Old school rider here, the difference today comes down to the “track”. Back in the day it was a challenge just to ride the track with a bike that had about 3inchs of suspension and the track followed the natural contours of the land. Today they are flat track graded super cross tracks, a completely different experience for the rider and spectator. Today the tracks just look like clones of each other, where as back in the day they all had unique qualities and the clubs made it a test for man and machine. Keith B (aJs Stormer, Bultaco, Maico)
Motocross with the 500 2 strokers were what the group B was to rallying, so impressive and fascinating. Those were not riders, they were fearless knights. Rumors say the mx-pants back then were specially tailored to give room to the massive balls 😂
In 1984 I bought a band new CR80 I paid $1,400 I seen a 1984 CR80 recently $2,000 it's a no brainer...buy fixer uppers! Great man! ❤the 1983CR250/1984CR500 Best rides ever! Braaap!
You nailed it with the miles and nostalgia. I just have to fire up my Yamaha 465 and I know that its a great day ahead. When I run the mineral oil in it, it brings tears to your eyes for many different reasons. The comment about how much roost hurts from a CR or KX 500 is so very true. Great video. I look forward to seeing more. The scene over here in Australia is also strong.
I raced for 50 years. Motocross, flat track, trials, hare scrambles, cross country and the difference between current or modern and vintage is very simple. Vintage is more fun to compete in. Everything about racing, especially motocross is far more fun vintage than any other way. The bikes are cheaper, the maintenance is cheaper and easier, the races are cheaper to attend, and the tracks are better. Vintage is a win / win situation. On top of all of that, it is so much more fun to race vintage.
I am currently doing a full resto-mod on a 1970 Yamaha AT-1 Enduro. Updated to a 175cc reed cage cylinder, ceramic bearings, every nut, bolt, and washer titanium, racespec wiring harness, DLC coated fork tubes. It had 15k miles on it when I found it under a semi truck hood at my grandmas farm so I had to rebuild the old gal! A hard life as an irrigation ditch/ farm bike but she will be beautiful and road worthy very very soon!
I have a 1982 Husqvarna 430 WR out in the garage that I’m going to restore. There’s just something cool about those old bikes. It’s what I grew up with. My dad had a Hodaka back in the day and then a Penton 175 Jack Piner, and I started on a Honda Trail 70. No motocross, but a lot of trail riding for us. People should go watch that 1971 movie On Any Sunday. Great documentary about old school racing and even has some Steve McQueen in it.
On Any Sunday is one of my all time favorites and one of my biggest influences doing what I do. Thanks for watching dude and have fun doing that resto!
For me, it's nostalgia. I don't race, but have ridden the old clunkers since the early 80's. I remember recently seeing a young guy, while I was riding my 1978 YZ125, he looked and said "where's the rest of it"? Such basic bikes back in the day. Love your videos man!
I run both a 97 rm250 and a 17 ktm450. I absolutely love racing my rm250. I’ve been able to top 10 multiple times on the rm in normal open C classes. The feel of the bike is one that can’t be described to someone who’s never rode one. It’s an experience you’ve got to live.
i admire your passion for it i feel the same i rode in early 80's myself its great to see that these machines are still racing and its just much better to watch and smell than the new stuff, keep up the good work with this channel
I absolutely love riding my dad '87 CR 125, there's no feeling that compares to holding it wide open. You may be going slow but damn it feels like you're flying!
The kick when it came on the pipe was like no 4 stroke could ever match. I also had 125s kawi and honda, i am 5 7 130, rode buddies kx 500 once, i saw god, he winked and said see ya soon boy. Oh that was better than first sex, scared, nervous but so damn good. Smiled for a week.
Interesting video. There's one thing, and one thing only (IMO) that has made the vintage scene work, and that's the tracks. Everything else follows. The modern motocross bike blueprint was set in 1986. All the manufacturers had mono-shock suspension, adjustable forks, disc brakes, power valve engines with a reliable 50bhp etc. Even today, these are very capable machines. There's no way most of the riders taking part in the vintage scene would want to ride their "vintage" bike on anything approaching a modern mx track. I raced my first "vintage" race back in 1992 (1965 Greaves 250MX). I still rode modern stuff as well up to '97 but injuries really started limiting my riding and the tracks were getting so demanding it became more outdoor supercross as far as I was concerned. Just as the style of the track drew me more into the vintage scene, the style of the modern mx track pushed me away. I also love "building" the bikes from scratch over the winter months. There's no reason why a vintage race bike should not be just as reliable as a modern day machine, with the right care and attention to detail. Mine certainly are. Ok, nuff said. Keep up the good work, thanks.
Yes! Most can ride a Vintage MX track which has tamer jumps, etc. Yet they still provide technical challenges like off chambers, tabletop jumps with shallower faces, and surfaces which change throughout the day. From my VMX experience, the tracks provide plenty of safe passing opportunities which creates excellent racing. If racers only had the option of riding “modern” tracks, many simply wouldn’t race. Today’s skilled modern MX racers can have a great time racing VMX on vintage tracks, but many vintage racers wouldn’t want anything to do with the more challenging/risky modern tracks. I’ve been doing VMX for twenty years on my trusty CZ with a group of really great friends/riders. This version of MX keeps us in the game, and allows following generations to share the fun with us. Great video👍🏻
Old school MX bikes are popular in the states as well. Alot is nolatagia & some Is just price pt of new MX machines nowadays i think! I ride Yamaha & KTM machines myself. Your dropping $10k easy on a new 450. Even a Raptor 700R sport quad is near $11k out-out-the-door. Prices are insane. Ride!
The bikes I lusted after in school are now mine, many years later (except the blue & yellow Maicos). Now that I have them, they're gonna be ridden! Plenty powerful, more than competitive (as Nev keeps demonstrating) and reliable. *New 4-stroke bikes have no soul!*
I last raced around 1990 on an 88 Cr125 - and I have felt the same, that modern 4 strokes just doesnt seem as exciting and it is hard to say why. I thought I might be imagining it, so I put on some old MX GP videos from the 90's, and the racing was just more riveting. I can only think it's the power delivery, that maybe is not as efficient as a 4 stroke, but is more exciting.
