I was born in 1983 and my first full sized bike was an '87 KX250 I saved up for when I was 14. That bike initially scared me but I grew to love it. Awesome channel Kaplan
You kick Ass, Ken... Dirtbikes entirely changed my life.. I'm 46, and recently told my Mom & Dad that the single best thing they ever did for me - was let me ride in 1979.. 40 years later - I have a collection of 18 bikes.. I'll be seeing you soon, brother... 👍
I couldn't have said it better myself. I just recently picked up a 1980 Honda xl250s for a steal of a deal with only 6000 miles on it and I was just riding it yesterday thinking the same thing you just stated about how it can turn your life around and how it can ease your mind and make all your troubles go away keep up the good work love you videos
I’m excited- my goal is to get any 80’s air cooled -two stroke cut on restoration by Kaplan Cycles- thank God we’re on the up and up with this Covid-19. Very authentic, beautiful you even tell us what to look for when buying- humble guys you are !!! - I was 2 in 1982 - dropped out in 11th. Grade- story for another day. - I’m soo grateful to find your channel . I was rippin the kawi 100 today- like you said nothing like rippin the dirtbike - passion - puttin the cell phone away - it’s like goin to the gym- Mr. Kaplan I’m really looking forward to meeting you and the whole team. I’ll come correct with a stack of cash 👌🏻
Video proof of how truly good 2 strokes are. 1980 bike here, that still hauls ass! All you have to do is regular maintenance and take care of them, and then you're set.
First of all great video nice bike and I also wanted to say that I was in the same situation I didn't quit school, but I was doing very poorly and my grandparents promised me that they would get me a go-kart if I improve my grades and I did and the rest is history I went from go-karts to yz two strokes.I still ride them today and I Mentor a lot of kids getting their attention through dirt bikes.
Wow! I’m 22 again. The memories Mine had a box section swing arm. Might have some 81 parts. Aluminum pegs were 81 as well as I beam swing arm. 80 had white block KX seat letters.
Dear Mr Kaplan please consider parking bike on glass mirrors 👌 Absolutely love your commitment ... remember Fox paws get em 💯 take care of your hands my brother
Love the stories..I was a poor student in school. If it wasn't for Motocross Action magazine and dirt Rider I'm not sure I would have even learned to read motorcycles saved my life
nice history on your life with the talk of the dirt bikes. all you had to do was apply yourself, i need to apply myself more. I have a good day time job, just super depressed. Why i bought a 2004 Cr250r. Just to get away! Great video, bike sounds great
I love the offset forks, what a great idea the Japanese manufacturers all had all the time…. Always tweaking a little more out of every nook & cranny of those two-strokes! Loved the 70’s, just exactly like he said, travel went from 3 inches to a foot (14 inches, actually if you look at RM’s…)
i wanted one SSOOO bad - woah - your mom bought you a bike SO nice. that bike came out right after i finished college and it was the same amount as my student loan; i was chewing my cheeks looking at that pretty thing on display.
So glad your bringing back the memories of motocross bikes with vintage sales. I remember like yesterday when single shock bikes came out. The yz monoshock 1976, the kx uni-track 1980 the Honda pro-link, and the suzuki full-floater and the ktm pro-lever.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the 1980 had the first Uni-Track swingarm they came out with. And then when 81' came, they updated the swingarm on the 250 and the 420 to the swingarm in this video. While the 125 swingarm stayed the same as the 1980 swingarms in 81', the 250 and 420 were updated. If you look up "1980 KX250 A-6" you can see what I mean.
Sure it was a beast too, but I still miss the following 1983 shape with the breathtaking numberplate rear fender mix !! Only KTM and Kawa did it with achievement.
Man these air cooled bikes sound so much better than the water cooled bikes! My 1980 cr250 was a mad man! Wheelie popping,ass slapping, Ripping it up ,insane bronco flipping,spring hopping ,rocket launching ,cherry busting , piece of over the top air cooled Kick ass ,cranked up cock bashing iron mule!😂😂🤟🏻
Had an 86 KX 500 rode it many years, I had nothing but trouble out of the entire Uni system. Rocker arm always cracking and breaking, shock was poor, link was poor. Had loads of power though.
