Looking for any YZ60/80/100 info/stories/articles etc

The Sneak
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The Sneak
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 10:01am
Hello



I had a YZ60 and 2 YZ80s in the 80s/early 90s and have always had a soft spot for them. I was a lousy mini racer and failed to improve appreciably in 125 Youth C/B. Inglorious 'career' ended at 16 when I had to sell my 93 YZ125 to buy my 1st car.



Have not ridden much in the last 15 years, here and there on borrowed bikes...thinking about getting an early 80s YZ125 (either 80 or 83), full floater RM125, or 83 CR125 to restore and goof off on. I'm a big fan of VMX magazine etc etc.



Anyway, If anyone here rode YZ60s, 80s or 100s circa 1979-1989 or so, I'd love to hear about it. Hop up stuff, magazine article scans etc.



Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but this forum seems far and away to be the best one when it comes to the glory days of motocross (which, IMHO was the 70s to early 90s)



Dan

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newmann
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newmann 2/24/2009 1:56pm
2/24/2009 1:56pm
Go down this page a short ways and there is a whole topic about them along with a photo of a trick restored one. If you have a really soft spot for one, I have a really nice 81 model I have considered parting with. Of course I would regret it later!
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 2/24/2009 3:52pm
2/24/2009 3:52pm
I rode 100s from 78'-80'. Very fun bikes and a great class. I hope to find a 79' or 80' YZ100 this year to restore and race in EVO. I was 13 when I stepped off them so I really can't tell you what my Dad and mechanic did but I could pass an EC Birt (sic?) built 100 down a straight on it. EC had the coolest goatee. Probably the most fun in my racing career. 13 years old in Tuscaloosa, Al, sneaking into the "black" disco at the entrance to the track. The owner would let us kids hang out until the crowd showed up. I still have a pipe and a front fender off an 80' YZ100 in the garage. I don't know why. They are wonderful bikes. Find one and ride it!
KL120
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KL120 2/25/2009 8:48am
2/25/2009 8:48am
Not sure where I found this pic:






I rode a 79 yz100 and want to find another one but I never really liked it much back then. Seems like it handled kind of strange with big wheels and a small frame.

The Shop

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300zx
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300zx 2/25/2009 4:07pm
2/25/2009 4:07pm
That picture above is a 1978 YZ100. It belonged to a friend of mine in Baltimore. I took the picture about a month ago. Sold pretty quickly. He thought for years it was a 1979 until someone at the York Swapmeet informed him otherwise. We never did figure out what kind of pipe that was. Don't think it's stock.
MPM64
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MPM64 3/10/2009 9:59pm
3/10/2009 9:59pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 10:53pm
Been "lurking" around here for a while and thought I would jump in on this thread. Consider myself somewhat of a 100cc history buff. Spent plenty of time in the saddle of these in the late 70's early 80's. The 1978-81 production YZ 100 models were simply not competitive and the best riders used the YZ 125 chassis with a 100cc cylinder. Personally raced and holeshotted the first moto on one of these at the amatuer national in Millville in 1980 placing 8th overall. Thought I was really hot shit.

Actually an awesome mechanic from Dynamic Cycle in Michigan named Steve Ellis
produced a liquid cooled 100cc YZ out of the first year liquid cooled 1981 production YZ125. A huge under taking as they needed to produce and make available for resale enough of them to be legal for AMA sanctioned events. Not sure how many they had to build but they got the job done.

Keith Bowen actually spent some time racing this bike. I raced the amatuer national at Red Bud finishing 7th and won the 82 Florida winter series 100cc class on one and earned a 100cc support ride with Yamaha.
The 1982 production YZ 100 was one of the best bikes I ever rode. I could fly on that bike...Consistently turn faster laps on the 100 than I could on the 125 I also raced.

Finally won the big one in 1982..The first year they held the national at Lorettas in the 100 class.

.

az2u
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az2u 3/10/2009 10:37pm
3/10/2009 10:37pm
Welcome to Vital.