The first motocross I attended was the 1971 Inter-Am at Carlsbad Raceway in San Diego, California. I've always liked the bikes from the short travel suspension era. I now have four CZ's from the pre-1975 era and have a blast riding them. I have no desire to attempt double and triple jumps, give me natural terrain any day. Lazer 999, this is one of your best videos. Thank you for promoting vintage mx, I wish it was as strong here in California.
The vintage scene is fantastic. I'm in NZ and VMX is really big, all our top riders turn up for the events. Personally I dabble in Vinduro, my first foray into racing when I hit my 50's. The bikes and riders never cease to amaze and the events are a laugh a minute but it's still racing, the adrenaline and urge to stay ahead is a real buzz, even on a 30 year old bike with a much older rider. Great vid!
I'm in NZ too, won my first VMX race on a '75 YZ360B must have been in '94 , managed to get a place a couple of times after that but I'm not a natural fast guy. Nice to have a couple of the old 500's in the shed still.
@@greensocks4507 My first ever event, I rode into an electric fence within 50 mtrs of the start... My goal is to beat the 80 year old farmer riding an IT 175 in his gum boots and flannel shirt, lol. It's a brilliant series, great fun and great people. Only rode a 500 once, a CR-E which was being campaigned for Honda in the British enduro championship back in the day. Bit much for me, I handed it straight back!
All the things you said…when I fire up my ‘73 MX360 and punish myself in the Mohave desert I can’t get enough of it. It’s just plain fun to ride old dirt bikes…
Great video! I have 1992 RM 125 and KX 125. I love them because these two were my dream bikes back then when I was around 16-17 years old. I have also newer 2015 Husqvarna TE 250 and 2018 Husqvarna TC 250 two strokes. I like them all. I will always ride a two stroke offroad bike. That nice sound and ”wild” temperament of these bikes keeps me young 😎👍. Greetings from Finland to UK. 🇫🇮
I went from a 250 Elsinore in 1977, then nothing, to a drz400 now. Carburetors, cable clutch, kickstart, simplicity, and the smell of burning castor oil, if you’re really lucky, and the raw nature of those machines are simply of another time and technology. And still do a fantastic job on the track. And, learning to work on them is an accomplishment. Remember, we did all this without an internet.
Old school is cool school! From the smell of racing castor to the "ring-ding-ding" of those glorious two stroke engines, it flat out rocks! It reminds us old guys of how good things once were and it takes us back to a much simpler time in our lives. I HIGHLY recommend a weekly jaunt on a nice loamy motocross track on a vintage two stroke to put things into their proper perspective...
Great Video, Max.Thanks a lot. It's amazing to see young riders on much older Bikes. My son (16 years, on '07 RM125) wants to bring my old ATK 406 '92 back on the track this year. And he will, for sure🤘🤘
i raced in the best era ( for me) the 70's. Bultaco Montesa Cz, Husky, Zundapp Ossa, All the Japanese brands including a few that aren't around today like Bridgestone and Hodaka. You could show up with a 100 Yamaha and have a pile of fun. it was all very amateur and almost "run what you brung" I remember the impact the 68 DT1 Yamaha made on the sport here in Queensland Australia. A Pursang Bultaco was $1200 and the Dt1 was $625. and I couldn't afford either. (in the mid 70's a 3rd apprentice mechanic earned $100 p.w.) Mainly raced a TM 125 Suzuki that didn't take too much maintenance to keep reliable, My Ossa was another story.
I have always raced for myself, started in 1971, to this day all I ride when my body allows it are the short travel bikes, once you get rolling you're that teenager again without a care in the world other than the thrill of the hunt, no matter if you're racing for first or twenty-first, only you know or care if you're doing it right, if you're smiling you have it right for sure.
Hi Max, great video as all of yours are! I'm writing you from the Arizona desert. I have been racing MX and off-road for over 40 years. But I took a break for about five years from '78 to '83. From then to about four years ago I did mostly desert racing. Got bored with that and decided to go back to MX. Man had it changed in 20 years! With all the big jumps and stuff I was just in the way. So it was suggested I check out vintage MX which is pretty active here in the American West. Since I was out of it during the period of time that the bikes were long travel, had drum brakes, and were air cooled that would be new ground for me that is the direction I went because it would be something new and different. So the ride of choice seemed to be an 81 YZ 250. It was a good choice. It always starts. Runs the entire moto. Parts are easy to get. And it is way faster than I am. Two points you made that are so true. Everyone I see at the vintage races are having more fun than an adult should be allowed to have. And camaraderie and sportsmanship is without equal! Again nice job-thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to watch Kent, i really appreciate it :D That's awesome to hear, i wan't sure how active the vintage scene is in your neck of the woods but it really is booming over here. It sounds like you've got a great ride there, enjoy it dude :D
That feeling of exiting a corner with a dab of clutch as the rear wheel is rebounding off the bumps and the front end is pawing for the sky causes two stroke smiling like a Cheshire Cat 😎✊
With VMX being bikes 20 years of older we are actually coming into a cool era! I love a 2 stroke as much as the next guy… but I also remember hearing a 4 stroke MX bike for the first time at an event “yz426” and the sound was just so dramatic. I’m currently building a 2004 crf250r from the ground up.
VMX RULES !!!! I’m currently building my VMX KTM 250 to race here in Sydney Australia 🇦🇺 this year. I turned 47 last year and had a mid life crisis which was me getting back into MX after 19 years of retirement I now feel 30 years younger 😊
First race I won was on a YZ360B back in '94. VMX racing is a great sport. The two strokes will always be the best. Simplicity, reliability , light weight and pure performance and the sound they make will always keep me a fan. Moved to the '500s in '96. WR500, KX500's and still got a couple in my shed, not much time on a CR500R but I'm lucky to have an '01 zero hour. Still kept my KX500 from new too. Thanks for posting.
Another great video, Max. Thanks. For me, your 4th point is important. It's just a great atmosphere. Additionally, the vintage bikes have personalities, which causes me to own 23 of them. Why would I want 23 modern bikes? Lastly, the year 2022 - September, to be exact - marks the 50th anniversary of my first motocross race on a 1972 Penton Six Day 125. The point? It's simply in my blood. Thanks again and stay safe out there.
