Wow, a super fun video. I'm 73 years old, and haven't owned a bike for years, but I still love bikes. This makes me want to find a 2 stroke. My first 2 stroke was a new 72 Yamaha DT1 250 that I loved. I even took it on a trip from LA to Palm Springs on I-10 and it was fine. But I was a student and couldn't afford to keep it. A couple of years later my dad found a 73 Yamaha RD 350 that was loads of fun. Making a quick trip up to Lake Arrowhead on the legendary Highway 18 Rim of the World Highway was an absolute blast. I did get it up to 115 miles per hour on a deserted road in the California desert. Unfortunately, I fell in love with the new Honda CB 550 and traded in the Yamaha. Over 50 years later, I still love the sound, smell, and feel of those 2 strokes. I should add that in 1971 my brother picked up a used RD 250 in Minneapolis and rode back to LA, along with our cousin on his old Honda 450. They have talked about that trip for decades. Mike Swanson, Mesa, Arizona
I first got introduced to Kawasaki triples when I went with my girlfriend to visit her dad in the hospital. There was another guy in there with a broken leg and he wanted to sell his bike since he was now afraid of it. I bought the bike without knowing what itwas. It turned out to be a beautiful gold colored Kawasiki S2. It was a great bike and I used to bet guys that I could start it on the first try with my hand. It ran great. Life continued and the bike was given to my little brother. Later I started collecting two strokes and had two H2's, and an S3 400. Also had a Yamaha "RD 250 which was a great bike. I got sick and could not ride or work on them and sold them all to a gentleman in Daytona beach. I still love the sound and smell of them. I love your coverage of Deals Gap since I never to there. Keep up the good work.
My friend, I’m 66 and back in 1976 I bought myself a brand new RD400c,(Canadian version), and drove the snot out of it for 2 summers, until my girlfriend swore to never get on that bike again after too many wheelies and I traded it for a ‘69 Oldsmobile Cutlass S convertible with a 350ci The year before I had another 2 stroker, the Kawasaki 350 Triple, but it was no way comparable to the Yamaha. 😢
I got a brand new 1974 H2 when I was 16 years old. Now at 65, looking back on those times, how I survived is a mystery. Thanks for this video it brings back great memories.
Thanks for that, I love 2 strokes and absolutely loved the Kawasaki S2 at the show, I started on a little RD200, then RD250E, RD400E, RD 350L/C RD 500L/C, apart from these Yamahas I also had an H2 Kawasaki ,the only bike I ever had that scared me on a regular basis till I bought a Magnum frame and rolling chassis into which I dropped the H2 engine which by then had a stage 2 tune and turned from a nightmare into a beautiful dream machine that handled sublimely and went like a Saturn rocket. then later I bought an RS250 Aprilia even though I had a GSX-R750 at the time simply because it was such a beautiful little bike and probably the best handling bike I've owned, I've a Triumph street triple RS these days but still miss the sound ,smell and power band of strokers, the smell alone takes me back to my youth even though I'm now in my sixties..
I grew up in the 1970s, and remember all the 2 stroke motorcycles you have showcasing in this video. Thank you for sharing this incredible video with us.
Thank you Jack! It was an honor to meet and talk with you. Thanks for featuring our bikes and helping us keep two strokes alive. Outstanding video and great job.
My pleasure! Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
That man is know as Super Tune. He has built 2 strokes in every form you can imagine and his motors win from season to season. Watercraft, bikes. You name it his motors have won everywhere.
1973 RD350 1979 RD400F Daytona Special 1984 RZ350 Wasn't able to make the meet this so I was very happy to see my old buddies in this well made video. You really caught the atmosphere of meet.
Oh Wow !! just came cross this great show, I live in the UK and started my 2 stroke life when i was 11yrs old on a 175cc BSA Bantam, then a 50cc yamaha FS1E, RD 125, Suzuki GT250, yamaha YR5 350, then a Suzuki GT750 Kettle !! I think in the States you call them a "water buffalo", how come ya havent got one at the show ???
1972 H2 750, bored, ported, chambers, stripped, clip-ons. Couldn't keep the front end on the ground. Dunlop K 81s with Bel Ray injector oil. I couldn't get 80 miles on the 4 gal. tank. Friends with built Harleys hated this bike. We'd start at 100 mph, I'd kick it into 3rd gear and power wheelie, leaving them like they were standing still. My 72 RD 350 was built too. I could beat a 750 Honda SS to 100 mph. Those bikes were so light and nimble. I've never had as much fun on anything as that 750 triple. I could get the front end off the ground while still coming out of the corners, crossed up. Very predictable. We got airborne all the time at high speed while cruising the deserts in Arizona. I'd love to have one again! Thanks CycleDrag!
I graduated High School in 1977. The RD350 was the curver. Remember the Dunlap K81 tires? They fell over like a rock. I had a 1968 Suzuki 250 2 stroke with rotatory valve induction. I bought it for $50.00 it was a beater and never got it fixed up. Never rode more than up and down the street if I recall.
Excellent! Over the years, I’ve owned / ridden a Kawasaki KR-1, RD400, RD 350LC, RD250LC, RD350YPVS, Suzuki GP100, Suzuki GP125, RD500LC, Suzuki 250X7, Suzuki SB200….all great machines in their own way.
I'm betting that you reside somewhere other than the US. I did have the chance to ride an RD500 once - approx 10 miles on public roads. It was neat. But the bike was nearly brand-new and I didn't have the opportunity to do much with it.
My first street bike was a 1968 Yamaha YDS3 250cc Scrambler with 305 jugs in high school. The Autolube 2-stroke oil injection pump failed so I found jugs off of a YM2C Scrambler and put them on the YDS3. Then I had a 76 Kaw H2 750 when I was in the USAF. Loved them both. Wish I could find an H@ now. The H2 could pull a wheelie at 70 MPH. I rode the H2 from SC to Mardi Gras and my teeth didn't stop rattling for 2 days. 🙂 Started riding @ 13 on a Bultaco Pursang 250, had a Yamaha YZ360 after that which would throw you offa the bike if you didn't kick it over correctly. My favorite hill climber was a Suzuki RM125, peaky and a screamer, needed to keep the revs high and hold on for dear life.
The 350's were super super rare , you are so fortunate to have had one .I want to ride all four sizes eventually but I had the 500 . I was 15 back then and started riding the 500 at 10 .with my big brother on front .
That bought back a lot of memories. 64 years now got my first 2 stroke at 16. I own about 8 different 2 strokes and rode a lot more of my mates What a great vlog Be safe from nz
This meet is comprised of some incredible bikes and some wonderful guys. One of the most fun places to ride in America and most all the attendees often bring spare parts and tools so that nobody is ever stranded. Great place...great fun. John Lutz/Mid Atlantic Cycle
My first bike in '76 was a '73 RD250 that I had for about a year before a friend sold me his '75 RD350 that was basically a track bike with a headlight and taillight. I had to premix that bike and loved doing it. My room mate had a 350 LC that I got to ride often and loved that bike as well. I eventually switched over to 4 strokes with an FZ600 that I raced in '86-'87 but, had a YSR50 2 stroke put bike that had some mods done to it. With pipe and carb work and gearing change it did about 60-65 MPH. The last 4 stroke I owned was a Buell 1200 Lightning SCG that was about the best handling bike I ever rode but, my love of 2 strokes brought me back to now owning a '76 RD400C. It was original when I bought it however, I did do all the mods that I couldn't afford to do when I was a kid. I will never part with the stock parts so my bike can go back any time I want it to.
Only a few, but all Yamahas. R5350. RD400C RD300D RD400F Daytona. And, a wrecked RZ350 that gave it's motor and front end to the Daytona. There was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that could take me in an intersection! I'd LOVE to find another 400F model, and a wrecked RZ350! steve
As a 19 yr old in 1983 I had a 1975 RD 350 that was built to drag race. My competitors were mostly KZ900's at that time. It ran in the high 11 sec 1/4 mile. Those KZ900 guys were no happy at the fact a little RD 350 could take there lunch from them. I have a Hayabusa now but that little RD was so much fun to ride. Best years of my life! Thanks for bringing back good memory's.
Great to see old smokies . Live in Australia and have owned a 2 stroke of some sort since 1972 . Started with a 250 Suzuki Hustler , Gt 380 in 73 , Rg250 WE in 1984 , now back to a Gt380 and a RG400 square 4 1986 model . Ride the RG 400 every weekend and at 69 don't see any end to riding a 2 stroke in the near future .
Thank you for this wonderful video. It makes a 67-year-old emotional. My island is small, but we did have a lot of those models here. In those days we always outran the few 4-stroke guys. CBs were dead meat ! I had a first model Yamaha CT1 175, Suzuki GT550, Yamaha CS2E electric start 200, DT175, DT250. I still ride a Yamaha FZ25, Indian made/market 250 single. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.
Me too very emotional myself , I guess riding is a very important issue for a lot of us . Not everybody can say I did that , all by myself against everybody's advice . Living to tell the tale.
@@robertevans9354 Yes. In my country the general public do not like motorcycles. For a third world country we have very few bikes. People prefer to remain for hours in traffic situations..........in their cars. And for a small island, and a population of 1.5 million we have hundreds of thousands of cars and bumper-to-bumper crawling traffic in peak hours. 51 years on bikes, and I cannot live in this country without one ! Historically, everything motorcycle here is imported and very expensive. Recently I bought brake pads for the 250 Yamaha, front and rear. Cost me about US$140 both pairs ! But I have to keep sane. So I still ride ! I would have loved to own an RD400 of all the bikes ! Cheers. Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.
55 minutes of my life well spent, I was giggling like a kid and awe struck to see all these beauties..... They are all beautiful and oh man the 2 strokes sound way way better than any 4 strokes today.. They got much more character and really need skill to drive these let alone race them. Thanks for the video loved every minute of if looking at these beauties.
Started with Honda ct70 then onto to a Hodaka Super Rat then RM250 then the RD400 then 79 Z1000 MK2 then onto several Harleys. Take care and keep ‘em coming Jack. 👍🇦🇺
Gosh he doesn't look old enough to remember those old stinkies! But he nailed it, great video, obviously passionate and I'm sure he's got quite a few stories of his own. Extra respect for pointing out that when you're on two wheels, or four for that matter, have fun, but stay focused, and respect the road. I'm in the UK, so unfortunately I won't be showing my bikes over there. I've got a very tidy, low mileage Yamaha DT125R that I've owned since 2004. It's my favourite. And an S2A engine'd KH250B2. I've had that since 1990, and it's one of those bikes that fights you every step, but it looks fantastic, sounds awesome and when it's running right, you forget about the times it tried to kill you! (that's not an exaggeration, a "mechanic" missed off a tab washer from the front sprocket, and the nut came off at speed last summer...). Thank you, sincerely for a great little film made with heart.