'Fond memories and by all means feel free to let loose with the STFU noob comments.'

You're safe here in Old School
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 3/11/2009 7:06am
3/11/2009 7:06am Edited Date/Time 3/11/2009 7:07am
MPM64 wrote:
Been "lurking" around here for a while and thought I would jump in on this thread. Consider myself somewhat of a 100cc history buff. Spent plenty...
Been "lurking" around here for a while and thought I would jump in on this thread. Consider myself somewhat of a 100cc history buff. Spent plenty of time in the saddle of these in the late 70's early 80's. The 1978-81 production YZ 100 models were simply not competitive and the best riders used the YZ 125 chassis with a 100cc cylinder. Personally raced and holeshotted the first moto on one of these at the amatuer national in Millville in 1980 placing 8th overall. Thought I was really hot shit.

Actually an awesome mechanic from Dynamic Cycle in Michigan named Steve Ellis
produced a liquid cooled 100cc YZ out of the first year liquid cooled 1981 production YZ125. A huge under taking as they needed to produce and make available for resale enough of them to be legal for AMA sanctioned events. Not sure how many they had to build but they got the job done.

Keith Bowen actually spent some time racing this bike. I raced the amatuer national at Red Bud finishing 7th and won the 82 Florida winter series 100cc class on one and earned a 100cc support ride with Yamaha.
The 1982 production YZ 100 was one of the best bikes I ever rode. I could fly on that bike...Consistently turn faster laps on the 100 than I could on the 125 I also raced.

Finally won the big one in 1982..The first year they held the national at Lorettas in the 100 class.

.

Shame that class went way. It was my favorite.
Digger437
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Digger437 3/11/2009 6:08pm
3/11/2009 6:08pm
Just bought a YZ60 today off craigslist today. The seller lived less than one mile from my house. I have never met him nor knew he had the bike. I went to his house and he had 16 bikes in his garage. Old Honda CL's CM's, a 93 CR125 and bunch of road bikes. It is zero degrees out and the bike started on about the fifth kick. Needless to say, I spent some time my meeting my "new neighbor" haha
ThePipe
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ThePipe 3/14/2009 8:33am
3/14/2009 8:33am
Holy Shit Doug
I saw that on craigslist and thought it was you selling the YZ60

What did he want for the 93 CR125
Digger437
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Digger437 3/14/2009 2:55pm
3/14/2009 2:55pm
Crazy eh Lee? Nice guy into old bikes, snowmobiles etc just like you and me. He rides the CR125 for fun on the trails with his son he said about once or twice a year. I will let him know you are interested if he is going to sell it.
Digger437
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Digger437 3/14/2009 2:57pm
3/14/2009 2:57pm
The funny thing about the ad, I thought someone may have broken into my storage and stole one of my YZ60's and put it on craigslist. So I ran to my storage quick the next morning, all good and then went and met my new neighbor who had a 27 year old dirt bike the same as me.
ThePipe
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ThePipe 3/15/2009 7:41am
3/15/2009 7:41am
Doug that is just crazy, he lives so close

Yep when I saw the ad I did a double take cause it was exactly like yours.

What did you get it for? I am sure not the $450 he was asking
JohnnyO_57
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JohnnyO_57 7/22/2009 8:12am
7/22/2009 8:12am
Back in 1980 I raced a 1979 YZ125 with a 100cc cylinder. It was such a fun bike. It was kind of slow with me on it... but it was tricked out with Simons Forks and a Fox Airshock.

Riding the 100cc Class was so much fun because there was no "extra" power, you had to hold it on everywhere to go fast.





A few years back I restored a 1980 YZ125... now it's a dust collector in my garage.Sad

MPM64
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MPM64 7/22/2009 10:08pm
7/22/2009 10:08pm
MPM64 wrote:
Been "lurking" around here for a while and thought I would jump in on this thread. Consider myself somewhat of a 100cc history buff. Spent plenty...
Been "lurking" around here for a while and thought I would jump in on this thread. Consider myself somewhat of a 100cc history buff. Spent plenty of time in the saddle of these in the late 70's early 80's. The 1978-81 production YZ 100 models were simply not competitive and the best riders used the YZ 125 chassis with a 100cc cylinder. Personally raced and holeshotted the first moto on one of these at the amatuer national in Millville in 1980 placing 8th overall. Thought I was really hot shit.

