Scariest bike (dirt) you've ever ridden?

insane one
Profile picture for user insane one
Posts
252
Joined
2/21/2012
Location
Red Creek, NY, USA
insane one 4/24/2012 1:28pm
4/24/2012 1:28pm
CR500Rider wrote:
I didn't realize I'd been challenged to a race but yeah, I'll pit my lowly CR500 against the 90HP 550 on ANY Motocross track within 500...
I didn't realize I'd been challenged to a race but yeah, I'll pit my lowly CR500 against the 90HP 550 on ANY Motocross track within 500 miles from me.
I don't think he did challenge you at a race. "Nor did I" lol. I think he thought you were talking smack maybe..
EastFlorida
Profile picture for user EastFlorida
Posts
2334
Joined
7/31/2010
Location
Merritt Island, FL, USA
EastFlorida 4/24/2012 1:30pm
4/24/2012 1:30pm
CR500Rider wrote:
I didn't realize I'd been challenged to a race but yeah, I'll pit my lowly CR500 against the 90HP 550 on ANY Motocross track within 500...
I didn't realize I'd been challenged to a race but yeah, I'll pit my lowly CR500 against the 90HP 550 on ANY Motocross track within 500 miles from me.
insane one wrote:
I don't think he did challenge you at a race. "Nor did I" lol. I think he thought you were talking smack maybe..
Who would want to race each other on the "scariest dirt bike they've ever ridden"?...Unsure
CR500Rider
Profile picture for user CR500Rider
Posts
1272
Joined
4/4/2008
Location
San Antonio, TX, USA
CR500Rider 4/24/2012 1:31pm
4/24/2012 1:31pm
CR500Rider wrote:
I didn't realize I'd been challenged to a race but yeah, I'll pit my lowly CR500 against the 90HP 550 on ANY Motocross track within 500...
I didn't realize I'd been challenged to a race but yeah, I'll pit my lowly CR500 against the 90HP 550 on ANY Motocross track within 500 miles from me.
insane one wrote:
I don't think he did challenge you at a race. "Nor did I" lol. I think he thought you were talking smack maybe..
I didn't think you did and I wasn't.
Ryno23
Profile picture for user Ryno23
Posts
739
Joined
1/13/2010
Location
Manhattan, MT, USA
Ryno23 4/24/2012 1:36pm
4/24/2012 1:36pm
81 YZ250 with the boost bottle removed. Light switch power band characteristics were not good for me when I was 14 years old. Went something like this "Thanks for letting me ride your bike dad but it just broke my wrist. you can have it back now." Angry

The Shop

See All »
mx_579
Profile picture for user mx_579
Posts
366
Joined
6/27/2009
Location
New Iberia, LA, USA
mx_579 4/24/2012 1:37pm
4/24/2012 1:37pm


I rode one of these when i was about 11 and got headshake so bad all i wanted to do was stop the damn thing and get off lol.
Gukamonster
Profile picture for user Gukamonster
Posts
554
Joined
3/23/2011
Location
Gigantic, CK
Gukamonster 4/24/2012 1:41pm
4/24/2012 1:41pm Edited Date/Time 4/24/2012 1:42pm
Great thread, everyone has better answers than mine but for me it's a tie between a 2000 KX250 and a 2001 YZ426. The 426 at the time was a heavy lead tank, although now a 250+ lb bike is considered "cutting edge". The KX250 was slow and would swap and headshake violently the harder you tried.

Some of those mid-90s KTM 250s that Cliff Palmer raced, MC's KTM, or the Husky 250s that Lamson/Tyler Evans raced strike me as the most death trap esque.
BAMX
Profile picture for user BAMX
Posts
2898
Joined
1/22/2012
Location
Fallbrook, CA, USA
BAMX 4/24/2012 1:47pm
4/24/2012 1:47pm
BAMX wrote:
Service Honda CR500AF....ill handling, poor suspension and way too much motor for a 250F frame. I thinkk the rear end passed me ten times in that...
Service Honda CR500AF....ill handling, poor suspension and way too much motor for a 250F frame. I thinkk the rear end passed me ten times in that race.
EastFlorida wrote:
Ummm.. What year? I suspect AJ might take issue with your assessment...but hey, it is your opinion!Whistling
insane one wrote:
I also have an issue with this post.! Many things come into factor to make a bad judgement call such as this.. Like what bike do...
I also have an issue with this post.! Many things come into factor to make a bad judgement call such as this.. Like what bike do you normally ride, tires, unbalance suspension and maybe just your riding style...Whistling Oh maybe you have a beer gut
It's just my opinion, theres no reason to get butt hurt. ....If you need to know 6-3 190 lbs, 30 intermediate, off road expert...It's not the beer gut friend.
dirthead1
Profile picture for user dirthead1
Posts
1440
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Southern, CA, USA
dirthead1 4/24/2012 2:44pm
4/24/2012 2:44pm Edited Date/Time 4/24/2012 2:50pm
My uncle had a late 70s Husky CR390 that was someone's old factory GP bike that made it back over here. Not sure how he got it, as he also had a factory 360 too, but that 390 was and still is the most powerful dirt bike I've ever ridden. I've ridden a lot of open class bikes over the years too to know better as well.