@@oceanhome2023 Not only do I love the vid... I used to know Alan! Lost touch with him (he's always very very much in demand, and used to disappear over to California for months at a time) but he's based around Newbury where I live. He wasn't keen on my much modified triple, said "It was all wrong... but a good daily rider" He was building his Viper engined monster when I knew him (we're talking 00's) and tried to sell me a big Husky he owned for off-roading, but I'm more than happy to fall off my little DT! Last time I saw him (but he was being somewhat mobbed, and my son was embarrassed about meeting him) was at the Newbury Classic Car Show when he rocked up with Henry Cole selling stuff my dad (who was in the motor trade) would have happily thrown out 50 years ago! Take care mate, and hope you have a chance to get out on two wheels before the winter saps the fun out of it!
@@cycledrag My brother taught how to ride on a Honda XL100 way back 1978, then shifted to a Honda XL125S, 1979 where I also learned and raced it on a motocross track. Then my dad bought us a brand new 1979 Elsinore 125R which I now have in storage and plan to restore it one day. I am now 59 years of age, and presently own a unrestored but running 1998 Yamaha DT125 and a 2006 XT225 which is actually my father inlaw's but he has passed away that is why I'm taking care of it. Financially I'm not really well off, but when I'm on my bike feeling the wind in my face makes me feel I'm one of the richest person in the world. You now what I mean sir, FREEDOM OF THE OPEN HIWAYS OF LIFE.....
Jack, a pleasure to meet you and excellent coverage. I'm the guy starting the ratty RZ fwiw. (a friends bike that hadn't run in many years). FWIW, and by no fault of Jacks, a lot of bikes that were there weren't shown, as they ALL get ridden. this isn't a show, but a riding event. I was there on my ds7 (not the one shown by Carl), also the 390 galaxie thats in the background , and that's my wife siting on it. was my tow vehicle this year. and there was 1 or 2 r5s, and another GT550. VERY glad you gave Chuck Q the attention he deserves, he's probably the best RD tuner in the country and the best of the best personality/generosity wise. Always a great time, and again a true pleasure to meet you.
That Canadian RD350LC brought tears to my eyes. I owned one for a brief time circa 1986. Mine was a white 1981. Absolutely incredible bike. I've owned a bunch of two-strokes over the past (nearly) half-century, starting with a new Kawasaki G-5 100 in the summer of 1974. Including the LC, I've owned six different Yamaha RD's. The one that I currently own is a 1977 RD400D which I bought from the original owner in 2001. Chuck Q did a lot of work on it for the first ten years or so that I owned it (I lived near his shop). I've never run The Dragon on a motorcycle, but I spent a lot of time on the roads in North Georgia on a Honda CB1100F and, after that, on an '86 GSXR750. I reckon that I need to visit Deal's Gap next year with my RD. It's on my bucket list now. Superb video, BTW! P.S.: I've never seen (heard) a GT380 with chambers.
@@cycledrag Oh, man. I've got nearly 50 years of 2-stroke memories. I could write a book. Maybe I should. LOL. My first Yamaha 2-stroke street bike was a 1975 RD350B. I got it in early-1976 right after the RD400 hit the showrooms. Yamaha was running a clearance on the leftover 350s: $899. No lie. My dad loaned me the money. I paid him back $10/week from my newspaper route (yep, I delivered papers on the RD). Great bike, but it fouled plugs on a regular basis. A year later, I traded it in on a French blue '77 RD400D. I sold the 400 less than a year later to buy my first car. A year after that, I bought a 1978 RD400E. But that Canadian 350LC was the bomb.
had the rd400 back in the 80s.really liked it although it was in a time of 4 stroke super bikes everywhere.went down on it when I locked the front brake on a piece of unseen cardboard and had to force it down to prevent hitting the car in front of me.wish I could find one again just to ride ocasionally.it was quick and agile and fun to ride.thanks for the memories.
Thanks for the video cool stuff. I my first two bikes were two strokes my first bike which I got in 76 I think was a 1966 Yamaha ym1 it was virtually a clone of the 305 dream by honda. Headlight and it had to rub a piss you know where your knees go from the gas tank yeah basically the same bike it was the 305 2 cylinder two-stroke with some much underrated engine for the size of the bike at least I thought so. That was my first bike not including a rough roadster mini bike back in 1972 LOL I use that by quite extensively never took long trips on it and I think the longest trip I took was 50 miles round trip 100 miles all together but I was leaving in Providence Rhode Island at the time transplanted from New York City and Long Island back and forth and yeah you know finally you know I got a really cool car I bought a 65 Ford Thunderbird landau edition and I had paid that off at the bank and I figured well I'll take that alone and get another motorcycle so I went around looking riding on my Yamaha and ended up finding a dealer used dealer and he had two bikes out there that kind of were interesting to me one was the black if I remember it right gt550 triple two stroke with a three into four exhaust which was stopped the second one was the water buffalo it's older brother the GTA 750 triple two-stroke water cool coming off of that 3:05 that water buffalo was just too intimidating anyone knows those bikes they are legends also so I ended up buying a 550 that was a great bike I can't tell you the thousands of miles I put on it and that was just driving during the summer you know season on the East Coast when you can ride you know I used to take trips from Providence Rhode Island to New York City I can't even count them any times in want some visiting and when I moved back to New York at the opposite New York to Providence Providence back I did Loudon Laconia biker bike meat twice kangamangus highway one of those times my sister's boyfriend came up with a friend his name is Eugene and he Eugene had a gold wedding stuff for the trip and my sister's boyfriend had a triumph tiger I think it was a 750 with just one carburetor I think look like a Bonneville to me anyway Eugene was always lagging behind us and I'm sure he had the fastest bike but he just kept it you know pretty not slow but you know speed limit and stuff while my sister's boyfriend and I were like riding hard and I remember going down the kangamangus highways and I was able to actually beat him I think my 550 was faster than his tiger so yeah and on those trips to up through New England we hit every state visiting people that we know in the different states and I'm back home so that those trips put on a lot of miles and all my trips back and forth from Rhode Island to New York put on lots of Miles never had the engine rebuilt never had to pour the oil into the auto loop and I get the tank for oil and then it went to a pump which distributed the oil to all the parts needed and the engine you didn't have to mix gas and yeah thinking back the Yamaha the 66 305 it'll also had an auto loop system they called the different things but I remember I used to try and get the Suzuki oil and I reach each brand in a marketed and it's on the oil but basically you can just go to it any automotive store and get a good two-stroke oil either of them but yeah those are my two for Us bikes my third bike was not a two-stroke but it was a excess 650 Yamaha I guess it was a 1971 I went back in time LOL but yeah because I had sold this Suzuki they're in the winter and had no bike it's almost coming around I had virtually no money so for 500 bucks I bought that bike needed work I did it myself put a lot of miles on that too but I never really trusted it going up that's living in New York City at this point I never trusted it going up to a Providence and then coming back down and the one time I did trust that one of the the right cylinder sitting on the bike it would be on your right the ride still on the starter to clatter and the bike was skipping by the time I got to what was it the end of Connecticut it was running on one cylinder and I would take 95 I ended up getting on the Long Island expressway one cylinder and I had to go through the midtown tunnel it's a very long tunnel it goes under the East River fund connecting Queens to Manhattan and while I was in the middle of the tunnel at the end of a blind curve the bike just died and I was freaking because it's only two lanes and I was in the end of the curve when no one could see me till they were already deep into the curve I tried to push the bike as quickly as I can ahead of that and it took a long time of pushing and then finally the tunnel authority came in and got me out of there yeah that was a nightmare I had the bike for I had to buy fixed and are you later or not even it was that year it had been 19 81 my uncle gifted me with a brand new Harley-Davidson Sturgis and I rolled it back around for a while didn't know what to make of it and I was like yeah I don't know maybe I'll sell it or give it back or something I'm insane so I sold the which I put expansion no I put headers on him it was a four stroke and you know a Corbin seat on it I did it up for a piece of garbage it had a lot of parts and there are some money LOL but yeah and that was my introduction to Harley's the bike was stolen couple of seasons later I ended up buying a one-year-old a 1982 Honda CB750 custom and I had that bike till I built another Harley in 1977 another lowrider but not a Sturgis and that was and then in the mid-90s I was told in the late 80 said I was going to go blind there was having some trouble seeing at night and at the middle of Saturday the 90s my eyes got bad so I couldn't ride anymore I couldn't drive can't tell you what kind of a horror that is and wasn't this day is very emotional I lived in breathe motorcycles cars too but really motorcycles yeah whole other story for another video this is not a comment this is version on a novella or a short novella LOL sorry I'm an addict and I'm addicted to commenting I don't know what to stop so I'm going to try and stop here at least part of the story was about two strokes right but I'd
Great memories flooding back for me. My 1st bike when I was 16 was a Yamaha FS1DXA unrestricted, fantastic back in its day, turned 17 progressed to a RD250 passed my bike test and jumped straight onto a RD400, Wheelie heaven hehe. Then went the 4 stroke route but the 2 strokes will always be in my heart. I sold my RD400 for £500 back in 81. They are now commanding nearly £10.000. Always enjoy your channel from across the pond in Planet Thanet.
@@ramishrambarran3998 Nope 4 speed straight exhaust The FS1DXA came un restricted 4 gears front disc autolube and bolt on frame parts. The last of the original FSIE.
@@davidjloveland3673 Please check this th-cam.com/video/RUw9z8BzHtE/w-d-xo.html This is the one I knew when I was about 15 years old. Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies.
Hi guys. I'm in the UK 🇬🇧. Now 52yrs old. Suzuki TS100, TS125, GT250x7, Yamaha RD200, RD250dx, RD350lc, RD400dx Suzuki GT380, T500, GT750, all owned and riden by me over the years. I just wish instead of selling them just WISH I'd have saved them each and every one of them. Oh the memories of the Castrol R two stroke oil in the air and a cloud of smoke and the NOISE!!! To many memories to list. Oh yes and the countless HOURS spent in the shed way past midnight fixing my bikes ha ha ha. No I'm afraid its all 4 strokes but still putting my mark on them. With my latest RF900 rs cut and bobbed into a solo bike with many mods done too. Just like to say to these guys " You LUCKY buggers" keep on with your bikes and DONT HIDE EM RIDE EM. Ride safe and cherish each moment with them bikes good or bad. Loved looking at ALL the bikes today blast from the past. Thank you.
Two strokes are the one which are close to our heart beat. Love the bikes, they are surprisingly well maintained. Love the noise. Could have smell the smoke as you said. Sweet memories. Great job 👏 👍
The best video I have seen for ages I am a true two stroke nut would love to have a holiday up there on two stroke week a long trip from the uk but sure would be fun thanks for showing this makes me want to get back to working on my bikes all the best
Cool video. I had a Suzuki T500 Titan in the late 1970s, a Kaw 500 triple in the mid 1980s, and bought another Titan in 2004. Great bikes, fun to ride.
Oh my my... what a cool thing. You'd never see this in So Cal... Back in my teenage days was so excited to have my H-1. My friend was so inspired he bought a H-2 and cafe'd it out to the max. Of course his hair was on fire and on one Sunday afternoon at the "Rock Store" he had a few to many, took off and slid into the first left hand corner on some gravel. The bike came up and slammed into the guard rail with his right leg getting crushed. He was admitted to West Hills hospital and was in the hospital for 3 months with a broken femer. He led a life of adventure and was so wild. He's no longer with us and passed years after the accident with hepatitis. Just a quick memorial for John H. See you in heaven. Be safe everybody, and have fun!