I think it has a big thing to do with man and machine being more closely relatable to each other in terms of skill and ability obviously the newer Motocross bikes are Way beyond the average riders capability as far as their power and speed is concerned and that's also how you get hurt fast but the older bikes have a gentler nature so to speak as far as peak power is concerned and the rider can actually ride the vintage bike within the bikes limits since it's not capable of what a modern bike can do so therefore the vintage racer feels closer to his bike in this regard....and it's always much funner to ride a slow bike fast.....than a fast bike slow....fast bike riding slow is fear based since people naturally take it easier w more detailed throttle inputs as to AVOID looping out and so on......when u can ride a bike within its limits, your burning off more energy and stress and gives me a feeling of fulfilment in that moment...to have throttle pinned on a 125 is to have that empty feeling in your stomach come alive and to satisfy an already insatiable urge to mix gas,... go fast and haul ass.....!!!!!!
Old fart Down Under in Australia here, and still see anything liquid cooled, link suspension and disc brakes as "modern". I fell out of the sport in 1981, still running a 1978 CR250R, the original 'R', and still competitive at 3 models old. Presently doing the last touches on restoring a 77 British Rival 125, (the only one ever imported into Australia - frame number 7) to get myself out on the track again. Most certainly won't be going as fast as anyone shown in this video.
Great video Max, your bang on . the camaraderie between MX riders and friendly atmosphere help the sport, yes nostalgia too with the older bikes, l had a 87 yam, and an88 RM , newest bikes I rode was 94 yz125 and 250 , they were light years better than my old bikes but I still loved them, another top class video from the Master.
Thanks as always Kevin :D I think when everyone in the paddock is busy feeling like a kid again riding these old bikes no one has the time to get too uptight about anything else! lol Always a great atmosphere at the vintage events
Owned a MAICO and PENTON dealership w/my Dad in the early to late '70's. Now still have a 250 KTM. MY reasons? I ain't dead yet, keeps my Dad alive in my mind, anyway)
My very 1st mxgp memory was of walking down the steep banking from the top car park at hawkstone in 1990, through the woods hearing the 500s morning warm up, then out of the trees the 1st thing I saw was Paul Malin on the SR500 absolutely crossed up but keeping it pinned, that memory will last forever, happy happy days
Honda qr50 got me here! Same start as the rest. And now at 37, my sons 2 and has a suzuki jr50, but his 96 cr80 is waiting next to the 98 cr250. One day we will both be out, his adventures start soon!!
Good watch - as you know you was going to do an article on my Maico 490 and I also run 2 x mid 90s CR250s. Something fun about slowing it down, riding the older stuff and riding around their weaknesses
What a banger of a video and that’s why I love mx two strokes has always been the best years in motocross and always will be 👊🏻👊🏻 I rode at frome mcc few months bk they had a sidecar and quad race and a lot of old and mixed new bikes but was a older style of track and was a amazing event camped for two days and had a blast 💥
Awesome vid! I can't wait for the next local vintage mx race! They even have classes for Mopeds, sidecars, and old 4 stroke enduros. I dont care much about the modern races. I just love these crazy bikes...
i've found that the vintage events really do have something for every one, a part of why they're so welcoming i guess. Thanks for watching as always dude
They are why I’ve got my 1990 HONDA CR 125 back for a restore n race !!!!!! It’s everything the smells of race fuel n castor oil the sound it’s all anyone needs for fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Max i really enjoy twin shock, evo, and super evo mx. but there's more vintage enduro is just as good, and any 2 stroke dirt bike just brings big smiles.
In Michigan there’s a full vintage series we race at all the tracks in Michigan we even have points at the end of the season and we give away trophies to all the people who won there class
1st of all, great video 999lazer, just loved it. If there weren't vintage bikes, there wouldn't be modern bikes. It maybe a hard bike to ride but no amount of money can buy the pure fun of riding one. For me, it's not old school, take it from me guys, it's " OLD's COOL ". By the way, it's the name of band. Keep safe everyone. Brrrrraaaap.
I have Marnicq Bervoets old yz250 1992 , the only thing i hated where the Forks , i put a 2011 Yz250f front end on it , now its as good as my old 2014 yz 250 . And just as reliable, no problem ….. greets from the netherlands!
Love your channel BTW, I wish I was in Europe as I hear the vintage scene is absolutely epic nowadays everywhere.....at least where I live here in Florida I can ride year round but the summer heat is brutal hear!!!
Back in the early 90's, snowboarding was gaining traction here in the 'Colonies' much to the chagrin of the snobbish skiers. At that time, the winter sports industry was experiencing a downward spiral in popularity and revenue. Snowboarding came to fruition and literally saved the industry...and surpassed skiing regarding it's 'cool factor'. Though I don't follow the motocross industry quite as close you you 999lazer, I have a hunch that vintage, post vintage and evo motocross just might save this industry as well. Modern bikes are almost cost prohibitive and if you happen to grenade one (a rare instance), you might as well toss it and try to finance a new one. Most families can't do this. So, more and more are turning to the older bikes for a day of fun.
I used to own a cr500r 94 what an absolute weapon it was am sure it was trying to kill me everytime i came out to play boy do i miss the sound and smell of that fantastic bike i currently own a crf450rx 17 and i am very disappointed its just not exciting like a two stroker my only wish would be for all these bike manufacturers to start making two strokes again as i just dont think four strokes dont cut the mustard pretty crap in comparison to honest the prices folk are asking for pre 90 two strokes are an absolute liberty they weren't that dear when they were new what a joke
I'm 63 started riding in 74. Have rode and raced all of them up to the new 450s and yes they are VERY GOOD. But to me a little boring I love the thrill of a old school 2 stroke like a CR500 wanting to loop out in 5 th gear at 70+! I'm getting back into dirt bikes after about 15 years wanted a simple old school 2 stroke. But did not want to deal with parts etc on a vintage bike so bought a 2019 YZ250X its really the same as 2006 YZ250 and motor dates back a lot farther than that.
Because when I see an old bike(83 yz125 my personal fave) I'm instantly 13 yr old again. It's very much like when you smell something from long ago, your instantly transported back in time and I'm seriously considering making my 22 yz125x an 83 yz clone....gold rims and all
Aw, Max I wouldn't know what else to do. They break and bits drop off and they are such a beautiful Handful to ride . Keep tryin' new bikes- can't fall in love 'em. They are too well behaved. Pete M.- LEGEND.👍👍👍YOU have passion Max. Genes from Phil!
