oldest bike to still be competitive on

generallee121
I'm sure this has been asked in the past but couldn't find a recent forum post, so question is, what is the oldest (vintage age) bike that you think you could ride today and still be competitive on in the age/skill level class that you currently race? Reason for asking is because I'm seriously interested in and looking to start doing some vintage racing but want a vintage bike that will still "kinda" feel modern and let me ride at a decent pace and still jump without beating the hell out of me suspension wise and taking all I have to steer and keep under control.
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KirkChandler
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KirkChandler 9/28/2016 12:00am
9/28/2016 12:00am
What do you consider vintage? Because technically a vintage bike is pre 1974.

An 88 CR250 or CR500 would be the oldest I'd feel comfortable on racing against modern bikes. A mid 90s 94-97 250 would be a good bike too. The suspension is similar and the power is just as good as a current 250 2-stroke.
Mungusman
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Mungusman 9/28/2016 12:21am
9/28/2016 12:21am
I've seen guys on mid-80s thru 90s do well against modern bikes, I believe if you get a bike properly set up for you, and your comfortable, you can do well. Look at the kid who went to lorettas a few years back, on a 1985 CR 250. I believe it's 99% rider 1% equipment. Like David bailey said to this years MXON riders, "JUST TWIST IT" !!!!!!!!!
Rotaholic
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Rotaholic 9/28/2016 1:00am
9/28/2016 1:00am
2008 rmz450, Ken Roczen just won the outdoors on one lol

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nascarnate326 9/28/2016 1:53am
9/28/2016 1:53am
Any 90's two stroke that is properly maintained and has for suspension done had more than enough power to get the job done.
Spagina767
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Spagina767 9/28/2016 2:43am
9/28/2016 2:43am
I watched people battle at the Two Stroke Shootout this weekend, on mid 90's bikes against the newest KTM's.... It's all about what you're comfortable on.

I personally feel that I'd probably ride a mid 90's 250 just as well as my last gen, SSS equipped YZ 250 provided I had a few things: upgraded front brake (cr style cable routing, oversized rotor), and newer wide foot pegs.
PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 9/28/2016 3:12am
9/28/2016 3:12am
Crush wrote:
https://youtu.be/2GE5dQwAgyI
That was really cool! Funny thing here in Aus is that to buy an 85 cr250 in good Nic , you'd probably be up for over $ 4K
Crazy stuff!
That was a cool kid and he looked to be a great rider
PRM31
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PRM31 9/28/2016 5:23am
9/28/2016 5:23am
Very few of us would go significantly faster on a newer bike. Having whichever bike really dialed in would be more important. There are some ill handling exceptions of course. Reading the mags you'd think an extra hp matters. How often is a rider at full throttle, at peak rpm and with enough traction to use it all? Not often.
Crush
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Crush 9/28/2016 5:28am
9/28/2016 5:28am
PJRAUS wrote:
That was really cool! Funny thing here in Aus is that to buy an 85 cr250 in good Nic , you'd probably be up for over...
That was really cool! Funny thing here in Aus is that to buy an 85 cr250 in good Nic , you'd probably be up for over $ 4K
Crazy stuff!
That was a cool kid and he looked to be a great rider
Yeah mate, two stroke prices down here are mental!

Although, there is an 86 Cr250 on gumtree kicking about for 2500 I think, looks to be a good starting point too, just don't have the time to justify it right now.
resetjet
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resetjet 9/28/2016 7:11am
9/28/2016 7:11am
Its mostly about suspension. Find something you can install modern suspension on (if that is allowed). I have a 94 cr250. I am same speed on it. Motor is great, suspension not so much. Handling pretty darn good. U have to like to tinker and work on bikes though. Old bikes require alot of maint and parts are scarce.
a22
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a22 9/28/2016 10:09am
9/28/2016 10:09am
generallee121 wrote:
I'm sure this has been asked in the past but couldn't find a recent forum post, so question is, what is the oldest (vintage age) bike...
I'm sure this has been asked in the past but couldn't find a recent forum post, so question is, what is the oldest (vintage age) bike that you think you could ride today and still be competitive on in the age/skill level class that you currently race? Reason for asking is because I'm seriously interested in and looking to start doing some vintage racing but want a vintage bike that will still "kinda" feel modern and let me ride at a decent pace and still jump without beating the hell out of me suspension wise and taking all I have to steer and keep under control.
Was a thead a while back about this :-
Oldest bike to smoke friends on

seems like quite a few people were saying how good 1970's CR250's were and quite a few could smoke younger guys on modern bikes even on them! Woohoo
yak651
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yak651 9/28/2016 10:36am
9/28/2016 10:36am
Always hate when I get a new bike and it doesn't make me faster!
Ted722
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Ted722 9/28/2016 10:39am
9/28/2016 10:39am
yak651 wrote:
Always hate when I get a new bike and it doesn't make me faster!
LOL! Smile But, it's cool looking at it in the garage. So at least we got that going for us!
newmann
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newmann 9/28/2016 10:48am
9/28/2016 10:48am
If you can't go like stink on a 1990 YZ250, you are just slow. Short shift that torquer and to the front you go. I picked up a sweet one a couple years back to freshen up.
scooter5002
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scooter5002 9/28/2016 11:24am
9/28/2016 11:24am
HenryA wrote:
CR250 96!
Have one, with Twin Chamber Showas on it. Awesome bike, and if I wasn't so heavy, it could be a great race bike.

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xr70
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xr70 9/28/2016 12:16pm
9/28/2016 12:16pm
2008 CRF450R , 2006 YZ250 , 2001 CR250R , 1996 CR250R , 1987 CR250R.

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