Great show, Jack. I loved the big Suzuki Titan. My Two Stroke career (in the 70's): Yammy Twin Jet 100, Suzuki X6 Hustler Suzuki T350 Bridgestone 350 GTR. I left the two wheelers for a while in my 20's and then got back in with a Norton Commando S. Last bike I owned. Now, I love to watch other people ride 'em
Love it. I bought back my Kawasaki KH500 last month which I sold in 1988. I also have a 1980 Mars Bar LC350, an ex-GP 350 TZ350 and a Garelli 250 GP bike. These are par of my collection which includes other competition and road bikes. I love two strokes, especially their noise and smell.
OMG i feel like crying because when i was 18 i had the Green Widow H2 just like the first one on this video , i am old now but still pine for a 1974 Green mean machine the exceleration was out of this world for a 18 year old in 1979. I had been riding dirt bikes since i was 6 years old , my RM 370 was cray fast fun for a boy of 16 but two years later i learned how to Respect the H2 in Green , yup she almost kept me dead as i crash in 2nd gear without Helmit yup i was a idiot hanging out with some crazy azz harley bikers , well you know how we partied UGH . But thank GOD i was shocked back to life and into a two month Coma , but when i healed after a bit over a year i fixed her up and enjoyed her for 5 more years :) GOD i want one now just to cruise the weekends on PCH :) no more showing off well atleast Not buzzed lmao True to the core story :) im a Miracle walking TY Lord God
@@cycledrag Sorry just noticed this today , ah yes the first was a 3.5 hp Cat mini bike from The pep Boys in 1969 i was 8 years old , well while riding at the local horase stable trails a big guy jumped out of the bushes punched me in the face and stole my red mini bike :( . well about two months later my pops got me a 1970 bluegreen honda ct70 4 speed clutch type :) that one never got stolen i rode the wheels off and in 1974 i got a used Suzuki TS 185 the 1973 yellow orange one :) . the next one was one i paid for at 18 years old it was a honda cb 350 1975 model at 19 i got my 1974 Green H2 and loved it for many years even tho i had a crash and almost stayed dead , was in a coma 2 weeks and released from Kaiser Hospital abot 2 months later looking like a monster , my face was piaaz scabbed and crooked broken clavical cracked skull fractured ribs messed up knee OMG i should be dead ! . But God said not yet and about 14 months later i fixed the H2 up mostly cosmetic , and rode Sober safely for another 5 years . Bro i would give my left nut to have that mean green machine now at 62 i Know how to Not be Fast or stop i know how to Cruise lol :) all true and fun except for the crash :(
I got out of the USMC in July 1969. Had a Suziki X6 250 cc twin. Rode it from socal to Chicago, no problems. Raced motocross with Bultaco SherpaS 125 and a 175 Penton Jackpiner. Love 2 strokes but the gov outlawed them. Sure miss them.
You just can't beat the power band of a 2 stroke, I had a Suzuki TS 185, a Hodaka Dirt Squirt and a Hodaka Ace 100 along with a Honda MT 250 Elsinore, I drove them in all weather rain, sunshine and 2 feet of snow, they are always reliable.
I can relate, learned to ride on a Yamaha 100 2stroke twin ( street bike ) had Cr 125 Elisanore Honda, Rm400 suk ; Yamaha 360 , Penton Hodakas,Bultacos. Love them Would love to find a affordable H1 possibility of a basket case. Be safe
Great show of bikes! Back in the day I graduated from an unrestricted 50+mph 1973 FS1E to a 1976 GT185 (electric start) and then when I could afford it, a second hand one year old 1976 RD400. I then qualified as a complete wheelie hooligan..!! On picking up the blue coffin tank, first mag wheeled model from my Yamaha dealer, I set off slowly and pulled up to a junction, and accelerating away the throttle cable frayed with the twist grip stuck wide open.....!!! Before losing control I managed to flick the engine kill button... and survived..! None of my buddies would hop on the back, and I have lived to tell numerous tales of fearless missions on that RD. Still ridin' Nik.
I cut my teeth on a 71-h1. Then bought a 72-h2, and yes the h2 almost killed me, a power band that came on like a light bulb. Those were days when two strokes were better than four.....
I had chambers and carbs on the h1 and used to drag race it at the local strip. I had a 6 inch over front end and pull back bars on the h2 and used to cruise it between P.A. and Florida. ( late 70s).The good times were rollin back then for sure.....
In 1974 I took up road racing with the Mountain Roadracing Association in Colorado on a Yamaha RD350. What a rocket ship! I bought a well used Yamaha TD1 250cc factory road racer that I attempted to race in California with the American Federation of Motorcyclists. When it was running its acceleration and top speed were truly awe inspiring, close to 130 mph! Switched to racing production class on a 1976 RD125DX set up by Pat Hennen for his fiancé’s brother who took 1st place the year before. What great fun! The RD125 was distinguished as the only 125cc motorcycle that had enough hp to be legal to ride on California freeways at that time. I estimated the top speed at about 89mph with Pat Hennen’s mods and a lightweight streamlined fiberglass seat designed for the Yamaha TZ750 that I fit in-place of the heavy stock seat. High reving twin cylinder, great handling, 5 speed transmission, and very light weight. Was privileged to race t a number of premier road tracks that are long gone including Ontario Motor Speedway, Riverside Raceway, and Orange County International Raceway.
Wow brings back alot of teenage memories,I started at the age of 16 ,with a Yamaha FSIE a 50 cc moped but very popular here in the UK,then moved onto a Yamaha DT 275 enduro,then onto a RD 250 Yamaha,then onto a RD 400 .Wish I still had at least one of these bikes .Thanks for the memories.👍👍🏍🏍
I did a lot of hill climbing on a 1972 Yamaha 360 I bought new as a crate damage in 1973 for $700, I was in 8th grade. In 1975 I traded it for the 1975 400. I’d like to find a nice one of either bike. Also started on Kawasaki 100 duel range gearbox bikes. Those bikes gave me the chance to spend time with Dad at the Quincy IL Kawasaki, BSA,Hodaka dealer starting in 1972. Got to see the Kaw triples in the show room. I want to get to this. I can smell the smoke. Great memories. This is a fantastic channel. Thanks
They RD350s were quick. They made a Daytona 400 that was bad for then. I had a trick RZ with PROPER portwork, Toomey's, TZ 250 carbs with all the rear sets, clip ons, Telefix fork brace n Fox Shock. It STILL would get ill and sling yer arse off if ya weren't careful. I wanna build one on an FZR 400 frame with a wider swingarm and 600 forks with 1000 brakes. Then we might have something. I've machined FZR 1000 brakes to fit 600 forks so it can be did. 👍 I love 2 strokes
Properly tuned 2 strokes are easy to start. I had rotary valve Avenger and H1 and H2 and GT 750 water buffalo. My blue H2 was exactly like the one showed and my favorite by far. Regretably always wanted but never had an RD. Great video. Thank you. PS Rode the Dragon on my FJ 1200.
True, but we have all had those struggles. lol. Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
I bought a new RD 400 in 77' rode it all over California with my chrome down pipes. What a bike. I also had that Suzuki Ram Air ., and Trail 70 with a clutch. Also drove a 55 Oldsmobile with a rocket engine. Would love to still have them but glad I had the life to participate. Today, I have a Blake surfboard I have had for years and since it was made in the 30's most of those guys who couldn't afford one have died so the value is going down. The new generation is... well new and will never experience or have those groundbreaking days at Irwindale, Indian Dunes, Saddleback, Sprockets, and the other riding spots like Gorman when it was all unregulated and a free country. Great video, thanks a bunch. Oklahoma, USA
Loved to see the old two-strokes. I hoped to see a Suzuki X6 Husler, I took my first drivers test on one and kept running away from the car that the officer followed me with. Almost failed because the officer said I rode jerky, it was just hard to keep below 30mph, In the 60’s the only bike that could keep up with me was a Norton Altas. I hoped they could bring back two stroke street bikes with the new direct injection technology
I had a 1968 Hustler at the last meet. Ran it hard and developed a seal leak, by the end of the day. Recomissioning these old bikes when they've sat a long time is a process, and that's part of the fun. (Here old beast, I fixed your boo-boos). 🤣
Wow Bro I had A Suzuki 250 “ Scrambler” with 2 up pipes I loved it and I wish I would have put the 350 engine in it (not a big modification) and some chambers ! Sure brings back memories now ! Thanks for yours !
The GT 250 @ the 28:11 mark. My dad had one. Green . I used to do wheelies on it standing on the seat. (Evil Knievel). Could go for at least an 1/8 mile or so like that. One day hit a road patch crossing (hump) and went over backwards. Broke my wrist. Got out of writing a final Biology exam next day cause of it. Good thing as I hadn't studied. Grade 12 senior. Bike was ok, minor scrapes. Rode it home and had to tell my parents and go to the hospital. Later on had a 71 CB350 that I dragged raced and a 77, 78 and finally a 79 Daytona RD 400. Still have the 79. Really enjoyed watching this. Memories.
Omfgg Jack 😃. Spectacular look at Classic 2 stroke Bikes 🏍. Thank you for taking me, back in Time to my younger years 👊🤘. My favorites was Yamaha's RD-LCs , from 125s to 350s . Just power 💥🚀 , especially when you're in that power band 🤪. I had a RD-LC 125 mrk2 , a of small mod's / got 109 mph out of her 🤪😝😃. . The BEST THING about CLASSIC 2 stroke, no really technical computer crap to deal with. All mechanical, no need to take it to a dealer SHIT 😝🤣. FYI, it's the sound 😃 & Smell. If you have never owned or ridden a 2 stroke, I feel sorry for you. As you have missed so much 🥺
I had a 1974 Kawasaki s1-B 250 then moved to the last of the H2-C 750 in red, now aged 66, now have an H1-E 500 ,S2 350 and an S2-A 350 all USA imported to the UK. Kawasakis were the bikes to have in the 70,s if you wanted to go quick, the other 2 stroke Yamahas and Suzukis were rapid but the fast boys rode the triples and rode them hard. Great Video and great location, good to see some twisty bends in the USA.
Just imagine how fabulous 2-stroke bikes would be now if it weren't for all this 'green' legislation we have today. The sound, the smell, the power....fantastic. Great show by the way.
Love them old 2 strokes. Started with a 1970 Yamaha DS6-250. Then I got a 1972 Kawasaki H1-500. They were sweet road bikes. Then my attentions went off road for a while. 1973 Yamaha 360 Enduro, 1976 Can-Am 125, 1977 Yamaha YZ125, 1978 Yamaha YZ125. After that, I went back to road bikes. 1980 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim and my last bike was a 1981 Yamaha XJ750 Seca.
Thanks, great show, made me very nostalgic! In the UK in the seventies from 17 years you could ride up to 250cc on a provisional (learner) licence, so the 250 two stroke was king. I had the Suzuki T250 and friends had the GT250, RD250 and we craved the Kawasaki triples. Later we could step up to GT 380 and 550 and RD400 whilst those with lots of money for bike and insurance went z750 or Z1! Crazy times.