That 390 didn't even need to be shifted, and actually it was easier to ride if you didn't shift it, so you would just put it in fourth, as I recall it only being a 4-speed, and you just twisted the throttle and hung on. It would wheelie in top gear from a dead idle all the way to wide open. It was ridiculous and had these horrible magnesium legged forks on it and was a horrible beast to start.

"If you could start it, you could ride it." I really learned how to "ride" on that motorcycle. Most overpowered and scariest thing I've ever had the pleasure of being in control of.
andymoto
Profile picture for user andymoto
Posts
4771
Joined
11/28/2007
Location
Carmichael, CA, USA
andymoto 4/24/2012 3:34pm
4/24/2012 3:34pm Edited Date/Time 4/24/2012 3:35pm
'75 Montesa VR 250.
ATKpilot99
Profile picture for user ATKpilot99
Posts
10467
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI, USA
ATKpilot99 4/24/2012 3:44pm
4/24/2012 3:44pm
mx_579 wrote:
[img]https://www.motorera.com/honda/h0500/elsinore/cr500r-84.jpg[/img] I rode one of these when i was about 11 and got headshake so bad all i wanted to do was stop the damn thing...


I rode one of these when i was about 11 and got headshake so bad all i wanted to do was stop the damn thing and get off lol.
Beat me to it...This one tops my list also. 84 CR 500.
Old-skull
Profile picture for user Old-skull
Posts
30
Joined
4/23/2011
Location
Roxbury, CT, USA
Old-skull 4/24/2012 5:27pm
4/24/2012 5:27pm
1981 414 Montessa Cappra I couldn't even hold onto this bike it vibrated so bad. It was that bad that i didn't even get it out of 1st gear. That bike 100% pure EVIL!! The guy my dad bought it from broke his leg on it. My dad deiced it would be cool to try and move a 1 ton rock with his head. Knocked out for a good 20min. He sold it to a friend who broke his femur on it. But it looked cool to a 13 year old.

pulled this pic off Google
rodb
Profile picture for user rodb
Posts
52
Joined
5/8/2011
Location
Ballwin, MO, USA
rodb 4/24/2012 6:49pm
4/24/2012 6:49pm
1987 honda cr 500, just got off my my 87 kx 125. This guy comes over,and ask if would show his teenage son,
how to ride his bike.The second bowl turn I turn it into a jump ,clear the snow fence.Take the bike back,and guys
saids you not very good are you.
motogrady
Profile picture for user motogrady
Posts
3931
Joined
1/27/2008
Location
USA
motogrady 4/24/2012 6:58pm
4/24/2012 6:58pm
a 500cc ron wood rotax dirttracker
1911
Profile picture for user 1911
Posts
4998
Joined
4/2/2008
Location
LAS VEGAS, NV, USA
1911 4/24/2012 7:41pm
4/24/2012 7:41pm



Internet picture. This thing was BAD!!!
racer187x
Profile picture for user racer187x
Posts
98
Joined
6/25/2011
Location
Tucson, AZ, USA
racer187x 4/24/2012 7:45pm
4/24/2012 7:45pm
Scariest for sure (not worst though), my 2001 Husaberg FE650. Fastest desert bike we ever raced:



Worst for me, '75 Rokon RT340:

wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4382
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR, USA
wildbill 4/24/2012 9:47pm
4/24/2012 9:47pm
Ole desert pro Larry Shoemaker (RIP) passed me while I was tapped in 5th on my scary 89 YZ-490. With stock gearing I was pushing 75 to 80 and Larry's 6 speed 650 must of been nearing triple digits.

