduro and that was the last 2 stroker I ever rode. Too many problems, too much blue smoke. I'm glad they've gone the wayside. Other than reminiscence, they were good for very little.
I had one of these back in the 80s, it was a but tatty when I got it so I completely restored it from the ground up. A really nice machine. Sadly it only lasted a few weeks - someone in a Ford Granada Ghia drove into me head on one day as I was on my way to work, and put me in hospital. The bike was totalled!
Your right about design back then. Bikes were made to be general purpose machines, pillion no problem, luggage no problem. Centre stand, yes. I don't remember that brakes were generally that great though (i had some Honda's with the pivoting single side calipers including a '71 CB750 lump).
I had the exact same bike - brilliant fun, especially braking in the wet! And like everyone else who noticed, I'm laughing so hard that the Old Man never clocked the electric start!! 😂😂
What a beauty. Always loved he GTs and used to have a 380 back in the early 80ies. Regardless of the RD blokes riding circles around me, i really enjoyed this motorbike.
I had a GT185 then a KH250, l loved the looks & smell off that 3 cylinder Kawasaki. ❤️ When l left home l had nowhere to store it so left it in my parents house, my mum kept asking me to move it, and l kept ignoring her, as you do when you are young. I found a garage to rent, went to collect my bike and she'd given it away. 😭
Aaaah I remember these in all guises even the 125 twin which will be as much if not more of a rarity now, I loved the ol man kicking it over at least it warmed him up to ride the thing ha ha
I had a blue model and many great times on it as a teenager. Superb times, superb memories. There was always someone with a Yamaha RD 200 which was quicker, but not as good, I think.
Those were GREAT bikes! I know a guy who managed to beat a CR-125 in the dirt on one (that's a fact and not a joke - he just proved it's the rider, not the machine!). You are 100% correct about the joy of living being sucked out of life by soulless bureaucrats and politicians. I can confirm that a GT-185 will do 80 mph. In the 1970s, even though the national speed limit was 55 mph, we did somehow manage some higher speeds. I had a 1975 RD-350B, a friend had a 1975 GT-380, and another friend had the 1973 GT-185. The GT-380 and I could do 100 mph, but the GT-185 stayed right with us up to 80 mph.
A reminder of how popular small bikes were. Almost every cubic capacity from 50 to 250 was available, and lots of them. Suzuki's "ram air" cylinder top was a bit of marketing nonsense. Its 380 big brother was also popular around the chip shop.
wow in such a lovely condition, besides form the rusty chain, what a beautiful bike. by the way the rev counter on those old engines is most times cable driven from the crankshaft thats why its so alive.... 🙂
I had a GT250, 380. 500 and 750. also a T500, which was the best allrounder, in my opinion. I also had a Kawaski KH500, which I had ported, because it was detuned so much from the early models that it had made me throw up every time I clapped eyes on it.
Likewise August 74 I had the 250 version of that and that in the exact same colour went on to the 750 always regretted getting rid of the 250 did 90,000 miles on it
Yup. Me too. And a Honda cb750 (1971). But (and this will shock) I bought a late '70s Bonnie and fell in love with it. Still have it in fact. The GT380 was my first really decent bike though. Didn't that gear indicator seem futuristic at the same time (whilst looking like a retro arcade game).
8500 rpm seems crazy but one of the major limitations on redline is valve float. That’s the reason Mercedes invented the desmodromic valve actuation that Ducati still uses. Two strokes don’t have poppet valves so that’s not an issue. Most two strokes use a reed valve but that’s just a flappy piece of spring steel. Unfortunately, burning oil in a two stroke causes a lot of smoke and that is unacceptable except for crazy people like us.
My son just flew through the first part of his A1 test, and all being well, by the end of February he'll be licensed-up. If he ever dares to take the piss out of me like you just did to your old man, he'll be wearing his effing bike, not riding it.
PS, he's dead set on a KTM RC 125. Being a spotty 16 year old, he thinks he's Dani Pedrosa. I'm going to make him watch this video from beginning to end as a cautionary tale.