Yes me to and coming from the UK to it is great to look back. I would love a stroker again especially now as they are so rare as a daily. A 4 stroke though at the time for me was the GS thou 😎
Oh, 2 strokes are growing in popularity ! Nothing like turning someone on to a 2 stroke bike ! The look on their faces after their 1st ride is priceless !
I remember when I was in high school back in 1986 this kid had a Suzuki gt750 liquid cooled water buffalo I think they called it .It was one badass machine. Man if I could lay my eyes on one of those beautiful bikes again !
I bought a '74 GT 750 water cooled triple brand new in '74. The "Water Buffalo" was with me for about 5 years during which I toured N. America on it, The US and Canada. Once crossing coast to coast from California to Massachusetts in 5 days. I've owned a number of motorcycles over the years, and still ride a BMW. The Water Buffalo was the only one I wish I hadn't parted with. Hard to believe it was nearly 50 years ago when I had mine.
Awesome coverage! Hope you do it again next year! I Iive about 100 miles from the Dragon. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never been there! I’m a former road racer. But lost use of my right arm in a high speed crash. Still love this stuff! Thank you Jack!
Great video. I’m 62. Grew up in the 70’s with 2strokes.🇬🇧 At 13…. 1973 a friend had a Yamaha FS1E. 50cc😎 smell that 2 stroke oil🤪 My 1st bike Honda CJ250, (not great) too big for me. Got rid. Got a Yamaha YB100 commuter bike. Passed my test. Got a Suzuki TS100 trail bike. Then upgraded to Suzuki GT380 two stroke triple. A friend of mine had a GT550. Both had a great deep burbling growl to them with the stock 3 into 4 exhaust. I notice you GT380 & GT550 you showed had expansion chambers 3 pipes. Made them sound a bit tinny by comparison. Would’ve been great to see and hear a Suzuki GT750 water cooled triple. (AKA the water bottle). In 1978 I eventually swapped out my GT380 for a Kawasaki Z650 b1. (The baby brother to the Z1b 900). Happy days. May the Force be with you.🌀 Jim🌀 (-: :-)
Living in GA, have done the Dragon a few times. Always been, and still am, a two smoke fan! Currently have a tagged, fully(okay, barely)street legal, KTM300. Having had and raced several YZ's back in the 70's, always loved the vintage "bumblebee" paint scheme on the Yammy's. Now, off to find me a vintage RD or RZ:)
I had a LC 350 yamaha water cooled .and a RD 350 as well .my brother had a KH 250 kawasaki triple in green all three great two stroke bikes I'm from Leeds our FAV place was sherbet. A massive mug of tea and a bacon buttie great days
@@cycledrag First bike was a 50cc Yamaha FS1E that my dad bought for my 15th birthday. Was a really fun bike to ride and easy to work on. Started me off on a lifelong journey of starting an apprenticeship and becoming an automobile engineer / mechanic.
My H2 triple was the only bike my wife refused to ride on with me. She had no problem riding with me on my turbo CBX......!!? Thanks for a cool video! We need more 2-strokes!
@@cycledrag started out on a '73 RD350(1st model year for an iconic bike)in late '73 right before I turned 16 yrs. old. Very steep learning curve with that bike, but I'm still alive! It did the best wheelies!
A Honda ss 50 . I am now 59 . Love old school bike Suzuki and Kawasaki. Keep up good work. All the best from England. Ps wot where your 1 bike 👍❤️🏍🔧🇺🇸🇬🇬
Started off with a Yamaha 50 cc, then to a 250cc Jawa, then I got a Yamaha RZ350 ( Kenny Roberts colours)in New York , the new bike cost $2200. Bought another used RZ 350, shipped both bikes to India where my brother uses them. Moving to Japan I bought the Honda NSR MC21, great fun to ride. My motto is "Two Strokes Forever". Great video and enjoyed the banter and the amazing bikes at this festival. Wish I was there!
Great gathering of 2-stokes! I've been riding since 1968 and witnessed the arrival of all those US models. I understand the rarity of stock exhaust, but it's ashame not many so equipped. The stock exhaust IMHO sounds better than the expansion chambers especially on the Kawasaki triples.
I passed my test on a KH250. Great little bike. Very reliable and comfortable on a distance. A friend had a Suzuki 750 'kettle' - what a monster it was 😀
WOW, I did not go trough the whole video, but man, what an event. Also great job for the CycleDrag host, very positive vibe and you can really see the man loves to be there and listen to those 2 strokes. Thank you for this awesome video
My biking journey was kick started by the two stroke - Villiers 150, Bantam 125 (D3 ?), Lambretta 150, MZ TS250 (4 speed) , Suzuki GT380, GT550. Great days - I even used my GT550 for despatch- in my naivety … never made any money. Great days .
HELLO ONELOVE FROM WALES 2STROKES MMMM. GOT A SOFT SPOT FOR THEM. IN MY TEENS AND EARLY 20S I HAD A FEW ... STARTING WITH A YAMAHA FS1E, I BUILT MYSELF FROM A SCRAP YARD...... LOL THE BEST OF MY BIKES WAS A SUZUKI GT750 A..... UNFORTUNATELY A BACK INJURY STOPPED ME RIDING...... SEEING THE RD 400 I HAD A SPIN ROUND CADWELL PARK IT WAS MY MATES WHO I WAS THE GREASE MONKEY..... LOVE2ALL THE CYCLEDRAG FAMILY. AS ALWAYS OUTSTANDING POST JACK
The Rz350 was branded as the Rd350ypvs Over here in the UK still amazing machine I can remember that 17 going on the back of my friends are you popping a wheelie absolutely amazing machine
@@cycledrag In the UK we had to start on a 50 cc which mine was a Suzuki Ap 50 what do 60 miles an hour with an expansion pipe on from there I went up to 100 mL Yamaha RXS 100 then I took my motorcycle test which you have to take when you are 17 in this country then from then on I had a Honda CB 400 then from there I went up to ZZR 1100 Kawasaki I know ride Yamaha phaser 6pm I am changing it at the end of the summer to Yamaha Fz 1000 got to say Jack love the channel how to come and see you when you visit the uk Keep up the good work and stay safe
I was at the Dragon in May 2021 (on my 09 Moto Guzzi Stelvio) and stumbled across this crowd. Great bunch of folks, great bikes. I had a 74 H2 in 1976 and through the years have owned a number of Kawi triples and Yamaha RD twins. I have about 3 H2s in pieces in my attic and really need to put one together (or probably sell two and use the proceeds to put one together...) and take it up there one May. Now I want to go back next May (probably not on an H2) but maybe May 2024...gotta get to work :)
@@cycledrag A sweet yellow EX250(Ninja) and i bought dual Yoshimura exhuast for it. Taught myself to ride in a parking lot. Rode it from VT to NYC and back when I was in my 20s.
Grew up on 2 stroke trail then road bikes back in the 70’s: TS185, DT250, T350, T500, H2 750. Also rode my dad’s TS90, RT3, GT380. Currently at 62 years old I have an BMW R1250GS but still also Suzi TS185 & GT550 in my garage!
Omg I can almost smell the Belray oil smoke wafting through the air, and oh that sound! Those were the days for sure! Thanks for time travel trip down memory fast lane!
Suzuki Titian 500 cross country. In 1972 I left Los Angeles on a Sunday afternoon and arrived in Jacksonville Florida Wednesday afternoon. 3 days flat. It would happily run for hours at 80 to 90 mph. Loved that bike, sure wish I had it back!
OMG thank you for the Memories I was a bike mechanic back then I had H ones H2S rd350 rd400 my first new bike was a Suzuki TC 125 with the dual transmission incredible days those were
I had a H1 in my teens and 2 RD350s in my early 20's. Now in my late 60's I have an '84 RZ350 and, not a 2-smoke, Aprilia Tuono APRC. What a blast! Thanks Chuck Quenzler for the RZ350! My son races a RD350 and TZR250 in Florida.
Brilliant to see all these 2 strokes in the 80s I had many yamaha 350 and 250 lcs 200 and 125 dx ,rs and rxs 100s and still had 2 rxs100s, dt125 and 80cc ,kawasaki ke125 and suzuki x7 250, the good old days
My first bike was a KH 250 back when you could ride a 250 on L plates, it cost me £150, try finding one now for that money! Also had a 350 lc, a TZR 250 and a KR1, love 2 strokes. Great video!
Wow, a super fun video. I'm 73 years old, and haven't owned a bike for years, but I still love bikes. This makes me want to find a 2 stroke. My first 2 stroke was a new 72 Yamaha DT1 250 that I loved. I even took it on a trip from LA to Palm Springs on I-10 and it was fine. But I was a student and couldn't afford to keep it. A couple of years later my dad found a 73 Yamaha RD 350 that was loads of fun. Making a quick trip up to Lake Arrowhead on the legendary Highway 18 Rim of the World Highway was an absolute blast. I did get it up to 115 miles per hour on a deserted road in the California desert. Unfortunately, I fell in love with the new Honda CB 550 and traded in the Yamaha. Over 50 years later, I still love the sound, smell, and feel of those 2 strokes. I should add that in 1971 my brother picked up a used RD 250 in Minneapolis and rode back to LA, along with our cousin on his old Honda 450. They have talked about that trip for decades.
Mike Swanson, Mesa, Arizona
55 minutes on, my face is hurting and I realize I have been grinning non stop for 55 minutes. Thanks.
I first got introduced to Kawasaki triples when I went with my girlfriend to visit her dad in the hospital. There was another guy in there with a broken leg and he wanted to sell his bike since he was now afraid of it. I bought the bike without knowing what itwas. It turned out to be a beautiful gold colored Kawasiki S2. It was a great bike and I used to bet guys that I could start it on the first try with my hand. It ran great. Life continued and the bike was given to my little brother. Later I started collecting two strokes and had two H2's, and an S3 400. Also had a Yamaha "RD 250 which was a great bike. I got sick and could not ride or work on them and sold them all to a gentleman in Daytona beach. I still love the sound and smell of them. I love your coverage of Deals Gap since I never to there. Keep up the good work.
This by far the best 2 stroke motorbikes video.
I love the 2 stroke engine sound and the smell as well.
Grew up on 2 stokes here in the UK. Smiled all the way through this :)
My first love was a '76 Yamaha RD400. I am happy to be alive and be writing this today. :D
🤣🤣🤣
My friend, I’m 66 and back in 1976 I bought myself a brand new RD400c,(Canadian version), and drove the snot out of it for 2 summers, until my girlfriend swore to never get on that bike again after too many wheelies and I traded it for a ‘69 Oldsmobile Cutlass S convertible with a 350ci The year before I had another 2 stroker, the Kawasaki 350 Triple, but it was no way comparable to the Yamaha. 😢
I got a brand new 1974 H2 when I was 16 years old. Now at 65, looking back on those times, how I survived is a mystery. Thanks for this video it brings back great memories.
Accelerating out of corners must have been "fun".
