The Best Bike A Single Manufacturer Has Ever Made!

lostboy819 3/31/2013 9:03pm
3/31/2013 9:03pm Edited Date/Time 3/31/2013 9:03pm
The 1982 Suzuki RM125 and RM250
AS64
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AS64 3/31/2013 9:05pm
3/31/2013 9:05pm
The updated RM-Z's are incredible bikes. But I may be biased.
AZ35
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AZ35 3/31/2013 9:14pm
3/31/2013 9:14pm Edited Date/Time 3/31/2013 9:16pm
lostboy819 wrote:
The 1982 Suzuki RM125 and RM250
Agreed, those era Suzuki's were a step above the rest. I have an 81 and 82 RM125 in the garage, really want to add the 82 RM250. Love those bikes.

But to single out a bike that was so much better than the rest (not to mention the huge leap made from one year to the next), I vote for the 1983 KX80.

Kawasaki made such a huge improvement from 82 to 83 it was incredible. Yes it was just an 80cc bike, but it was a game changer for that class.
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Racer92 4/1/2013 7:13am
4/1/2013 7:13am
vetmxr wrote:
I'm just wondering what makes the 05 rm better than my 07. I've never rode one but my 07 is something special in my eyes. Sean...
I'm just wondering what makes the 05 rm better than my 07. I've never rode one but my 07 is something special in my eyes.

Sean k
The '07 is basically a 2005 with BNGs. There were big changes going on each year from 2000 thru 2005. DeCoster was a big reason for that, and I think he was soley responsible for making the Zook bikes not only reliable again, but worthy competitors . And once they put RC on the bike, his input changed the bike even further. Just from 2004-to-2005 they made changes that arent that easy to spot if you dont look for it. In the year 2005 alone they made many changes within that same production year. (ie swingarm rear brake caliper assembly). With Roger at the helm those prior years, and then RC4 riding under their tent, the 2005 was the highwater-mark of all that effort. And that model basically remained unchanged from '05 forward. So if you have an '06. '07, whatever, you are riding a 2005 with different decals on it. I know all the other colors had excellent machines that shined in various ways, and Im not discounting them at all. I just feel the 2005 Zook package was the best overall 250cc smoker ever put in production.

The Shop

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jgilps617
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jgilps617 4/1/2013 7:15am
4/1/2013 7:15am
2005 cr85. that was the bike i really learned how to ride on. thing was a rocket
TerryK
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TerryK 4/1/2013 7:59am
4/1/2013 7:59am
Are we talking best bikes or ground breaking bikes?
TerryK
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TerryK 4/1/2013 8:00am
4/1/2013 8:00am
KennyT wrote:
The 1973-74 Honda CR125 dominated its model year like no other bike in history. In an era with so many bikes to choose from it seemed...
The 1973-74 Honda CR125 dominated its model year like no other bike in history. In an era with so many bikes to choose from it seemed like 90% of the racers chose the Honda
There was no 1973 CR125.
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P-Nut 4/1/2013 8:51am
4/1/2013 8:51am
egoman wrote:
Even though I hate hondas, the 87 cr125 was a game changer. The ergos went straight to the modern era in one year and the rest...
Even though I hate hondas, the 87 cr125 was a game changer. The ergos went straight to the modern era in one year and the rest of the package was pretty revolutionary.
web mx wrote:
I would say all the 87 honda's 125,250,500 were great bikes. after riding a guys 87 cr250 I fell in love with it and I bought...
I would say all the 87 honda's 125,250,500 were great bikes. after riding a guys 87 cr250 I fell in love with it and I bought the all new 88 cr250 thinking it could only be better than the 87[,boy was i wrong] the 87's suspension was perfect stock and the 88 all though had a great motor/ergonomics could never get it to feel as good as that 87.
Love the '87 line of Honda's. I was 16 and got to ride my buddies 250 and 500.....
So much fun....
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Rupert X 4/1/2013 8:56am
4/1/2013 8:56am
Rupert X wrote:
Easy, the 1982-2013 Yamaha PW50. Basically unchanged and brilliant!
gotwings wrote:
Surely you meant the 1977-2013 Xr 50. There's about ten times more of those in existence...
Sticking with the Yamaha PW-50. Figuring 90% of modern motocrossers began racing aboard these shaft-driven contraptions

