When men were men...and dinosaurs ruled

bigborefan
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3/27/2015 10:19am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2015 8:09am
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mach6972
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3/27/2015 10:22am
Back up about 10 years
3/27/2015 10:35am
When men were men...and Belgians ruled


Fixed the title for you
newmann
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3/27/2015 10:37am
Back up 5 decades when a 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke won the world championships. Wait a minute, did I say 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke?
Torco1
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3/27/2015 10:45am




The Shop

scott_nz
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3/27/2015 10:56am
newmann wrote:
Back up 5 decades when a 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke won the world championships. Wait a minute, did I say 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke?
yes its amazing how light you can get something with a ti frame, and very little working brakes or suspension,
RPM68
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3/27/2015 11:30am
I watched that entire video, super sick. 500's and Glen Helen were like Forest and Jenny.
dirtdog36
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Nashville, TN US
3/27/2015 11:40am Edited Date/Time 3/27/2015 11:41am
Look at how many straightaways had no jumps, none, nada, zilch, zero jumps. And we all love this type of racing

also note how many jumps were to flat, not some Evil Knievel double or triple jump

I just sayin

PS: the second drop off is super cool

PPS: Thanks for posting the video!!!
Sidecar
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3/27/2015 11:57am
That's an awesome film, shame the ending is missing. Great to see Walter Bartolini on the factory Husaberg running near the front early in both motos, it was his one and only year in 500GPs on the berg but it showed the world that a 4-stroke could be competitive and paved the way for first Jacky Martens on a Husky and then Joel Smets on Husabergs to both go on to lift world titles in the early 1990s, lighting a fire under Yamaha who in 1997 unleashed the YZM400 and in 1998 the production YZ400F. Yamaha are often incorrectly credited with starting the four stroke revolution..... That accolade belongs to an Italian 125 specialist who had the nerve to race GPs on a stripped back Enduro bike.
newmann
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3/27/2015 12:42pm Edited Date/Time 3/27/2015 12:44pm
newmann wrote:
Back up 5 decades when a 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke won the world championships. Wait a minute, did I say 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke?
scott_nz wrote:
yes its amazing how light you can get something with a ti frame, and very little working brakes or suspension,
Laughing Didn't take long to pull one in the boat I see. You do realize that aluminum is lighter than ti don't you? Big ol massive drum brakes versus a compact disc setup? Two steel shock absorbers versus one lightweight alloy body shock? You ever pick up a set of forks from back then? Casting technology in the 60's versus today? All that aluminum versus plastic? Yet we still have 450's tipping the scales over 240. Yikes.Laughing

Watching those guys ride the 500's from the 90's and earlier is pretty cool. Some of those factory bikes were churning out some amazing power. Men amongst men!
kawirider819
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3/27/2015 1:38pm Edited Date/Time 3/27/2015 1:38pm
RPM68 wrote:
I watched that entire video, super sick. 500's and Glen Helen were like Forest and Jenny.
I watched that entire video, super sick. 500's and Glen Helen were like Forest and Jenny.
They goes together like peas and carrots.
scott_nz
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3/27/2015 1:50pm
newmann wrote:
Back up 5 decades when a 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke won the world championships. Wait a minute, did I say 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke?
scott_nz wrote:
yes its amazing how light you can get something with a ti frame, and very little working brakes or suspension,
newmann wrote:
:laugh: Didn't take long to pull one in the boat I see. You do realize that aluminum is lighter than ti don't you? Big ol massive...
Laughing Didn't take long to pull one in the boat I see. You do realize that aluminum is lighter than ti don't you? Big ol massive drum brakes versus a compact disc setup? Two steel shock absorbers versus one lightweight alloy body shock? You ever pick up a set of forks from back then? Casting technology in the 60's versus today? All that aluminum versus plastic? Yet we still have 450's tipping the scales over 240. Yikes.Laughing

Watching those guys ride the 500's from the 90's and earlier is pretty cool. Some of those factory bikes were churning out some amazing power. Men amongst men!
yes but TI is stronger, so you need less of it,

there is no factory bike at 240 pounds now, and there was no stock bike anywhere near 194 pounds then either,

but i think we would both own a Jeff Smith BSA in a heart beat tho, my old mans rickman BSA is cool enough, one of those would be amazing,
yota
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3/27/2015 1:53pm
2 motos. 45 minutes plus 2 laps. Those were some bad men.
GATOR
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3/27/2015 1:59pm
newmann wrote:
Back up 5 decades when a 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke won the world championships. Wait a minute, did I say 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke?


bigborefan
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3/27/2015 2:22pm
I always had a sweet spot for the 500 nationals. Not everyone could ride a 2T 500, but the guys that could, it was a thing of beauty.
jamma10
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Bristol GB
3/27/2015 2:38pm
The similarities between JMB and Pourcel, both in their riding style and the their interviews is quite striking.
CR250Rider
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Moses Lake, WA US
3/27/2015 4:25pm
Wasn't that a super hunky or jody weisel editorial?
Titan1
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3/27/2015 4:50pm
105 degrees and 77% humidity? Did they shorten the moto's? (I kid)...