I was a Suzuki RM guy for several years . Then Kawasaki came out with this Rocket Uni-Trak bike and I had to have one . One small jetting change and thing was a beast ! If you couldn't pull a holeshot on one of these you were just lame ! PK
Something about the old bikes is just so much cooler then the newer stuff. Friends of mine that raced would look at people driving anything that’s more then 2 years old like ur crazy but u gotta keep reminding them ur not racing motorcross so the bikes are whooped after on summer. It’s almost like driving an old car other then the 1970’s and 1980’s for cars were terrible years but we’re great for dirt bikes.
Yeah, I offered to do the same thing for my son. Offered to buy him a brand new YZ85 if he would just apply himself & do good in school. He turned me down & went back to live with his grandmother. He now drives for UPS making $28.50/hr. & later this month will be in a permanent position making $33.50/hr. God sure does work in mysterious Ways when we pray for one another!
At 11:01it looks like the silencer is rubbing the outside knobby of the back tire just with your setting weight on that suspension travel?!!! Definitely needs adjusting but overall clean 80 model Kx 250 crisp sound and looks great to boot !!!!
I love your videos, but you have the model wrong. This is a 1981 KX250-A7, not a 1980 KX250-A6! Green seat graphics, “I” beam swingarm and alloy foot pegs are indications of the fact that it’s an ‘81. It’s the SECOND model of Kawasaki Uni-Track motocross bikes. 😉
nice man it is getting harder and harder to find them folks have gobbled them up to put n collections makes the price of them go up but thats the way it is put something exciting between your legs motorcycle and if you are afraid you might want a set of balls instead lol
i think i just want a vintage bike for trails if i ever save enough disability money or win the loto the throttle cable going in the top of the carb looks fckd up i caught ya it was a suzuki you said your mom bought not a kawi i guess i need to quit watching these videos lol
@@KaplanCycles awesome just thought ya said your mom would buy the rm if ya went back n finished school in your earler video im watching to many of them i could tell you n jrs life story lol
this style of video where you wear period correct jerseys and have some fun with it are my favorite
Man what an awesome intro!!!!! Cant get enough of this channel. What a great thing you have going here. I just love it.
@@ronaldtartaglia4459 like a 70’s Kawasaki commercial I miss those days. Let the good times roll
I was born in 1983 and my first full sized bike was an '87 KX250 I saved up for when I was 14. That bike initially scared me but I grew to love it. Awesome channel Kaplan
You kick Ass, Ken... Dirtbikes entirely changed my life.. I'm 46, and recently told my Mom & Dad that the single best thing they ever did for me - was let me ride in 1979.. 40 years later - I have a collection of 18 bikes.. I'll be seeing you soon, brother... 👍
The 80's pre power valve 2t's were definitely the pinnacle of violent powerbands
I couldn't have said it better myself. I just recently picked up a 1980 Honda xl250s for a steal of a deal with only 6000 miles on it and I was just riding it yesterday thinking the same thing you just stated about how it can turn your life around and how it can ease your mind and make all your troubles go away keep up the good work love you videos
Thank you for doing such a great job keeping those wonderful bikes alive.
Damn, the sound of that 250 brought back some great memories!
I have a 1990 kx500 and a 93 kx500,bone stock all original. Drooling over that 92!!
You must love getting up for work everyday. Thanks for your wise words also mate
i just love all the period correct helmets n jersey's ya have when ya test ride the bike's
We have a massive collection riding gear set aside for doing the videos none of its for sale
@@KaplanCycles that's awesome
Great bike.!! I'm currently rebuilding a 84 kx250.... great vid.
This guy should be president...... he's such a cool guy..... love the old 70s music LOL
I’m excited- my goal is to get any 80’s air cooled -two stroke cut on restoration by Kaplan Cycles- thank God we’re on the up and up with this Covid-19. Very authentic, beautiful you even tell us what to look for when buying- humble guys you are !!! - I was 2 in 1982 - dropped out in 11th. Grade- story for another day. - I’m soo grateful to find your channel . I was rippin the kawi 100 today- like you said nothing like rippin the dirtbike - passion - puttin the cell phone away - it’s like goin to the gym- Mr. Kaplan I’m really looking forward to meeting you and the whole team. I’ll come correct with a stack of cash 👌🏻
Everything you said right before the hole shot, exactly.
TEAM GREEN
It's a 81 ken. The swingarm and the green graphics on the seat are signs of it. Thanks for vids and have fun!
Wow, that’s an amazing story. I love my business but I can’t wait to retire and have some fun. Great stuff.