Back in the mid 90s when I was a naughty rebellious teenager my dad had a suzuki 200GT that I usedto nick and take for a spin 🤗 it was a fabulous machine 🥰
My Yamaha two stroke “moptorcycle” had the most”deficient ludrication system in the whole world” “…” from the owner’s manual….autolube..in other words. But still you could not go anywhere without two extra spark plugs and a wrench. Loved it though even the exhaust fog.
I bought an old GT185 in 78', I used to go to school on it, no license or helmets & see if we could get air over the railway bridge . . BTW Off/On/Reserve
# 2. great video guys and you’ve convinced me to get in the competition 😊😊😊 again
Good luck 👍🏼
Gentlemen, very much appreciate how your show us actual, real-time experiences. You don't curate away the bumps, bruises or missteps: the Old Man struggling with the start up over and over and all of that after getting banged up by the dentist... pure authenticity. Raising a pint to the both of you!
Back in the day, my dad brought my one year old “new to me” GT250X7 home from where we bought it, in his works van, and left me to it. 18 years old and completely clueless. I spent a half hour knocking my pan in kicking it, before noticing there was a bizarre rocker switch on the right bar, commonly known as a kill switch…
In the early 80’s in the US, mid 70’s two strokes could be had for a couple hundred bucks. In ‘81 I bought a ‘74 yam RD-350 for $200.00. Purple metal flake paint. A stunningly capable bike. The reed valves really helped the bottom end. A couple years later I stripped it down and turned into club road racer. Over the next 5 or so years i cannibalised many innocent RD Yamahas to support my road racing habit. Suzuki 2-strokes were essentially nonexistent at club races and on the road by the mid ‘80’s. The 500 cc Titan Suzuki was the most common Suzuki 2-stroke. By the late 80’s, 70’s 2-strokes had all but vanished from the roads.
My son finally reached 19 on boxing day and yesterday he passed his A2 test, first try. He is now happily riding a 350 Meteor.
Congrats🎉
Started my biking life on a Honda CB 250 Dream( NOT a super dream) then on to a 1975 Suzuki GT 750M, never forgot either!!! great era, missed by many i"m sure!!
That was a brilliant trip down memory lane. I had this bike's bigger brother, the GT 250m and a mate had the 185 which had an electric starter which you didn't mention. All that kicking for nothing. Yamaha fitted an electric starter to their RD 200 as well. The rev needle you mentioned had a direct connection through a cable to the oil pump which makes the reading instant while today's bikes the reading is done electronically. I agree that this was the golden age of motorcycling. Very little, if any plastic involved and so easy to work on. I wish they could bring them back. I can smell the two stroke now.
My first bike was a '75 GT550 triple that I drug home from a barn and got back on the road. Black with gold pinstripes.
Sounded great, generally worked pretty well, but I always kept a spare set of plugs or two with me.
The front disk was absolutely useless in the rain until a few revolutions with brake applied, then it would grab if you weren't careful.
Fuel consumption was abysmal. The pegs were rigidly mounted, so I'd hang my boots off so they rubbed the ground first. If you were cornering near the limit, the rear would develop a weird oscillation, letting you know that you were about to stuff it.
Still, as a first bike I'll always have a soft spot for it, though I wouldn't have another.
Thanks for the nostalgia trip.
lmao first three minutes were just darcy roasting his dad
Marvellous video chaps! I owned a red one from new in 1977, after serving my crashing apprenticeship on a FS1E DX. Spent most of the summer weekends riding from Enfield (North London) to my parents caravan at Mill Beach near Maldon (close to the Old Man's old haunt I believe). Also took it down to Cornwall for a couple of weeks, touring the north coast. Brilliant little bike. Unfortunately it was stolen a couple of years later, but the insurance paid out enough (eventually) for a second hand 400/4. Working part time on vintage motorcycles for Cheffins Auctioneers, I was lucky enough to ride a blue one one round the yard a couple of years ago. Happy days.
