About forty years ago I used to ride a bit of MotoX. Retired after breaking my knee.
Have been prompted for some time to attend and catch up with others from that time at the Vets/Classic meetings. They only ride on natural terrain, no Supercross style tracks.
So yesterday I went along to one. There I found a familiar bunch of 60+ fellas with much less hair and much more ballast limping along eating dirt and grinning from ear to ear from their dust covered faces. 104 (oops, no just 99, covid restrictions) entries and a smorgasbord of older bikes. I'd forgotten how dusty these summer events were. Covid masks were being put to good use for once.
Only two road bikes turned up to watch the action, mine and one other 1400 :onya:
300km trip catching up with dad on the way home. Surprising the old man was a nice way to finish the day.
:cheers:
I keep meaning to find out about similar events over here to go & watch, but I never get around to it.
@Kiwifruit a bunch of Vintage riders on Vintage bikes by the sounds and look of it. Some of whom who have bottomless pockets $$$ to restore/renew these older machines. Reliving their youths and thoroughly enjoying them selves. :onya: :onya:
Old guys are happy, kids all left home, original wife, half the house and life's endeavor traded in for one with a warmer and more compliant nature.
Yep paid $1850.00 for my new YZ125G back whenever that was. Probably $8k now. Old riding gear that was never binned is out getting an airing again. It truly was a great day.
I like a bit of trail riding in Oz, still have a DR250, DR350 that can go on historic plates and an XR250.
Nice XR Irish. Had an 87 XR250 for a while, as a return from breaking my knee on the YZ I entered a round of the NZ Hare and Hound Champs......a quick trip over the handle bars on the look lap had reality arrive in a hurry :facepalm:
Many many moons ago, I had a couple of XR250's as well, yeah, hated that coming off part as well . . . :happy1: :onya:
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Thursday, 24 February 2022, 08:17 PM
I like a bit of trail riding in Oz, still have a DR250, DR350 .
Hmm real DR's are 650!
Quote from: VladTepes on Friday, 25 February 2022, 08:54 AM
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Thursday, 24 February 2022, 08:17 PM
I like a bit of trail riding in Oz, still have a DR250, DR350 .
Hmm real DR's are 650!
But you would only use it on the road.
Had one of these registered on road back in the early 80's only it was a 465.
Mate had one of those things, I rode it one day, what a bunch of fun that was. Bit of a brute though, think I preferred the 175 it was fun but tamer.
My brother had an IT400, so I had a few goes at it, it was savage, it'd be up on the back wheel in the blink of an eye through the first 3 gears, ok when you're expecting it but (as I recall) that throttle took a bit of getting used to.
He traded it for a new XR500 and used that as a road bike as well for a few years, much better mannered, the IT was superb at what it was built for, off the road.
Those big bore two strokes were all beasts 😎
My first motocrosser was Maico 400 frightened the 💩 out of me. Then RM 370 B Suzuki easier but way faster 😋
Rode most of them over the years CR500 (bong bong sound) was most scary ever though 👀
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Hmm real DR's are 650!
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From experience cubes don't make it better, that's why I ride 250/350 off road. Even back in the IT465 day's I was lapping the tracks just as quick on my mates IT250.
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Wednesday, 02 March 2022, 08:54 AM
Hmm real DR's are 650!
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From experience cubes don't make it better, that's why I ride 250/350 off road. Even back in the IT465 day's I was lapping the tracks just as quick on my mates IT250.
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You're such a legend
@Irish in Oz :stir: :stir:
For a full on dirt bike - I agree - but for some desert / bush / off road touring a 650 is the way to go. The closest you'll get to an 'all rounder'
Most fun dirt bike ive ridden was 125 Bultaco, worst was Honda Elsinore 250. Both back years ago. Scariest, not sure of model, IT Yamaha 465?
@VladTepes I don't do any touring on enduro bikes and the DR isn't any good for comfort, you should consider a KLR it would be softer on your arse.
Quote from: GSXKING on Wednesday, 02 March 2022, 12:57 PM
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Wednesday, 02 March 2022, 08:54 AM
Hmm real DR's are 650!