You wild man
This is the best 2-stroke motorcycle video I've seen so far
Thanks for that, I love 2 strokes and absolutely loved the Kawasaki S2 at the show, I started on a little RD200, then RD250E, RD400E, RD 350L/C RD 500L/C, apart from these Yamahas I also had an H2 Kawasaki ,the only bike I ever had that scared me on a regular basis till I bought a Magnum frame and rolling chassis into which I dropped the H2 engine which by then had a stage 2 tune and turned from a nightmare into a beautiful dream machine that handled sublimely and went like a Saturn rocket. then later I bought an RS250 Aprilia even though I had a GSX-R750 at the time simply because it was such a beautiful little bike and probably the best handling bike I've owned, I've a Triumph street triple RS these days but still miss the sound ,smell and power band of strokers, the smell alone takes me back to my youth even though I'm now in my sixties..
I grew up in the 1970s, and remember all the 2 stroke motorcycles you have showcasing in this video. Thank you for sharing this incredible video with us.
Thank you Jack! It was an honor to meet and talk with you. Thanks for featuring our bikes and helping us keep two strokes alive. Outstanding video and great job.
My pleasure! Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
That man is know as Super Tune. He has built 2 strokes in every form you can imagine and his motors win from season to season. Watercraft, bikes. You name it his motors have won everywhere.
1973 RD350
1979 RD400F Daytona Special
1984 RZ350
Wasn't able to make the meet this so I was very happy to see my old buddies in this well made video.
You really caught the atmosphere of meet.
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Oh Wow !! just came cross this great show, I live in the UK and started my 2 stroke life when i was 11yrs old on a 175cc BSA Bantam, then a 50cc yamaha FS1E, RD 125, Suzuki GT250, yamaha YR5 350, then a Suzuki GT750 Kettle !! I think in the States you call them a "water buffalo", how come ya havent got one at the show ???
I bet you would like this one !!!
1972 H2 750, bored, ported, chambers, stripped, clip-ons. Couldn't keep the front end on the ground. Dunlop K 81s with Bel Ray injector oil. I couldn't get 80 miles on the 4 gal. tank. Friends with built Harleys hated this bike. We'd start at 100 mph, I'd kick it into 3rd gear and power wheelie, leaving them like they were standing still. My 72 RD 350 was built too. I could beat a 750 Honda SS to 100 mph. Those bikes were so light and nimble. I've never had as much fun on anything as that 750 triple. I could get the front end off the ground while still coming out of the corners, crossed up. Very predictable. We got airborne all the time at high speed while cruising the deserts in Arizona. I'd love to have one again! Thanks CycleDrag!
I graduated High School in 1977. The RD350 was the curver. Remember the Dunlap K81 tires? They fell over like a rock. I had a 1968 Suzuki 250 2 stroke with rotatory valve induction. I bought it for $50.00 it was a beater and never got it fixed up. Never rode more than up and down the street if I recall.
Excellent! Over the years, I’ve owned / ridden a Kawasaki KR-1, RD400, RD 350LC, RD250LC, RD350YPVS, Suzuki GP100, Suzuki GP125, RD500LC, Suzuki 250X7, Suzuki SB200….all great machines in their own way.
I'm betting that you reside somewhere other than the US. I did have the chance to ride an RD500 once - approx 10 miles on public roads. It was neat. But the bike was nearly brand-new and I didn't have the opportunity to do much with it.
@@sharpestjim - I live in the U.K.
My first street bike was a 1968 Yamaha YDS3 250cc Scrambler with 305 jugs in high school. The Autolube 2-stroke oil injection pump failed so I found jugs off of a YM2C Scrambler and put them on the YDS3. Then I had a 76 Kaw H2 750 when I was in the USAF. Loved them both. Wish I could find an H@ now. The H2 could pull a wheelie at 70 MPH. I rode the H2 from SC to Mardi Gras and my teeth didn't stop rattling for 2 days. 🙂 Started riding @ 13 on a Bultaco Pursang 250, had a Yamaha YZ360 after that which would throw you offa the bike if you didn't kick it over correctly. My favorite hill climber was a Suzuki RM125, peaky and a screamer, needed to keep the revs high and hold on for dear life.
When I was 18 I had a Kawasaki 350-3 and my brother had a 500-3. So much fun. Memories.
I had 2 H1 s think the H1 had the widowmaker nickname first.....
The 350's were super super rare , you are so fortunate to have had one .I want to ride all four sizes eventually but I had the 500 . I was 15 back then and started riding the 500 at 10 .with my big brother on front .
That bought back a lot of memories.
64 years now got my first 2 stroke at 16.
I own about 8 different 2 strokes and rode a lot more of my mates
What a great vlog
Be safe from nz
Yeo, 65, still got my 71 RD350 I bought almost new, in late 72. I ride an R1 now.
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
My first 2 stroke was a yamaha FS1E in 1975 a 50 mph 50cc and then a rd250 and my most exciting 500 kawasaki triple
This meet is comprised of some incredible bikes and some wonderful guys. One of the most fun places to ride in America and most all the attendees often bring spare parts and tools so that nobody is ever stranded. Great place...great fun.
John Lutz/Mid Atlantic Cycle
My first bike in '76 was a '73 RD250 that I had for about a year before a friend sold me his '75 RD350 that was basically a track bike with a headlight and taillight. I had to premix that bike and loved doing it. My room mate had a 350 LC that I got to ride often and loved that bike as well. I eventually switched over to 4 strokes with an FZ600 that I raced in '86-'87 but, had a YSR50 2 stroke put bike that had some mods done to it. With pipe and carb work and gearing change it did about 60-65 MPH. The last 4 stroke I owned was a Buell 1200 Lightning SCG that was about the best handling bike I ever rode but, my love of 2 strokes brought me back to now owning a '76 RD400C. It was original when I bought it however, I did do all the mods that I couldn't afford to do when I was a kid. I will never part with the stock parts so my bike can go back any time I want it to.
Only a few, but all Yamahas.
R5350.
RD400C
RD300D
RD400F Daytona.
And, a wrecked RZ350 that gave it's motor
and front end to the Daytona. There was
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that could take
me in an intersection!
I'd LOVE to find another 400F model, and a
wrecked RZ350!
steve
loved the look of the YSRs. Just needed a YZ 125 engine ...and a frame n forks. 👍
As a 19 yr old in 1983 I had a 1975 RD 350 that was built to drag race. My competitors were mostly KZ900's at that time. It ran in the high 11 sec 1/4 mile. Those KZ900 guys were no happy at the fact a little RD 350 could take there lunch from them. I have a Hayabusa now but that little RD was so much fun to ride. Best years of my life! Thanks for bringing back good memory's.
my dad sold his RD 350 when i turned 15 (me "borrowing it" might have had some thing to do with that, but damn it was a fun bike )
Great to see old smokies . Live in Australia and have owned a 2 stroke of some sort since 1972 . Started with a 250 Suzuki Hustler , Gt 380 in 73 , Rg250 WE in 1984 , now back to a Gt380 and a RG400 square 4 1986 model . Ride the RG 400 every weekend and at 69 don't see any end to riding a 2 stroke in the near future .
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Thank you for this wonderful video. It makes a 67-year-old emotional.
My island is small, but we did have a lot of those models here.
In those days we always outran the few 4-stroke guys. CBs were dead meat !
I had a first model Yamaha CT1 175, Suzuki GT550, Yamaha CS2E electric start 200, DT175, DT250.
I still ride a Yamaha FZ25, Indian made/market 250 single.
Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.
Me too very emotional myself , I guess riding is a very important issue for a lot of us . Not everybody can say I did that , all by myself against everybody's advice . Living to tell the tale.
@@robertevans9354 Yes. In my country the general public do not like motorcycles. For a third world country we have very few bikes. People prefer to remain for hours in traffic situations..........in their cars. And for a small island, and a population of 1.5 million we have hundreds of thousands of cars and bumper-to-bumper crawling traffic in peak hours.
51 years on bikes, and I cannot live in this country without one !
Historically, everything motorcycle here is imported and very expensive. Recently I bought brake pads for the 250 Yamaha, front and rear. Cost me about US$140 both pairs !
But I have to keep sane. So I still ride !
I would have loved to own an RD400 of all the bikes !
Cheers.
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
55 minutes of my life well spent, I was giggling like a kid and awe struck to see all these beauties..... They are all beautiful and oh man the 2 strokes sound way way better than any 4 strokes today.. They got much more character and really need skill to drive these let alone race them. Thanks for the video loved every minute of if looking at these beauties.
I owned a RD 400 as a young bloke and would have another one tomorrow. A great lil bike. Enjoy all!!
👍👌🇦🇺
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Started with Honda ct70 then onto to a Hodaka Super Rat then RM250 then the RD400 then 79 Z1000 MK2 then onto several Harleys. Take care and keep ‘em coming Jack. 👍🇦🇺
Gosh he doesn't look old enough to remember those old stinkies! But he nailed it, great video, obviously passionate and I'm sure he's got quite a few stories of his own.
Extra respect for pointing out that when you're on two wheels, or four for that matter, have fun, but stay focused, and respect the road.
I'm in the UK, so unfortunately I won't be showing my bikes over there.
I've got a very tidy, low mileage Yamaha DT125R that I've owned since 2004. It's my favourite.
And an S2A engine'd KH250B2.
I've had that since 1990, and it's one of those bikes that fights you every step, but it looks fantastic, sounds awesome and when it's running right, you forget about the times it tried to kill you!
(that's not an exaggeration, a "mechanic" missed off a tab washer from the front sprocket, and the nut came off at speed last summer...).
Thank you, sincerely for a great little film made with heart.
You would love this bike !!! th-cam.com/video/8zklMSrmh0o/w-d-xo.html
@@oceanhome2023 Not only do I love the vid... I used to know Alan! Lost touch with him (he's always very very much in demand, and used to disappear over to California for months at a time) but he's based around Newbury where I live.
He wasn't keen on my much modified triple, said "It was all wrong... but a good daily rider"
He was building his Viper engined monster when I knew him (we're talking 00's) and tried to sell me a big Husky he owned for off-roading, but I'm more than happy to fall off my little DT!
Last time I saw him (but he was being somewhat mobbed, and my son was embarrassed about meeting him) was at the Newbury Classic Car Show when he rocked up with Henry Cole selling stuff my dad (who was in the motor trade) would have happily thrown out 50 years ago!
Take care mate, and hope you have a chance to get out on two wheels before the winter saps the fun out of it!
You said it right spot on, THE SOUND AND THE SMELL. Thanks for sharing this video.
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
@@cycledrag My brother taught how to ride on a Honda XL100 way back 1978, then shifted to a Honda XL125S, 1979 where I also learned and raced it on a motocross track. Then my dad bought us a brand new 1979 Elsinore 125R which I now have in storage and plan to restore it one day. I am now 59 years of age, and presently own a unrestored but running 1998 Yamaha DT125 and a 2006 XT225 which is actually my father inlaw's but he has passed away that is why I'm taking care of it. Financially I'm not really well off, but when I'm on my bike feeling the wind in my face makes me feel I'm one of the richest person in the world. You now what I mean sir, FREEDOM OF THE OPEN HIWAYS OF LIFE.....