At 16 years old I had an Suzuki AP50, at 17 I traded it in for a Gold Suzuki GT185 (similar to the one in your video) which basically gave me my first taste of real freedom. I'm not a 2 stroke fan despite owning them back in the day, for me they were never as reliable as a good old 4 stroke, as in my case the 2 stroke pump always packed up and ended up seizing the engine. Once I passed my test (which consisted of basically riding around in a circle and managing to stay on when asked to perform an emergency stop) I then traded my GT185 for a Honda CX500. Now this is a classic you need to try. The CX500 was brilliant, 50bhp, which was as much as was needed for the handling capability of motorcycles of this era, it was incredibly reliable and dependable. It was the dispatch riders bike of choice and as such they clocked up big miles. The CX500 also has the advantage of being a physically big motorcycle, so unlike most of the classic bikes that now seem very small, the cx doesn't make us look like we are sat on a mini moto. I currently use my cx as my daily transport and absolutely love it, it's not as old as the GT185 in your video being a 1978 but at 47 years old it still holds it's own on any road and has no problem when you want to get a move on. Even on these cold winter days it always starts (full choke) and with the water-cooled radiator and v twin cylinders it also offers a little bit of warm air around your legs and body. Yes the brakes and tyres aren't up to modern bike standards but still acceptable for the bikes performance. Find yourself a nice CX to review, you wont regret it.
I had a AP50 too...absolutely loved it...
I used to have a 250 ram air and all ways wanted a 380 but the new GS 550 came out and I got one of them instead….and yes I agree it was a great time to be riding motorcycles 😁👍🏻
The 380 was pretty great, I had one a few years. Nice and torqy for a two stroke. A mate has the 250 and I couldn't believe the sharp kick from gutless to full power, caught me out on a corner once.
What a wonderful bike, one that evokes fond memories. My first motorcycle was the big brother of this one, a Suzuki GT250 that I bought used in 1980 as soon as I had my license. It was a great bike to start on, I managed not to kill myself or anyone else on it, and I have been riding ever since. After a couple of years we went our separate ways, but as they say, you never forget the first one.
@@olethorhermansen5696 awesome great to hear 👍🏼
I've been riding for over 60 years. Personally I think the golden era of motorcycles is right now. There are more models in more categories than ever before with better engines, brakes and suspensions.
Lmao. Darcy your dad is a legend. Died laughing about the 100+ kicks and cussing. Gotta keep the old man on his toes .
P.s. look after his heart though make sure he has some aspirin near by next time just in case.
My Gt380 was a gorgeous awesome fun machine which Ive missed for 35 years! Can't afford one these days but proud to have it when I did. Comfy, surprisingly torque and quick enough for back road fun!!
Had the single-cylinder GT 125 version - good for 80, as long as you had a spare piston. Went through a lot of lightbulbs too - 6V electrics. Lots of fun, even after it lost the gear-lever just before a bypass roundabout! Didn’t know about Loc-tite back then.
Excellent episode. Fond memories of my youth.
When I moved house I stupidly threw out my collection of Used Motorcycle guides. They were small 1980's (A5 ?) booklets printed on cheapest newsprint which gave a brief summary and values for motorcycles. What I remember most was the long lists of the most common faults and low life-expectancy for most bikes. I always remember this when I get the feeling that I am becoming too nostalgic about bikes from the past. Bikes of today, as with cars, are vastly better than those of the past.
They were great books full of brilliant stories
I remember those mags🤣 There was only a couple of old Hondas that got decent reliability reviews CX, CD s. All sorted by the 1990s with the Japanese bikes👍
@@tradeprepper8318especially mine! I had about six stories published. 😊
the age when electric start was being fitted as standard but the kick start was also retained, best of both worlds.
Looking forward to more classic machines. Brilliant!
Back in the mid 70's a friend of mine at Guildford Tech had a newish 250cc version of this Suzuki. At the time I had a Yamaha DT 175. I will never forget the day he had a race down the A3 towards Portsmouth with a Porsche 911 of the same era. I didn't have a chance at keeping up with them but they were very evenly matched. The Suzuki would accelerate faster than the Porsche but the car would catch up on the straights. Amazing and very happy days in our late teens. This video has brought back a lot of memories !!!!!