From experience cubes don't make it better, that's why I ride 250/350 off road. Even back in the IT465 day's I was lapping the tracks just as quick on my mates IT250.
[/quote]
You're such a legend
@Irish in Oz :stir: :stir:
[/quote]
A legend would lap a lot quicker on a 465.
Personally I found the big open class dirt bikes a bit of a handful, point and squirt, get em stopped, and repeat with wheelies in between. The bike just rotated around the back wheel while you sat on the gas cap. The little 125 was fun, you could start in 2nd gear get great drive with the front end lifted but not clawing skyward. I've found the same kingi, I could get around and dice with mates on the big bikes and be in control. Fast guys on open class bikes would just be gone though. Beach racing was a different story. H2's with knobblys were not uncommon, Ginger Molloy had an air cooled TZ or TD2 ? Beach racing was fun and fast. They'd be too worried about the shellfish to let it happen nowadays. All good fun.
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Wednesday, 02 March 2022, 07:21 PM
@VladTepes
the DR isn't any good for comfort, you should consider a KLR it would be softer on your arse.
Nobody in their right mind keeps the stock Suzuki seat on a DR650 they are worse than woeful.
Also nobody in their right mind buys anew one as they are way overpriced for old tech.
The best idea is to buy a second hand one where someone's already changed the seat, sorted the front suspension etc.
It's all academic though I'm not getting another bike (due to $), and if I did it'd be a road bike.
@Vlad has management asked for a new kitchen :stir:
No she's approaching retirement age, or past it (she's 63) and OBSESSED with getting the mortgage down.
Quote from: VladTepes on Thursday, 03 March 2022, 09:28 AM
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Wednesday, 02 March 2022, 07:21 PM
@VladTepes
the DR isn't any good for comfort, you should consider a KLR it would be softer on your arse.
Nobody in their right mind keeps the stock Suzuki seat on a DR650 they are worse than woeful.
Also nobody in their right mind buys anew one as they are way overpriced for old tech.
The best idea is to buy a second hand one where someone's already changed the seat, sorted the front suspension etc.
It's all academic though I'm not getting another bike (due to $), and if I did it'd be a road bike.
Maybe you could TURBO it 🧐😝😂🤣
Where i live, some great twisty roads. All the sport bikes come here to blow them away. My mates DR650 is the best, no one catches him. Has wider wheels with sticky tyres. Spare set of wheels turns it back into off road. He laughs, reckons his bike cost less than most Panigale riders boots. Hes a legend, have heard the sportys talking about the bloody trail bike they couldnt catch.
That's gold. My riding instructor back in the day was the same, had an ageing VFR, but set up properly. No one on much newer and higher hp bikes could catch him.
Your mate's not Darryl Beattie is he?
He's been known to do that...
No not Beattie. I do have another story about him. We rode from Port Douglas to Daintree. I had a dirt bike behind whole way, standing up on pegs. We were up to around 130, still up my clacker, standing up. Pulled up at Daintree, you can guess who it was.
Coming home from Wanganui Street Races must have been 3 years ago. Got totally smoked over the Parapara's by someone on a motard. Just way too nimble for me. Had some stonk too. Didn't even attempt to stay with him.
A standard DR650 is capable of 160kph/100mph and even the XR250 and DR350 140kph/85mph.
Had many great years racing around UK and Europe,Moto x and Classic Scrambles,have raced 430 Husky,600 CCM,600 Husaberg,380and 360 CZ,s great craic ;) :cheers:
Big Geordi, was surprised at the number of old CZ's that were about at the meeting. Expected the the usual old BSA's to be there, probably not the high standard of the the old oldies. Most in better nick than their riders.
Quote from: Kiwifruit on Friday, 11 March 2022, 03:12 PM
Big Geordi, was surprised at the number of old CZ's that were about at the meeting. Expected the the usual old BSA's to be there, probably not the high standard of the the old oldies. Most in better nick than their riders.
CZ,s are the weapon of choice a 360 twinport is an awesome piece of kit ;)
I often wish I still had my 1978 CZ250 probably get more for it than some of the prices asked for a 1400.