I like these bikes because of the soft suspension and the big thick nice ceed and the flex and play in the chassis .And the honky donky on the bike.with modern motorcycles you sometimes have the feeling that the motorcycle has control over you . with the classics you have the feeling that you are driving on the edge. but then I'm certainly not talking about THE mighty 500.
I was a kid when all these bikes were awesome, and they still are. So yes it is hard to keep up with old bikes they don't make parts for anymore. I own a 89 cr125 and it reminds me of being a kid so yeah never selling it.
Best motocross bike ridden - 2021 ktm sxf 250. But the COOLEST bike I have used for motocross was a clapped 2004 KTM EXC 525 😆 2nd place goes to 2007 RM 125. For me, deep down. It just "gives me more" to achive stuff on bikes not rly suited for the task 😝 My mx dream atm is to get a 94 RM and suit it with a crazy engine. Sidenote, even if you suck or do good on the MX track, the dude on the old bike gonna get more attention that the posh gang on brand new bikes.
I think for sure in terms of lap times a modern 4 Stroke is the winner all day every day...but like you said the sense of achievement you feel when passing those guys on your old 2 smoker is way better than any fast lap ;-D
Only time a an old motocross bike moves out of my garage is to make room for another one just finished an 1978 Rm 125 traded it for a 79 rm 125 project bike and a modified 74 Yamaha Mx 125 restored
I'm in no way a skilled rider, I'm not even a motocross rider, I'm much more of a trail rider, but the old bikes are just so much more fun. Best move I made was selling my KTM 525SX and buying an 86 Yamaha YZ490. The KTM is objectively a better bike but the YZ thrills me throughout the whole ride, while the KTM just frustrated me. Also in the stable are a couple of 89 Kawasaki KDX200s, an 81 Yamaha IT465, and a 91 Suzuki RMX250. I miss the old Honda 600XL, Yamaha DT400, Suzuki TS250, and 79ish Yamaha IT175 I rode as a teen, but what I've got is enough for me and family to have unending fun.
It's hard for me to understand that a long-travel-suspension water-cooled 2-stroke is considered "vintage". It's part of getting old I guess but I was expecting BSA Gold Stars and twin-pipe CZs.
Old school rider right here, we got to keep this going, it is unexplainable to some but it is what we live for!!
thanks for watching :)
@@999lazer Is my bike a classic lol? I assume so its 5 years younger than me. 96 Rm250? ive been told its not, is, and borderline.
@@sowersass2 it’s a classic
I’ve restored my 1990 CR 125 n she’s a rippah
👍👍 64 years old and still loving the sport thanks to vintage MX. Great video
Old school rider here, the difference today comes down to the “track”. Back in the day it was a challenge just to ride the track with a bike that had about 3inchs of suspension and the track followed the natural contours of the land. Today they are flat track graded super cross tracks, a completely different experience for the rider and spectator. Today the tracks just look like clones of each other, where as back in the day they all had unique qualities and the clubs made it a test for man and machine.
Keith B (aJs Stormer, Bultaco, Maico)
Spot on Keith, that's exactly what Mr Thorpe said as well. Thanks for watching dude
Motocross with the 500 2 strokers were what the group B was to rallying, so impressive and fascinating.
Those were not riders, they were fearless knights. Rumors say the mx-pants back then were specially tailored to give room to the massive balls 😂
In 1984 I bought a band new CR80 I paid $1,400 I seen a 1984 CR80 recently $2,000 it's a no brainer...buy fixer uppers! Great man! ❤the 1983CR250/1984CR500 Best rides ever! Braaap!
You nailed it with the miles and nostalgia. I just have to fire up my Yamaha 465 and I know that its a great day ahead. When I run the mineral oil in it, it brings tears to your eyes for many different reasons. The comment about how much roost hurts from a CR or KX 500 is so very true. Great video. I look forward to seeing more. The scene over here in Australia is also strong.
I raced for 50 years. Motocross, flat track, trials, hare scrambles, cross country and the difference between current or modern and vintage is very simple. Vintage is more fun to compete in. Everything about racing, especially motocross is far more fun vintage than any other way. The bikes are cheaper, the maintenance is cheaper and easier, the races are cheaper to attend, and the tracks are better. Vintage is a win / win situation. On top of all of that, it is so much more fun to race vintage.
2 strokes are what made this sport of motocross today! Lots of good riders come off a two stroke! Awesome video Max!
Thanks for watching Cory :-)
I am currently doing a full resto-mod on a 1970 Yamaha AT-1 Enduro. Updated to a 175cc reed cage cylinder, ceramic bearings, every nut, bolt, and washer titanium, racespec wiring harness, DLC coated fork tubes. It had 15k miles on it when I found it under a semi truck hood at my grandmas farm so I had to rebuild the old gal! A hard life as an irrigation ditch/ farm bike but she will be beautiful and road worthy very very soon!
Sounds great! Thanks for watching
I have a 1982 Husqvarna 430 WR out in the garage that I’m going to restore. There’s just something cool about those old bikes. It’s what I grew up with. My dad had a Hodaka back in the day and then a Penton 175 Jack Piner, and I started on a Honda Trail 70. No motocross, but a lot of trail riding for us. People should go watch that 1971 movie On Any Sunday. Great documentary about old school racing and even has some Steve McQueen in it.
On Any Sunday is one of my all time favorites and one of my biggest influences doing what I do. Thanks for watching dude and have fun doing that resto!
For me, it's nostalgia. I don't race, but have ridden the old clunkers since the early 80's. I remember recently seeing a young guy, while I was riding my 1978 YZ125, he looked and said "where's the rest of it"?
Such basic bikes back in the day.
Love your videos man!
Haha Brilliant! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment dude, it's much appreciated! :D
I run both a 97 rm250 and a 17 ktm450. I absolutely love racing my rm250. I’ve been able to top 10 multiple times on the rm in normal open C classes. The feel of the bike is one that can’t be described to someone who’s never rode one. It’s an experience you’ve got to live.