Awesome story 👍🏼
He got his steps in that day.
I had a blue GT185 as my first bike after a Suzuki AP50 moped. I loved that bike and wish I'd never sold it!
Great video Mr Darcey. I'm entering the competition!!
I bought a Kawasaki 500cc 2 stroke in 1974. I had a blast on that bike. (I wish I could get fish and chips like that here in Texas.)
Brings back memories. Had a 380, 500 and a kettle. Fantastic machines.
Very nostalgic video thanks guys, I had an rd250b then a gt380 really miss the two strokes 😢
Sub 200cc bikes not only bought excitement into commuting, they were also better affordable for youngsters especially when it came to insuring them in their day. Please remember everyone that the two-stroke oil supply volume is throttle controlled which means;
Closed throttle = sufficient oil supply for tick-over
So,
for the sake of your wallets and to prevent seizures "DO" think about this when riding with a closed throttle at 5000Rpm or whatever.
I grew up on two-strokes in London and they require a different approach to riding than 4 strokes.
Thanks for an awesome review, was like a time-machine,
Best wishes from Düsseldorf
Sher 🏁
Fantastic clip and thanks for sharing .
I’ve been asking and waiting for something like this for a while .
Extremely amusing watching the old man trying to kickstart with the fuel off 😀
I have a newer bike …. a 1981 Suzuki Gs850g with only 30,000 miles on the clock ,I’m coming up for 62 years old and my bike was made when I was courting with my girl friend (now my lovely wife and grandmother ).
Mot and tax exempt ,just jump on anytime …..a real time machine 😊
Cheers
Dave from Scotland
My 1st bike was a GT125, absolutely brilliant bit of kit. That's over 50 years ago 😁, it was a blue one and I loved it. The start of a long relationship with bikes 😊.
I also was made in 1974..the best things where made in 1974. I'm in Canada where speed limits are really just a gentle suggestion and therefore you generally need to be way up in displacement just to survive but it is very entertaining to see you try out a quality machine like that old zuki.
My first bike brand new in 1976 good memories of this great bike.twin contact breaker points where a pain to set up.seperate oil tank so no need to mix your fuel brilliant.
loved the film guys, i had the GT125 smaller one. took forever to run in. but when it did. boy it was quick. more older models please.
2:29 It's like seeing your old love after 30 years of Marriage. It was wonderful but No matter how much you try now, you can't make it work.
Go stong GranGran 💪🏻
When bikes were bikes no fancy electronics, however I think the Old Man doesn’t need to go to the gym for the rest of the month. It sounded great once he started love that two stroke exhaust.
My first motorcycle was a Suzuki 80cc "Hillbilly" ring dinger two stroke in Nov. 1964. I only had one other two stroke, a 1972 Yamaha 175 Enduro and that was the last 2 stroker I ever rode. Too many problems, too much blue smoke. I'm glad they've gone the wayside. Other than reminiscence, they were good for very little.
I had one of these back in the 80s, it was a but tatty when I got it so I completely restored it from the ground up. A really nice machine. Sadly it only lasted a few weeks - someone in a Ford Granada Ghia drove into me head on one day as I was on my way to work, and put me in hospital. The bike was totalled!
@@richardhince9764 sorry to hear that, hope you had no serious injuries after that 👍🏼
Your right about design back then. Bikes were made to be general purpose machines, pillion no problem, luggage no problem. Centre stand, yes. I don't remember that brakes were generally that great though (i had some Honda's with the pivoting single side calipers including a '71 CB750 lump).
that was my first bike when i let school 50 years ago you brought back some memories happy days , the smell of a two stroke . great video thank you 🙂
That is awesome 👍🏼
you two people are absolutely fantastic. Love both of you.
Thank you 😊
I had the exact same bike - brilliant fun, especially braking in the wet! And like everyone else who noticed, I'm laughing so hard that the Old Man never clocked the electric start!! 😂😂
He did not use the electric start at first as the battery was flat but it did work later on in the day 👍🏼
@@MrDarcy-OlMan Redemption!
