Posts
10044
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Newark, OH
US
Edited Date/Time
12/16/2012 10:39pm
No, seriously - where the hell do they go ? Most folks now are racing their 2008 - 2013 machines -
many poor folk, like myself - might be operating 2004-2007 artifacts, but it does seem that mx machines
and older dirt bikes just magically run off somewhere....Here in Ohio, the answer is that they all end up
" On a farm in Kentucky ", but, truth is, we don't know where the hell they all go...
You guys got any answers ? And let's not all blame Creepslist, although, might be something to that....
many poor folk, like myself - might be operating 2004-2007 artifacts, but it does seem that mx machines
and older dirt bikes just magically run off somewhere....Here in Ohio, the answer is that they all end up
" On a farm in Kentucky ", but, truth is, we don't know where the hell they all go...
You guys got any answers ? And let's not all blame Creepslist, although, might be something to that....
The Shop
It a 81' 490 Maico.
But I do see some guys that just ride a few times a year riding 03' to 2010's
Also see a few still racing 10's & up.
I think the trend will be for most to hang on to their bike a few years longer now that the econmeny is tight.
I mean you don't see any '98 CR250's around - nor 2005 RMZ250's or 2003 CRF 450's.
It's almost like one man, perhaps like that PRIMM guy in Vegas - has this six Jillian S.F warehouse,
with everyone's old dirt bikes stowed and cataloged. It is absolutely bind moggling.
One fine day we shall uncover this mystery - and we shall rejoice.
i try to get out every weekend from spring to fall, but i'd be willing to bet alot of people do this as well but after a long winter and life being thrown in to the mix..sometimes it gets forgotten.
I happen to see alot of older CR's.....never see anything else really, with the occasional clunker thrown in (mid 90s KX or RM)
Todays moto-consumer is smart..they know which bikes are good and which ones aren't.
sad but true, the fate of many vintage race bikes is to be dismembered and scattered to the highest bidder.
New buyer: Fast local racer (year 1)
Second buyer: another local racer, maybe fast, maybe not (year 3)
Third buyer: novice / beginner racer (year 4-5)
Fourth Buyer: Trail rider - older dude who is tight on cash (year 6)
Fifth buyer: Trail riders buddy who is a tag along but barely rides (year 8)
Sixth buyer: Kid who spray paints the bike black and rides the piss out of it. Might add mix and match parts, such as Yamaha plastic to a Honda. Liberal backyard mechanics take over at this point. Home depot bolts are the norm. (year 9-10)
Seventh buyer: ebay parter outter (year 10)
Eight buyer: See new buyer up top - hoping to relive his glory days when he was fast
https://youtu.be/EEJqejHDHQg
p.s. on the way out of Phoenix there's motorcycle graveyard along a northbound highway, used to pass it with my pap pap on our camping excursions. Thousands of scrapped-looking bikes jammed standing up in front of a little building, chain-link around everything. Not sure if any of it is for sale or what.
ACTUALLY it might be not so much along the highway as in a little town. Or both. Whatev.
Prime candidates for 2-stroke conversions!
Pit Row
It's been good to see the apparent increasing popularity in doing up and restoring older bikes on this site. I'm doing one myself, albeit at a very slow rate. But it's nice to know at least some of the old classics won't be lost forever as long as people are doing restorations.
A motor get's pulled, it never get's rebuilt, the chassis sit's out back,
rusting away, poof, 4 years it's scrap.
I used to think the CR500AF's were bitchen, but now I get more of a boner when I see a nice unmolested old school CR500.
Right?
The four strokes essentially are viewed as worthless junk by the time the second owner is through with them. They are usually parted out or go to scrap.
Cool story here. A friend of mine used to take photos for Gulf Coast Cycle News back in the 70's and would be on the floor of the Astrodome on amateur day. Being a Jeff Ward Mini Elsinore freak, he brought me a couple good photos a few years back of a JWRP mini getting put through the paces in the dome by a fast Texas kid. Always wondered where that ultra rare little machine ended up. Then just yesterday a fellow Vital member from the Dallas area emails me some pics of his latest Craigslist find . It is the same damn bike in original unmolested condition. It looks a little rough, but it is exactly as it was last raced even after being sold. A super rare find and to find it with the same race number and all was beyond cool. A true to life hand built works supermini.
Mike Lagaza Photo circa 1977
Fresh from the barn after 35 years.
And some bikes are parted out for the good stuff and literally the remains are thrown away. Even I did it, when I moved to my new place, I threw out a bunch of junk that wouldn't sell. I sold off some parts lots on Craigslist and eBay but probably tossed 3 old frames, some banged up wheels etc.
Post a reply to: WHERE Do - ALL The Old Dirt Bikes Go ?