That's awesome. I bet the sense of accomplishment you get after a good result on the RM is just unbeatable! Thanks for watching dude :D
i admire your passion for it i feel the same i rode in early 80's myself its great to see that these machines are still racing and its just much better to watch and smell than the new stuff, keep up the good work with this channel
Thanks Franco, really appreciate your comment.
Without the smell of premix, mx is just not the same.
I absolutely love riding my dad '87 CR 125, there's no feeling that compares to holding it wide open. You may be going slow but damn it feels like you're flying!
There's no better feeling! Thanks for watching dude
The kick when it came on the pipe was like no 4 stroke could ever match. I also had 125s kawi and honda, i am 5 7 130, rode buddies kx 500 once, i saw god, he winked and said see ya soon boy. Oh that was better than first sex, scared, nervous but so damn good. Smiled for a week.
What’s not to love. The sounds the smell of two stoke oil. The power, the exhilaration. It’s truly sad that companies all but gave up on two stokes.
Interesting video. There's one thing, and one thing only (IMO) that has made the vintage scene work, and that's the tracks. Everything else follows. The modern motocross bike blueprint was set in 1986. All the manufacturers had mono-shock suspension, adjustable forks, disc brakes, power valve engines with a reliable 50bhp etc. Even today, these are very capable machines. There's no way most of the riders taking part in the vintage scene would want to ride their "vintage" bike on anything approaching a modern mx track. I raced my first "vintage" race back in 1992 (1965 Greaves 250MX). I still rode modern stuff as well up to '97 but injuries really started limiting my riding and the tracks were getting so demanding it became more outdoor supercross as far as I was concerned. Just as the style of the track drew me more into the vintage scene, the style of the modern mx track pushed me away.
I also love "building" the bikes from scratch over the winter months. There's no reason why a vintage race bike should not be just as reliable as a modern day machine, with the right care and attention to detail. Mine certainly are. Ok, nuff said. Keep up the good work, thanks.
Yes! Most can ride a Vintage MX track which has tamer jumps, etc. Yet they still provide technical challenges like off chambers, tabletop jumps with shallower faces, and surfaces which change throughout the day. From my VMX experience, the tracks provide plenty of safe passing opportunities which creates excellent racing. If racers only had the option of riding “modern” tracks, many simply wouldn’t race. Today’s skilled modern MX racers can have a great time racing VMX on vintage tracks, but many vintage racers wouldn’t want anything to do with the more challenging/risky modern tracks. I’ve been doing VMX for twenty years on my trusty CZ with a group of really great friends/riders. This version of MX keeps us in the game, and allows following generations to share the fun with us.
Great video👍🏻
Old school MX bikes are popular in the states as well. Alot is nolatagia & some Is just price pt of new MX machines nowadays i think! I ride Yamaha & KTM machines myself. Your dropping $10k easy on a new 450. Even a Raptor 700R sport quad is near $11k out-out-the-door. Prices are insane. Ride!
The bikes I lusted after in school are now mine, many years later (except the blue & yellow Maicos).
Now that I have them, they're gonna be ridden!
Plenty powerful, more than competitive (as Nev keeps demonstrating) and reliable.
*New 4-stroke bikes have no soul!*
100%, like you said they've got more than enough power (so long as you know how to use it properly! lol) Thanks for watching Doc
I dunno maybe you should ride a '22 CRF450R or YZ450F. 55hp stock monsters. KTM makes great machines too!
@@Davido50 yeah but they have NO SOUL, they are literally boring bikes compared to what an older two stroke is
@@Davido50 Ive tried them. No match for my 500s.
I last raced around 1990 on an 88 Cr125 - and I have felt the same, that modern 4 strokes just doesnt seem as exciting and it is hard to say why. I thought I might be imagining it, so I put on some old MX GP videos from the 90's, and the racing was just more riveting. I can only think it's the power delivery, that maybe is not as efficient as a 4 stroke, but is more exciting.
The first motocross I attended was the 1971 Inter-Am at Carlsbad Raceway in San Diego, California. I've always liked the bikes from the short travel suspension era. I now have four CZ's from the pre-1975 era and have a blast riding them. I have no desire to attempt double and triple jumps, give me natural terrain any day. Lazer 999, this is one of your best videos. Thank you for promoting vintage mx, I wish it was as strong here in California.
The vintage scene is fantastic. I'm in NZ and VMX is really big, all our top riders turn up for the events. Personally I dabble in Vinduro, my first foray into racing when I hit my 50's. The bikes and riders never cease to amaze and the events are a laugh a minute but it's still racing, the adrenaline and urge to stay ahead is a real buzz, even on a 30 year old bike with a much older rider. Great vid!
Thanks for watching Mark! It's always been a dream of mine to go riding in NZ, we'll make it happen one day! :D
I'm in NZ too, won my first VMX race on a '75 YZ360B must have been in '94 , managed to get a place a couple of times after that but I'm not a natural fast guy. Nice to have a couple of the old 500's in the shed still.
@@greensocks4507 My first ever event, I rode into an electric fence within 50 mtrs of the start... My goal is to beat the 80 year old farmer riding an IT 175 in his gum boots and flannel shirt, lol. It's a brilliant series, great fun and great people. Only rode a 500 once, a CR-E which was being campaigned for Honda in the British enduro championship back in the day. Bit much for me, I handed it straight back!
All the things you said…when I fire up my ‘73 MX360 and punish myself in the Mohave desert I can’t get enough of it. It’s just plain fun to ride old dirt bikes…
Great video! I have 1992 RM 125 and KX 125. I love them because these two were my dream bikes back then when I was around 16-17 years old. I have also newer 2015 Husqvarna TE 250 and 2018 Husqvarna TC 250 two strokes. I like them all. I will always ride a two stroke offroad bike. That nice sound and ”wild” temperament of these bikes keeps me young 😎👍. Greetings from Finland to UK. 🇫🇮
Thanks for watching Janne! That's a nice little collection you've got there :-)
I love the old bikes, they're just the best.
You can't beat them! Thanks for watching dude
I went from a 250 Elsinore in 1977, then nothing, to a drz400 now. Carburetors, cable clutch, kickstart, simplicity, and the smell of burning castor oil, if you’re really lucky, and the raw nature of those machines are simply of another time and technology. And still do a fantastic job on the track. And, learning to work on them is an accomplishment. Remember, we did all this without an internet.