Jack, a pleasure to meet you and excellent coverage. I'm the guy starting the ratty RZ fwiw. (a friends bike that hadn't run in many years). FWIW, and by no fault of Jacks, a lot of bikes that were there weren't shown, as they ALL get ridden. this isn't a show, but a riding event. I was there on my ds7 (not the one shown by Carl), also the 390 galaxie thats in the background , and that's my wife siting on it. was my tow vehicle this year. and there was 1 or 2 r5s, and another GT550. VERY glad you gave Chuck Q the attention he deserves, he's probably the best RD tuner in the country and the best of the best personality/generosity wise. Always a great time, and again a true pleasure to meet you.
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Nothing compares to a wild two-stroke engine , the sound is so crisp and gives good thoughts
That Canadian RD350LC brought tears to my eyes. I owned one for a brief time circa 1986. Mine was a white 1981. Absolutely incredible bike.
I've owned a bunch of two-strokes over the past (nearly) half-century, starting with a new Kawasaki G-5 100 in the summer of 1974. Including the LC, I've owned six different Yamaha RD's. The one that I currently own is a 1977 RD400D which I bought from the original owner in 2001. Chuck Q did a lot of work on it for the first ten years or so that I owned it (I lived near his shop).
I've never run The Dragon on a motorcycle, but I spent a lot of time on the roads in North Georgia on a Honda CB1100F and, after that, on an '86 GSXR750. I reckon that I need to visit Deal's Gap next year with my RD. It's on my bucket list now.
Superb video, BTW!
P.S.: I've never seen (heard) a GT380 with chambers.
Tell me more please
@@cycledrag Oh, man. I've got nearly 50 years of 2-stroke memories. I could write a book. Maybe I should. LOL.
My first Yamaha 2-stroke street bike was a 1975 RD350B. I got it in early-1976 right after the RD400 hit the showrooms. Yamaha was running a clearance on the leftover 350s: $899. No lie. My dad loaned me the money. I paid him back $10/week from my newspaper route (yep, I delivered papers on the RD). Great bike, but it fouled plugs on a regular basis. A year later, I traded it in on a French blue '77 RD400D. I sold the 400 less than a year later to buy my first car. A year after that, I bought a 1978 RD400E. But that Canadian 350LC was the bomb.
had the rd400 back in the 80s.really liked it although it was in a time of 4 stroke super bikes everywhere.went down on it when I locked the front brake on a piece of unseen cardboard and had to force it down to prevent hitting the car in front of me.wish I could find one again just to ride ocasionally.it was quick and agile and fun to ride.thanks for the memories.
Thanks for the video cool stuff. I my first two bikes were two strokes my first bike which I got in 76 I think was a 1966 Yamaha ym1 it was virtually a clone of the 305 dream by honda. Headlight and it had to rub a piss you know where your knees go from the gas tank yeah basically the same bike it was the 305 2 cylinder two-stroke with some much underrated engine for the size of the bike at least I thought so. That was my first bike not including a rough roadster mini bike back in 1972 LOL I use that by quite extensively never took long trips on it and I think the longest trip I took was 50 miles round trip 100 miles all together but I was leaving in Providence Rhode Island at the time transplanted from New York City and Long Island back and forth and yeah you know finally you know I got a really cool car I bought a 65 Ford Thunderbird landau edition and I had paid that off at the bank and I figured well I'll take that alone and get another motorcycle so I went around looking riding on my Yamaha and ended up finding a dealer used dealer and he had two bikes out there that kind of were interesting to me one was the black if I remember it right gt550 triple two stroke with a three into four exhaust which was stopped the second one was the water buffalo it's older brother the GTA 750 triple two-stroke water cool coming off of that 3:05 that water buffalo was just too intimidating anyone knows those bikes they are legends also so I ended up buying a 550 that was a great bike I can't tell you the thousands of miles I put on it and that was just driving during the summer you know season on the East Coast when you can ride you know I used to take trips from Providence Rhode Island to New York City I can't even count them any times in want some visiting and when I moved back to New York at the opposite New York to Providence Providence back I did Loudon Laconia biker bike meat twice kangamangus highway one of those times my sister's boyfriend came up with a friend his name is Eugene and he Eugene had a gold wedding stuff for the trip and my sister's boyfriend had a triumph tiger I think it was a 750 with just one carburetor I think look like a Bonneville to me anyway Eugene was always lagging behind us and I'm sure he had the fastest bike but he just kept it you know pretty not slow but you know speed limit and stuff while my sister's boyfriend and I were like riding hard and I remember going down the kangamangus highways and I was able to actually beat him I think my 550 was faster than his tiger so yeah and on those trips to up through New England we hit every state visiting people that we know in the different states and I'm back home so that those trips put on a lot of miles and all my trips back and forth from Rhode Island to New York put on lots of Miles never had the engine rebuilt never had to pour the oil into the auto loop and I get the tank for oil and then it went to a pump which distributed the oil to all the parts needed and the engine you didn't have to mix gas and yeah thinking back the Yamaha the 66 305 it'll also had an auto loop system they called the different things but I remember I used to try and get the Suzuki oil and I reach each brand in a marketed and it's on the oil but basically you can just go to it any automotive store and get a good two-stroke oil either of them but yeah those are my two for Us bikes my third bike was not a two-stroke but it was a excess 650 Yamaha I guess it was a 1971 I went back in time LOL but yeah because I had sold this Suzuki they're in the winter and had no bike it's almost coming around I had virtually no money so for 500 bucks I bought that bike needed work I did it myself put a lot of miles on that too but I never really trusted it going up that's living in New York City at this point I never trusted it going up to a Providence and then coming back down and the one time I did trust that one of the the right cylinder sitting on the bike it would be on your right the ride still on the starter to clatter and the bike was skipping by the time I got to what was it the end of Connecticut it was running on one cylinder and I would take 95 I ended up getting on the Long Island expressway one cylinder and I had to go through the midtown tunnel it's a very long tunnel it goes under the East River fund connecting Queens to Manhattan and while I was in the middle of the tunnel at the end of a blind curve the bike just died and I was freaking because it's only two lanes and I was in the end of the curve when no one could see me till they were already deep into the curve I tried to push the bike as quickly as I can ahead of that and it took a long time of pushing and then finally the tunnel authority came in and got me out of there yeah that was a nightmare I had the bike for I had to buy fixed and are you later or not even it was that year it had been 19 81 my uncle gifted me with a brand new Harley-Davidson Sturgis and I rolled it back around for a while didn't know what to make of it and I was like yeah I don't know maybe I'll sell it or give it back or something I'm insane so I sold the which I put expansion no I put headers on him it was a four stroke and you know a Corbin seat on it I did it up for a piece of garbage it had a lot of parts and there are some money LOL but yeah and that was my introduction to Harley's the bike was stolen couple of seasons later I ended up buying a one-year-old a 1982 Honda CB750 custom and I had that bike till I built another Harley in 1977 another lowrider but not a Sturgis and that was and then in the mid-90s I was told in the late 80 said I was going to go blind there was having some trouble seeing at night and at the middle of Saturday the 90s my eyes got bad so I couldn't ride anymore I couldn't drive can't tell you what kind of a horror that is and wasn't this day is very emotional I lived in breathe motorcycles cars too but really motorcycles yeah whole other story for another video this is not a comment this is version on a novella or a short novella LOL sorry I'm an addict and I'm addicted to commenting I don't know what to stop so I'm going to try and stop here at least part of the story was about two strokes right but I'd
Great memories flooding back for me. My 1st bike when I was 16 was a Yamaha FS1DXA unrestricted, fantastic back in its day, turned 17 progressed to a RD250 passed my bike test and jumped straight onto a RD400, Wheelie heaven hehe. Then went the 4 stroke route but the 2 strokes will always be in my heart. I sold my RD400 for £500 back in 81. They are now commanding nearly £10.000. Always enjoy your channel from across the pond in Planet Thanet.
FS1 was a 5-speed 50cc with upswept muffler, wasn't it ?
@@ramishrambarran3998 Nope 4 speed straight exhaust The FS1DXA came un restricted 4 gears front disc autolube and bolt on frame parts. The last of the original FSIE.
@@davidjloveland3673 OK. Thanks !
@@davidjloveland3673 Please check this th-cam.com/video/RUw9z8BzHtE/w-d-xo.html
This is the one I knew when I was about 15 years old.
Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies.
Hi guys. I'm in the UK 🇬🇧. Now 52yrs old. Suzuki TS100, TS125, GT250x7, Yamaha RD200, RD250dx, RD350lc, RD400dx Suzuki GT380, T500, GT750, all owned and riden by me over the years. I just wish instead of selling them just WISH I'd have saved them each and every one of them. Oh the memories of the Castrol R two stroke oil in the air and a cloud of smoke and the NOISE!!! To many memories to list. Oh yes and the countless HOURS spent in the shed way past midnight fixing my bikes ha ha ha. No I'm afraid its all 4 strokes but still putting my mark on them. With my latest RF900 rs cut and bobbed into a solo bike with many mods done too. Just like to say to these guys " You LUCKY buggers" keep on with your bikes and DONT HIDE EM RIDE EM. Ride safe and cherish each moment with them bikes good or bad. Loved looking at ALL the bikes today blast from the past. Thank you.
Two strokes are the one which are close to our heart beat.
Love the bikes, they are surprisingly well maintained. Love the noise. Could have smell the smoke as you said. Sweet memories.
Great job 👏 👍
The best video I have seen for ages I am a true two stroke nut would love to have a holiday up there on two stroke week a long trip from the uk but sure would be fun thanks for showing this makes me want to get back to working on my bikes all the best
Cool video. I had a Suzuki T500 Titan in the late 1970s, a Kaw 500 triple in the mid 1980s, and bought another Titan in 2004. Great bikes, fun to ride.
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Oh my my... what a cool thing. You'd never see this in So Cal... Back in my teenage days was so excited to have my H-1. My friend was so inspired he bought a H-2 and cafe'd it out to the max. Of course his hair was on fire and on one Sunday afternoon at the "Rock Store" he had a few to many, took off and slid into the first left hand corner on some gravel. The bike came up and slammed into the guard rail with his right leg getting crushed. He was admitted to West Hills hospital and was in the hospital for 3 months with a broken femer. He led a life of adventure and was so wild. He's no longer with us and passed years after the accident with hepatitis. Just a quick memorial for John H. See you in heaven.
Be safe everybody, and have fun!
I made almost all of the meets, but for the first couple and the last 3. Great fun and the best guys/friends on the planet. glad the weather held out!
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Outstanding video Brought back the great times with my 1975 Kawasaki KHZ 300 3 cylinder & carbs
Great show, Jack. I loved the big Suzuki Titan.
My Two Stroke career (in the 70's):
Yammy Twin Jet 100,
Suzuki X6 Hustler
Suzuki T350
Bridgestone 350 GTR.
I left the two wheelers for a while in my 20's and then got back in with a Norton Commando S. Last bike I owned. Now, I love to watch other people ride 'em
I have a special love for that Bridgestone 350GTR.
Amazing OVERengineered, dry clutch 6 speed. Wow
I was a Twin Jet rider too!!