Actually an awesome mechanic from Dynamic Cycle in Michigan named Steve Ellis
produced a liquid cooled 100cc YZ out of the first year liquid cooled 1981 production YZ125. A huge under taking as they needed to produce and make available for resale enough of them to be legal for AMA sanctioned events. Not sure how many they had to build but they got the job done.

Keith Bowen actually spent some time racing this bike. I raced the amatuer national at Red Bud finishing 7th and won the 82 Florida winter series 100cc class on one and earned a 100cc support ride with Yamaha.
The 1982 production YZ 100 was one of the best bikes I ever rode. I could fly on that bike...Consistently turn faster laps on the 100 than I could on the 125 I also raced.

Finally won the big one in 1982..The first year they held the national at Lorettas in the 100 class.

.



More Yamaha YZ 100cc history...Here's a pic of the Dynamic Cycle TD100L I was able to find in my archives.
Pat327
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Pat327 7/22/2009 10:13pm
7/22/2009 10:13pm
JohnnyO_57, I read your write up on that bike on your website. Very nice job!

Pit Row

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ocscottie
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ocscottie 7/23/2009 5:55am
7/23/2009 5:55am
We cant talk about YZ80's without mentioning DMC's hand built bike.




Here is an article about a DG-YZ80





ocscottie
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ocscottie 7/23/2009 6:01am
7/23/2009 6:01am
Here is another article about an earlier DMC YZ80:





Old GA Racer
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Old GA Racer 7/23/2009 11:12am
7/23/2009 11:12am
I raced an 84 YZ80. Loved that bike! It was the funnest bike I ever had. It had good power but not like the 84 KX80. Still wouldn't have traded it for one back then though.
oldmxracer
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oldmxracer 7/23/2009 2:37pm
7/23/2009 2:37pm
I love the 100's! More fun than a man should be allowed to have.

I race hunerd class in AHRMA on a Super Rat. Trick bike w/Husky tank, XR seat, snail pipe and Bing carb. Finished in the top ten Int last year and din't get to travel much.....

Back in the day, I had the only 76 RM100 at the track first time I raced mine. Being a spode, I jumped on top of another rider and got knocked out.

Bought another new RM in 78. The YZ's were a little faster and ate rings the way I remember, but the Zuki was indestructable.
The Sneak
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The Sneak 7/26/2009 6:46pm
7/26/2009 6:46pm
Super stoked to see this thread bumped!

I've been buying old magazines on ebay with 'little' YZ content. Smile

I would love to hear more about the DMC 80 Eddie Hicks rode. If I ever find myself in the area I will have to swing by TLD for a chance to see it in the flesh.

Still want an 82-83 YZ100 to putt around on. My best friend has Dirt Rider magazine's old 04 KTM 200SX test bike and keeps bugging me to get a bike. Would be fun to have something lightweight and old school.



mr50racer
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mr50racer 7/27/2009 1:52pm
7/27/2009 1:52pm
The Sneak wrote:
Super stoked to see this thread bumped! I've been buying old magazines on ebay with 'little' YZ content. :) I would love to hear more about...
Super stoked to see this thread bumped!

I've been buying old magazines on ebay with 'little' YZ content. Smile

I would love to hear more about the DMC 80 Eddie Hicks rode. If I ever find myself in the area I will have to swing by TLD for a chance to see it in the flesh.

Still want an 82-83 YZ100 to putt around on. My best friend has Dirt Rider magazine's old 04 KTM 200SX test bike and keeps bugging me to get a bike. Would be fun to have something lightweight and old school.



Well that bike sucked. I finished behind that bike on a regular basis during the 84 season.......lol

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