That's a good workout for the oldman. 🤣🤣😭😭
What a beauty. Always loved he GTs and used to have a 380 back in the early 80ies. Regardless of the RD blokes riding circles around me, i really enjoyed this motorbike.
Dont it sound lovely ❤ I passed my test on a 7 speed 2 stroke single and the art to it was dancing on the power band through the gears. Great video 😎
Please more 2 stroke from this time. Love them ❤
I had a GT185 then a KH250, l loved the looks & smell off that 3 cylinder Kawasaki. ❤️ When l left home l had nowhere to store it so left it in my parents house, my mum kept asking me to move it, and l kept ignoring her, as you do when you are young. I found a garage to rent, went to collect my bike and she'd given it away. 😭
@@saltaireorangebicyclechopp8555 oh no 😢
Aaaah I remember these in all guises even the 125 twin which will be as much if not more of a rarity now, I loved the ol man kicking it over at least it warmed him up to ride the thing ha ha
What a classic. Petrol taps eh. Had a Suzuki X5 in the eighties, kick and electric start. Nice little machine.
I had a blue model and many great times on it as a teenager. Superb times, superb memories. There was always someone with a Yamaha RD 200 which was quicker, but not as good, I think.
Those were GREAT bikes! I know a guy who managed to beat a CR-125 in the dirt on one (that's a fact and not a joke - he just proved it's the rider, not the machine!).
You are 100% correct about the joy of living being sucked out of life by soulless bureaucrats and politicians.
I can confirm that a GT-185 will do 80 mph. In the 1970s, even though the national speed limit was 55 mph, we did somehow manage some higher speeds. I had a 1975 RD-350B, a friend had a 1975 GT-380, and another friend had the 1973 GT-185. The GT-380 and I could do 100 mph, but the GT-185 stayed right with us up to 80 mph.
A reminder of how popular small bikes were. Almost every cubic capacity from 50 to 250 was available, and lots of them. Suzuki's "ram air" cylinder top was a bit of marketing nonsense. Its 380 big brother was also popular around the chip shop.
I had the GT500 (1976) ... indestructible
wow in such a lovely condition, besides form the rusty chain, what a beautiful bike. by the way the rev counter on those old engines is most times cable driven from the crankshaft thats why its so alive.... 🙂
I had a GT250, 380. 500 and 750. also a T500, which was the best allrounder, in my opinion. I also had a Kawaski KH500, which I had ported, because it was detuned so much from the early models that it had made me throw up every time I clapped eyes on it.
I’m in the proses of recommissioning a kawasaki s3 400 to stroke first registered 5 November 1975 can’t wait for spring to come
Awesome, enjoy in Spring 👍🏼
Bikes from my era. I had a gt380 and then the gt750
Likewise August 74 I had the 250 version of that and that in the exact same colour went on to the 750 always regretted getting rid of the 250 did 90,000 miles on it
Yup. Me too. And a Honda cb750 (1971). But (and this will shock) I bought a late '70s Bonnie and fell in love with it. Still have it in fact. The GT380 was my first really decent bike though. Didn't that gear indicator seem futuristic at the same time (whilst looking like a retro arcade game).
8500 rpm seems crazy but one of the major limitations on redline is valve float. That’s the reason Mercedes invented the desmodromic valve actuation that Ducati still uses. Two strokes don’t have poppet valves so that’s not an issue. Most two strokes use a reed valve but that’s just a flappy piece of spring steel. Unfortunately, burning oil in a two stroke causes a lot of smoke and that is unacceptable except for crazy people like us.
My son just flew through the first part of his A1 test, and all being well, by the end of February he'll be licensed-up. If he ever dares to take the piss out of me like you just did to your old man, he'll be wearing his effing bike, not riding it.
PS, he's dead set on a KTM RC 125. Being a spotty 16 year old, he thinks he's Dani Pedrosa. I'm going to make him watch this video from beginning to end as a cautionary tale.