and still do.
Sunhouse
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Sunhouse 4/1/2013 8:57am
4/1/2013 8:57am
1996 - 2004 YZ125´s
BD233
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BD233 4/1/2013 9:39am
4/1/2013 9:39am Edited Date/Time 4/1/2013 9:47am
KennyT wrote:
The 1973-74 Honda CR125 dominated its model year like no other bike in history. In an era with so many bikes to choose from it seemed...
The 1973-74 Honda CR125 dominated its model year like no other bike in history. In an era with so many bikes to choose from it seemed like 90% of the racers chose the Honda
TerryK wrote:
There was no 1973 CR125.
Well, damn, I spent all these years restoring my 1973 CR125 with original 1973 CR125 parts for nothing. Sad
Here is a nice review of the bike that never was...
http://vintagemx.com.au/1973-honda-cr125-bike-test
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yzvet426 4/1/2013 9:45am
4/1/2013 9:45am
newmann wrote:
81 Maico 490 is a pretty significant bike.
Yeah, as long as you can get the beast started
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Elbows 4/1/2013 9:51am
4/1/2013 9:51am
Rupert X wrote:
Easy, the 1982-2013 Yamaha PW50. Basically unchanged and brilliant!
gotwings wrote:
Surely you meant the 1977-2013 Xr 50. There's about ten times more of those in existence...
petegrath wrote:
Another classic!
The venerable Honda Super Cub motorcycle is the best-selling vehicle in the history of internal combustion, and there are now more than 60 million of them on the road. That’s an amazing figure that speaks to the strength of a 49 cc motorcycle Soichiro Honda designed 50 years ago, helping spur Japan’s eventual rise to dominance in the motorcycle industry.
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NP301 4/1/2013 9:53am
4/1/2013 9:53am
TerryK wrote:
Are we talking best bikes or ground breaking bikes?
Like , out of every bike KTM made which is the best? For Example..it could be the best of honda yamaha etc
Thomas Jefferson 4/1/2013 10:06am
4/1/2013 10:06am
gotwings wrote:
Surely you meant the 1977-2013 Xr 50. There's about ten times more of those in existence...
petegrath wrote:
Another classic!
Elbows wrote:
The venerable Honda Super Cub motorcycle is the best-selling vehicle in the history of internal combustion, and there are now more than 60 million of them...
The venerable Honda Super Cub motorcycle is the best-selling vehicle in the history of internal combustion, and there are now more than 60 million of them on the road. That’s an amazing figure that speaks to the strength of a 49 cc motorcycle Soichiro Honda designed 50 years ago, helping spur Japan’s eventual rise to dominance in the motorcycle industry.
I think the reason there are any supercubs left on the road is because they have the contract for the Japanese postal service's transportation. the Mailmen all ride them, with a little box full of mail on the back. the only thing that has changed on these bikes since WWII is the seat.

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BD233 4/1/2013 11:16am
4/1/2013 11:16am
I have to say the 1973 Honda CR125, it was a game changer....it dominated every 125 made at the time and I believe Marty Smith (?) rode one to a title in 1974. When mine is finished I'll throw up some pics.
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JeepnMike 4/1/2013 11:39am
4/1/2013 11:39am
I know Slipdog will say the same, but the1983 CR60R was a machine! I think the KX60 had much better suspension, but the CR was bulletproof.

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RACERX69
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RACERX69 4/1/2013 11:14pm
4/1/2013 11:14pm Edited Date/Time 4/1/2013 11:16pm
AZ35 wrote:
Agreed, those era Suzuki's were a step above the rest. I have an 81 and 82 RM125 in the garage, really want to add the 82...
Agreed, those era Suzuki's were a step above the rest. I have an 81 and 82 RM125 in the garage, really want to add the 82 RM250. Love those bikes.

But to single out a bike that was so much better than the rest (not to mention the huge leap made from one year to the next), I vote for the 1983 KX80.

Kawasaki made such a huge improvement from 82 to 83 it was incredible. Yes it was just an 80cc bike, but it was a game changer for that class.
Yep....agree on the 83 KX!!! Never forget the day my Dad and I picked up my KX80 from the dealership in June, 1983. It was a momentous event for a 13 year old.