What made it so memorable was catching, then dodging, rocks and clods from that 650 berg that was a good half mile ahead of me.
crashnburn
Profile picture for user crashnburn
Posts
35
Joined
4/19/2012
Location
Glasgow, MT, USA
crashnburn 4/24/2012 9:54pm
4/24/2012 9:54pm
APLMAN99 wrote:
[img]http://kellymotodepoca.com/images/83-ktm-495-1.jpg[/img]
WhKnuckle wrote:
Bingo.
KTM495 with a piston so big it needed 2 plugs, but I would go with my '81 CR250.
wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4382
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR, USA
wildbill 4/24/2012 10:03pm
4/24/2012 10:03pm
I remember being passed by one of those monsters at the 82 High Desert 100. I was pinned in 5th on the PE-175 (it wouldn't pull 6th in the sagebrush) and one of those 495's blew by me at an insane rate of speed...

I was envious.

Pit Row

See All »
mrquick
Profile picture for user mrquick
Posts
1430
Joined
10/9/2006
Location
Union City, TN, USA
mrquick 4/24/2012 10:12pm
4/24/2012 10:12pm
1971 Suzuki TM-400R Cyclone 2nd place would be the 97 cr250r
wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4382
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR, USA
wildbill 4/24/2012 11:07pm
4/24/2012 11:07pm
we have a diesel mechanic that wrenches on our trucks and he's owned 3 TM-400's in his life...

He gets my respect.
PFitzG38
Profile picture for user PFitzG38
Posts
1743
Joined
11/6/2009
Location
Newport Beach, CA, USA
PFitzG38 4/24/2012 11:18pm
4/24/2012 11:18pm
Maico AW400. I was a 16 yo 100 Int and got the chance to race this beast with 15 mins practice before dark at Jimmy Wienerts secret little practice area by his house at "Top Of The World" in Laguna Beach. I raced it in some brutal hour long GP with a bunch of much older dudes - maybe Riverside Intl Raceway, where we had to run to the bike. That thing lit off first kick and practically jumped in the air, I yanked a huge holey and stated yarding my class. Unfortunatly at the gas stop I spilled gas all over the seat and was sliding all over the place right about the time my arms gave out and the shocks started to fade. I came around the next lap 10 mins later and wanted to pull off with blisters in places I didn't know blisted, I had multiple "swaps to a stop" and a few kicker nose wheelies that took years off my young life that I'll never get back; but never bailed. The guy who lent me the bike was jumping up and down telling me I still had a huge lead and to get the fuck back out there as was the crowd that was gathering. I took a swig of water and charged back out - that lap was worse than the last. With one lap to go for the first and only time in my life, I not only pulled off; I pulled off in the lead and rode straight to the truck. I crashed/parked right against it putting a nice little scratch in my buddys truck who "forced" me to almost kill myself. I literally had to peel my hands off the bars, no way I could have held up the bike if not for the truck. I've riden some clapped out death traps but never pushed anything like that AW. Scariest Bike fo sho! I sort of could tell that it handled like a dream until those shocks gave up, but I rode the thing like my 100 which didn't work out too well. Cool little memory I'll probably never forget.
wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4382
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR, USA
wildbill 4/24/2012 11:26pm
4/24/2012 11:26pm
nice one Fitz. Reminds me of the time I rode my step dad's XS-1100 like a 125.
carson510
Profile picture for user carson510
Posts
90
Joined
1/15/2011
Location
Orofino, ID, USA
carson510 4/24/2012 11:30pm
4/24/2012 11:30pm
89 yz250. first bike I ever owned...my horrible riding skill plus that awful bike...epic fail.
sundios
Profile picture for user sundios
Posts
646
Joined
4/12/2008
Location
Los Angeles, CA, USA
sundios 4/25/2012 1:30am
4/25/2012 1:30am
CR 500. that shit was crazy i was like 12 and almost die
mx_579
Profile picture for user mx_579
Posts
366
Joined
6/27/2009
Location
New Iberia, LA, USA
mx_579 4/25/2012 6:29am
4/25/2012 6:29am
mx_579 wrote:
[img]https://www.motorera.com/honda/h0500/elsinore/cr500r-84.jpg[/img] I rode one of these when i was about 11 and got headshake so bad all i wanted to do was stop the damn thing...