Video proof of how truly good 2 strokes are. 1980 bike here, that still hauls ass! All you have to do is regular maintenance and take care of them, and then you're set.
well said kenny senior all the best from england uk
First of all great video nice bike and I also wanted to say that I was in the same situation I didn't quit school, but I was doing very poorly and my grandparents promised me that they would get me a go-kart if I improve my grades and I did and the rest is history I went from go-karts to yz two strokes.I still ride them today and I Mentor a lot of kids getting their attention through dirt bikes.
Wow! I’m 22 again. The memories
Mine had a box section swing arm.
Might have some 81 parts.
Aluminum pegs were 81 as well as I beam swing arm.
80 had white block KX seat letters.
Good life story, and so true.
Dear Mr Kaplan please consider parking bike on glass mirrors 👌 Absolutely love your commitment ... remember Fox paws get em 💯 take care of your hands my brother
Man what an awesome intro!!!!! Cant get enough of this channel. What a great thing you have going here. I just love it.
Great video Ken it is true motorcycles and the love of the sport gives you focus on life and reason to live and enjoy !!!
The Paul Newman CR-250M Elsinore commercial music!
Beautiful bike those are very rare nowadays
Great story Ken and an awesome KX two strokes rule for sure.
Love the stories..I was a poor student in school. If it wasn't for Motocross Action magazine and dirt Rider I'm not sure I would have even learned to read motorcycles saved my life
@@paulwhilden6502 motorcycles are from heaven
nice history on your life with the talk of the dirt bikes. all you had to do was apply yourself, i need to apply myself more. I have a good day time job, just super depressed. Why i bought a 2004 Cr250r. Just to get away! Great video, bike sounds great
If you ever wondered about time travel now is your chance! Nice 1980!
ON ANY SUNDAY! EVERY DAY FOR LIFE! GOD BLESS KIDDIES!!
Congratulations Ken
amazes me how soft the suspension is on old bikes
I love the offset forks, what a great idea the Japanese manufacturers all had all the time…. Always tweaking a little more out of every nook & cranny of those two-strokes! Loved the 70’s, just exactly like he said, travel went from 3 inches to a foot (14 inches, actually if you look at RM’s…)
I liked the intro... It reminded me of the video that kawasaki put out with gaylon mosier
I love that 1980 Kawasaki 250!
beautiful Kx 250!
Love the styling of the old kawis
i wanted one SSOOO bad - woah - your mom bought you a bike SO nice. that bike came out right after i finished college and it was the same amount as my student loan; i was chewing my cheeks looking at that pretty thing on display.
Kx looks like it was in a time capsule. Nice bike.
How do they keep grass on that place? I had one of these after a '79 RM 125.
LOL I was wondering the same thing!!!!
I had a 78 RM 80, then a 79 RM 125, and then an 80 KX 250, between 1981to 1984
That intro was cool using Steve mcqueen cr 250m
Comercial brings back memories.
So glad your bringing back the memories of motocross bikes with vintage sales. I remember like yesterday when single shock bikes came out. The yz monoshock 1976, the kx uni-track 1980 the Honda pro-link, and the suzuki full-floater and the ktm pro-lever.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the 1980 had the first Uni-Track swingarm they came out with. And then when 81' came, they updated the swingarm on the 250 and the 420 to the swingarm in this video. While the 125 swingarm stayed the same as the 1980 swingarms in 81', the 250 and 420 were updated. If you look up "1980 KX250 A-6" you can see what I mean.
Sure it was a beast too, but I still miss the following 1983 shape with the breathtaking numberplate rear fender mix !! Only KTM and Kawa did it with achievement.
That intro is so Era correct. And kawasaki rules!
Man these air cooled bikes sound so much better than the water cooled bikes! My 1980 cr250 was a mad man! Wheelie popping,ass slapping, Ripping it up ,insane bronco flipping,spring hopping ,rocket launching ,cherry busting , piece of over the top air cooled Kick ass ,cranked up cock bashing iron mule!😂😂🤟🏻
Nice life story
Let the good times roll.
Absolutely true...