Love it. I bought back my Kawasaki KH500 last month which I sold in 1988. I also have a 1980 Mars Bar LC350, an ex-GP 350 TZ350 and a Garelli 250 GP bike. These are par of my collection which includes other competition and road bikes. I love two strokes, especially their noise and smell.
OMG i feel like crying because when i was 18 i had the Green Widow H2 just like the first one on this video , i am old now but still pine for a 1974 Green mean machine the exceleration was out of this world for a 18 year old in 1979. I had been riding dirt bikes since i was 6 years old , my RM 370 was cray fast fun for a boy of 16 but two years later i learned how to Respect the H2 in Green , yup she almost kept me dead as i crash in 2nd gear without Helmit yup i was a idiot hanging out with some crazy azz harley bikers , well you know how we partied UGH . But thank GOD i was shocked back to life and into a two month Coma , but when i healed after a bit over a year i fixed her up and enjoyed her for 5 more years :) GOD i want one now just to cruise the weekends on PCH :) no more showing off well atleast Not buzzed lmao True to the core story :) im a Miracle walking TY Lord God
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
@@cycledrag Sorry just noticed this today , ah yes the first was a 3.5 hp Cat mini bike from The pep Boys in 1969 i was 8 years old , well while riding at the local horase stable trails a big guy jumped out of the bushes punched me in the face and stole my red mini bike :( . well about two months later my pops got me a 1970 bluegreen honda ct70 4 speed clutch type :) that one never got stolen i rode the wheels off and in 1974 i got a used Suzuki TS 185 the 1973 yellow orange one :) . the next one was one i paid for at 18 years old it was a honda cb 350 1975 model at 19 i got my 1974 Green H2 and loved it for many years even tho i had a crash and almost stayed dead , was in a coma 2 weeks and released from Kaiser Hospital abot 2 months later looking like a monster , my face was piaaz scabbed and crooked broken clavical cracked skull fractured ribs messed up knee OMG i should be dead ! . But God said not yet and about 14 months later i fixed the H2 up mostly cosmetic , and rode Sober safely for another 5 years . Bro i would give my left nut to have that mean green machine now at 62 i Know how to Not be Fast or stop i know how to Cruise lol :) all true and fun except for the crash :(
I got out of the USMC in July 1969. Had a Suziki X6 250 cc twin. Rode it from socal to Chicago, no problems. Raced motocross with Bultaco SherpaS 125 and a 175 Penton Jackpiner. Love 2 strokes but the gov outlawed them. Sure miss them.
You just can't beat the power band of a 2 stroke, I had a Suzuki TS 185, a Hodaka Dirt Squirt and a Hodaka Ace 100 along with a Honda MT 250 Elsinore, I drove them in all weather rain, sunshine and 2 feet of snow, they are always reliable.
I learned how to ride in the woods on a 79 Honda Cr250 Elsinore, with no brakes
The Power Bands are like “Crack” you can’t stop going there !
I can relate, learned to ride on a Yamaha 100 2stroke twin ( street bike ) had Cr 125 Elisanore Honda, Rm400 suk ; Yamaha 360 , Penton Hodakas,Bultacos. Love them
Would love to find a affordable H1 possibility of a basket case. Be safe
And also Been all over the Dragon on Harleys. Live close , didn't know the event existed.
Great show of bikes! Back in the day I graduated from an unrestricted 50+mph 1973 FS1E to a 1976 GT185 (electric start) and then when I could afford it, a second hand one year old 1976 RD400. I then qualified as a complete wheelie hooligan..!! On picking up the blue coffin tank, first mag wheeled model from my Yamaha dealer, I set off slowly and pulled up to a junction, and accelerating away the throttle cable frayed with the twist grip stuck wide open.....!!! Before losing control I managed to flick the engine kill button... and survived..! None of my buddies would hop on the back, and I have lived to tell numerous tales of fearless missions on that RD. Still ridin' Nik.
I cut my teeth on a 71-h1. Then bought a 72-h2, and yes the h2 almost killed me, a power band that came on like a light bulb. Those were days when two strokes were better than four.....
the original h2 was badass
KILLERS
I had both but felt the H1 was way more wicked
Original h2 would cook the middle cylinder. No frame, no handling.
I had chambers and carbs on the h1 and used to drag race it at the local strip. I had a 6 inch over front end and pull back bars on the h2 and used to cruise it between P.A. and Florida. ( late 70s).The good times were rollin back then for sure.....
In 1974 I took up road racing with the Mountain Roadracing Association in Colorado on a Yamaha RD350. What a rocket ship!
I bought a well used Yamaha TD1 250cc factory road racer that I attempted to race in California with the American Federation of Motorcyclists. When it was running its acceleration and top speed were truly awe inspiring, close to 130 mph!
Switched to racing production class on a 1976 RD125DX set up by Pat Hennen for his fiancé’s brother who took 1st place the year before. What great fun! The RD125 was distinguished as the only 125cc motorcycle that had enough hp to be legal to ride on California freeways at that time. I estimated the top speed at about 89mph with Pat Hennen’s mods and a lightweight streamlined fiberglass seat designed for the Yamaha TZ750 that I fit in-place of the heavy stock seat. High reving twin cylinder, great handling, 5 speed transmission, and very light weight.
Was privileged to race t a number of premier road tracks that are long gone including Ontario Motor Speedway, Riverside Raceway, and Orange County International Raceway.
Wow brings back alot of teenage memories,I started at the age of 16 ,with a Yamaha FSIE a 50 cc moped but very popular here in the UK,then moved onto a Yamaha DT 275 enduro,then onto a RD 250 Yamaha,then onto a RD 400 .Wish I still had at least one of these bikes .Thanks for the memories.👍👍🏍🏍
I did a lot of hill climbing on a 1972 Yamaha 360 I bought new as a crate damage in 1973 for $700, I was in 8th grade. In 1975 I traded it for the 1975 400. I’d like to find a nice one of either bike. Also started on Kawasaki 100 duel range gearbox bikes. Those bikes gave me the chance to spend time with Dad at the Quincy IL Kawasaki, BSA,Hodaka dealer starting in 1972. Got to see the Kaw triples in the show room. I want to get to this. I can smell the smoke. Great memories. This is a fantastic channel. Thanks
Remember the RD350 being quite a quick bike. Pulling wheelies first two gears. Brings back memories
They RD350s were quick. They made a Daytona 400 that was bad for then. I had a trick RZ with PROPER portwork, Toomey's, TZ 250 carbs with all the rear sets, clip ons, Telefix fork brace n Fox Shock. It STILL would get ill and sling yer arse off if ya weren't careful. I wanna build one on an FZR 400 frame with a wider swingarm and 600 forks with 1000 brakes. Then we might have something. I've machined FZR 1000 brakes to fit 600 forks so it can be did. 👍 I love 2 strokes
I have owned 3 two stroke bikes.... a Yamaha DT1B 250 Enduro, a Yamaha R5-C 350, and a Yamaha MX400. These were all great bikes !
Properly tuned 2 strokes are easy to start. I had rotary valve Avenger and H1 and H2 and GT 750 water buffalo. My blue H2 was exactly like the one showed and my favorite by far. Regretably always wanted but never had an RD. Great video. Thank you. PS Rode the Dragon on my FJ 1200.
True, but we have all had those struggles. lol. Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
The GT750 used almost all the electrics from the Honda CB750. I had both! Only thing different were the gauges.
I bought a new RD 400 in 77' rode it all over California with my chrome down pipes. What a bike. I also had that Suzuki Ram Air
., and Trail 70 with a clutch. Also drove a 55 Oldsmobile with a rocket engine. Would love to still have them but glad I had the life to participate. Today, I have a Blake surfboard I have had for years and since it was made in the 30's most of those guys who couldn't afford one have died so the value is going down. The new generation is... well new and will never experience or have those groundbreaking days at Irwindale, Indian Dunes, Saddleback, Sprockets, and the other riding spots like Gorman when it was all unregulated and a free country. Great video, thanks a bunch. Oklahoma, USA
Loved to see the old two-strokes. I hoped to see a Suzuki X6 Husler, I took my first drivers test on one and kept running away from the car that the officer followed me with. Almost failed because the officer said I rode jerky, it was just hard to keep below 30mph, In the 60’s the only bike that could keep up with me was a Norton Altas. I hoped they could bring back two stroke street bikes with the new direct injection technology
My cousin had a Suzuki 250 hustler. Very nice and also very fast
Yeah he Suzie X6 Hustler was a wonderful ride. A sweet engine in a delightfully handling frame. Very light and very fun.
I had a 1968 Hustler at the last meet.
Ran it hard and developed a seal leak, by the end of the day.
Recomissioning these old bikes when they've sat a long time is a process, and that's part of the fun.
(Here old beast, I fixed your boo-boos). 🤣
Wow Bro I had A Suzuki 250 “ Scrambler” with 2 up pipes I loved it and I wish I would have put the 350 engine in it (not a big modification) and some chambers ! Sure brings back memories now ! Thanks for yours !
The GT 250 @ the 28:11 mark. My dad had one. Green . I used to do wheelies on it standing on the seat. (Evil Knievel). Could go for at least an 1/8 mile or so like that. One day hit a road patch crossing (hump) and went over backwards. Broke my wrist. Got out of writing a final Biology exam next day cause of it. Good thing as I hadn't studied. Grade 12 senior. Bike was ok, minor scrapes. Rode it home and had to tell my parents and go to the hospital. Later on had a 71 CB350 that I dragged raced and a 77, 78 and finally a 79 Daytona RD 400. Still have the 79. Really enjoyed watching this. Memories.
Omfgg Jack 😃. Spectacular look at Classic 2 stroke Bikes 🏍. Thank you for taking me, back in Time to my younger years 👊🤘. My favorites was Yamaha's RD-LCs , from 125s to 350s . Just power 💥🚀 , especially when you're in that power band 🤪. I had a RD-LC 125 mrk2 , a of small mod's / got 109 mph out of her 🤪😝😃. . The BEST THING about CLASSIC 2 stroke, no really technical computer crap to deal with. All mechanical, no need to take it to a dealer SHIT 😝🤣. FYI, it's the sound 😃 & Smell. If you have never owned or ridden a 2 stroke, I feel sorry for you. As you have missed so much 🥺
Tell me more!
You would love this one !!! th-cam.com/video/8zklMSrmh0o/w-d-xo.html
I’ll bet you would like this one !!! th-cam.com/video/8zklMSrmh0o/w-d-xo.html
I had a 1974 Kawasaki s1-B 250 then moved to the last of the H2-C 750 in red, now aged 66, now have an H1-E 500 ,S2 350 and an S2-A 350 all USA imported to the UK. Kawasakis were the bikes to have in the 70,s if you wanted to go quick, the other 2 stroke Yamahas and Suzukis were rapid but the fast boys rode the triples and rode them hard.
Great Video and great location, good to see some twisty bends in the USA.
Just imagine how fabulous 2-stroke bikes would be now if it weren't for all this 'green' legislation we have today. The sound, the smell, the power....fantastic. Great show by the way.