I used to own the exact same model! Same colour, same year, everything!
@@6chhelipilot wow how cool 👌
Grew up on 2 strokes . Suzuki T 500’s Kawasaki H1’s . Lovely stuff . Shame they cost the same as a 2 year old GSA !! Thanks
Yeah man, the beginning of the video killed the whole Golden era BS ha ha
Owned one in blue what a lovely bike
had the mk2 in the 80s. great bike very underated.
There's nothing like the sound of a 2 stroke engine!
I had the GT250, in the same colour scheme, in 1975!
I had a GT 250. Had about 4 rectifiers in 1 year. But great fun.🌟
That was my first bike - AWESOME.
And I had expansion chambers and flat side mikuni carbs. Crashed it so many times. Would ride one again in a heartbeat.
Learnt to ride on suzuki trail 2 strokes from 50cc to the deadly ts 400! They still are beautiful bikes
Had the X7 250, that was a cracking little bike too.
Wow what a lovely fun retro bike full of character. The Ol Man does make me laugh 😆🤣🤣
My second bike was a 66 Suzuki X6 Hustler. amazing machine.
Had the 250. Always seen as the underdog to Yamaha and Kawasaki 250s but was as quick, or quicker, than either much to the annoyance of friends.
They done a GT125 aswell which looked identical.
Current 125's are disturbingly big. Even the new Honda Monkeybike is twice the size of the 70's one.
such great memories with this bike 🥰
Back in the mid 90s when I was a naughty rebellious teenager my dad had a suzuki 200GT that I usedto nick and take for a spin 🤗 it was a fabulous machine 🥰
Awesome 👍🏼
Good vid. My first bike was a Suzuki AC50,gosh it was fun to ride.
Your videos always bring a piece of joy and positivity into my life. Thank you for your warmth and light!🌴🥊🦁
Hilarious! Almost spat my beer out! Gorgeous bike though.
You had me laughing at the beginning. Give your dad some slack 😂
That's why I love the push button start. Lol
My Yamaha two stroke “moptorcycle” had the most”deficient ludrication system in the whole world” “…” from the owner’s manual….autolube..in other words. But still you could not go anywhere without two extra spark plugs and a wrench. Loved it though even the exhaust fog.
I remember those bikes
At the time I had a Honda CB125 at the time. I dreamt of a 185
A lovely bit of kit, I had the 250 version which I only managed to stack properly - once 😅
Nice video ,lots of memories 😊
Basic should of checked fuel first !I had the GT200x5.That 185 would do 80 mph for sure my 200 did 85.
Wish I had kept my GT550. Too much fun!
I bought an old GT185 in 78', I used to go to school on it, no license or helmets & see if we could get air over the railway bridge . . BTW Off/On/Reserve
the fuel filter is easy to check as there is always crap in the bottom of the tank
now get a 750 Kettle & a KH Widow Maker..or an LC with a Spanky
Sounds Awesome and a 185cc 2 stroke twin is a quick little bike
@@stevied6286 yes it sounds lovely 👍🏼
@MrDarcy-OlMan it's great to see this content on your feed!! And mixing up the reviews, with the Indian Trip.. outstanding!
Don't be so hard on the old man. Top-quality content, gentlemen.
@@Nitrix-i2s thank you 👍🏼
3:18 never heard a better reason to subscribe (I already am, but using my other accounts now to help out the old man)
OL man what are you doing 😂😂😂😂 suprised at you 😂
Love it 😍
If the Old Man is suffering mental decline, maybe it's from the lead he ingested from exhaust fumes as a kid. Damn government regulations!
Beautiful bike
Mah brothers in Christ! Had to stop for a moment to explain to my mother what I'm watching 😅😂
I love it ❤, but I bet that the villagers are less keen on a noisy old smokey 2-stroke 😂😂
I had a GT550❤
OMG what a gorgeous bike
Why didnt you just press the starter button? all that kicking!
The battery was flat when we first got it 👍🏼 it was good exercise and got some laughs 🤣
My first bike in 1977 was gt 185 in blue then gt 380 in black