I had a 76. K.X.80. Just like that loved it till I killed it being a dum kid. No 2 stroke oil. W40 don't work dam I miss that thing still to this day
Had an 86 KX 500 rode it many years, I had nothing but trouble out of the entire Uni system. Rocker arm always cracking and breaking, shock was poor, link was poor. Had loads of power though.
damn thats one pretty motorcycle
nothing like the sound of an air cooled two stroke fins vibrating there's no other sound like it
I was a Suzuki RM guy for several years . Then Kawasaki came out with this Rocket Uni-Trak bike and I had to have one . One small jetting change and thing was a beast ! If you couldn't pull a holeshot on one of these you were just lame ! PK
Something about the old bikes is just so much cooler then the newer stuff. Friends of mine that raced would look at people driving anything that’s more then 2 years old like ur crazy but u gotta keep reminding them ur not racing motorcross so the bikes are whooped after on summer. It’s almost like driving an old car other then the 1970’s and 1980’s for cars were terrible years but we’re great for dirt bikes.
Amen Ken!!, dirt bikes do have a way of changing ones life... That was very well said and heartfelt... God Bless and Happy 4th of July... :)
The rear sprocket appears to be a legit Vic Krause piece, very nice
Man, I would like to have a 420 hehe.....really though
Check the year, if it is a 1980, then it has a 1981 swing-arm on her. the 1980 had major week points on there swing-arms.
My first single shock bike. Was a heavy pig lol, but sizzled with cool factor lol
??? There’s loads of old bikes to be found in uk !!!
Yeah, I offered to do the same thing
for my son.
Offered to buy him a brand new YZ85
if he would just apply himself & do
good in school.
He turned me down & went back to
live with his grandmother.
He now drives for UPS making
$28.50/hr. & later this month will
be in a permanent position making
$33.50/hr.
God sure does work in mysterious
Ways when we pray for one another!
As allways nice videos!
Hey whats that music/soundtrack in the beginning when he drives in slowmotion?
Can you do one on the 79’ twinshock...I had one...
That sure was a kickass machine in the day and would cream me pants to own that bike now 🙂🍻
All be darn I got an 82 kx 125 for making honor roll. I was not performing well at school either and my mom said motorcycle...
love the sound track
Not a chrome bore. Kawasaki have electro fusion cylinder coating on them.
I just bought a 1978 kx 250 a4 , do you guys have one of those they are super rare
Beautiful
Love background music Ken✅👍🏼
Bonanza
At 11:01it looks like the silencer is rubbing the outside knobby of the back tire just with your setting weight on that suspension travel?!!! Definitely needs adjusting but overall clean 80 model Kx 250 crisp sound and looks great to boot !!!!
at 5:34..you said the reed valves were Mic`d? I've heard motorcycle friends say they had their carbs Mic'd. I still don't know what that means.
Its short for Micrometer,means its tuned to fine tolerance/tight fit no slop
I love your videos, but you have the model wrong. This is a 1981 KX250-A7, not a 1980 KX250-A6!
Green seat graphics, “I” beam swingarm and alloy foot pegs are indications of the fact that it’s an ‘81.
It’s the SECOND model of Kawasaki Uni-Track motocross bikes. 😉
thats a 1981 kx you can tell by the swingarm and green kx on the seat
Very cool, but it's definitely breaking up on the holeshot.
Good video! Especially here 7:30
Is that opening theme song from On Any Sunday?
John Baumgratz Hi, here is the link of the musical intro from this very cool ad. th-cam.com/video/CXyVp7iw10Q/w-d-xo.html
Do you know we're I could get a 83 kx250 header ?
On any Sunday
Nice.
I'll have that and the red rocket lol 👍
Thats what she said! 😆
@@Brandon_Hisey_music 👍😂😂
Team green.
Saaaaweeeet
nice man it is getting harder and harder to find them folks have gobbled them up to put n collections makes the price of them go up but thats the way it is put something exciting between your legs motorcycle and if you are afraid you might want a set of balls instead lol
Ur video says 1981 not 1980
Damn a few years too late . That's an 81 not an 80 model . The I beam swingarm gives it away .
Thats an 81
That's a 1981 not an 1980 the swing arm tells the difference
i think i just want a vintage bike for trails if i ever save enough disability money or win the loto the throttle cable going in the top of the carb looks fckd up i caught ya it was a suzuki you said your mom bought not a kawi i guess i need to quit watching these videos lol
its a little blurry to me Mike...She bought me both im pretty sure the KX was first, then the RM, coolest Mom ever!!!!
@@KaplanCycles awesome just thought ya said your mom would buy the rm if ya went back n finished school in your earler video im watching to many of them i could tell you n jrs life story lol
that was the deal, i go back to school she bougt me new 250, i think it was the kawasaki which sucked so i sold it and got the rm
@@KaplanCycles bullshit we all know you love kawasaki dont make go look up that video lmfao
💚