Love them old 2 strokes. Started with a 1970 Yamaha DS6-250. Then I got a 1972 Kawasaki H1-500. They were sweet road bikes. Then my attentions went off road for a while. 1973 Yamaha 360 Enduro, 1976 Can-Am 125, 1977 Yamaha YZ125, 1978 Yamaha YZ125. After that, I went back to road bikes. 1980 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim and my last bike was a 1981 Yamaha XJ750 Seca.
Thanks, great show, made me very nostalgic! In the UK in the seventies from 17 years you could ride up to 250cc on a provisional (learner) licence, so the 250 two stroke was king. I had the Suzuki T250 and friends had the GT250, RD250 and we craved the Kawasaki triples. Later we could step up to GT 380 and 550 and RD400 whilst those with lots of money for bike and insurance went z750 or Z1! Crazy times.
Yes me to and coming from the UK to it is great to look back.
I would love a stroker again especially now as they are so rare as a daily.
A 4 stroke though at the time for me was the GS thou 😎
Check out this Kawasaki ! th-cam.com/video/8zklMSrmh0o/w-d-xo.html
Oh, 2 strokes are growing in popularity ! Nothing like turning someone on to a 2 stroke bike ! The look on their faces after their 1st ride is priceless !
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
I remember when I was in high school back in 1986 this kid had a Suzuki gt750 liquid cooled water buffalo I think they called it .It was one badass machine. Man if I could lay my eyes on one of those beautiful bikes again !
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
th-cam.com/video/kpo-bWVLqoY/w-d-xo.html
I bought a '74 GT 750 water cooled triple brand new in '74. The "Water Buffalo" was with me for about 5 years during which I toured N. America on it, The US and Canada. Once crossing coast to coast from California to Massachusetts in 5 days. I've owned a number of motorcycles over the years, and still ride a BMW. The Water Buffalo was the only one I wish I hadn't parted with. Hard to believe it was nearly 50 years ago when I had mine.
Wow ! Thanks !!
Awesome coverage! Hope you do it again next year! I Iive about 100 miles from the Dragon. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never been there! I’m a former road racer. But lost use of my right arm in a high speed crash. Still love this stuff! Thank you Jack!
Name is Jeff not Jenni!
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Too cool. I road raced a Kawi S2a 350 in California in 1979, the RD's would kick my ass but it was a good time!
Norwalk Raceway AMRA today! Was looking for Cycle Drag!
I wish I could do em all! Will be in Norwalk Aug 7 for Night Under Fire!
Great video.
I’m 62. Grew up in the 70’s with 2strokes.🇬🇧
At 13…. 1973 a friend had a Yamaha FS1E. 50cc😎 smell that 2 stroke oil🤪
My 1st bike Honda CJ250, (not great) too big for me. Got rid.
Got a Yamaha YB100 commuter bike. Passed my test.
Got a Suzuki TS100 trail bike. Then upgraded to Suzuki GT380 two stroke triple.
A friend of mine had a GT550. Both had a great deep burbling growl to them with the stock 3 into 4 exhaust. I notice you GT380 & GT550 you showed had expansion chambers 3 pipes.
Made them sound a bit tinny by comparison.
Would’ve been great to see and hear a Suzuki GT750 water cooled triple. (AKA the water bottle).
In 1978 I eventually swapped out my GT380 for a Kawasaki Z650 b1. (The baby brother to the Z1b 900).
Happy days.
May the Force
be with you.🌀
Jim🌀
(-: :-)
Living in GA, have done the Dragon a few times. Always been, and still am, a two smoke fan! Currently have a tagged, fully(okay, barely)street legal, KTM300. Having had and raced several YZ's back in the 70's, always loved the vintage "bumblebee" paint scheme on the Yammy's. Now, off to find me a vintage RD or RZ:)
I've chased the dragons 🐉 90s and naughties.
I had a LC 350 yamaha water cooled .and a RD 350 as well .my brother had a KH 250 kawasaki triple in green all three great two stroke bikes I'm from Leeds our FAV place was sherbet. A massive mug of tea and a bacon buttie great days
Awesome selection of 2 stroke motorcycles. Great video. Brings back a lot of memories
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
@@cycledrag First bike was a 50cc Yamaha FS1E that my dad bought for my 15th birthday. Was a really fun bike to ride and easy to work on. Started me off on a lifelong journey of starting an apprenticeship and becoming an automobile engineer / mechanic.
My H2 triple was the only bike my wife refused to ride on with me. She had no problem riding with me on my turbo CBX......!!?
Thanks for a cool video! We need more 2-strokes!
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
@@cycledrag started out on a '73 RD350(1st model year for an iconic bike)in late '73 right before I turned 16 yrs. old. Very steep learning curve with that bike, but I'm still alive!
It did the best wheelies!
I raced lc 250 and 350lc Yamaha. Loved video ❤️❤️❤️all best from England
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
A Honda ss 50 . I am now 59 . Love old school bike Suzuki and Kawasaki. Keep up good work. All the best from England. Ps wot where your 1 bike 👍❤️🏍🔧🇺🇸🇬🇬
You would love this one ! th-cam.com/video/8zklMSrmh0o/w-d-xo.html
Started off with a Yamaha 50 cc, then to a 250cc Jawa, then I got a Yamaha RZ350 ( Kenny Roberts colours)in New York , the new bike cost $2200. Bought another used RZ 350, shipped both bikes to India where my brother uses them. Moving to Japan I bought the Honda NSR MC21, great fun to ride. My motto is "Two Strokes Forever". Great video and enjoyed the banter and the amazing bikes at this festival. Wish I was there!
Great gathering of 2-stokes! I've been riding since 1968 and witnessed the arrival of all those US models. I understand the rarity of stock exhaust, but it's ashame not many so equipped. The stock exhaust IMHO sounds better than the expansion chambers especially on the Kawasaki triples.
Bought a brand new 1975 Yamaha DT400 just like the one @ 37:24 from D&D Motorcycle in Norman, OK. Thank you sir for the major flashback!
I passed my test on a KH250. Great little bike. Very reliable and comfortable on a distance. A friend had a Suzuki 750 'kettle' - what a monster it was 😀
I had a 1976 kh 250. I loved the bike so much. I'd like another one, but they fetch loads a dosh
WOW, I did not go trough the whole video, but man, what an event.
Also great job for the CycleDrag host, very positive vibe and you can really see the man loves to be there and listen to those 2 strokes.
Thank you for this awesome video
I remember a friend of mine named Tommy Ogawa had a 1975 Yamaha rd350 it must have been the fastest rd350 in all of Carson California.
My biking journey was kick started by the two stroke - Villiers 150, Bantam 125 (D3 ?), Lambretta 150, MZ TS250 (4 speed) , Suzuki GT380, GT550. Great days - I even used my GT550 for despatch- in my naivety … never made any money. Great days .
My fav Kawa triple is the S2. That little 350 could scorch bigger bikes without breaking the bank, and unlike its bigger brothers it could handle.
HELLO ONELOVE FROM WALES
2STROKES MMMM. GOT A SOFT SPOT FOR THEM.
IN MY TEENS AND EARLY 20S I HAD A FEW ... STARTING WITH A YAMAHA FS1E, I BUILT MYSELF FROM A SCRAP YARD...... LOL
THE BEST OF MY BIKES WAS A SUZUKI GT750 A.....
UNFORTUNATELY A BACK INJURY STOPPED ME RIDING...... SEEING THE RD 400 I HAD A SPIN ROUND CADWELL PARK
IT WAS MY MATES WHO I WAS THE GREASE MONKEY.....
LOVE2ALL THE CYCLEDRAG FAMILY.
AS ALWAYS OUTSTANDING POST JACK
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
The Rz350 was branded as the Rd350ypvs Over here in the UK still amazing machine I can remember that 17 going on the back of my friends are you popping a wheelie absolutely amazing machine
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
@@cycledrag In the UK we had to start on a 50 cc which mine was a Suzuki Ap 50 what do 60 miles an hour with an expansion pipe on from there I went up to 100 mL Yamaha RXS 100 then I took my motorcycle test which you have to take when you are 17 in this country then from then on I had a Honda CB 400 then from there I went up to ZZR 1100 Kawasaki I know ride Yamaha phaser 6pm I am changing it at the end of the summer to Yamaha Fz 1000 got to say Jack love the channel how to come and see you when you visit the uk Keep up the good work and stay safe
I was at the Dragon in May 2021 (on my 09 Moto Guzzi Stelvio) and stumbled across this crowd. Great bunch of folks, great bikes.
I had a 74 H2 in 1976 and through the years have owned a number of Kawi triples and Yamaha RD twins. I have about 3 H2s in pieces in my attic and really need to put one together (or probably sell two and use the proceeds to put one together...) and take it up there one May.
Now I want to go back next May (probably not on an H2) but maybe May 2024...gotta get to work :)
Really love this! What a ride those bikes are my favorite!
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
@@cycledrag A sweet yellow EX250(Ninja) and i bought dual Yoshimura exhuast for it. Taught myself to ride in a parking lot. Rode it from VT to NYC and back when I was in my 20s.
Kawasaki three cylinder growl, Yamaha twin snap, crackle and pop, rg500 awesome.... Love the 2strokers....
love two strokes
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
Grew up on 2 stroke trail then road bikes back in the 70’s: TS185, DT250, T350, T500, H2 750. Also rode my dad’s TS90, RT3, GT380. Currently at 62 years old I have an BMW R1250GS but still also Suzi TS185 & GT550 in my garage!
The sound of the Kawasaki H2 makes me feel like a child again.
This video will become your most popular as two stroke fans will flock here to salivate over their dream bikes. Good work!👍🏻
Omg I can almost smell the Belray oil smoke wafting through the air, and oh that sound! Those were the days for sure! Thanks for time travel trip down memory fast lane!
two strokes is now a collection of antiques for lovers of old motorcycles, I have a yamaha 132cc rxk that always accompanies my activities 😍😍
Suzuki Titian 500 cross country. In 1972 I left Los Angeles on a Sunday afternoon and arrived in Jacksonville Florida Wednesday afternoon. 3 days flat. It would happily run for hours at 80 to 90 mph. Loved that bike, sure wish I had it back!
OMG thank you for the Memories I was a bike mechanic back then I had H ones H2S rd350 rd400 my first new bike was a Suzuki TC 125 with the dual transmission incredible days those were
Had many 72' H2's back in the day. I did manage to keep a set of Denco factory drag race carburetors for a project build when I can find another H2.
Thank you very much for watching! This channel is all about the love of motorcycles. What bike did you start out on? Tell me about it please.
I had a H1 in my teens and 2 RD350s in my early 20's. Now in my late 60's I have an '84 RZ350 and, not a 2-smoke, Aprilia Tuono APRC. What a blast! Thanks Chuck Quenzler for the RZ350! My son races a RD350 and TZR250 in Florida.
Brilliant to see all these 2 strokes in the 80s I had many yamaha 350 and 250 lcs 200 and 125 dx ,rs and rxs 100s and still had 2 rxs100s, dt125 and 80cc ,kawasaki ke125 and suzuki x7 250, the good old days
My first bike was a KH 250 back when you could ride a 250 on L plates, it cost me £150, try finding one now for that money! Also had a 350 lc, a TZR 250 and a KR1, love 2 strokes. Great video!