I rode one of these when i was about 11 and got headshake so bad all i wanted to do was stop the damn thing and get off lol.
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Beat me to it...This one tops my list also. 84 CR 500.
That was a tank. We had to pull it behind a truck to start it. I couldn't even get the kickstarter to move.
RM Mike
Profile picture for user RM Mike
Posts
201
Joined
10/2/2011
Location
Oakhurst, CA, USA
RM Mike 4/25/2012 6:37am
4/25/2012 6:37am
75 Yamaha MX400. Wild wheelspin then deceiving speed then you fly over the berm skidding. Yes it happened to me. Many years ago. Bitch to start as I remember.
JustMX
Profile picture for user JustMX
Posts
5299
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
JustMX 4/25/2012 6:58am
4/25/2012 6:58am
reded wrote:
Stock. Easy to get big power from it as it was choked down in stock form.
CR500Rider wrote:
Choked down enough to pull 25+ more HP out of it? I don't think so but it makes a good story right.
reded wrote:
You should keep your thoughts to yourself. Those hillclimb bikes are no bullshit, guys find ways to make lotsa power from them. I've also seen CR500...
You should keep your thoughts to yourself. Those hillclimb bikes are no bullshit, guys find ways to make lotsa power from them. I've also seen CR500 motors with close to 100hp. I personally built a 350 Banshee that pulled 98.6 on the dyno. It came stock with 35hp. Care to run your trap anymore?
I am not going to get involved in the arguement except to say, I find anything that someone from KANSAS says about hillclimbing questionable

j/k
JustMX
Profile picture for user JustMX
Posts
5299
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
JustMX 4/25/2012 7:08am
4/25/2012 7:08am
I had a buddy that had a tm 250, but no place to ride, so he left it at our Missouri dairy farm and would come out and ride with me.

Well, my tc 90 broke down, and he broke his arm in a bicycle accident, so we were both unable to ride.

Finally I got to jonesing to ride and asked him if I could ride his bike. He said "sure".

So off I went, 13 years old and had never ridden much faster than my 1971 tc 90 would go (in high range).

Holy cow, light switch power, no flywheel wieght, and ill handling.....

But man the rush was unforgettable. I didn't ride it anywhere except in open fields and the dirt roads that ran through the farm, but finally got to where I could really slide that thing through a corner with an occasional impressive highside.

It was like riding a bull.....It was always an exciting ride, but you knew that teaching it to neck rein was never going to happen.
lucero10x
Profile picture for user lucero10x
Posts
1624
Joined
9/25/2009
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
lucero10x 4/25/2012 8:34am
4/25/2012 8:34am
racer187x wrote:
Scariest for sure (not worst though), my 2001 Husaberg FE650. Fastest desert bike we ever raced: [img]http://173.74.246.28/ktmtalk/photogallery/galleries/members/Internet_size_1.jpg[/img] Worst for me, '75 Rokon RT340: [img]http://173.74.246.28/ktmtalk/photogallery/galleries/members/ACF7AA6.jpg[/img]
Scariest for sure (not worst though), my 2001 Husaberg FE650. Fastest desert bike we ever raced:



Worst for me, '75 Rokon RT340:

I remember there being a big buzz around the bergs in the late 90's. It seemed like they kinda had their shit together as far as off road/dez machines (according to some of the guys who owned them). Wish I would have swung a leg over one of them. I have been secretly coveting the photos of the Husaberg 300 2strk in the latest dirt rider, too. They look pretty cool.
APLMAN99
Profile picture for user APLMAN99
Posts
12717
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Tualatin, OR, USA
Fantasy
320th
APLMAN99 4/25/2012 9:19am
4/25/2012 9:19am
APLMAN99 wrote:
[img]http://kellymotodepoca.com/images/83-ktm-495-1.jpg[/img]
wreckitrandy wrote:
You ain't man enough to start that bike let alone ride it. Woohoo
There were defInitely days that I decided not to ride just because I didn't want to start that beast......

I never really got the hang of starting it while in the saddle. Always had to stand on the left side. I had an advantage over some guys because I'm 6'5 but I have huge respect for anyone under 6 feet who could start that thing really well. It was a monster.

Really fun in sand, it was the first bike I ever really felt comfortable enough to drag the bars on but anything remotely resembling hard pack made it impossible to control wheelspin. A toggle switch might have provided better throttle modulation on that bike.

I rode a YZ490 after that bike and loved it. It was soooo much easier to ride that I could overlook any of the other quirks it had. The YZ490 was like a 200 compared to the KTM 495.

Post a reply to: Scariest bike (dirt) you've ever ridden?