I guess old bikes provide it's the purest form of man and machine working together in harmony. Thanks for watching Stephen!
Old school is cool school! From the smell of racing castor to the "ring-ding-ding" of those glorious two stroke engines, it flat out rocks! It reminds us old guys of how good things once were and it takes us back to a much simpler time in our lives. I HIGHLY recommend a weekly jaunt on a nice loamy motocross track on a vintage two stroke to put things into their proper perspective...
Great Video, Max.Thanks a lot. It's amazing to see young riders on much older Bikes. My son (16 years, on '07 RM125) wants to bring my old ATK 406 '92 back on the track this year. And he will, for sure🤘🤘
Good on him! That'll be one hell of a ride. Thanks for watching Tobi :-)
As someone old enough to remember these bikes first time around, all I can say to all of your reasons are YES !
Haha! As always thanks for watching Michael :D
i raced in the best era ( for me) the 70's. Bultaco Montesa Cz, Husky, Zundapp Ossa, All the Japanese brands including a few that aren't around today like Bridgestone and Hodaka. You could show up with a 100 Yamaha and have a pile of fun. it was all very amateur and almost "run what you brung" I remember the impact the 68 DT1 Yamaha made on the sport here in Queensland Australia. A Pursang Bultaco was $1200 and the Dt1 was $625. and I couldn't afford either. (in the mid 70's a 3rd apprentice mechanic earned $100 p.w.) Mainly raced a TM 125 Suzuki that didn't take too much maintenance to keep reliable, My Ossa was another story.
I have always raced for myself, started in 1971, to this day all I ride when my body allows it are the short travel bikes, once you get rolling you're that teenager again without a care in the world other than the thrill of the hunt, no matter if you're racing for first or twenty-first, only you know or care if you're doing it right, if you're smiling you have it right for sure.
Hi Max, great video as all of yours are! I'm writing you from the Arizona desert. I have been racing MX and off-road for over 40 years. But I took a break for about five years from '78 to '83. From then to about four years ago I did mostly desert racing. Got bored with that and decided to go back to MX. Man had it changed in 20 years! With all the big jumps and stuff I was just in the way. So it was suggested I check out vintage MX which is pretty active here in the American West. Since I was out of it during the period of time that the bikes were long travel, had drum brakes, and were air cooled that would be new ground for me that is the direction I went because it would be something new and different. So the ride of choice seemed to be an 81 YZ 250. It was a good choice. It always starts. Runs the entire moto. Parts are easy to get. And it is way faster than I am. Two points you made that are so true. Everyone I see at the vintage races are having more fun than an adult should be allowed to have. And camaraderie and sportsmanship is without equal! Again nice job-thanks!
Thanks for taking the time to watch Kent, i really appreciate it :D That's awesome to hear, i wan't sure how active the vintage scene is in your neck of the woods but it really is booming over here. It sounds like you've got a great ride there, enjoy it dude :D
That feeling of exiting a corner with a dab of clutch as the rear wheel is rebounding off the bumps and the front end is pawing for the sky causes two stroke smiling like a Cheshire Cat 😎✊
No better feeling! Thanks for watching gazza!
With VMX being bikes 20 years of older we are actually coming into a cool era! I love a 2 stroke as much as the next guy… but I also remember hearing a 4 stroke MX bike for the first time at an event “yz426” and the sound was just so dramatic. I’m currently building a 2004 crf250r from the ground up.
VMX RULES !!!!
I’m currently building my VMX KTM 250 to race here in Sydney Australia 🇦🇺 this year. I turned 47 last year and had a mid life crisis which was me getting back into MX after 19 years of retirement
I now feel 30 years younger 😊
The magic of VMX! haha Enjoy dude and thanks for watching :D
First race I won was on a YZ360B back in '94. VMX racing is a great sport. The two strokes will always be the best. Simplicity, reliability , light weight and pure performance and the sound they make will always keep me a fan. Moved to the '500s in '96. WR500, KX500's and still got a couple in my shed, not much time on a CR500R but I'm lucky to have an '01 zero hour. Still kept my KX500 from new too. Thanks for posting.
Another great video, Max. Thanks. For me, your 4th point is important. It's just a great atmosphere. Additionally, the vintage bikes have personalities, which causes me to own 23 of them. Why would I want 23 modern bikes? Lastly, the year 2022 - September, to be exact - marks the 50th anniversary of my first motocross race on a 1972 Penton Six Day 125. The point? It's simply in my blood. Thanks again and stay safe out there.
23?! That's one hell of a collection! I hope they all get loved equally ;-) Thanks for taking the time to watch Robert
That Penton is a classic. My dad rode a 175 Jack Piner when I was growing up. I wonder how many newer riders have even heard of a Penton…
I think it has a big thing to do with man and machine being more closely relatable to each other in terms of skill and ability obviously the newer Motocross bikes are Way beyond the average riders capability as far as their power and speed is concerned and that's also how you get hurt fast but the older bikes have a gentler nature so to speak as far as peak power is concerned and the rider can actually ride the vintage bike within the bikes limits since it's not capable of what a modern bike can do so therefore the vintage racer feels closer to his bike in this regard....and it's always much funner to ride a slow bike fast.....than a fast bike slow....fast bike riding slow is fear based since people naturally take it easier w more detailed throttle inputs as to AVOID looping out and so on......when u can ride a bike within its limits, your burning off more energy and stress and gives me a feeling of fulfilment in that moment...to have throttle pinned on a 125 is to have that empty feeling in your stomach come alive and to satisfy an already insatiable urge to mix gas,... go fast and haul ass.....!!!!!!
Mega video Max. Old Skool rules. thanks for including me in your edit, i'm the closing clip. Roll on Foxhill #BigRed
Thanks Paul, great to meet you that day. Hopefully catch you at Foxhills :-D
Old fart Down Under in Australia here, and still see anything liquid cooled, link suspension and disc brakes as "modern". I fell out of the sport in 1981, still running a 1978 CR250R, the original 'R', and still competitive at 3 models old.
Presently doing the last touches on restoring a 77 British Rival 125, (the only one ever imported into Australia - frame number 7) to get myself out on the track again. Most certainly won't be going as fast as anyone shown in this video.