But those are insane conditions.
Xracer
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3/27/2015 4:54pm
I've Ridden 500's. At Glamis. In 70 degree weather. And was exhausted after 10 minutes. The vibration, the torque and flywheel inertia all add up to a major handful. How these guys can ride them for 45+2 in that heat on that track at that pace is superhuman. I know modern riders train hard for sprints, but I bet few of them would top-10 those 2 motos.
YamahaJT1
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3/27/2015 6:47pm Edited Date/Time 3/27/2015 7:10pm
mach6972 wrote:
Back up about 10 years
Indeed... Gotta go pre-monoshock...

Anything with a down pipe will qualify for balls.

When we began racing Yamahas... My JT-1 cost $211. My Brother's LT 100 unit (Green metallic gas tank with a down pipe) cost about $253. I remember my dad ceremoniously putting the oil tanks in the trash. Premix henceforth. My father was a wizard mechanic Lighter wins. He knew. We were Navy in the P.I. from 1969-1973. My dad used to get the Seabees to weld the rear shock mounts forward for clearance.. Lengthen the swing arms... Beefier/longer/heavier forks, etc.. Custom foot pegs!. Remember fork braces? Yep. We had all manner of carbs/springs/shocks/forks and shit lying about the house. Asusa(?), Konis, etc. Mom was really pissed!

After a year or so, we got sponsored by a Yamaha dealer in Manila, and really.. Rink-a-Dink ( recall that was their name?) Yamaha in Colorado . Someone in my family knew them. They sent us several sweet blue mesh jerseys to wear. We had our names on them! F*** Yeah! All the while wearing GI boots to race in.

My Dad knew a USAF pilot MX fan from Clark AFB that flew to Japan often. Said Pilot would pick up Noguchi engines/pipes and shit and when we'd go race in Manila dad would gather the engines/pipes and stuff. He'd spend all the next week getting them fitted in anticipation. Did this a couple of times. I am reasonably sure my brother had a 125cc pimp engine in his "100" ...

Yes, they even fabricated a pipe for the JT-1. We kicked the shit out of ALL comers. I moved up to the "100" for practice. We were Preston Petty and Webco pimps. Radial heads. Screw metal tanks and fenders. Too heavy. Seat frames were lightened via drilling, and the local seamstresses would fit custom covers. Trim all useless weight.

Not boasting, but I rolled well in my class. No DNF's, about 23 firsts, and one third in my first race. Dad was a great mechanic.

When I had to race up a class or two, my brother would kick my ass on his 100. He was an animal. The only race he didn't win was when he forgot to open the petcock and stalled. The adult racers always bitched that he only won because he weighed nothing. He was WAY better than me. Yes, he had potential. Fucking crazy kid.

We was bad ass, oh yeah. father knew "small dude, bigger bike" theory.

. The worst MX injury I have witnessed in person was when my then 11-12 year-old brother dumped my (his former) LT 100 unit brake side while goofing around on the "little" bike and was rendered unconscious.

He went down with the throttle WFO against the ground...rear wheel spinning. The down pipe seared the flesh on his leg for several minutes. Ugly wound. He was rescued by a fellow "Typhoon MC" member and track organizer out practicing. What a crappy sight seeing my brother return the pit draped over a gas tank.

Mom declared that the end of it all... Women win. But it wasn't the "End of it All" at all... We moved to Italy for 6 years.

I rode a early 70's CZ and a 1975(?) KTM. Early Maico as well too. Nice Italian friends. WTH, where were those "Cabalero" units from??

I snuck in a 1979 Husky CR 125 a few years later while we lived in Italy. Kept it at a friend's pad. Last cool MX'er was a 1985 Maico 250 in college. Crazy bike... The dealer had them in his basement in Meadville, PA. Ron Brise, if you are out there... Thanks! High Point and Magoo!

Anyhoo, my brother still rolls Harleys, and I am helping a friend work on a 2004 KTM 525 SX. What a beast. It is like riding a 16 hand high horse!

SO... it never really ends if you don't let it. I am thinking about a KTM 2-stroke... Hmmmm. Maybe an old Honda...

But really, until you have ridden what Robert, DeCoster, The "Flying Finn", Adolph (hint: Not Hitler), had to deal with... Those were sturdy folk.