If you were a mini rider in 1983 and weren't on a KX80 , you probably weren't winning. The bike had a killer motor and 10 inches of travel on both ends...a first for any 80 up to that point. The starting lines in the 80 class that year were nothing but a sea of green. Paul Dennis mopped everyone up that year on his KX.
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40Plus_922mx 4/1/2013 11:41pm
4/1/2013 11:41pm
2008 CRF450 is THE best bike ever mass produced period.
EZZA 95B 4/1/2013 11:47pm
4/1/2013 11:47pm
YZ 125 '96 until now, (except when they made the '02 with a 5 speed gearbox).
wardy
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wardy 4/1/2013 11:54pm
4/1/2013 11:54pm Edited Date/Time 4/1/2013 11:55pm
when most all the bikes in the open class were Red and not many were Hondas.

Maico 490 1981 it changed my abilities, and made huge impressions.

LOL looking at the Cannondale in the photos, did anyone ever witness one of those exploding turds? I seen one let go off a jump I was flagging once, never in my life seen a motor actually "blow up" flames and parts everywhere. nasty.


scared me for life with the fear of four stroke turds.......................... Smile
louis.bernard.564 4/2/2013 3:05am
4/2/2013 3:05am
YZ 250 1988 with stock Ohlins shock. Wide open everywhere and the bike was not even moving, a good thing to attack the track.



KX 125 1994, same feeling.

CR 125 87 88 / RM 125 92 93/ KX500 1994 / YZ 125 96 / YZ 250 95 / KX 80 94 95 96 / CR 80 89 to 94 / Husky 350 87 were different stories!
louis.bernard.564 4/2/2013 3:09am
4/2/2013 3:09am
louis.bernard.564 wrote:
YZ 250 1988 with stock Ohlins shock. Wide open everywhere and the bike was not even moving, a good thing to attack the track. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/04/02/yamaha250yz1988_126363.jpg[/img] KX...
YZ 250 1988 with stock Ohlins shock. Wide open everywhere and the bike was not even moving, a good thing to attack the track.



KX 125 1994, same feeling.

CR 125 87 88 / RM 125 92 93/ KX500 1994 / YZ 125 96 / YZ 250 95 / KX 80 94 95 96 / CR 80 89 to 94 / Husky 350 87 were different stories!
louis.bernard.564 4/2/2013 3:10am
4/2/2013 3:10am
louis.bernard.564 wrote:
YZ 250 1988 with stock Ohlins shock. Wide open everywhere and the bike was not even moving, a good thing to attack the track. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/04/02/yamaha250yz1988_126363.jpg[/img] KX...
YZ 250 1988 with stock Ohlins shock. Wide open everywhere and the bike was not even moving, a good thing to attack the track.



KX 125 1994, same feeling.

CR 125 87 88 / RM 125 92 93/ KX500 1994 / YZ 125 96 / YZ 250 95 / KX 80 94 95 96 / CR 80 89 to 94 / Husky 350 87 were different stories!
louis.bernard.564 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/04/02/vimond_672101.jpeg[/img]
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kakarot 4/2/2013 5:51am
4/2/2013 5:51am
NP301 wrote:
What is your opinion on the best bikes a single Manufacturer ever made? Lets hear it!
not moto but
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Wandell 4/2/2013 7:02am
4/2/2013 7:02am
Motodude wrote:
[img]https://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/RM-RMX-series/RM-brochures/1981_USA/1981_RMline_sales-4_1024.jpg[/img]
I was thinking about this bike and their 1982 RM250. Suzuki knocked it out of the park two years in a row!
malachi177
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malachi177 4/2/2013 10:12am
4/2/2013 10:12am
Motodude wrote:
[img]https://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/RM-RMX-series/RM-brochures/1981_USA/1981_RMline_sales-4_1024.jpg[/img]
Wandell wrote:
I was thinking about this bike and their 1982 RM250. Suzuki knocked it out of the park two years in a row!
I'd give my left nut to get a hold of one of these and restore. Soo hard to find.
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Bret 4/2/2013 11:18am
4/2/2013 11:18am
newmann wrote:
81 Maico 490 is a pretty significant bike.
X2
badbrad108 4/2/2013 1:15pm
4/2/2013 1:15pm
Newmann wins again the 81 Maico 490. You could take one and top 10 an outdoors national now. That is if you can ride.

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