That sounds like a very special bike you've got there, have fun with it dude! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :-)
Great video Max, your bang on . the camaraderie between MX riders and friendly atmosphere help the sport, yes nostalgia too with the older bikes, l had a 87 yam, and an88 RM , newest bikes I rode was 94 yz125 and 250 , they were light years better than my old bikes but I still loved them, another top class video from the Master.
Thanks as always Kevin :D I think when everyone in the paddock is busy feeling like a kid again riding these old bikes no one has the time to get too uptight about anything else! lol Always a great atmosphere at the vintage events
Owned a MAICO and PENTON dealership w/my Dad in the early to late '70's. Now still have a 250 KTM. MY reasons? I ain't dead yet, keeps my Dad alive in my mind, anyway)
That's awesome dude, keep riding as long as you can! :D Thanks for watching
My very 1st mxgp memory was of walking down the steep banking from the top car park at hawkstone in 1990, through the woods hearing the 500s morning warm up, then out of the trees the 1st thing I saw was Paul Malin on the SR500 absolutely crossed up but keeping it pinned, that memory will last forever, happy happy days
I have a 02 kx 250 not that old but it’s my favorite bike I’ve ever ridden 😁❤️ great power and handling, long love 2 strokes
2 Strokes for life brother! She sounds like a beauty, i'm very jealous! lol Thanks for watching dude
Honda qr50 got me here! Same start as the rest. And now at 37, my sons 2 and has a suzuki jr50, but his 96 cr80 is waiting next to the 98 cr250. One day we will both be out, his adventures start soon!!
That's awesome dude. I bet you can't wait to get out there with him :D
Oldschool rider here aswell I just find when you faster on a old bike your a rocket ship on track with the newer stuff
Good watch - as you know you was going to do an article on my Maico 490 and I also run 2 x mid 90s CR250s. Something fun about slowing it down, riding the older stuff and riding around their weaknesses
Yes love old bikes I have a cr125 1990 and they ate soooo fun 😀, my dad was the reason of the old super evos and I have loved then ever since
Thanks for watching Jake
What a banger of a video and that’s why I love mx two strokes has always been the best years in motocross and always will be 👊🏻👊🏻 I rode at frome mcc few months bk they had a sidecar and quad race and a lot of old and mixed new bikes but was a older style of track and was a amazing event camped for two days and had a blast 💥
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment Steven, really appreciate it mate :D
Awesome vid! I can't wait for the next local vintage mx race! They even have classes for Mopeds, sidecars, and old 4 stroke enduros. I dont care much about the modern races. I just love these crazy bikes...
i've found that the vintage events really do have something for every one, a part of why they're so welcoming i guess. Thanks for watching as always dude
My first bike was a 74 Kawasaki f7 175 dual purpose 2 stroke and I been In love with older bikes since got a 1980 Suzuki ts250er now
Once you're hooked, you're hooked for life! Thanks for watching Jon :D
@@999lazer thanks for the content I actually got my 250 the same day u aired ur dads
They are why I’ve got my 1990 HONDA CR 125 back for a restore n race !!!!!! It’s everything the smells of race fuel n castor oil the sound it’s all anyone needs for fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed, the sounds and the smells are enough to put a smile on anyone's face! Thanks for watching gary
Max i really enjoy twin shock, evo, and super evo mx. but there's more vintage enduro is just as good, and any 2 stroke dirt bike just brings big smiles.
100% agreed on that, 2 strokes = smiles, end of story! Thanks for watching! :-)
I race a classic 1977 rm250 and hand down had more fun on a twinshock bike then any Morden bike, I can’t wait for the 2024 season to start 💪🏼
In Michigan there’s a full vintage series we race at all the tracks in Michigan we even have points at the end of the season and we give away trophies to all the people who won there class
1st of all, great video 999lazer, just loved it. If there weren't vintage bikes, there wouldn't be modern bikes. It maybe a hard bike to ride but no amount of money can buy the pure fun of riding one. For me, it's not old school, take it from me guys, it's " OLD's COOL ". By the way, it's the name of band. Keep safe everyone. Brrrrraaaap.
I picked up a 91 yz125 to restore on facebook marketplace. Cant beat the look of a 90s 2 stroke
Love this video. Simpler times on the old school bikes.
the smell and the sound'the best'🏍💨👍'
There's no beating it! Thanks for watching dude
I have Marnicq Bervoets old yz250 1992 , the only thing i hated where the Forks , i put a 2011 Yz250f front end on it , now its as good as my old 2014 yz 250 . And just as reliable, no problem ….. greets from the netherlands!
Thanks for watching Tom! That sounds like a very special bike!
Awesome! I would love to see more of that Triumph though!
Thanks for watching Magnus. We'll hopefully have some more videos with lewis and the triumph coming this season :D
I love my 89 CR125. Hope more new parts become available.
Love your channel BTW, I wish I was in Europe as I hear the vintage scene is absolutely epic nowadays everywhere.....at least where I live here in Florida I can ride year round but the summer heat is brutal hear!!!
Back in the early 90's, snowboarding was gaining traction here in the 'Colonies' much to the chagrin of the snobbish skiers. At that time, the winter sports industry was experiencing a downward spiral in popularity and revenue. Snowboarding came to fruition and literally saved the industry...and surpassed skiing regarding it's 'cool factor'. Though I don't follow the motocross industry quite as close you you 999lazer, I have a hunch that vintage, post vintage and evo motocross just might save this industry as well. Modern bikes are almost cost prohibitive and if you happen to grenade one (a rare instance), you might as well toss it and try to finance a new one. Most families can't do this. So, more and more are turning to the older bikes for a day of fun.