EDIT: New around here, so iffn' this needs to slide to the vintage schuff page, mods, send it over...
3/27/2015 7:35pm
Pay attention to how gnarly and rough the track got before the first moto was even half over. Those dinosaurs could really move a lot of dirt.
newmann
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3/27/2015 8:20pm
scott_nz wrote:
yes its amazing how light you can get something with a ti frame, and very little working brakes or suspension,
newmann wrote:
:laugh: Didn't take long to pull one in the boat I see. You do realize that aluminum is lighter than ti don't you? Big ol massive...
Laughing Didn't take long to pull one in the boat I see. You do realize that aluminum is lighter than ti don't you? Big ol massive drum brakes versus a compact disc setup? Two steel shock absorbers versus one lightweight alloy body shock? You ever pick up a set of forks from back then? Casting technology in the 60's versus today? All that aluminum versus plastic? Yet we still have 450's tipping the scales over 240. Yikes.Laughing

Watching those guys ride the 500's from the 90's and earlier is pretty cool. Some of those factory bikes were churning out some amazing power. Men amongst men!
scott_nz wrote:
yes but TI is stronger, so you need less of it, there is no factory bike at 240 pounds now, and there was no stock bike...
yes but TI is stronger, so you need less of it,

there is no factory bike at 240 pounds now, and there was no stock bike anywhere near 194 pounds then either,

but i think we would both own a Jeff Smith BSA in a heart beat tho, my old mans rickman BSA is cool enough, one of those would be amazing,
Rickman BSA? 441 engine in it? Had a guy here in Texas that vintage raced one for several years. Soooo smooth on that bike, and fast. Rickmans are some beautiful bikes.
scott_nz
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3/27/2015 8:25pm
newmann wrote:
:laugh: Didn't take long to pull one in the boat I see. You do realize that aluminum is lighter than ti don't you? Big ol massive...
Laughing Didn't take long to pull one in the boat I see. You do realize that aluminum is lighter than ti don't you? Big ol massive drum brakes versus a compact disc setup? Two steel shock absorbers versus one lightweight alloy body shock? You ever pick up a set of forks from back then? Casting technology in the 60's versus today? All that aluminum versus plastic? Yet we still have 450's tipping the scales over 240. Yikes.Laughing

Watching those guys ride the 500's from the 90's and earlier is pretty cool. Some of those factory bikes were churning out some amazing power. Men amongst men!
scott_nz wrote:
yes but TI is stronger, so you need less of it, there is no factory bike at 240 pounds now, and there was no stock bike...
yes but TI is stronger, so you need less of it,

there is no factory bike at 240 pounds now, and there was no stock bike anywhere near 194 pounds then either,

but i think we would both own a Jeff Smith BSA in a heart beat tho, my old mans rickman BSA is cool enough, one of those would be amazing,
newmann wrote:
Rickman BSA? 441 engine in it? Had a guy here in Texas that vintage raced one for several years. Soooo smooth on that bike, and fast...
Rickman BSA? 441 engine in it? Had a guy here in Texas that vintage raced one for several years. Soooo smooth on that bike, and fast. Rickmans are some beautiful bikes.
yep, 441 victor motor in it, finished in British Racing Green

if you could find me a kick start for it i would be a very well liked son, i brought him the TLD Steve McQueen open face helmet to go with it, and it did sit in the entrance to the house, i
Tim507
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Oregon City, OR US
3/27/2015 8:30pm
newmann wrote:
Back up 5 decades when a 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke won the world championships. Wait a minute, did I say 194 pound 500cc 4 stroke?
GATOR wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/03/27/85303/s1200_Vic_Eastwood_Titanium_BSA_500_Victor_900x586.jpg[/img]


My first full size bike was a BSA 250 C15. I was about 115 #. I read Cycle News every week and new what Ceriani Forks and Girling shocks would do for the bike. Saved my money for several months and fitted them to the bikeWoohoo

Learned so much on that bike. Never raced it.... however with a snuff on the straight pipe I prowled every riding spot in the great Seattle area.....
PressPassP
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Ipswich GB
3/28/2015 3:14am
I saw Malin's name in 6th place in one of those Motos,like him or not the guy was fast,that's a pretty mean feat considering the level of competition

Great Vid seeing those 500's,pretty sure Geboers had a win too at Glen Helen
ATKpilot99
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Lake Geneva, WI US
3/28/2015 5:45am
PressPassP wrote:
I saw Malin's name in 6th place in one of those Motos,like him or not the guy was fast,that's a pretty mean feat considering the level...
I saw Malin's name in 6th place in one of those Motos,like him or not the guy was fast,that's a pretty mean feat considering the level of competition

Great Vid seeing those 500's,pretty sure Geboers had a win too at Glen Helen
Seems like he did. I think he won the USGP the year before when he won the title but I thought it was at Hollister.

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