I used to own a cr500r 94 what an absolute weapon it was am sure it was trying to kill me everytime i came out to play boy do i miss the sound and smell of that fantastic bike i currently own a crf450rx 17 and i am very disappointed its just not exciting like a two stroker my only wish would be for all these bike manufacturers to start making two strokes again as i just dont think four strokes dont cut the mustard pretty crap in comparison to honest the prices folk are asking for pre 90 two strokes are an absolute liberty they weren't that dear when they were new what a joke
My motocross days are over 😢 But my pub bike I’m building is a road legal 350cc Bultaco Pursang 😀
That sure sounds like fun! Thanks for watching Wayne
I’ve rode that ‘86 CR250 of Steve’s and what a bike it is🤙😍
I'm 63 started riding in 74. Have rode and raced all of them up to the new 450s and yes they are VERY GOOD. But to me a little boring I love the thrill of a old school 2 stroke like a CR500 wanting to loop out in 5 th gear at 70+! I'm getting back into dirt bikes after about 15 years wanted a simple old school 2 stroke. But did not want to deal with parts etc on a vintage bike so bought a 2019 YZ250X its really the same as 2006 YZ250 and motor dates back a lot farther than that.
Because when I see an old bike(83 yz125 my personal fave) I'm instantly 13 yr old again. It's very much like when you smell something from long ago, your instantly transported back in time and I'm seriously considering making my 22 yz125x an 83 yz clone....gold rims and all
Do it, that'll look awesome! Thanks for watching Stephen
Answer,,, I the way the power hits on them!
There's nothing else quite like it! Thanks for watching Tom :D
@@999lazer I got a 95 kx and I swear the power band still shocks me after 11 years owning it, keep up the vids especially the 2smoke ones
Aw, Max I wouldn't know what else to do.
They break and bits drop off and they are such a beautiful Handful to ride .
Keep tryin' new bikes- can't fall in love 'em. They are too well behaved.
Pete M.- LEGEND.👍👍👍YOU have passion Max. Genes from Phil!
You've got to have a bit of a fight and a fright to know you're alive, right? ;-D Thanks for watching as always mate!
@@999lazer GOOD ANSWER MAXIMUM
I like these bikes because of the soft suspension and the big thick nice ceed and the flex and play in the chassis .And the honky donky on the bike.with modern motorcycles you sometimes have the feeling that the motorcycle has control over you . with the classics you have the feeling that you are driving on the edge. but then I'm certainly not talking about THE mighty 500.
dude you need to come to Australia and watch the racing at QMP with the qvmp.
Sign me up for that! Haha thanks for watching Paul
Vintage Motocross is so Awesome!
Couldn't agree more! Thanks for watching Robert :D
The old 490s are hauling 😅
I was a kid when all these bikes were awesome, and they still are. So yes it is hard to keep up with old bikes they don't make parts for anymore. I own a 89 cr125 and it reminds me of being a kid so yeah never selling it.
Really liked this video! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
My 2006 RM125 always puts a smile on my face.Pure violence.
Haha Awesome, those RM's always sounded so nice. Thanks for watching dude
i race 93 cr125 with cat graphics, fmf , wish i never sold it, starting to feel old calling my era vintage, t2 best era of racing
2 stroke !!!!!
Thanks for watching dude :D
Best motocross bike ridden - 2021 ktm sxf 250. But the COOLEST bike I have used for motocross was a clapped 2004 KTM EXC 525 😆 2nd place goes to 2007 RM 125. For me, deep down. It just "gives me more" to achive stuff on bikes not rly suited for the task 😝 My mx dream atm is to get a 94 RM and suit it with a crazy engine. Sidenote, even if you suck or do good on the MX track, the dude on the old bike gonna get more attention that the posh gang on brand new bikes.
I think for sure in terms of lap times a modern 4 Stroke is the winner all day every day...but like you said the sense of achievement you feel when passing those guys on your old 2 smoker is way better than any fast lap ;-D
@@999lazer And don't forget the feeling just jumping a 500cc + bike feels 😆
My conclusion? People love old CR125s
Evo 125 line up's are always a sea of red! lol Thanks for watching Neil
They saying goes, " they don't make em like they used to".
Mr Honda certainly doesn't!
Fantastic max well done 👍
Thanks for watching Martin :-)
Only time a an old motocross bike moves out of my garage is to make room for another one just finished an 1978 Rm 125 traded it for a 79 rm 125 project bike and a modified 74 Yamaha Mx 125 restored
I'm in no way a skilled rider, I'm not even a motocross rider, I'm much more of a trail rider, but the old bikes are just so much more fun. Best move I made was selling my KTM 525SX and buying an 86 Yamaha YZ490. The KTM is objectively a better bike but the YZ thrills me throughout the whole ride, while the KTM just frustrated me. Also in the stable are a couple of 89 Kawasaki KDX200s, an 81 Yamaha IT465, and a 91 Suzuki RMX250. I miss the old Honda 600XL, Yamaha DT400, Suzuki TS250, and 79ish Yamaha IT175 I rode as a teen, but what I've got is enough for me and family to have unending fun.
That sounds like an awesome collection Bryan! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, it means a lot! :D
@@999lazer I always watch when your videos show up on my feed - especially the Megalodon videos!
We need.tracks like that here in the usa
Very good video, so well done!
Max we need you at Sand Mountain Nevada!
We've gotta make this happen some day! It looks epic!
Raced a 1973 tm400 Suzuki and survived now own a 1977 pe 250
It's hard for me to understand that a long-travel-suspension water-cooled 2-stroke is considered "vintage". It's part of getting old I guess but I was expecting BSA Gold Stars and twin-pipe CZs.
i love my 86 cr125 and im 46
The Honda of that era is unbeatable! Thanks for watching David
right side up fork boots, expansion chambers, the sound, the smell, cooler than the underside of your pillow.. i'll take an 89 kx125 please.
Make that two! ;-D Thanks for watching Tim
Great video Max!!!
Absolutely nothing better I’m a 51 racer that races the Uk Evo championship brrrr
Thanks for watching Matt, hopefully see you at a round or two this year :-D
Love your videos but a bit of advice you and 2 stroke stuffing should join together and the Megalodon would make over 100 hp
Now there's an interesting idea! Thanks for watching Michael
Me riding a 90's bike because I can't afford a brand new one🤷♂️
As long as you're having fun dude! :D Thanks for watching mate
can you buy a vertemati? to showcase them to the world
They are easy compared to the fuel injection nightmare now a days
100%! Thanks for watching Kurt :-D
Gimme my CR 500 and let's race
The thing about vintage motorcross is its more about socializing and having a good time. 1st place or last, nobody cares.
Bikes from the 80’s rule 🍺